Sources: Obama seeks $17 billion in budget cuts
President Barack Obama has signed off on a roster of 121 budget cuts totaling $17 billion — or about one-half of 1 percent of the $3.4 trillion budget Congress has approved for next year.
Authors of ‘torture’ memos face backlash
Pressure is mounting against two former Bush administration attorneys who wrote the legal memos used to support harsh interrogation techniques that critics say constituted torture.
Maine enacts law allowing gay marriages
Maine Gov. John Baldacci signed a bill allowing gay marriages, making Maine the fifth state in the nation to do so.
Sessions not inclined to filibuster nominee
The Alabama senator says President Obama assured him that he was not planning to nominate a "bomb-thrower" to succeed retiring Supreme Court Justice David Souter.
Stocks could pose conflicts for court prospects
Some Supreme Court potentials have extensive corporate holdings, including shares in Fortune 500 companies and stock in a manufacturer that recalled lead-paint-coated toilet seats.
Specter plays down loss of committee seniority
Sen. Arlen Specter sought to minimize any political damage Wednesday after fellow Democrats decided against honoring the 28 years' seniority he accumulated as a Republican before switching parties last week.
Obama keeps Karzai at arm's length
Skepticism of Afghan leader has shaped White House's policy in the fight against the Taliban.
Senate hears grim forecast for newspapers
Journalists painted a grim future for newspapers at a Senate hearing Wednesday where one lawmaker touted his idea of nonprofit journalism.
AP: No charges likely over ‘torture’ memos
Bush administration lawyers who approved harsh interrogation techniques of terror suspects should not face criminal charges, Justice Department investigators say in a draft report.
Reading into Obama's bedside book selection
Sometimes, a book is just a book. But Obama's first nightstand selection as commander in chief may reveal some details about the nation's new, hard-to-fathom president. Howard Fineman explains.
Schwarzenegger: Calif. needs pot debate
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says it's time for a debate on whether to legalize marijuana, though he says he's not supporting the idea.
Bristol Palin calls teen motherhood ‘hard work’
Campaigning against teen pregnancy, Bristol Palin, 18-year-old daughter of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, said a baby “is not just an accessory on your hip. This is hard work.” But she called her 4-month-old son Tripp “not a mistake at all. He’s a blessing.”
Bunning may rethink re-election over money
The embattled Republican senator says he'll reconsider running for a third term if he doesn't meet his fundraising goals.