GOP looks to erase Democrats' comfy House majority

AP - 8/1/2010 1:19 AM

By LIZ SIDOTI 2010-08-01T08:19:24Z
WASHINGTON (AP) -- No fewer than 65 House seats across the country - an overwhelming majority held by Democrats - are at risk of changing political hands this fall, enough to bolster Republican hopes of regaining power....

Congressman: too much dispersant used in oil spill

AP - 8/1/2010 1:17 AM

By H. JOSEF HEBERT and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN 2010-08-01T08:17:02Z
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- As BP inched closer to permanently sealing the blown-out well in the Gulf of Mexico, congressional investigators railed the company and Coast Guard for part of the cleanup effort, saying too much toxic chemical dispersant was used....

Rangel using 3-way defense against ethics charges

AP - 7/31/2010 11:08 PM

By LARRY MARGASAK 2010-08-01T06:08:34Z
WASHINGTON (AP) -- To rebut a lengthy list of alleged ethical misdeeds, Rep. Charles Rangel is trotting out this three-way defense: I didn't do it. I did it, but was inattentive. Others lawmakers were allowed to do the same thing without penalty....

Coast Guard allows toxic chemical use on Gulf oil

AP - 7/31/2010 11:05 PM

By H. JOSEF HEBERT 2010-08-01T06:05:49Z
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. Coast Guard has routinely approved BP requests to use thousands of gallons of toxic chemical a day to break up oil slicks in the Gulf of Mexico despite a federal directive that the chemicals be used only rarely on surface waters, congressional investigators said Saturday after examining BP and government documents....

Michigan voters search for economic savior

AP - 7/31/2010 3:23 PM

By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN 2010-07-31T22:23:58Z
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan voters frustrated over lost jobs, home foreclosures and budget deficits will vote in Tuesday's primary election for leaders they hope can move the state out of its economic morass....

Informant says WikiLeaks suspect had civilian help

AP - 7/31/2010 3:12 PM

By DAVID DISHNEAU 2010-07-31T22:12:06Z
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) -- An Army private charged with leaking classified material to the whistleblower website WikiLeaks had civilian help, a key figure in the case said Saturday....

AP EXCLUSIVE: Salazar keeps oil drill ban, for now

AP - 7/31/2010 12:41 PM

By MATTHEW DALY 2010-07-31T19:41:19Z
ON THE GULF OF MEXICO (AP) -- The helicopter passes over the blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico - with surprisingly little oil visible on its surface - when out of the sea rises a skyscraper-like structure nearly 350 feet above the waves. The $600 million rig, nearly 100 miles off Louisiana's coast, has a hull larger than a football field and can drill more than 5 miles beneath the ocean floor....

Obama says he'll call GOP's bluff on deficit talk

AP - 7/31/2010 12:03 PM

By 2010-07-31T19:03:41Z
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama has a warning for Republicans who denounce the federal deficit but reject proposals to cut it....

Obama: Rangel case troubling; some Dems say resign

AP - 7/31/2010 10:59 AM

By LAURIE KELLMAN 2010-07-31T17:59:57Z
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rep. Charlie Rangel is getting sympathy from some fellow Democrats but scant support from others as he faces trial on several ethics charges....

Obama Attempts Jump Start In Detroit

NPR - 7/31/2010 5:00 AM - Business

President Obama went to Michigan on Friday, the "ground zero" of the recession, to kick off a campaign highlighting the turnaround in the U.S. auto industry.

House approves oil spill bill; stalled in Senate

AP - 7/31/2010 12:42 AM

By MATTHEW DALY 2010-07-31T07:42:38Z
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House has approved a bill to boost safety standards for offshore drilling and remove a liability cap for oil spills, but a partisan fight in the Senate will likely delay action on a response to the Gulf oil spill until Congress returns from its summer recess....

It's ScuttleButton Time!

NPR - 7/30/2010 6:21 PM - Political Junkie

The sun has gone down, people are home from work, the weekend is about to begin.  Only one thing is missing: this week's ScuttleButton puzzle.  Fortunately, it's here, so don't turn off your computer just yet.

Once Again, Immigration Is A Hot Campaign Issue

NPR - 7/30/2010 3:09 PM - Elections 2010: The Midterms

Republicans plan to use Democrats' opposition to Arizona's controversial law as a key talking point in this fall's campaigns.

'It's All Politics': Arizona Judge Throws Out This Week's Podcast

NPR - 7/30/2010 2:51 PM - Political Junkie

Neither Ron Elving nor Ken Rudin was invited to Chelsea Clinton's wedding, so the best they could do is over this week's episode of the "It's All Politics" podcast.  Which is good news for America.

Flashback Friday: On This Day In 1964, L.B.J. Rules Out R.F.K. For V.P.

NPR - 7/30/2010 2:15 PM - Political Junkie

On this day in 1964, President Lyndon Johnson says he will not name any member of his Cabinet as his running mate, an announcement that everyone understood to be a message to Attorney General Robert Kennedy, who had a tense relationship with LBJ.

Week In Politics: Auto Industry, Economy

NPR - 7/30/2010 12:00 PM - Analysis

Michele Norris speaks with our regular political commentators, E.J. Dionne of The Washington Post and Brookings Institution and David Brooks of The New York Times, about the aftermath of the auto bailout and the economy.

Black Farmers To Lawmakers: Approve Settlement Funds

NPR - 7/30/2010 9:00 AM - U.S.

Black farmers won a discrimination lawsuit against the Department of Agriculture. But they are still waiting to be paid. President Obama announced the 1.25 BILLION dollar settlement in February, but although it has passed the House, it is now stuck in the Senate. Guest host Rebecca Roberts speaks with John Boyd, the President of the National Black Farmers Association, and Willie Adams, a farmer from Georgia, about the bill and why it is being held up.

Obama Expected To Ease Crack-Cocaine Sentencing Disparities

NPR - 7/30/2010 9:00 AM - U.S.

Thursday, the U.S House of Representatives passed legislation to reduce the sentencing disparity between federal crack and powder cocaine sentences. President Obama is expected to sign this into law. To get a sense of the impact of this legislation, and in particular what it means for those in communities of color, guest host Rebecca Roberts speaks with Michael Nachmanoff, Federal Public Defender for Eastern Virginia and Co-Chair of the Federal Public Defender Legislative Committee.

'Shop Talk': Should Shirley Sherrod Sue Andrew Breitbart?

NPR - 7/30/2010 9:00 AM - Barbershop

In this installment of Tell Me More's weekly Barbershop segment, guest host Rebecca Roberts talks with freelance journalist Jimi Izrael, civil rights attorney Arsalan Iftikhar, columnist Gustavo Arellano and writer Matthew Continetti. They discuss former USDA official Shirley Sherrod's vow to bring a lawsuit against conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart, the anniversary of the famous White House "Beer Summit" between President Obama, Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates and Cambridge police officer James Crawley. Other topics include the Arizona immigration law, which partially went into effect yesterday and President Obama's appearance on ABC's "The View."

I Can't Talk About Chelsea's Wedding

NPR - 7/30/2010 6:54 AM - Political Junkie

There are a lot of rumors about a potential wedding this weekend involving the daughter of a former president and a current secretary of state.  She is thought to be marrying the son of two ex-members of Congress.  We have the scoop.

Health Care Fight Heats Up Over New Tax Report Repeal Effort

NPR - 7/30/2010 6:17 AM - Shots - Health News Blog

A battle is being waged by small businesses, accountants, and members of Congress to repeal a new tax reporting requirement in the health law. But it could raise $16 billion for the government.

Protests Of Arizona Immigration Law Lead To Arrests

NPR - 7/30/2010 1:00 AM - Around the Nation

Opponents took to the streets of Phoenix as parts of the immigration-enforcement law that were not blocked by a federal judge went into effect Thursday. At least 50 people were arrested throughout the day in acts of civil disobedience.

Everyone Under Pressure In Rangel Case

NPR - 7/29/2010 4:08 PM - Political Junkie

The last thing the Democrats want as they head into the fall elections is for the GOP to be able to use the "culture of corruption" charge, which brought the Dems to power in 2006, against them.  And so they wish the Rangel case would go away.

Senators Call On FDA To Rule On Alcoholic Energy Drinks

NPR - 7/29/2010 1:30 PM - Shots - Health News Blog

Eight months ago, the Food and Drug Administration asked makers of beverages containing alcohol and caffeine to prove the drinks are safe. So far, nothing's been made public.

Michael Steele (Hearts) Andrew Breitbart But Shirley Sherrod (Sues) Him

NPR - 7/29/2010 12:32 PM - Political Junkie

Two points of view on conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart.  The view of Michael Steele of the RNC is positive; he's invited Breitbart to head up a GOP fundraiser next month.  The view of Shirley Sherrod is less positive; she's suing him.