In debt ceiling fight, Boehner lays himself on the line

As the debt ceiling standoff veers toward potential crisis, House Speaker John A. Boehner finds himself on a path that could end one of...

Obama-GOP standoff in debt ceiling talks triggers public disgust

This upscale mall in the suburbs of northern Virginia is just 13 miles from the nation's capital. But in the eyes of people here trying to...

U.S. journalist held in Libya testifies on Vienna Convention

During 44 days of captivity in Libya, journalist Clare Gillis endured lengthy interrogations, appeared before judges without a lawyer and...

Tough bipartisan questioning by Congress of U.S. policy on Syria

Senior State Department officials came under tough questioning from lawmakers Wednesday over the Obama administration's reluctance to call...

John McCain derides 'tea party hobbits' in debt ceiling fight

Sen. John McCain on Wednesday took on conservatives reluctant to raise the national debt ceiling, calling them "tea party hobbits" and...

Lining up backup plans for the International Space Station

The space shuttle flew to the International Space Station 37 times, but its retirement leaves NASA reliant on the Russian Soyuz for future...

Republican debt plan struggles in House

A go-it-alone House Republican plan to raise the nation's debt ceiling teetered on the edge of failure late Tuesday as leaders struggled...

Congress overwhelmed with public input on debt debate

Congressional offices were deluged with feedback Tuesday after President Obama urged Americans to make their voices heard on the...

White House, carmakers near deal on fuel standards

The White House is nearing compromise with automakers on tougher fuel standards for cars and trucks, after talks in which the industry...

Thousands of post offices might close

The U.S. Postal Service on Tuesday released a list of 3,700 post offices it is considering closing as the federal agency revamps the way...

Oregon lawmaker to resign over young woman's accusation

Democratic Rep. David Wu of Oregon announced Tuesday that he would resign from Congress, following allegations of sexual misconduct with a...

FBI report at odds with ATF claim on weapons

The claim by senior ATF officials that none of the weapons lost in the botched Fast and Furious sting operation were used in the shooting of...

Activist who faked Utah energy lease bids sentenced to 2 years

A Utah man lionized by environmentalists for crashing a 2008 government auction of energy leases near two national parks was sentenced to...

Taking the pledge is popular, and risky, for candidates

It used to be much simpler being a presidential candidate, back when the only pledge that mattered was the one taken with hand over heart,...

U.S. Embassy in Mexico not told of ATF guns sting

As weapons from the United States increasingly began showing up at homicide scenes in Mexico last summer, U.S. Embassy officials cabled...

Pawlenty struggles to prove himself

After a week touring scorching Iowa in his RV, Tim Pawlenty suited up Friday in a "2012" jersey, laced up his black skates and glided onto...

Obama tells Latinos he's not the problem on immigration policy

President Obama defended his deportation policies and said Republicans remain an obstacle to overhauling the immigration system to give...

FAA in partial shutdown; air traffic unaffected

The Federal Aviation Administration was forced into a partial shutdown Monday after Congress failed to temporarily extend its funding. The...