Democrats: Doomsday; Republicans: Your fault

President Obama's budget director told Congress Wednesday that automatic spending cuts will slash funding for 16,000 school employees, cut the U.S. Border Patrol and kick 100,000 children out of the Head Start program as the White House sought to up the political pain for lawmakers bickering over how to stave off the cuts.

Clinton visits Africa to counter rising roles of militants, China

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton embarked Wednesday on a seven-nation tour of Africa, where Islamist militants have made startling gains and increasing Chinese influence has secured abundant resources for the communist-ruled nation.

GSA scandal widens; dozens of conferences now under investigation

The embattled General Services Administration (GSA) is facing investigations into as many as 77 conferences and awards ceremonies over the years as more details emerged Wednesday about a lavish one-day gathering in Crystal City costing more than a quarter-million dollars for hundreds of employees, including a top agency deputy hailed just months ago as a taxpayer hero.

Obama aide sent lobbyists private email

With three months to go before Election Day, President Obama's campaign manager faced a fusillade of questions Wednesday about whether he deliberately skirted disclosure rules during his time as deputy White House chief of staff, undermining the administration's claim to be "the most transparent administration in history."

Pauls will try to find common ground

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky made efforts this week to overcome a split between his father's supporters and tea party backers in a move that could pay dividends for Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.

Putin starts to 'tighten the screws' on foes

When a smirking Vladimir Putin told journalists shortly before his return to the presidency in May that he would "certainly tighten the screws" on Russia's protest leaders, no one in the opposition was entirely sure how serious the former KGB officer was.

Chick-fil-A backers recognize appreciation day

Churchgoers and supporters of religious freedom weren't too chicken to eat at Chick-fil-A on Wednesday.

Sen. Obama supported layoff warnings; now sees no need

President Obama's administration doesn't see the need for defense contractors to warn employees about possible layoffs from across-the-board budget cuts, but in 2007, then-Sen. Barack Obama railed against employers failing to notify workers who were in danger of losing their jobs.

Rubio bill eliminates federal tax on Olympic medals

Sen. Marco Rubio introduced a bill Wednesday to eliminate the federal government's tax on Olympic medals, saying the levy amounted to yet another way the government tries to punish those who succeed.

Inside the Beltway: Perryfied

The bodacious victory of Ted Cruz in the Texas Republican primary has somehow fired up Texas Gov. Rick Perry, whose own right-hand man lost to Mr. Cruz on Tuesday by 14 fat percentage points. But the ever-canny Mr. Perry has ridden the Cruz victory like a bronco, tamed his own presidential disappointment and framed the Lone Star State in heroic terms.

Tea party basks in Cruz's win in Texas

Ted Cruz's stunning 14-percentage-point victory over Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in Tuesday's runoff for the Texas Republican Senate nomination gives the tea party explosive momentum heading into the remaining primaries nationwide and the November general elections.

Panetta tries to reassure Israelis about Iran

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta on Wednesday aimed to reassure Israelis that the U.S. is resolved to prevent Iran's leaders from gaining nuclear arms.

Senator seeks to attach D.C. abortion measure to cybersecurity bill

A Republican senator from Utah relaunched a measure that bans abortion in the District after 20 weeks of pregnancy mere moments after the House defeated its version of the bill Tuesday night.

Iraq's threat to close MeK camp worries White House

The Obama administration is worried about a threat from the Iraqi government to forcibly shut down a camp for Iranian dissidents north of Baghdad.

U.S. wants to mend ties with Sudan

The United States wants to improve ties with Sudan after more than a decade of strained relations, if the African nation ruled by an autocratic president under indictment for war crimes adopts democracy and respects human rights, a senior Obama administration official said on Wednesday.

Congressmen question work of new consumer advocate

Congressmen on Capitol Hill questioned President Obama's top consumer-protection advocate, Richard Cordray, about his agency's compliance with federal regulations designed to protect America's small businesses.

Commentary

CROUSE: Sacrificing boys to promote girls

Casual observation of popular culture reveals that boys and men increasingly are being portrayed negatively, in contrast to women, who invariably are seen as more competent, efficient, successful and in charge. Television and Hollywood movies are producing a tsunami of negative stereotypes depicting guys as losers.

WOLF: I'll say it: President Mitt Romney

Until now, conservatives' support for Mitt Romney was based largely on this: He's not Barack Obama. But that was then and this is now. Conservatives are finding reasons to not just vote for Mr. Romney but to get excited about voting for him.

NUGENT: Motor City Madman knows business

Oh, yes I did, President Obama. You, sir, as usual, are wrong again.

MILLER: Here comes higher spending

Congressional Republicans are running scared from the mere mention of a government shutdown. Capitol Hill has been in a standoff all year as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, has refused to move any spending bills that failed to expend the maximum amount allowed under the law.

GHEI: The true pension burden

The Maryland state retirement and pension system is in bad shape. The deluxe benefits package has $37 billion in assets, but even that amount isn't enough to meet the promises made to government bureaucrats. In the last fiscal year, this prodigious sum was invested in a way that yielded a negligible 0.36 percent return.