JPMorgan Chase has spent upward of $20 million on lobbying and campaign contributions in the past three years. On Tuesday, the bank received a healthy dividend on that investment. Its chairman, Jamie Dimon, has admitted that the firm was “sloppy” and “stupid” in making trading bets that lost $2 billion. But Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee wouldn’t hear of it; they preferred to blame government. Read full article > >

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Senators put federal regulators, not JPMorgan, on the hot seat

The Committee to Save New York, an advocacy group, spent millions to advance Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s agenda last year, but most of the money came from a small number of wealthy donors.

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$12 Million to Help Cuomo Came From Just 20 Donors

The chairman of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee expressed dismay that someone leaked information about a double agent who infiltrated al Qaeda and helped foil a plot to blow up a U.S.-bound plane.

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‘Double agent’ infiltrated al Qaeda plot

The Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster criticises the Scottish government’s proposed question in the independence referendum.

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MPs criticise referendum question

Capt. Amadou Haya Sanogo, who led a coup in March, spoke of a continuing role in public life for the junta, which he called “the committee.”

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Mali Uprising No Threat to Junta Leader’s Plans

Comedian Russell Brand had MPs roaring with laughter when he addressed the Home Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday.

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VIDEO: Brand cracks jokes in select committee

If Republicans are truly engaged in a “war on women,” as the Democrats claim, they are fighting it about as well as Gen. Custer did at Little Bighorn. First they were routed over their objections to contraception . Then they had to defend Rush Limbaugh’s insults of Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke and Ted Nugent’s description of two top Democratic leaders as “varmints.” On top of that, the Republican National Committee chairman is on record drawing a parallel between women and caterpillars , and Democrats have been ambushing Republicans almost daily with topics as varied as mammograms and membership at Augusta. Read full article > >

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Democrats battle back against Republican ‘war on women’

As the International Olympic Committee visits London, Gordon Farquhar takes a look at whether London is ready to deliver the Games.

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From wasteland to Olympic legacy

This article, written by MJ Rosenberg, appeared on the Huffington Post on March 27,2012 The schedule for the American Jewish Committee conference in Washington coming up in May highlights that Sohrab Ahmari, an Iranian-American, will be addressing the question: “Can Iran’s nuclear program be stopped?” Ahmari has been popping up more and more these days, especially at neoconservative organizations like the AJC.

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Neocons Do Not Speak for Iranian-Americans

The International Olympic Committee says it is impressed with preparations for the London 2012 Games.

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IOC impressed by London Olympics

With all the talk about duplication, consolidation and reorganization, Wednesday’s Senate hearing could have been a planning session for a movement of small-government zealots. In a way, it was. Participants on all sides of the issue at the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee session supported cutting government. How to get there is the issue. Read full article > >

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Senate panel considers Obama’s reorganization plan

Speaking before the influential American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Mr. Obama reiterated that he would not tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran.

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In Speech, Obama Urges Diplomacy and Warns Against ‘Loose Talk of War’

Les Ebdon has been formally announced as head of the university fair access body – despite opposition from MPs on the committee scrutinising his appointment.

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Ebdon confirmed as access chief

There seems to be a bit of confusion amongst Republicans about whether their critical Michigan primary on Feb. 28 is open to independents and Democrats. A colleague called the Republican National Committee the other day and was told by a spokesman that it was closed. Read full article > >

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Republican primary, Democratic mischief?

The Defence Select Committee says its visit to the Falklands was agreed in late 2011, but is not a response to a recent escalation of tensions with Argentina over the islands’ future.

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MPs visit Falklands amid tensions