Politico - Tim Pawlenty insists that a rejection of the Democratic plan could usher in a Republican resurgence.

Time.com - President Obama's Latin Challenge

AP - U.S. Senator Jim Webb met with Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi on Saturday, the first foreign official allowed to see her since she was sentenced to 18 months of detention by the ruling junta, witnesses said.

AFP - US Senator Jim Webb held historic talks with Myanmar junta leader Than Shwe Saturday, becoming the first senior Washington official to meet the reclusive military supremo, officials said.

AP - Britain on Friday imposed direct rule on its former colony of Turks and Caicos following corruption claims against the territory's authorities.

AP - British police say a reward of 1 million pounds ($1.65 million) is being offered for information leading to the capture of thieves who pulled off one of the country's biggest jewel heists.

AP - U.S. Sen. Jim Webb visited Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi on Saturday, a rare meeting between a foreign official and the Nobel Peace laureate who was recently sentenced to 18 more months of house arrest, witnesses said.

Politico - With August dominated by town hall meetings, influential Dems began laying the groundwork for the fall.

AFP - US Senator Jim Webb met Myanmar military ruler Than Shwe and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi on Saturday in an unprecedented visit that could herald a shift in Washington's tough stance against the junta.

AFP - US President Barack Obama touted his health care reform on Saturday, arguing that his administration's proposals will give Americans 'the security and stability that's missing today.'

AP - A deal with Switzerland settling U.S. demands for the names of suspected tax dodgers from a Swiss bank has a lot of wealthy Americans with offshore accounts nervously running to their tax advisers — and the Internal Revenue Service.

Politico - Progressive online activists prefer Rep. Joe Sestak over Sen. Arlen Specter by a landslide margin.

Politico - President Barack Obama, who is on a tour of the West that is part family vacation and part health-care swing, used his weekly address to push for his health care reform plan, and continued to take aim at insurance companies, saying 'we're going to pass health insurance reform that finally holds the insurance companies accountable.'

AP - Family in tow for a tour of national treasures far from Washington, President Barack Obama is trailed by criticism from gun opponents and parks advocates for allowing firearms into such majestic places as Yellowstone.

AFP - US Senator Jim Webb met Myanmar military ruler Than Shwe and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi on Saturday after securing the release of a US citizen jailed for visiting Suu Kyi's house in May.

AP - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is pressing Iran to release Americans who are detained or have gone missing there.

AP - WHAT HAPPENED? A World Trade Organization panel on Wednesday said China is violating free-trade rules by forcing foreign movies, music, books and video games to be routed through Chinese state-owned companies, and by not allowing foreign partnerships in the realm of digital music.

AFP - US President Barack Obama on Saturday intensifies his bid to thwart critics of his healthcare reform drive, on the second leg of his business-and-pleasure tour of western mountain states.

Politico - By deciding against a run, Doyle sets off what could be one of the most competitive gubernatorial races.

AP - Kenneth Bacon, a Pentagon spokesman in the Clinton administration who became a voice for millions of refugees uprooted by violence and conflict, died Saturday of skin cancer that had spread to his brain. He was 64.

AP - Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd has been released from the hospital after undergoing surgery for prostate cancer.

AFP - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak arrived in the United States on Saturday, the Egyptian embassy said, for a trip that is scheduled to include his first White House meeting with President Barack Obama.

Bloomberg - Aug. 15 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama said special interests that profit from the U.S. health-care system are spreading misinformation about plans to overhaul medical insurance practices.

AP - President Barack Obama, addressing a town hall meeting on health care reform, says Americans no longer should be 'held hostage by health insurance companies' that deny coverage for various reasons.

Politico - The former WSJ reporter and chief Pentagon spokesman under Bill Clinton, died Saturday at age 64.

AP - The Obama administration gave its blessing to Democratic Sen. Jim Webb's trip to military-run Myanmar, a visit criticized by dissident groups and conservatives who argue that it validates a violent junta accused of massive abuses against its people.

Politico - Republican leaders aim to criticize the president without rooting for failure.

AP - An explosion inside a trash container in Istanbul has killed one person and injured one other, police and news reports said Saturday.

AFP - President Barack Obama invoked his personal agony over his late grandmother's death, in his most emotional defense yet of his difficult health care reform drive.