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Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota is perhaps the most ardent deficit hawk in his party, which makes him a pivotal figure in the Senate Finance Committee's "Gang of Six." The gang of three Democrats and three Republicans is working on a bipartisan health care bill, even as town halls erupt and compromise recedes.

Congress may be taking a break for August, but the debate over a health care overhaul isn't. It's just changing venues. For the next five weeks, arguments for and against the plans being put together by President Obama and congressional Democrats will be waged on the airwaves and in individual states and members' districts.

National security adviser Gen. James Jones says the Marine operation in Afghanistan's Helmand Province is designed to bring confidence to the people of the region. He says, however, that Afghans must see their own authorities take charge of the country.

The Obama administration announced Tuesday that the Medicare program is running out of money faster than projected. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said that news should make lawmakers redouble their efforts on a full health system overhaul. On Capitol Hill, senators are struggling to come up with ways to pay for that overhaul.

President Obama traveled to St. Louis for a town hall meeting to mark his 100th day in office. Questions dealt with the economy, health care, social security and the environment.

Two years ago, author Mark Helprin's op-ed urging the extension of copyright protection inspired a huge online backlash. A new book is his response to the uproar, but opponents are still having their say.

President Obama and China's President Hu Jintao meet in London Wednesday on the eve of this week's Group of 20 summit. It's Obama's first trip overseas as president. For Hu, it's an opportunity to play a leading role on the world stage. In recent years China and other emerging market countries have become increasingly important players in the global economy.

As the Senate continues to debate the economic stimulus bill, President Barack Obama has gradually increased his rhetoric, warning that inaction will lead to economic catastrophe.

President Obama is setting precedents in ways he probably never anticipated — from showing people it's OK to befriend others different from themselves to showing them it's OK to shop at J. Crew. But as the first president to own a BlackBerry, David Shipley says, Obama needs to lead by example and show America when BlackBerrying is OK and when to put the thing away.

President Bush, at the request of President-elect Barack Obama, has petitioned Congress to release the remaining $350 billion intended to help the nation deal with its financial crisis. The idea is to make the money available to the new administration shortly after Obama takes office next Tuesday.