President Obama will meet with congressional leaders again to discuss the debt, before doing local TV interviews (Politico)

The Washington Post explores what would happen August 3rd if the debt ceiling is not raised (Washington Post)

Rating agencies consider downgrade to U.S. debt (NY Times)

A number of lawmakers ask feds to investigate News Corp for phone tapping (CNN)

Tim Pawlenty releases video describing his faith, ambitions:

Obama’s Debt by George Neumayr: Will the President pursue McConnell’s plan?

The Kultursmog Against Murdoch, by R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.: A jealous mainstream media attacks Murdoch.

Hindsight No Longer 20/20, by Lucia Rafanelli: RomneyCare failed in Massachussetts. For the good of the nation, it’s time for Romney to just admit it.

How To Solve Our Growth and Jobs Deficit, by Ken Blackwell: When it comes to the debt-ceiling issue, Republicans and Democrats are on different planets.

Medicare Reform: Who Decides?, by Avik S.A. Roy: Both parties know that Medicare is broke. So how are we going to fix it?

A VERY Strange Day, by Ben Stein: Don’t mind the beer-drinking man.