Congress returns from recess to face a pressing agenda, including aid for cities hit by Irene, funding for transportation workers, and pending trade bills (New York Times)
Vice President Joe Biden tells the Ohio AFL-CIO to repeal the collective-bargaining bill signed by Gov. John Kasich (The Hill)
President Obama’s approval ratings hit a new low (Washington Post)
“Largely symbolic” budget cuts hit Congressional office budgets (Washington Times)
Mitt Romney will unveil a jobs plan in Los Vegas, outlined in a USAToday op-ed (CNN)
Postmaster General Patrick Donohue will testify on Capitol Hill about the Postal Service’s pressing fiscal problems (CNN)
Pitcher Stephen Strasburg will make his first start in more than a year for the Nationals in D.C. (Boston Globe)
President Obama previews his jobs speech in a preacher-like manner in Detroit:
On the main site:
Petraeus Reprises Sisyphus by Jed Babbin: Gen. David Petraeus will be sworn in today as CIA director — politically his toughest mountain yet.
Economic Emetics, by Ross Kaminsky: Democrats celebrate Labor Day and the double recession, while the best — Obama’s speech — is still to come.
Suddenly Last August, by Ben Stein: Back in L.A., achingly missing Sandpoint America.
The People’s Palin, by Robert Stacy McCain: Are chants of “Run, Sarah, Run!” a populist battle cry?
Crediting the Cheney Chronicles, by Quin Hillyer: Dick Cheney pays the price for declining to kiss up to the establishment’s demi-gods and demagogues.
A Wide Open Week, by Roger Kaplan: Stirrings of hope for American tennis at the great New York tournament.
Haj Amin’s Jewish Palace, by John C. Wohlstetter: The first of a week-long series of letters and postcards from Israel.
Freedom Is on the March, by W. James Antle, III: Agreeing and disagreeing with Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch.