With no margin for rebellion, Senate Democratic leaders pushed ahead Friday toward a crucial weekend test vote on their sweeping health care bill amid indications the rank-and-file would stand together on President Barack Obama's signature issue.

The Senate ethics committee admonished Roland Burris for making "inconsistent, misleading or incomplete" statements about the circumstances surrounding his appointment, but did not recommend any punishment.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is an "unworthy partner" who does not deserve a big boost either in U.S. troops or civilian aid, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.

Growing discontent over the economy, recovery efforts turn into a wave of criticism and outright anger directed at the administration.

Obama’s top diplomats and generals are abandoning for now their get-tough tactics with Afghanistan’s Hamid Karzai and attempting to forge a far warmer relationship.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is leaning toward running for the U.S. Senate rather than making a bid for governor, two Republican advisers say.

A key House committee voted to assess upfront fees on large financial firms to pay for the failure of their peers and to require a congressional audit of the secretive Federal Reserve.