Jake Sherman takes a look at a story that creeps up about once a year: how many days does the House of Representatives actually work? Give the story a read before you hear about it all day on talk radio and cable news. Jake Sherman: House: Working hard or hardly …

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alykat/ / CC BY-NC 2.0 Things overheard at the U2 concert at FedEx Field: "We had to miss Muse because I was writing talking points for my boss … she’s meeting with an Ambassador tomorrow." — girl walking to stadium and explaining her integral role in our democracy to friends …

We’ve seen this talking point regurgitated 35,000 times on Twitter and can’t for the life of us figure out why it’s relevant: "Cheney and Pelosi Have Poor Ratings in Common." [please get new talking points] It’s like asking who do you like better, Jon or Kate?

I, for one, welcome our new automaker overlords. (Above picture of Obama discussing GM on C-SPAN was spotted on ABCNews.com yesterday)

Hollywood Hits Washington [Emily Leaman ] In Case of Emergency [Hammer ] City Council [free Nats tickets ] Third Eye Blind [Cooley ]

Heating up … CQ: Pelosi knew "contents" of Harman wiretap During a roundtable with reporters yesterday, Pelosi said: “All [investigators] said was that [Harman] was wiretapped.” [I]ntelligence officials let Pelosi know about the wiretap and its contents , according to the three former national security officials. "She knew. We made …

Mark Liebovich of the New York Times interviewed the media regarding the media’s puff pieces about the famous DC White House Administration. US government bails out AIG for about $173 Billion; AIG spends $450 million in bonuses. Here’s something refreshing to enjoy with your morning coffee: “In Washington, D.C., there …

There are mice dying in San Francisco, so of course it’s important that Congress turn this sh*t around quickly.

House Minority Leader Boehner: Minority Leader John Boehner nearly choked up as he begged his Republican colleagues to vote “in the best interest of their country” for the bailout bill. … Admitting that the outcome is in “serious doubt,” an impassioned Boehner implored his colleagues to cast aside politics — and …

OK, so August is still here. If we aren’t on a CODEL, leading energy revolutions on the House floor, or back tracking on drilling proposals, what should we do with all of our free time? We’ve decided to take this moment to investigate where DC get its daily conventional wisdom. …

A few Republicans, according to reports, are going back to a camera-less, mic-less House floor to protest Congress leaving for summer vacation without passing energy legislation. From an email forwarded to FDC: On Monday, August 4th, Republican Members of Congress (who are going to be in DC) will meet on …

And ended up with a top of page Drudge Alert Politico: Pelosi calls for high-level meeting with Iraqis [Speaker Pelosi] “So with the prime minister saying it’s time for you to go,” she told the crowd, “I think it’s time for our country to sit down with the Iraqis and …

Akers: Meltdown on House Floor Disrupts Lantos Memorial Service Steroids in Baseball – CHECK NFL Spygate – CHECK Pelosi’s Daughter’s Wedding – CHECK Political Gotcha – CHECK Terrorist Surveillance (FISA) – nah

Rogers and O’Connor: Boehner and Pelosi’s First date