Debt Talks in Disarray as House Balks  —  WASHINGTON — With the federal government on the brink of a default, a House Republican effort to end the shutdown and extend the Treasury's borrowing authority collapsed Tuesday night as a major credit agency warned that the United States was on the verge of a costly ratings downgrade.

Exclusive: Glenn Greenwald Will Leave Guardian To Create New News Organization  —  The reporter who broke the NSA story promises “a momentous new venture.”  A “very substantial new media outlet” with serious backing, he says.  Updated.  —  Greenwald in Rio de Janeiro in July.  —  Sergio Moraes / Reuters

Hillary who?  Bloody-minded London traffic warden defies five furious secret service agents to give Hillary Clinton a ticket  —  This is the extraordinary moment that Hillary Clinton's security staff got into an argument with a traffic warden after he issued her car with a parking ticket.

KEY VOTE: “NO” ON HOUSE SPENDING AND DEBT DEAL  —  Tonight, the House is scheduled to vote on a plan that would extend government funding to December 15 and the debt ceiling through February 7 in exchange for overturning the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) ruling that created the congressional exemption.

Fitch puts US AAA rating on rating watch negative  —  Fitch puts US credit rating on negative watch  —  Fitch has put the U.S. credit rating on negative watch, reports CNBC's Dominic Chu.  —  Fitch Ratings put the US government's “AAA” credit rating on ‘rating watch negative’ Tuesday …

A Bleak First Week: 99.6% of Healthcare.gov Visitors Did NOT Enroll in Obamacare  —  Since October 1st, Americans living in the 50 states and Washington, D.C. can purchase healthcare through exchanges as part of the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare.)

As Debt Limit Deadline Nears, Concern Ticks Up But Skepticism Persists  —  Despite Image Problems, GOP Holds Ground on Key Issues  —  With just two days to go before an Oct. 17 deadline to raise the nation's debt limit, 51% of the public views a rise in the nation's debt limit as …

Antonin Scalia: 14th Amendment Protects Everyone, Not ‘Only The Blacks’  —  During oral arguments on an affirmative action case on Tuesday, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said the 14th Amendment protects everyone, not “only the blacks.”  —  The quote was tweeted by the New York Times' David Leonhardt:

OFA hits the Hill  —  And on the 15th day of the government shutdown, President Barack Obama's supporters came to a rally on the Capitol steps.  —  It was a somewhat disorganized group, composed at its peak of about three dozen out-of-work federal employees, still-employed federal employees …

Obama vows veto over Vitter measure  —  President Barack Obama told House Democratic leaders Tuesday that he would veto debt-ceiling legislation if it includes a provision pushed by Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) and House GOP leaders that would cut health subsidies for congressional …

I, Rielle Hunter, Apologize  —  I behaved badly.  That may seem obvious to you but it's taken me a long time to admit that, even to myself.  For years I was so viciously attacked by the media and the world that I felt like a victim.  I now realize that the attacks are actually beside the point.

Three Theories of House GOP Brinkmanship—And One More  —  As we await the next development in the fiscal saga, it's worthwhile to look at three theories kicking around today for exactly why House Republicans are continuing to engage in economy-risking and popularity-damaging brinkmanship …

Filner pleads guilty to 3 charges  —  Former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner pleaded guilty this morning to three criminal counts related to the sexual harassment allegations that drove him from office after a summer of scandal.  —  Specifically, Filner pleaded guilty before Superior Court …

The Top Ten Reasons The Government Shutdown Isn't All Bad  —  10. Approximately 15,000 EPA employees are furloughed, making it less likely fake CIA agents at EPA will be ripping off the taxpayer  —  Last month, John C. Beale, a former EPA senior official in the Office of Air & Radiation …