TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Senate leaders reach agreement to avert shutdown
Senate leaders reached an agreement Monday evening that is almost certain to avert a federal government shutdown, a prospect that had flared up as congressional leaders fought over disaster relief funds.
(By Paul Kane and Rosalind S. Helderman)
Administration will not appeal ruling against health-care law
Justice Department decision means the Supreme Court will likely determine whether the law is constitutional in the thick of the 2012 presidential campaign.
(By Robert Barnes)
Shaken by attacks, many Pakistanis fault U.S.
An epidemic of growing violence since 2001 has contributed to anti-U.S. sentiment in Pakistan.
(By Karin Brulliard)
Washington Monument closed indefinitely
Damage to the elevator inside from August’s earthquake is one of several problems officials face as they try to assess the extent of repairs and how much they will cost.
(By Michael E. Ruane)
Redskins fall short against Dallas
The Redskins give up six field goals to the Cowboys, who capitalize on a late drive and Rex Grossman’s fumble in the closing minute to win, 18-16, and hand Washington its first loss.
(By Mike Jones)
NATION
When ‘I’m sorry’ is a sign of the times
In a 24/7 news world, one cycle in the modern spin machine can obliterate a brand.
( by Christopher Lehane , The Washington Post)
The art of a good apology
Mistakes are inevitable, but we can at least all aspire to making straightforward explanations and clear apologies. Last week’s bizarre mea culpa by Netflix CEO Reed Hastings was neither.
( by Paul A. Argenti , The Washington Post)
Putin may bring back tougher tone with U.S.
When Vladimir Putin returns to the Russian presidency, he will likely bring a harsher tone to Moscow’s engagement with the Obama administration.
( by Peter Finn , The Washington Post)
On red alert over cyber-espionage in China
The country’s massive market beckons to U.S. businesses, but many are increasingly concerned about working amid electronic surveillance that is sophisticated and pervasive.
( by Ellen Nakashima and William Wan , The Washington Post)
U.S. to send 800 more military trainers to Afghanistan
They will help with specialty skills to enable Afghan army units to be better prepared to operate without U.S. support by 2014, Lt. Gen. William Caldwell said.
( by Walter Pincus , The Washington Post)
METRO
U-Md. lab fire injures 2
University of Maryland chemistry lab explosion burns two students.
( by Matt Zapotosky , The Washington Post)
D.C. has worst traffic in U.S., study says
Washington drivers spend an average 74 hours stuck in traffic, more than twice the national average of 34 hours, annual study says.
( by Ashley Halsey III , The Washington Post)
In N.H., McDonnell criticizes Obama
Va. Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) blasted President Obama’s policies and sidestepped questions about his national ambitions in a prominent speech Monday night in New Hampshire.
( by Anita Kumar , The Washington Post)
Kenyan Nobelist Maathai dies
Wangari Maathai, 71, a Kenyan environmentalist and women’s rights advocate, has died.
( by Emily Langer , The Washington Post)
Grandmother stands trial for murder
Fairfax County’s top prosecutor painted Carmela Dela Rosa as “a spiteful woman.” But her attorney contends she has mental health problems.
( by Justin Jouvenal , The Washington Post)
POLITICS
Federal Diary: Budget cuts
Budget cuts are coming but how will the slicing be done?
( , The Washington Post)
In N.H., McDonnell criticizes Obama
Va. Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) blasted President Obama’s policies and sidestepped questions about his national ambitions in a prominent speech Monday night in New Hampshire.
( by Anita Kumar , The Washington Post)
Obama gets a feel-good moment about jobs package
President Obama gets a rare — and welcome — positive comment about his jobs package and tax proposals.
( by David Nakamura , The Washington Post)
Herman Cain’s long-shot run
While Herman Cain’s chances of winning the GOP nomination may not have improved with his straw-poll victory in Florida, he’s not thinking of dropping out.
( by Rachel Weiner and Perry Bacon Jr. , The Washington Post)
Senate leaders reach agreement to avert shutdown
Senate leaders reached an agreement Monday evening that is almost certain to avert a federal government shutdown, a prospect that had flared up as congressional leaders fought over disaster relief funds.
( by Paul Kane and Rosalind S. Helderman , The Washington Post)
STYLE
Grading ‘Playboy Club,’ ‘2 Broke Girls’
In one the bunnies look bored, and in the other we get a weak revamp of “The Odd Couple.”
(, The Washington Post)
Really ready for marriage?
She loves her boyfriend and is ready to marry him. Yet she’s still intrigued by the possibility of dating other guys.
(, The Washington Post)
TV column: Smooth takeoff for ‘Pan Am’
The maiden flight of “Pan Am” on Sunday night attracted about 11 million people.
(, The Washington Post)
Wilco at Merriweather Post Pavilion
The band’s performance was heavy on tracks from its latest album, “The Whole Love,” but it included some old-style tunes, too.
( by Aaron Leitko , The Washington Post)
We Are Augustines at Red Palace
The band’s album, released independently in June, is good. Very good, even. But the band’s live performance was extraordinary.
( by Megan Buerger , The Washington Post)
SPORTS
Redskins defense falters on critical play
In the face of an all-out blitz on third and long, the Cowboys gain 45 yards on a pass to Dez Bryant, thanks in part to a facemask penalty on DeAngelo Hall.
( by Rick Maese , The Washington Post)
Offensive line struggles when it counts
For much of Monday night’s game against the Cowboys, Washington’s offensive line played well. In the final two drives, however, Dallas struck decisive plays.
( by Barry Svrluga , The Washington Post)
TV and radio listings: Sept. 27
(, The Washington Post)
Despite loss, all is not lost
COLUMN | Despite losing to the Cowboys on Monday night, the Redskins are an improved football team.
( by Jason Reid , The Washington Post)
Redskins fall short against Dallas
The Redskins give up six field goals to the Cowboys, who capitalize on a late drive and Rex Grossman’s fumble in the closing minute to win, 18-16, and hand Washington its first loss.
( by Mike Jones , The Washington Post)
WORLD
Anti-Gaddafi forces close in on Sirte
Backed by NATO warplanes, fighters made progress against stronghold of Gaddafi loyalists.
( by Alexander Dziadosz and Sherine El Madany , The Washington Post)
Between Greece and default, a German caught in the middle
Chancellor Angela Merkel holds the key to any bailout but faces opposing pressures: the markets abroad and politics at home.
( by Michael Birnbaum , The Washington Post)
Putin may bring back tougher tone with U.S.
When Vladimir Putin returns to the Russian presidency, he will likely bring a harsher tone to Moscow’s engagement with the Obama administration.
( by Peter Finn , The Washington Post)
On red alert over cyber-espionage in China
The country’s massive market beckons to U.S. businesses, but many are increasingly concerned about working amid electronic surveillance that is sophisticated and pervasive.
( by Ellen Nakashima and William Wan , The Washington Post)
U.S. to send 800 more military trainers to Afghanistan
They will help with specialty skills to enable Afghan army units to be better prepared to operate without U.S. support by 2014, Lt. Gen. William Caldwell said.
( by Walter Pincus , The Washington Post)
LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Ask Boswell
Sports Columnist Tom Boswell will take your questions about baseball, the Redskins, the Wizards and more.
(, vForum)
ComPost Live with Alexandra Petri
The Compost, written by Alexandra Petri, offers a lighter take on the news and political in(s)anity of the day.
(, vForum)
Opinion Focus with Eugene Robinson
Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson discusses his recent columns and the latest news in a live Q&A.
(, vForum)
Debt Ceiling drama: Why Jonathan Capehart thinks your voice needs to be heard
In his Post-Partisan blog post today, Opinion writer Jonathan Capehart said that "Folks should be marching on the Capitol" in protest of the way the debt issue is being handled. Do you agree?
(, vForum)
Chatological Humor: Monthly with Moron
Gene Weingarten takes polls and chats about his recent columns.
(, vForum)
TECHNOLOGY
How a Kindle tablet could shake up the market
Amazon is expected to unleash an Android-based tablet unlike any other, with its own, independent flavor of the market-leading operating system.
( by Hayley Tsukayama , The Washington Post)
Facebook changes: Fact and fiction
Facebook is changing a lot, but maybe not quite as much as you’ve been hearing.
( by Hayley Tsukayama , The Washington Post)
EDITORIAL
How a longer school day fails teachers
(, The Washington Post)
Vladimir Putin, genius
He is a great czar, if not a great man.
( by Ralph Peters , The Washington Post)
Unfair to Fairfax schools: A lingering lame duck
(, The Washington Post)
By the book
Life lessons in an eighth-grade reading list.
(, The Washington Post)
Why ‘Buy America’ is integral to the jobs act
(, The Washington Post)
BUSINESS
Mortgage settlement hasty, agency says
Government regulators may have cost taxpayers billions of dollars by settling claims with Bank of America before addressing the methods used to evaluate the loans involved, according to a report.
( by Brady Dennis , The Washington Post)
Paths to easing Europe’s debt crisis
Efforts to resolve the crisis are moving on three parallel and related tracks, with political and economic challenges in each.
(, The Washington Post)
Cost of government shutdown
A possible government shutdown would cost taxpayers a lot more than the parties are fighting over.
(, The Washington Post)
U.S. stocks advance
U.S. stocks advanced Monday, giving the Dow Jones industrial average its biggest increase in a month, amid speculation that European policymakers will act to stem the debt crisis.
( by Rita Nazareth , Bloomberg)
A bureaucracy’s green-energy stumbles
The Obama administration’s loan guarantee program became a case study of what can go wrong when a bureaucracy tries to play venture capitalist.
( by Steven Mufson and Carol D. Leonnig , The Washington Post)