Who blinked? Not Obama! After basically bowing to NY officials who wanted the terror trials of alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his accomplices out of the city (too expensive, they said) his spokesman is now telling the press that the administration is not done negotiating. “We are talking with the authorities in New York," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told CNN. "We understand their logistical concerns and their security concerns that are involved. We have been discussing that with them." more ›

And then there were none left to challenge Kirsten Gillibrand in a Democratic primary. There must be some fierce, behind-the-scenes fangs hiding under that Tracy Flick smile of Gillibrand's because it seems like every Democrat poised to step in her way eventually bows out. Yesterday Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney became the last to wave the white flag, leaving Gilly the path of least resistance previously paved by Stringer, Israel, McCarthy and even Caroline Kennedy, whose initial withdrawal from consideration for the seat first opened the door for Gillibrand. Politicker says that Maloney recognized how much of a long-shot she was to beat the well-connected, upstate fundraising powerhouse and feared losing her entire political career, which could eventually see her as chair of the Financial Services Committee she currently sits on. Both Maloney and Gillibrand passed along praise of one another after the announcement and Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said, "We've got a fabulous candidate now keeping her House seat and a fabulous candidate we hope keeping her Senate seat." more ›