HEADLINES

1. Obama to meet with participants in bin Laden raid

   President Obama will meet with participants in the Osama bin Laden raid when he travels to Fort Campbell, Ky., on Friday, an administration official said, part of a closed-door effort to express the country's gratitude.
   » Read full article

2. Paul Ryan: 'No illusion' about Medicare deal

   House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) says Republicans acknowledge a deal with Democrats to overhaul Medicare is unlikely.
   » Read full article

3. Breaking down the Situation Room

   Washington Post experts offer a tour of the personalities, gadgets and ideas found only in the world's most secure warren of rooms.
   » Read full article

4. Poll: 'Birtherism' fades away

   The number of Americans saying President Obama was born in another country has been sliced in half, according to a new Washington Post poll.
   » Read full article

5. The Fix: The misunderstood independent

   Independents are growing at a fast rate, but they're not all moderates.
   » Read full article

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BEHIND THE GOVERNMENT SHOWDOWN

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

President Barack Obama speaking briefly at a wreath-laying ceremony at Ground Zero in New York:

"What happened on Sunday, because of the courage of our military and the outstanding work of our intelligence, sent a message around the world, but also sent a message here back home. That when we say, 'we will never forget,' we mean what we say; that our commitment to making sure that justice is done is something that transcended politics."

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COMMENT OF THE DAY

drd6000, on Karen Tumulty's "A near-empty debate stage and an unsettled presidential field for Republicans" story:

So five candidates in a debate makes for a "near empty" stage? Why are we then told that three candidates is too many for a general election debate?

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Q&A DISCUSSIONS

Former FBI veteran and interrogation technique expert James Wedick was online at 2 p.m. ET to discuss whether interrogation techniques, such as waterboarding, have changed from one administration to the other and how:

Q: How common are harsh interrogation techniques used?

James Wadick:

The short answer is you won't see harsh interrogation techniques used anytime soon. The FBI is in charge of the new Hight Value Interrogation Group that conducts suspect interrogation overseas and as a former agent I can tell you we don't believe in them.

» View full Q&A session

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MULTIMEDIA

Video: Firefighters enjoyed meeting with Obama

While in New York Thursday to pay his respects to those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, President Barack Obama visited and had lunch at a fire station that lost 15 firefighters during the attack.