Good morning, everybody. Ellen\’s leaving American Idol, and Diddy wants in. Now, your morning constitutional:

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia are meeting in Beirut to work together to help stabilize Lebanon if a UN tribunal indicts members of the Hezbollah movement for the killing of Rafik Hariri.

Republicans succeeded in filibustering a Senate bill that would create a $30B fund for small business lending.

July has been the deadliest month for American troops since the beginning of the war nine years ago.

Economic growth in the U.S. slowed to 2.4% in the second quarter, an ominous sign that the recovery is slowing down.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that allows those who declare bankruptcy to keep their guns.

As Democrats pick up some momentum in generic polling, has the Republican wave hit its peak?

Could just controlling soot, as opposed to the much larger task of controlling all greenhouse gasses, stop climate change?

The case for $320,000 kindergarten teachers.

Why there\’s no need for \”safe departure\” border checkpoints for illegal immigrants.

How LEGO revitalized its brand.

Finally, a mother bear rescues her cub from a fishing net in Alaska, with video.

Good morning, everybody. Ellen\’s leaving American Idol, and Diddy wants in. Now, your morning constitutional:

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia are meeting in Beirut to work together to help stabilize Lebanon if a UN tribunal indicts members of the Hezbollah movement for the killing of Rafik Hariri.

Republicans succeeded in filibustering a Senate bill that would create a $30B fund for small business lending.

July has been the deadliest month for American troops since the beginning of the war nine years ago.

Economic growth in the U.S. slowed to 2.4% in the second quarter, an ominous sign that the recovery is slowing down.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that allows those who declare bankruptcy to keep their guns.

As Democrats pick up some momentum in generic polling, has the Republican wave hit its peak?

Could just controlling soot, as opposed to the much larger task of controlling all greenhouse gasses, stop climate change?

The case for $320,000 kindergarten teachers.

Why there\’s no need for \”safe departure\” border checkpoints for illegal immigrants.

How LEGO revitalized its brand.

Finally, a mother bear rescues her cub from a fishing net in Alaska, with video.