Approval Ratings: Obama 71%, Bush 34%

'Religious liberty will be protected,' he says

(NEWSER) - As expected , President Obama today offered what the White House is calling an "accommodation" on a controversial birth-control policy. Religious employers such as the Catholic Church will no longer be required to offer free contraception to workers as part of their health insurance. Instead, that coverage will come directly from health insurance companies, notes the Washington Post . The plan is similar to those in several states, including Hawaii, adds the New York Times . The question now is whether the move will be enough to tamp down the political firestorm. More»

'Accommodation' for religious employers will likely be announced today

(NEWSER) - The White House yesterday signaled a compromise over its contentious birth control decision, and the Wall Street Journal confirms that an attempt to accommodate the Catholic Church will likely be announced today. Details remain hazy, but one source tells the Journal that insurance companies, not religious employers, will become the ones who pay for contraception coverage. ABC News notes the move would be cheaper for health insurance companies than having to cover unwanted pregnancies and complications. But since the "accommodation" will still allow female employees access to birth control, Jake Tapper notes, it will likely not satisfy religious leaders. More»

Just 10% approve of work on Hill, according to latest Gallup poll

(NEWSER) - A Gallup poll released Wednesday finds that Americans' approval of Congress has hit yet another record low: 10%. There aren't many institutions Americans have liked less over the last 50-or-so years, according to Gallup: Only Fidel Castro, Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden, and OJ Simpson detective Mark Fuhrman have ever scored lower. ABC News takes a look at some very unpopular things that still manage to rank above Congress:

• According to an August poll, Paris Hilton is America's least-favorite celeb. But her 60% disapproval rating is still better than Congress's 86% disapproval rating.

Candidate will let top aides appear at fundraisers

(NEWSER) - After President Obama announced this week that he'd allow top aides to speak at super PAC events, Mitt Romney is following suit. "President Obama's decision opens a new chapter in this campaign, and we will not play by different rules," said Romney's campaign manager in an email to staff viewed by the Wall Street Journal . The email says that new campaign finance terms allow staffers to assist Restore Our Future, a super PAC working on the candidate's behalf. More»

That's more than double the proportion from 2007: analysis

(NEWSER) - President Obama continues to be successful raising money through small donations—and this time around, he's outpacing his campaign from four years ago. Last year, almost half of the money raised by the president's re-election campaign came from donors who gave $200 or less in total, a new report from the Campaign Finance Institute shows. In 2007, by comparison, just 22% of the $96.7 million he raised came from donations of $200 or less. In total, Obama raised $56.7 million from small donors last year, compared to the $38.1 million small donors contributed to all of his Republican opponents combined. More»