Astronomers have spotted a planet that has survived the massive ballooning of its parent star, providing the first optimistic evidence for the long-term survival of Earth. The discovery, detailed in the Sept. 13 issue of the journal Nature, could motivate other scientists to look for similar red giant survivors. That …

So in Wednesday’s New York Times — a paper I enjoy reading while having my problem areas tweezed and sculpted into a topiary — I was shocked to find Maureen Dowd mentioning me in her column about Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. She’s pissed that I called him a “foul-smelling fruitbat” — a …

Lou Rawls Family Feud | Gloria Steinem Attacked by Director | Golden Globe Members Lou Rawls Family Feud Imperils Funeral Friday’s funeral for soul superstar Lou Rawls is turning into a Battle Royale between one of Rawls’ adult daughters and the wife he nearly divorced two months ago. I’m told …

One thing I noticed flying this weekend: things are a mess. Checking your bags takes longer. Throwing out all those liquids takes longer. Getting to your gate takes longer. Everything takes longer and is more of a pain. But if you think Americans are whining, think again. Most I encountered …

As the unofficial first lady of the Playboy Mansion, Hugh Hefner’s main squeeze Holly Madison knows a thing or two about women. And as finding the right holiday gift for the lady in your life is about as daunting as it gets, FOXNews.com turned to the “Girls Next Door” star …

‘Law & Order: SVU’ | Jennifer Hudson | Ahmet Ertegun ‘Law & Order: SVU’ May Be Over You wouldn’t think that NBC could afford to lose a hit show right now, but that’s what may happen. Sources tell me that NBC is playing hardball with stars Mariska Hargitay and Chris …

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine: Positive Steps A retired army general who was once called Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s “most outspoken critic” over the war in Iraq now says the U.S. is achieving its objectives there. Barry McCaffrey, perhaps best known as President Clinton’s drug czar, blasted …

Finally, President Bush takes concrete border action. With 80 percent of the country demanding border security, President Bush has decided to move 6,000 troops to back up the Border Patrol —- not enough in my opinion, but it’s better than nothing. Six years ago — six years — “Talking Points” …

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A modern timeline of relations between the United States and North Korea is dotted with diplomatic fits and starts, economic sanctions, promises of understanding, high points of small successes and low points of slammed doors, exiled weapons inspectors and exhaustive sets of demands. So, as foreign policy …

Hi, I’m Bill O’Reilly. Thanks for watching us tonight. Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Steelers and their fans for winning the Super Bowl. Very hard-working team that should be admired. The “Talking Points Memo” is more terror war violence. Angry Muslims rioted in Beirut, burning the Danish embassy over some political …