http://hosted.ap.org/ AP Top Political News At 12:21 a.m. EDT &copy; 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our <a href="http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/privacy">Privacy Policy</a> and <a href="http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/terms">Terms of Use</a>. &copy; 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our <a href="http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/privacy">Privacy Policy</a> and <a href="http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/terms">Terms of Use</a>. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_NATIONAL_SECURITY?SITE=TXODE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration acknowledged for the first time Wednesday that four American citizens have been killed in drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen since 2009. The disclosure to Congress comes on the eve of a major national security speech by President Barack Obama in which he plans to pledge more transparency to Congress in his counterterrorism policy.... Thu, 23 May 2013 02:43:59 GMT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_NATIONAL_SECURITY?SITE=TXODE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT By LARA JAKES and PETE YOST 2013-05-23T02:43:59Z http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_IRS_POLITICAL_GROUPS?SITE=TXODE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- At the center of a political storm, an Internal Revenue Service supervisor whose agents targeted conservative groups swore Wednesday she did nothing wrong, broke no laws and never lied to Congress. Then she refused to answer lawmakers' further questions, citing her Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate herself.... Wed, 22 May 2013 23:24:16 GMT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_IRS_POLITICAL_GROUPS?SITE=TXODE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER and ALAN FRAM 2013-05-22T23:24:16Z http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_IRS_TAKING_THE_FIFTH?SITE=TXODE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- The baseball star, the Hollywood 10, Oliver North. And Lois Lerner of the IRS.... Thu, 23 May 2013 01:10:16 GMT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_IRS_TAKING_THE_FIFTH?SITE=TXODE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT By CONNIE CASS 2013-05-23T01:10:16Z http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CENSUS_CITY_GROWTH?SITE=TXODE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- Urban renewal? New census estimates show that most of the nation's largest cities further enhanced their allure last year, posting strong population growth for a second straight year.... Thu, 23 May 2013 04:21:50 GMT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CENSUS_CITY_GROWTH?SITE=TXODE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT By HOPE YEN 2013-05-23T04:21:50Z http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MILITARY_SEXUAL_ASSAULT?SITE=TXODE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- Members of a House panel angry over the growing epidemic of sexual assaults in the military took a key step toward tackling the problem by passing legislation Wednesday that would strip commanding officers of their longstanding authority to unilaterally change or dismiss court-martial convictions in rape and assault cases. Lawmakers believe the revision will lead to a cultural shift and encourage victims to step forward.... Wed, 22 May 2013 21:05:51 GMT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MILITARY_SEXUAL_ASSAULT?SITE=TXODE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT By RICHARD LARDNER 2013-05-22T21:05:51Z http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CONGRESS_IRAN_SANCTIONS?SITE=TXODE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- A new push to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions by crippling the country's economy gathered momentum on Capitol Hill Wednesday with approval of legislation by the House Foreign Affairs Committee that would impose even tougher economic sanctions against Tehran.... Wed, 22 May 2013 21:24:18 GMT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CONGRESS_IRAN_SANCTIONS?SITE=TXODE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT RICHARD LARDNER 2013-05-22T21:24:18Z http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MILITARY_SEX_MISCONDUCT?SITE=TXODE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- An Army sergeant has been charged with secretly photographing and videotaping at least a dozen women at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, including in a bathroom.... Wed, 22 May 2013 21:03:18 GMT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MILITARY_SEX_MISCONDUCT?SITE=TXODE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT By LOLITA C. BALDOR 2013-05-22T21:03:18Z http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_VETERANS_HEALTH_CARE?SITE=TXODE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Pentagon has decided to buy a new computerized health records system to be able to better share and merge its data with the Department of Veterans Affairs, but officials cautioned that it was part of a "long-term modernization" effort and would not help ease the backlog in VA disability claims.... Wed, 22 May 2013 21:54:21 GMT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_VETERANS_HEALTH_CARE?SITE=TXODE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT By LOLITA C. BALDOR AND PAULINE JELINEK 2013-05-22T21:54:21Z http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_LEAK_PROBE?SITE=TXODE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal judge apologized Wednesday for an 18-month delay in unsealing documents in a case involving an alleged leak of classified information to a reporter.... Wed, 22 May 2013 20:43:40 GMT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_LEAK_PROBE?SITE=TXODE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT By FREDERIC J. FROMMER 2013-05-22T20:43:40Z http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_KEYSTONE_XL_PIPELINE?SITE=TXODE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Republicans pushed through a bill Wednesday to bypass the president to speed approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to Texas. Democrats criticized the legislation as a blatant attempt to allow a foreign company to avoid environmental review.... Thu, 23 May 2013 00:37:41 GMT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_KEYSTONE_XL_PIPELINE?SITE=TXODE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT By MATTHEW DALY 2013-05-23T00:37:41Z