Politics

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Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican, is facing a moment of truth in his fight to defund Obamacare, according to many media outlets. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Angela Merkel, German chancellor and chairwoman of the Christian Democratic party, smiles during a news conference after a party's board meeting in Berlin on Sept. 23, 2013. (Associated Press)

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**FILE** Then-Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama talks on the phone aboard his campaign plane after landing in St. Louis on July 7, 2008. (Associated Press)

Washington Capitals right wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, talks with Michael Latta, right, during the first period an NHL preseason hockey game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Washington Capitals right wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, talks to Dmitry Orlov, left, also of Russia, during the third period of an NHL preseason hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, Sept. 20, 2013, in Washington. The Blackhawks won 5-4 in a shootout. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Masked Palestinian members of the Ezz Al-Din Al Qassam militia, the military wing of Hamas, march in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)