Congress is off this week.

House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy may have lost more members of his own party during recent votes than his predecessors might have, but he's standing by his laid-back style and "brushing off questions about his laid-back style, insisting a gentler approach to bringing his Conference together will pay better dividends than an iron fist."

While Democratic leaders were split in their support about the recent series of short-term spending bills, centrists don't seem that concerned. The Hill: "A number of moderate Democrats, however, aren't sweating the threats. They say the recent votes are too obscure, the cuts too small, and Democratic leaders too unknown to stir many emotions back in their districts."

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin is keeping up the heat on his Democratic colleagues over the budget, by the way.

The mounting number of waivers to some employers and unions is becoming ever-riper fodder for criticism to opponents of the health-care overhaul.

Maureen Dowd checks in with former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), now head of the Motion Picture Association of America.