The political landscape in the United States is set to lose one of its most outspoken  - and polarising - characters with the announcement by Tea Party heroine Michele Bachmann that she will not be seeking re-election to the House of Representatives in her Minnesota constituency in next year’s mid-term elections.

Right-wing columnist launches her own branded merchandise as she takes on the American market

Isn't he the next Republican presidential candidate?

The Sunday papers were buzzing with news that Britain's alleged answer to Barack Obama is launching an audacious bid to topple David Cameron. But, er, who is he?

Tina Fey and Poehler replaced Ricky Gervais as this year's hosts. But unlike Fey, her blond counterpart is relatively unknown this side of the pond

As of this January, woman will occupy more seats than ever in the US Congress. Various theories abound as to why this is, most popularly, that controversial Republican comments on rape and abortion sparked a backlash, but Jennifer Lawless of American University has a better idea: media bias against women is on the decline.

Debates between Vice Presidential candidates typically draw in half the audience of their presidential counterparts - but those who did settle down last night to Joe Biden vs. Paul Ryan were treated to a classic. And, this time, the Democrats didn't take a pasting. We round-up the morning's reaction.

Surely it's not the end of Sesame Street?

The man who pays his way

Interest in Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney's vice-presidential running mate, is understandably at an all-time high. But it appears that Americans aren't particularly intrigued by his policies – instead, they want his abs. After "Paul Ryan budget", the top search term on Google for articles about the Republican candidate is "Paul Ryan shirtless". The 42-year-old used the P90X video workout – which apparently takes 90 days of exercise and good nutrition to turn you from a Mr Creosote to a preening Adonis – to craft his enviable physique. Its year-on-year sales have doubled in the past week.

Romney may wish to frame the election as a choice about the budget. But the true battle is ideological

Having fulfilled his initial task of providing a sorely needed jolt of excitement to the Republican faithful, Paul Ryan today went solo for the first time as vice presidential candidate-to-be, taking on Barack Obama directly in one of the key swing states in November’s election.

Breathe easy, Donald Trump is not going to be the Republican running mate in the presidential election and has no chance of ever being one heartbeat away from controlling America’s nuclear codes. We know this because his profile on Wikipedia, the encyclopaedia site, hasn’t been touched in weeks.

Our writer is sceptical about those who find it easy to be happy