Obama, McCain clash at GOP lunch  —  President Barack Obama battled with Senate Republicans in a tense closed-door meeting Tuesday, facing tough criticism from his GOP adversaries — including John McCain — on issues ranging from health care to border security.

Chris Christie to teacher: If you don't like my education budget, find a new job  —  I begged for video on Twitter, my friends, but none is forthcoming.  What can I say?  I tried. … Elsewhere today, he warned about New Jersey becoming a new Greece.  In lieu of a clip of the exchange …

The decisive action Obama can take  —  As I noted this morning, there's been a palpable shift in the tone of media coverage of Obama's handling of the Gulf spill, with newly-aggressive news orgs raising more questions about whether the admistration has ceded too much control to BP.

Sarah Palin's strange, unprofessional and paranoid grudge  —  Sarah Palin took to her Facebook account today to inform her readers that Joe McGinniss, an award-winning reporter and author, had rented the house next door.  —  I saw Ben Smith flag this earlier today but did not really appreciate …

STATEMENT BY THE EMBASSY OF MEXICO  —  Regarding the Administration's decision to send 1,200 National Guard servicemen to the US Southern border, the Government of Mexico trusts that this decision will help to channel additional US resources to enhance efforts to prevent the illegal flows …

Obama heckled over 'Don't ask, don't tell' — again  —  President Barack Obama was heckled by a protester Tuesday night while at a fundraising event for Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) in San Francisco.  —  The protester was upset with the pace of the repeal of the “Don't ask, don't tell” policy barring openly gay military service members.

As Ugly as It Gets  —  I confess that when I first saw the May 17 picture of Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, joining his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and the Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with raised arms — after their signing of a putative deal …

Poll Finds Americans Pessimistic, Dissatisfied with Washington  —  CBS News Poll analysis by the CBS News Polling Unit: Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus and Anthony Salvanto.  —  Americans are frustrated with nearly everyone in Washington - including President Obama, Congress …

U.S. Is a Top Villain in Pakistan's Conspiracy Talk  —  ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Americans may think that the failed Times Square bomb was planted by a man named Faisal Shahzad.  But the view in the Supreme Court Bar Association here in Pakistan's capital is that the culprit was an American “think tank.”

Obama backs Phoenix Suns' protest of Arizona immigration law  —  President Barack Obama lent support on Tuesday night for the Phoenix Suns' protest of their home state's new immigration law.  —  The president said it was “terrific” that the Suns were socially engaged enough to wage …

Apple Is Said to Face Inquiry About Online Music  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The Justice Department is examining Apple's tactics in the market for digital music, and its staff members have talked to major music labels and Internet music companies, according to several people briefed on the conversations.

Panel Suggests Signs of Trouble Before Rig Explosion  —  In the hours before the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded last month in the Gulf of Mexico, there were strong warning signs that something was terribly wrong with the well, according to a Congressional committee that was briefed on the accident by executives from BP.

Mitch McConnell to Rand Paul: Shut your yapper!  —  The continuing implosion, better known as Rand Paul's post primary campaign, will be taking a break from self-immolation it appears.  —  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is telling fellow Kentuckian Paul to shut his pie hole.

U.S. Pledges to Help South Korea in Bid for U.N. Action  —  SEOUL, South Korea — With political and military tension increasing daily on the Korean Peninsula, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday that Washington would stand beside Seoul as it seeks redress …

EPA chief cancels DSCC appearance  —  Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, scheduled to headline a fundraiser for Senate Democrats next week in Manhattan, cancelled her appearance Tuesday afternoon, hours after a POLITICO story about the event sparked Republican criticism …

Stimulus Surprise: Companies Retrench When Government Spends  —  Q&A with:  —  Sean Silverthorne  —  Recent research at Harvard Business School began with the premise that as a state's congressional delegation grew in stature and power in Washington, D.C., local businesses would benefit …

Rush Limbaugh's Conservative Charge … In the early 1970s, if you were a resident of McKeesport, Pa., who turned your radio to WIXZ-FM in the morning, you might hear a voice belonging to a DJ named “Bachelor Jeff” Christie giving you the weather report in between Top 40 tunes.

Folks says Haley campaign consulted him on breaking silence about ‘inappropriate sexual relationship’  —  Blogger Will Folks said Tuesday that GOP gubernatorial candidate State Rep. Nikki Haley and her campaign asked him for advice on how they should handle the news of their inappropriate relationship when he broke it.