Kagan may get confirmed, but Thurgood Marshall can forget it  —  Oppo researchers digging into Elena Kagan's past didn't get the goods on the Supreme Court nominee — but they did get the Thurgood.  —  As confirmation hearings opened Monday afternoon, Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee took …

In Ordinary Lives, U.S. Sees the Work of Russian Agents  —  WASHINGTON — They had lived for more than a decade in American cities and suburbs from Seattle to New York, where they seemed to be ordinary couples working ordinary jobs, chatting to the neighbors about gardening and schools, apologizing for noisy teenagers.

In Ireland, a Picture of the High Cost of Austerity  —  DUBLIN — As Europe's major economies focus on belt-tightening, they are following the path of Ireland.  But the once thriving nation is struggling, with no sign of a rapid turnaround in sight.  —  Nearly two years ago …

Dems quietly cheer gun ruling  —  When the Supreme Court extended the individual right to own a gun Monday, they handed Second Amendment advocates—many of whom are at home in the GOP—one of their most significant legal victories ever.  —  But who won the day in politics?  The Democrats.

Collins Pulls Back Support For Wall Street Bill Over Bank Tax  —  Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) joined Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) this evening, putting herself back into the undecided column on Wall Street reform legislation, after House and Senate negotiators added new fees on banks to the final bill late last week.

Obama's good for GOP, Boehner says  —  PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW  —  House Minority Leader John Boehner, the Ohio Republican with his eye on Speaker Nancy Pelosi's gavel, said the tide is turning the GOP's way.  —  “The American people have written off the Democrats,” …

Gen. Petraeus' nomination puts some Democrats in awkward spot  —  President Barack Obama's nomination of Gen. David Petraeus has put some Democrats in a politically awkward position.  —  While Senate Democrats are expected to rally behind Petraeus to replace Gen. Stanley McChrystal …

Feingold leads by 2  —  It's looking more and more likely that Wisconsin will be in the top tier of competitive Senate races this fall.  Russ Feingold leads challenger Ron Johnson by only two points, 45-43.  Johnson is polling closer to Feingold than Tommy Thompson was as he contemplated a potential campaign.

From Washington Post To NBCU: Dave Weigel Joins MSNBC As Paid Contributor  —  Team Weigel rejoice - it didn't take Dave Weigel very long to land on his feet after he resigned last week from The Washington Post.  —  Tonight at the end of Countdown, Keith Olbermann introduced new “MSNBC contributor” Dave Weigel.

Lara Logan, You Suck  —  Lara Logan, come on down!  You're the next guest on Hysterical Backstabbing Jealous Hackfest 2010!  —  I thought I'd seen everything when I read David Brooks saying out loud in a New York Times column that reporters should sit on damaging comments to save their sources from their own idiocy.

Sharron Angle, Camera-Shy Candidate, Shifts Coverage  —  RENO — There is a game in Nevada called “Where's Sharron Angle?” that the press is tired of playing.  —  Ms. Angle, a Nevada Senate candidate and Tea Party darling, has steadfastly refused to talk to reporters here …

Wrong Track Distress  —  It's getting harder and harder for most Americans, looking honestly at the state of the nation, to see the glass as half full.  And that's why the public opinion polls contain nothing but bad news for Barack Obama and the Democrats.

IN WHICH I HAVE A FASCINATING INTERVIEW WITH MYSELF  —  ME: So, where the hell have you been for a week?  Cobwebs are forming all over the blog not to mention the fact you've probably lost readers by the bushel.  —  RM: Au contraire.  My sitemeter says I have actually increased my readership by about 10%.