On Today's Ruling in Virginia  —  Since the enactment of health reform legislation in March, several state Attorneys General have filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act.  Having failed in the legislative arena, opponents of reform are now turning to the courts …

Harman buys Newsweek, Meacham out  —  The Washington Post Co. has sold Newsweek to Sidney Harman, a wealthy industrialist and husband of Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.), and Jon Meacham will not remain as the magazine's editor, the company has confirmed.  —  The terms of the deal were not announced …

Mitch McConnell Wants Hearing On 14th Amendment ‘Birthright Citizenship’  —  WHAT'S YOUR REACTION?  —  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) officially supports a review of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which grants children of undocumented immigrants status as U.S. citizens …

Rudy: GZ Mosque is a ‘desecration,’ ‘decent Muslims’ won't be offended  —  This went way under the radar three weeks ago, but Rudy Giuliani made what, as best as I can tell, were his first public comments about the planned mosque near Ground Zero on the Jeff Katz show on radio (someone will I'm sure correct me if I'm wrong).

GOP Resumes Favorable Standing on Generic Ballot  —  Democratic enthusiasm for voting in midterms is the lowest seen this year  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Registered voters favor Republicans by 48% and Democrats by 43% in Gallup's generic congressional ballot for the week of July 26 through Aug. 1.

Set the Timer?  —  I hate to say it.  But anybody got a guess how long Christiane Amanpour lasts at This Week?  —  To be clear, I think she was an absolutely inspired choice by the ABC brass.  Brilliant.  But with this pushback from the right, do they have the stomach?

QUOTE OF THE DAY.... Throughout July, Republican leaders were aggressive in touting their belief in the Tax Fairy — there's no need to worry about paying for tax cuts, because they magically pay for themselves.  It was a startling example of “invincible ignorance,” but from the Senate Minority Leader …

Ethics cases raise racial questions  —  But the investigation that cost him his House Ways and Means Committee gavel grew out of an OCE-initiated probe.  While five of the other black Democrats eyed in the same affair ended up facing no sanctions from the ethics committee …

Breaking: Federal judge refuses to dismiss Virginia challenge to ObamaCare  —  The federal bench giveth ... and the federal bench taketh away.  Federal judge Henry Hudson has refused to dismiss a challenge from Virginia on the constitutionality of the individual mandate in ObamaCare.

The Death of Cap and Tax  —  Harry Reid's latest energy bill is designed not to pass.  —  President Obama's undeniable success in passing liberal legislation hasn't translated into greater popularity for himself or the Democratic Congress.  So perhaps he'll get a bump in the polls …

Remarks by the President at Disabled Veterans of America Conference in Atlanta, Georgia  —  THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you so much.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Everyone, please have a seat.  Thank you.  Thank you very much.  Thank you.  —  AUDIENCE MEMBER: Happy birthday!

In journalism's crossfire culture, everyone gets wounded  —  The nastiness index keeps on rising, and all of us are getting sullied in the process.  —  Media outlets, which once merely chronicled this era of hyper-partisanship, now seem to be both the purveyors and often the targets of ugly attacks.

THE EMPTY CHAMBER  —  Just how broken is the Senate?  —  “Sit and watch us for seven days,” one senator says of the deadlocked chamber.  “You know what you'll see happening?  Nothing.” … KEYWORDS … “This is just one of those days when you want to throw up your hands and say, ‘What in the world are we doing?’ ”

Anti-Chinese sentiment fuels extreme nationalism  —  Alarm sounds over rise of extreme groups such as Tsagaan Khass who respect Hitler and reject foreign influence  —  Their right hands rise to black-clad chests and flash out in salute to their nation: “Sieg heil!”  They praise Hitler's devotion to ethnic purity.

Mitch Miller, Maestro of the Singalong, Dies at 99  —  Mitch Miller, an influential record producer who became a hugely popular recording artist and an unlikely television star a half century ago by leading a choral group in familiar old songs and inviting people to sing along, died on Saturday in Manhattan.

Dudley, Former N.B.A. Player, Stands Out on Campaign Trail  —  PORTLAND, Ore. — Among politicians in this state, Chris Dudley stands out.  Especially when he is standing up.  —  In a visit to a rodeo in the coastal town of Tillamook, Dudley dwarfed a port commissioner who asked for greater investment in salmon hatcheries.

What Social Science Does—and Doesn't—Know  —  In early 2009, the United States was engaged in an intense public debate over a proposed $800 billion stimulus bill designed to boost economic activity through government borrowing and spending.  James Buchanan, Edward Prescott, Vernon Smith …

Could Pot Drive Turnout In Key Elections?  —  WHAT'S YOUR REACTION?  —  Putting the question of marijuana legalization on state ballots in 2012 may be one of the most effective ways for a dispirited Democratic Party to get reluctant voters out to the polls.

Lady Gaga slams Arizona immigration law SB 1070 during Phoenix concert  —  Singer Lady Gaga joined the chorus of critics blasting Arizona's controversial new immigration law during a sold-out concert in Phoenix this weekend, the Arizona Republic reported.  —  “We have to be active.

WikiLeaks must be stopped  —  Let's be clear: WikiLeaks is not a news organization; it is a criminal enterprise.  Its reason for existence is to obtain classified national security information and disseminate it as widely as possible — including to the United States' enemies.