Palin Bus Tour Takes Extended Pit Stop  —  Less than a month after she appeared poised to shake up the Republican presidential campaign, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has once again receded from the 2012 limelight.  —  When Palin launched her “One Nation” bus tour on Memorial Day amid …

Climate of Denial  —  Can science and the truth withstand the merchants of poison?  —  AL GORE  —  The first time I remember hearing the question “is it real?” was when I went as a young boy to see a traveling show put on by “professional wrestlers” one summer evening in the gym …

Americans Worse Now Than When Obama Inaugurated by 44%-34% Margin in Poll  —  Two years after the official start of the recovery, the American people remain pessimistic about their current economic circumstances and longer-term prospects.  —  Fewer than a quarter of people see signs …

CBO'S 2011 LONG-TERM BUDGET OUTLOOK  —  ABSTRACT  —  This Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report presents the agency's projections of federal spending and revenues over the coming decades.  Under current law, an aging population and rapidly rising health care costs will sharply increase federal spending …

Michele Bachmann's Holy War  —  The Tea Party contender may seem like a goofball, but be warned: Her presidential campaign is no laughing matter  —  Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and, as you consider the career and future presidential prospects of an incredible American phenomenon named Michele Bachmann, do one more thing.

The Note: Where's The Beef?  Jon Huntsman Serves Up Tofu To GOP Base  —  By MICHAEL FALCONE (@michaelpfalcone) and AMY WALTER (@amyewalter)  —  As President Obama prepares to tell the American people tonight about his plan for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan …

My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant  —  One August morning nearly two decades ago, my mother woke me and put me in a cab.  She handed me a jacket.  “Baka malamig doon” were among the few words she said.  ("It might be cold there.")  When I arrived at the Philippines' Ninoy Aquino International Airport …

Newt Gingrich had second line of credit at Tiffany and Co.  —  Former House speaker Newt Gingrich had a second line of credit at the high-end jewelry store Tiffany and Co. for as much as $1 million dollars, his presidential campaign acknowledged Tuesday.  —  Joe DeSantis, a spokesman for Gingrich …

Florida Lawmaker Faces Ethics Review  —  WASHINGTON—A congressional ethics panel is investigating allegations that Florida Democratic Rep. Alcee Hastings sexually harassed a member of his staff, according to people familiar with the matter.  —  The investigation of Mr. Hastings is being conducted …

Congress Divides on Libya, Moves Toward Key Votes  —  The Senate may authorize the war, even as the House turns against it  —  Senators John McCain and John Kerry are from different political parties, but the former presidential candidates have a lot in common: both men fought in Vietnam …

Barack Obama and Pentagon split on Afghanistan pullout  —  US president set to reject military advice by withdrawing more troops from Afghanistan  —  Barack Obama is set to reject the advice of the Pentagon by announcing on Wednesday night the withdrawal of up to 30,000 troops from Afghanistan …

Six GLAAD board members resign amid AT&T flap  —  Six board members of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation have resigned amid the fallout over the organization's letter in support of AT&T's proposed bid for wireless rival T-Mobile, a person familiar with the matter told POLITICO.

NBC gives Donald a Trump-sized raise to $160M  —  Playing the presidential card has paid off for Donald Trump.  —  The real-estate mogul and reality-TV host — who kept viewers and the NBC network guessing until the last minute whether he would make a serious run at the Oval Office …

Critic of ATF gun-trafficking program raised no objection when briefed last year  —  A chief Republican critic of a controversial U.S. gun-trafficking operation was briefed on the ATF's “Fast and Furious” program last year and did not express any opposition, sources familiar with the classified briefing said Tuesday.

Tobey Maguire Sued Over Multi-Million Dollar Illegal Poker Game; DiCaprio, Affleck & Damon Involved  —  Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire is among more than a dozen high-profile Hollywood celebrities being sued in connection with a mega-millions illegal gambling ring that ran high-stakes underground poker games …

God and damage control at Yale  —  Having just killed its interdisciplinary program for the study of anti-Semitism, Yale University announced on Monday that it is launching a new program for the study of anti-Semitism.  JTA reports that Monday's announcement of the creation of the Yale Program …

Feds crack down on campus flirting and sex jokes  — TAGS: - 1950s - colleges - Department of Education - Duke lacrosse team - foundation for individual rights in education - greg lukianoff - Iowa State University - Kangaroo courts - Kentucky - Marsupial justice - Michael Barone …