Cory Booker commits the classic Washington gaffe  —  In Washington, there's an old cliche: A gaffe is when a politician is accidentally honest.  —  That's what happened to Newark (N.J.) Mayor Cory Booker during an appearance on NBC's “Meet the Press” on Sunday.

Jesse Jackson says hits on Jeremiah Wright pain him  —  Civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson defended Monday controversial Rev. Jeremiah Wright, saying that it was a “source of pain” to see him criticized in the media.  —  “I know it's a source of pain for me to see him used as an object …

Video stirs debate on teacher's actions in North class  —  SPENCER — After reviewing a video in which a North Rowan High School teacher tells a student he can be arrested for speaking ill of President Barack Obama, the Rowan-Salisbury School System said it can be a learning experience.

UT/TT Poll: Runoffs Loom in U.S. Senate Race … Texas' Republican primary for U.S. Senate is close — and could be headed for a July 31 runoff — with Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst holding a single-digit lead over former Solicitor General Ted Cruz, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll.

Limbaugh takes post-Fluke ratings hit  —  Rush Limbaugh took a significant ratings hit in some key radio markets last month in the wake of the Sandra Fluke controversy.  —  The conservative radio host's ratings fell 27 percent in the key 25-54 demo in New York City, 31 percent in Houston-Galveston …

TPMDC  —  How Republicans Have Gained The Upper Hand In The Fight Over The Violence Against Women Act  —  An obscure parliamentary snafu has stymied Democrats' aggressive efforts to extend Violence Against Women Act protections to same-sex couples, illegal immigrants, and tribal communities …

White House visitor logs provide window into lobbying industry  —  Before 9 a.m., a group of lobbyists began showing up at the White House security gates with the chief executives of their companies, all of whom serve on President Obama's jobs council, to be checked in for a roundtable with the president.

The changing complexity of congressional speech  —  Congress now speaks at almost a full grade level lower than it did just seven years ago, with the most conservative members of Congress speaking on average at the lowest grade level, according to a new Sunlight Foundation analysis of the Congressional Record using Capitol Words.

Dick Cheney to Raise Money for Mitt Romney  —  Former Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne, will host a July fund-raiser for Mitt Romney at their home in Jackson Hole, Wyo., according to a save-the-date e-mail from the Romney campaign.  —  The event will help the likely Republican nominee tap …

Mitt Romney's Mormon faith tangles with a quirk of Arkansas history  —  CARROLLTON, Ark. — On the wildflower-studded slopes of the Ozarks, where memories run long and family ties run thick, a little-known and long-ago chapter of history still simmers.  —  On Sept. 11, 1857 …

NC Pastor Wants To Build Electrified Fence To Contain, Starve And Ultimately Kill Gays: VIDEO  —  In a sermon blasting President Obama for his same-sex marriage support, Pastor Charles L. Worley of Providence Road Baptist Church in Maiden, North Carolina, offered a novel — and horrific …

Dems say no changing horses now  —  Despite Warren's heritage woes ...  Bay State Democrats are standing by their woman, saying they're confident in embattled Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren — now three weeks into a persistent scandal over her claims of Native American heritage …

Europe is driving full-tilt, foot on the pedal, into a brick wall  —  It's unbelievable that we should be urging our neighbours to adopt a tighter fiscal union, argues Boris Johnson.  —  I see the G8 has a brilliant solution to the problems of the eurozone.  President Obama says it's time for “growth and jobs”.

The Worst Union in America  —  How the California Teachers Association betrayed the schools and crippled the state  —  In 1962, as tensions ran high between school districts and unions across the country, members of the National Education Association gathered in Denver for the organization's 100th annual convention.

Obama, Romney Each Has Economic Strengths With Americans  —  Obama preferred for healthcare costs; Romney preferred for deficit  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Americans see the cost of healthcare, the federal budget deficit, and unemployment as the most important economic issues facing the country today …