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.

BREAKING: Cardinal Dolan of NY, Cardinal Wuerl of D.C., Notre Dame—And 40 Other Catholic Dioceses and Organizations—Sue Obama Administration  —  (CNSNews.com) - The archdiocese of New York, headed by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archdiocese of Washington, D.C., headed by Cardinal Donald Wuerl …

The changing complexity of congressional speech  —  (This post was prepared in collaboration with Dan Drinkard)  —  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 …

Candidate: I'll smoke a joint on Hill  —  Andy Caffrey, a candidate for Congress in California, has made a rather unusual campaign promise: If he wins, he'll smoke a joint — right on the steps of Capitol Hill.  —  The 54-year-old is running on a seven-step platform that prioritizes battling …

WATCH: NYPD Sgt.'s filthy tirade captured in shocking cellphone video  —  A uniformed NYPD sergeant was caught on video unleashing a vulgar tirade against a group of Brooklyn men — threatening them with his gun even while condoning their criminal behavior, The Post has learned.

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 …

None So Blind  —  As those who will not see.  —  Eddie Lazear has an op-ed in the WSJ on the fiscal cliff that, among other things, pooh-poohs any concerns that sudden cuts in spending might hurt the economy.  He weasels a bit, but basically conveys the impression that there's no evidence for Keynesian effects.

Dharun Ravi is sentenced  —  Moments ago, Judge Berman decided to sentence Dharun Ravi to 30 days in jail.  We have been public in taking a position of balance: We opposed throwing the book at Dharun Ravi.  We have spoken out against giving him the maximum sentence of 10 years in jail and against deporting him.

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

‘NOT THE REAL WORLD’  —  Obama officials pressured contractors to change job loss figures, recordings reveal  —  Obama administration officials may have pressured government contractors to change job loss estimates associated with coal regulations, audio recordings reveal.

Missouri Legislature Approves Bill Allowing Employers To Deny Access To Birth Control  —  Missouri legislators passed a bill Friday that allows employers or health insurance providers to stop offering coverage for contraception, abortion, or sterilization if doing so violates their religious or moral convictions.

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 …