In the end, you have to make a prediction and take responsibility for it.  I believe the mandate will not be invalidated tomorrow.  Far less important, I expect the principal opinion will be written by the Chief Justice; a majority of the Court will find it has jurisdiction; and the challenge to the Medicaid expansion will be rejected.

The truth about the Fast and Furious scandal  —  A Fortune investigation reveals that the ATF never intentionally allowed guns to fall into the hands of Mexican drug cartels.  How the world came to believe just the opposite is a tale of rivalry, murder, and political bloodlust.

Democratic campaign chair tells candidates to avoid convention  —  (Reuters) - The man responsible for getting Democrats elected to the U.S. Congress this fall has a message for his party's candidates: Stay away from the Democratic National Convention.  —  “If they want to win an election …

A third of Earthlings believe in UFOs, would befriend aliens  —  Aliens often compete with superheroes, vampires and zombies to top hit movie lists — but more than a third of Americans say UFOs are not a fantasy.  —  That's the word from a new National Geographic Channel study finding …

WashPost will not retract ‘outsourcing’ story  —  The Washington Post will not retract their June 21 report about Bain Capital's investments in firms that specialized in outsourcing American jobs, POLITICO has learned.  —  “We are very confident in our reporting,” Washington Post spokesperson …

The Mandate Represents What's Wrong With Democrats  —  Tomorrow, the Supreme Court is expected to hand down its ruling on Obamacare—and, in particular, the individual mandate, which requires individuals to purchase health insurance whether they want it or not.  —  Let us hope that the Court invalidates this law.

Uninsured and fighting blazes: Welcome to the life of a federal firefighter  —  Right now, wildfires of “epic proportions” are tearing through the Colorado forests.  —  Thousands of federal firefighters charged with taming the blazes do not have health insurance.  —  That includes 27-year-old John Lauer.

It's Lung Cancer  —  Stage III, inoperable.  Median survival prognosis: One year after diagnosis.  —  Which is, as it turns out, the reason I haven't been accomplishing much, including posting here and making progress on the sequel to Temporary Duty.  The details are complicated, and I don't have the energy to fully explain.

PROTESTERS SHOW UP TO RALLY AGAINST KARL ROVE — BUT CAN'T REALLY SAY WHO KARL ROVE IS  —  Organized protesters set out to counter the issue of money in politics while marching over a mile through Washington DC last week.  The heat index was a blistering 90 degrees, which seemed to add …

Unemployed Brooklyn man misses job interview to save 9-month-old boy who was blown into path of oncoming subway train  —  Like a superhero without a cape, Delroy Simmonds jumps onto elevated tracks and hoists bleeding child — still strapped into stroller — to safety of the platform as J train bore down on them.

Ann Romney And Michelle Obama Face Off In Presidential Cookie Bakeoff  —  “I'm not sure about these cookies.  They don't look like you made them. ...”  No, no. They came from the local 7-eleven, bakery, or whatever.  Respond to This ↑  —  Flag  —  Michelle Obama has a law degree …

For Romney Superfan, a New Truck Courtesy of the Candidate  —  Jim Wilson, the peripatetic, profane, pipe-smoking volunteer for Mitt Romney whose ubiquitous pickup truck was destroyed in a fire last week, has a new set of wheels, donated by the campaign to which he has devoted a year of his life.

Laffer Curve  —  This panel explores the extent to which economists agree or disagree on major public policy issues.  To assess such beliefs we assembled this panel of expert economists.  Statistics teaches that a sample of (say) 40 opinions will be adequate to reflect a broader population …