EXCLUSIVE: Movie massacre suspect sent chilling notebook to psychiatrist before attack  —  Three days after he allegedly shot up a Colorado movie theater, killing 12 and injuring scores, suspect James Holmes appeared in court, where he seemed disheveled and disoriented.

TPMDC  —  Senate Dems Jam House Republicans, Pass Bush Tax-Cut Extension For Middle Class  —  Senate Democrats have accomplished a feat they were unable to muster back in 2009 and 2010, when they had a much larger majority: On Wednesday, they passed a bill to extend the Bush tax cuts for everyone's first $250,000 in income.

The Battle for Ballot Integrity in Pennsylvania  —  Pennsylvania is, for the moment, ground zero in the battle over voter fraud.  In March, Pennsylvania's legislature enacted a law that requires identification for voting.  The ACLU has sued to enjoin enforcement of the law …

Jeb Bush told Romney to pick Rubio  —  Jeb Bush launched a campaign of his own on Wednesday — to get fellow Floridian Sen. Marco Rubio on the GOP ticket.  —  The former Florida governor is making a big public and private push for Rubio to become the Republican vice presidential nominee …

Chicago Latest to Oppose Chick-Fil-A  —  A Chicago politician said he will block Chick-fil-A from opening a restaurant in his ward, following anti-gay marriage remarks by the fast food chain's president.  —  Alderman Joe Moreno, who represents Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood …

Democratic Voting Enthusiasm Down Sharply From 2004, 2008  —  Republicans more enthusiastic than in 2008  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Democrats are significantly less likely now (39%) than they were in the summers of 2004 and 2008 to say they are “more enthusiastic about voting than usual” in the coming presidential election.

U.S. Business Owners Now Among Least Approving of Obama  —  Professional workers are the most approving  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. business owners' approval of President Barack Obama fell in the second quarter of 2012 to 35%, essentially tying farmers and fishers for the lowest approval among major occupational groups.

Presidential debate formats announced  —  The Commission on Presidential Debates has announced the formats for the 2012 presidential and vice presidential debates, each of which will be 90-minutes long.  Moderators will be selected in August.  —  First presidential debate: October 3 …

The Story So Far  —  History may someday settle on one of the competing and contradictory narratives now running rampant within the virtual Beltway to explain the decision by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. to save the Affordable Care Act.  Since that day seems far off, here in quick summary are the emerging story lines.

Obama: AK-47s belong on battlefield, not streets  —  NEW ORLEANS - President Obama touched the sensitive issue of guns here on Wednesday, pivoting off last week's Colorado movie theater shootings to call for a “consensus around violence reduction” in the country.

Skype makes chats and user data more available to police  —  Skype, the online phone service long favored by political dissidents, criminals and others eager to communicate beyond the reach of governments, has expanded its cooperation with law enforcement authorities to make online chats …

How I was Cory Booker'd into submission  —  “How I Was Robert McNamara'd Into Submission” is the alternate title of “A Simple Desultory Philippic,” the jokey Paul Simon song that appears on Simon and Garfunkel's 1966 album, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme.  This year the Democrats …

Portman pushes bill to end shutdowns  —  Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) on Wednesday introduced a bill aimed at ending the threat of a government shutdown once and for all.  —  The bill would automatically extend government spending at current levels for 120 days when funding expires.

“We Do Absolutely Anything They Ask”: How the NRA's Grading System Keeps Congress on Lockdown  —  Mere hours after we woke up to the horrendous, terrifying news of the Aurora shooting, Mayor Michael Bloomberg took to the airwaves to criticize the candidates for their relative silence on gun policy.

Legendary Director Peter Bogdanovich: What If Movies Are Part of the Problem?  —  The director of “Targets” says: “People go to a movie to have a good time, and they get killed. ...  It makes me sick that I made a movie about it.” … People go to a movie to have a good time, and they get killed.

Negative Ads Hit at Identity to Shape Race for Presidency  —  RICHMOND, Va. — The man looks incredulous, his voice rising in exasperation as he tells President Obama to stop demonizing small-business owners.  “We need somebody who believes in America,” he says, right before viewers hear, “I'm Mitt Romney, and I approved this message.”

Rahm welcomes help from Farrakahn, ignores anti-Semitic remarks  —  Mayor Rahm Emanuel during City Council meeting Wednesday, July 26, 2012.  John H. White~Sun-Times  —  Ignoring Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan's history of anti-Semitic remarks, Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday welcomed …

Shifting Dynamics Favor G.O.P. House Majority  —  WASHINGTON — Since 2006, members of the House have faced electoral waves that swept away scores of incumbents.  —  But the 2012 struggle for control of the House is shaping up less as a partisan surge than as a series of squalls …