Statement From Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on the Death of Hugo Chavez  —  Rosalynn and I extend our condolences to the family of Hugo Chávez Frías.  We met Hugo Chávez when he was campaigning for president in 1998 and The Carter Center was invited to observe elections for the first time in Venezuela.

Obama Administration Says President Can Use Lethal Force Against Americans on US Soil  — Drones: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know But Were Always Afraid to Ask  — Here's Why Obama Won't Say Whether He Can Kill You With a Drone: Because He Probably Can  — 8 Drones That Aren't Out to Kill You

Sources: Paul Ryan to reject Medicare age shift  —  Rep. Paul Ryan's budget is now expected to exempt seniors 55 years old and above from his Medicare overhaul — despite his personal preference to raise that age to 56 — according to several GOP sources familiar with his plans.

Jon Stewart Taking Summer ‘Daily Show’ Hiatus To Direct First Film And “Challenge” Himself, John Oliver To Sub  —  UPDATE: After I broke the news, Jon Stewart told the media his feelings about going from television to movies.  “I am a television person who is accustomed to having a thought …

White House cancels tours over sequester cuts, as lawmakers call decision political  —  Sorry, Washington-bound spring-breakers.  Your White House tours have been canceled.  —  The Obama administration announced Tuesday that it will cancel all tours starting this weekend, due to sequester cuts.

GOP lawmakers say spending bill should target contraception mandate  —  A group of House Republicans said Tuesday that a bill to fund the federal government should include provisions targeting the contraception mandate in President Obama's healthcare law.  —  GOP lawmakers reintroduced …

Zimmerman Stuns Court, Waives Right to ‘Stand Your Ground’ Hearing in Trayvon Martin Case  —  ABC News - Zimmerman Stuns Court, Waives Right to ‘Stand Your Ground’ Hearing in Trayvon Martin Case (ABC News)  —  George Zimmerman's attorneys stunned court observers Tuesday when they waived …

New Report: Radical antigovernment movement continues explosive growth; SPLC urges government to review resources devoted to domestic terrorism  —  The number of conspiracy-minded antigovernment “Patriot” groups on the American radical right reached an all-time high in 2012 …

Bill would forbid parents from getting no-fault divorce  —  Seven Republicans in the Iowa House are pushing a bill to prohibit parents of minor children from getting a “no fault” divorce and the proposal could be debated in a House committee this week.  —  A three-member subcommittee debated the bill today.

TSA Will Permit Knives, Golf Clubs on U.S. Planes  —  The U.S. Transportation Security Administration will let people carry small pocketknives onto passenger planes for the first time since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, along with golf clubs, hockey sticks and plastic Wiffle Ball-style bats.

Jeb Bush Bashes Romney, Obamacare In New Book  —  Jeb Bush's new tome, “Immigration Wars: Forging An American Solution,” hit bookstores on Tuesday and is already making waves in the immigration debate and 2016 sweepstakes alike.  —  Bush's book, co-authored by Goldwater Institute director Clint Bolick …

Disgraced Ex-Congressman Attacks John Boehner in New Book  —  Bob Ney, who was imprisoned for his role in the Jack Abramoff scandal, has some scores to settle.  —  Former Congressman Bob Ney has spent time in India with devotees of the Dalai Lama since being released from prison.  (Tsering Chonay)

Email tells feds to make sequester as painful as promised  —  The Obama administration denied an appeal for flexibility in lessening the sequester's effects, with an email this week appearing to show officials in Washington that because they already had promised the cuts would be devastating, they now have to follow through on that.

Obama Admin Wants to Deport Christian Home School Family  —  The Romeike family fled their German homeland in 2008 seeking political asylum in the United States - where they hoped to home school their children.  Instead, the Obama administration wants the evangelical Christian family deported.