US Sen. Frank Lautenberg dies at 89  —  Frank R. Lautenberg, who rose from a poor Paterson boyhood to become a multimillionaire businessman and New Jersey's longest-serving U.S.senator, died Monday at 89 of viral pneumonia, his office said.  —  The oldest member of the Senate …

David Plouffe rips Darrell Issa ‘loose ethically’  —  Former White House senior adviser David Plouffe took to Twitter to question Rep. Darrell Issa's ethics after the California Republican trashed press secretary Jay Carney.  —  “Strong words from Mr Grand Theft Auto and suspected arsonist/insurance swindler.

Supreme Court allows police to obtain DNA samples without warrant  —  Police can take DNA samples from those under arrest the same as they take fingerprints and photographs, the Supreme Court said in a 5-4 decision on Monday.  —  The ruling defied the court's traditional ideological divisions.

GOP Report Warns Of Party's Apocalypse With Young Voters  —  The Republican Party's troubles with young voters are well known.  But a new internal report virtually elevates the threat level to apocalyptic, declaring that the GOP needs a “fundamental re-thinking” of its approach in order to remain viable with the younger generation.

On the Brink of a Feud With Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly Backed Down  —  A new book claims he did so on orders from Roger Ailes.  Are conservative critiques of talk radio suppressed?  —  Almost no one remembers Bill O'Reilly's searing attack on Rush Limbaugh-style talk radio hosts in 2008.

Biden cancels annual summer beach party  —  Vice President Joe Biden will not be throwing his annual beach party for journalists this summer, POLITICO has learned.  —  Since 2010, Vice President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden have invited top journalists to their home at the Naval Observatory …

Devoted to Politics, MSNBC Slips on Breaking News  —  At MSNBC they view it as rooting against death and destruction: the last thing the channel wants is more months like the last two, filled with terror bombings, tornadoes and plant accidents.  —  It's not all altruism.

A $4.6 Trillion Opportunity  —  Immigration reform will improve Social Security's finances.  —  The Senate immigration bill has ignited a debate over the fiscal costs of reform, with some conservatives claiming costs far exceed the benefits.  We think that's wrong, and one place to look …

E.W. Jackson says Cuccinelli in 2010 suggested that he run for Va. lieutenant governor  —  E.W. Jackson, the Republicans' choice for lieutenant governor, said Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II helped plant the seed for his candidacy for Virginia's second-highest office.

Scandalpalooza  —  Is Team O trying to tire us out?  —  The Obama Scandalpalooza continues.  It's gotten so bad that some pundits have even suggested that they're bringing everything out at once to induce “scandal fatigue” and make it all fade away.  Well, maybe — there's certainly a lot:

Anatomy of a Bogus Obamacare Argument  —  If you want to know why we can't have an honest debate about Obamacare, all you have to do is pay attention to some recent news from California—and the way a highly distorted version of it, by one irresponsible writer, has rippled through the conservative press.

Professors Are About to Get an Online Education  —  Georgia Tech's new Internet master's degree in computer science is the future.  —  Anyone who cares about America's shortage of computer-science experts should cheer the recent news out of Georgia Tech.  The Atlanta university …

Former RNC chairman Steele mulls Maryland gubernatorial bid  —  Former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele is considering running for governor in his home state of Maryland.  —  “We're looking at it,” Steele told MSNBC's Chuck Todd on Monday.  “You're going take a look at the numbers.

Mayhem in the city: 25 people shot in 48 hours  —  Three killed Sunday after three were killed Saturday.  One of the wounded includes an 11-year-old girl who will never walk again.  —  Cops check the scene of a deadly gun battle at Bedford Ave. and Lenox Road in Brooklyn on Sunday.

Al Sharpton's Long Bill of Goods, From Tawana Brawley to Primetime  —  As a ‘Times’ documentary revives one of the many ugly incidents from the reverend's past, it's time NBC accounted for its decision to rehabilitate and promote him, writes Stuart Stevens.  —  The Tawana Brawley case …

All Good Things...  So it's been a rough month for my family and me.  It's been a rough month for the blog too.  I'm well aware that people come here to read about public affairs, not personal losses.  —  Unfortunately, family and personal matters must claim my attention for some time to come.