Michelle Obama confronts protester, threatens to leave fundraiser  —  First Lady Michelle Obama experienced a rare face-to-face encounter with a protester late Tuesday - approaching the activist and threatening to leave a fundraiser if the person did not stop interrupting her speech.

Rice to Replace Donilon in the Top National Security Post  —  WASHINGTON — In a major shakeup of President Obama's foreign-policy inner circle, Tom Donilon, the national security adviser, is resigning and will be replaced by Susan E. Rice, the American ambassador to the United Nations, White House officials said late Tuesday.

Rubio: I will vote against my own immigration bill unless changes are made … Sen. Marco Rubio, the leading Republican behind the Gang of Eight comprehensive immigration reform bill, says he will not vote for the legislation he helped write and has staked his political future on …

Grassley: Obama hasn't called me in four years  —  Sen. Chuck Grassley, a pivotal deal-maker in Congress, said Tuesday that he has not received a phone call from President Obama in four years.  —  The lack of communication between the Iowa Republican and the president is an indication that Obama's new …

Christie's self-serving stunt: Editorial  —  Gov. Chris Christie has a town hall meeting at Raritan Valley Community College  —  Gov. Chris Christie's decision to hold the U.S. Senate election three weeks before the general election in November is a shameless move that will waste …

Almost Half of Americans Say Obama Untruthful About IRS  —  Almost half of Americans say President Barack Obama isn't telling the truth when he says he didn't know the Internal Revenue Service was giving extra scrutiny to the applications of small government groups seeking tax-exempt status.

Kathleen Sebelius won't waive regulation for girl with five weeks to live: ‘Someone lives and someone dies’ … Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius rebuffed an appeal from Rep. Lou Barletta on behalf of a girl who needs a lung transplant but can't get one because of a federal regulation …

David Plouffe's big gamble  —  David Plouffe has helped win two national elections, written a bestselling political how-to book and earned the undying affection of Obama supporters by the millions.  —  But Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), President Barack Obama's high congressional inquisitor …

Cut the Strings to George III  —  WASHINGTON — You see glistening mermaid sightings on Animal Planet more than you catch glimpses of vintage John McCain on Capitol Hill.  —  But there he was on Tuesday, succinctly saying what needed to be said about the scourge of sexual assault cases in the military.

Examiner Editorial: IRS targeting of Tea Party is no mere political scandal  —  Alabama Tea Party leader Becky Gerritson was roundly applauded yesterday when her voice cracked as she concluded her testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee about the illegal harassment …

MLB seeks to suspend A-Rod, Braun  —  Major League Baseball will seek to suspend about 20 players connected to the Miami-area clinic at the heart of an ongoing performance-enhancing drug scandal, including Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun, possibly within the next few weeks, “Outside the Lines” has learned.

Republican Jason Smith easily wins 8th District congressional race  —  • By Kevin McDermott kmcdermott@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8268  —  Conservative Republican state Rep. Jason Smith, whose steep rise in Jefferson City coincided with Missouri's sharp political move rightward, is headed for Congress.