President Obama's Dragnet  —  Within hours of the disclosure that the federal authorities routinely collect data on phone calls Americans make, regardless of whether they have any bearing on a counterterrorism investigation, the Obama administration issued the same platitude it has offered every …

Christie names N.J. attorney general Jeffrey Chiesa to fill Lautenberg's seat  —  TRENTON —Gov. Chris Christie today named state attorney general Jeffrey Chiesa to fill the Senate seat left vacant by the death of U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg.  —  Chiesa said he won't seek election later this year.

In Gay Marriage Debate, Both Supporters and Opponents See Legal Recognition as ‘Inevitable’  —  OVERVIEW  —  As support for gay marriage continues to increase, nearly three-quarters of Americans - 72% - say that legal recognition of same-sex marriage is “inevitable.”

Manhunt over, Deval Patrick tied one on  —  Candid gov discusses attacks  —  By:  —  Gov. Deval Patrick gave a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the horrific days after the Boston Marathon bombings, telling employees at a Cambridge marketing firm yesterday he got “quite drunk” the day after the intense manhunt finally ended.

'It's Called Protecting America': Senators Defend NSA On Phone Records  —  The top two senators on the Intelligence Committee on Thursday defended the National Security Agency's collection of Americans' phone records after it was reported in The Guardian.  —  “It is lawful.

House votes to defund Obama's ‘administrative amnesty’ for immigrants  —  The House voted Thursday morning to defund President Obama's orders that allow officials to focus deportation efforts on illegal immigrants who have been convicted of crimes.  —  Republicans have argued that these orders amount …

Jury acquits escort shooter  —  Ezekiel Gilbert denied he meant to kill Craigslist escort.  —  A Bexar County jury on Wednesday acquitted Ezekiel Gilbert of murder in the death of a 23-year-old Craigslist escort.  —  Gilbert, 30, embraced defense attorneys Bobby Barrera and Roy Barrera Sr …

Sick Girl May Get a Lung but It's Not a Happy Ending  —  A child dying of cystic fibrosis now has a shot at a lung transplant.  A federal judge in Pennsylvania has ordered the Department of Health and Human Services to let 10-year-old Sarah Murnaghan move from waiting list for lungs …

Grand Bargain Loses Center For American Progress Support In Major Blow To Austerity  —  WASHINGTON — The Center for American Progress, a pillar of the Democratic establishment in Washington is walking away from the broad negotiations aimed at reaching a “grand bargain,” …

Atheist Chaplains Would Call Fallen Soldiers ‘Worm Food,’ GOP Congressman Says (VIDEO)  —  WASHINGTON — There are no atheists in foxholes, the saying goes.  Republicans in Congress don't want them in the military chaplain corps, either.  —  That's after New Jersey Democratic …

Revealed: Letters From Republicans Seeking Obamacare Money  —  It's the height of hypocrisy: They call for repeal of the law but plead for its dollars on behalf of constituents.  —  This article appeared in the June 24-July 1, 2013 edition of The Nation.  —   

‘War on women’ returns  —  Still, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is cooking up state-by-state releases calling on possible GOP Senate candidates to condemn remarks from GOP leaders.  —  “These comments make Todd Akin look moderate.  Republicans have offended women across the country,” said DSCC spokeswoman Regan Page.

Report Says IRS Approved Tax-Exempt Status For Twice as Many Conservative Groups as Liberal Groups  —  Here's an interesting tidbit from the newsletter Tax Notes.  As we all know by now, the IRS applies extra scrutiny to a group applying for tax-exempt status if it suspects the group is political in nature.