GOP congressman: Rate of pregnancies from rape is ‘very low’  —  Another Republican congressman ventured into the realm of rape and pregnancy Wednesday, saying at a committee hearing that incidences of pregnancy from rape are “very low.”  —  Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) …

Americans Disapprove of Government Surveillance Programs  —  Americans split on whether leaker did the right or wrong thing  —  PRINCETON, NJ — More Americans disapprove (53%) than approve (37%) of the federal government agency program that as part of its efforts to investigate terrorism obtained records …

Glenn Greenwald to Pete King: Bring it on  —  A number of commentators have already suggested that Edwards Snowden should be prosecuted for leaking explosive details about the NSA programs.  But today, for the first time, a member of Congress called for prosecution of Glenn Greenwald …

Schumer: Cornyn Border Security Amendment A ‘Non-Starter’ And We Are Not Negotiating With Him  —  Democrats want it to be crystal clear.  They don't think Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) is crucial to passing immigration reform.  So they aren't negotiating with him over his non-starter amendment …

Arizona Senator's Son Used Homophobic, Anti-Semitic Language On Twitter  —  “He has apologized and I apologize as well,” says Senator Jeff Flake.  —  WASHINGTON — Sen. Jeff Flake's high school-aged son Tanner used Twitter to threaten the “faggot” who stole his bike that he “will find you …

NSA leaker Edward Snowden: U.S. targets China with hackers  —  HONG KONG — Edward Snowden, the self-confessed leaker of secret surveillance documents, claimed Wednesday that the United States has mounted massive hacking operations against hundreds of Chinese targets since 2009.

Public Conversations on Facebook  —  Every day, hundreds of millions of people use Facebook to share their thoughts on big moments happening all around them.  Whether it's talking about a favorite television show, cheering on a hometown sports team or engaging with friends during a breaking news event …

Conservative group making big ad buy in Mass. Senate race  —  A conservative group is launching an ad buy supporting Republican Gabriel Gomez's Senate campaign in Massachusetts.  —  A source affiliated with the group, Americans for Progressive Action, confirmed to The Hill that its going up with a …

NRA hits former ally Manchin with new ads on gun control fight  —  The National Rifle Association is targeting Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) with new ads urging him not to help President Obama and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) pass new gun restrictions.  —  The NRA is spending $100,000 …

Blaming Cincinnati a ‘Nuclear Strike on Us,’ Says Cincy IRS Employee  —  A Cincinnati-based Internal Revenue Service employee is pushing back against claims by Lois Lerner and other top IRS officials that the agency's Cincinnati office was responsible for the the targeting of tea-party groups …

HGTV: Use American Flag as Table Cloth  —  HGTV viewers are expressing outrage after the network suggested they use American flags as table cloths for Fourth of July celebrations.  Many viewers called it offensive, un-American and an insult to the American military.  —  FOLLOW TODD ON FACEBOOK FOR CULTURE WAR NEWS.

CIA's deputy director to be replaced with White House lawyer  —  The CIA's deputy director plans to resign and will be replaced by White House lawyer and agency outsider Avril D. Haines, Director John O. Brennan said Wednesday.  —  Haines, who will succeed career officer Michael Morell on Aug. 9 …

Dear 2016 Democratic Upstart  —  To: 2016 White House Candidates (Democrats Only)  —  Since you have time to read an unsolicited memo with such a provocative subject line, it is safe to assume that your name is not Hillary or Joe.  —  That's good because I am not writing for the establishment types …

Grandma, 72, shoots at home intruder in California, defends actions  —  STANTON, CALIF. - A 72-year-old Southern California grandmother who shot at — and narrowly missed — a man trying to break into her home said Tuesday she was shocked at the attention her action was getting but does …

Health Care's Overlooked Cost Factor  —  When the Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Corporation merged its two hospitals with the neighboring Highland Park Hospital just north of Chicago 13 years ago, the deal was presented as an opportunity to increase efficiency and improve the quality of patient care.

Panel rejects pulling sex assault cases from military's chain of command  —  The Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday voted against removing sexual assault cases from the military's chain of command.  —  The panel voted 17-9 to include in the Defense authorization bill an alternative …