Earlier Denials Put Intelligence Chief in Awkward Position  —  WASHINGTON — For years, intelligence officials have tried to debunk what they called a popular myth about the National Security Agency: that its electronic net routinely sweeps up information about millions of Americans.

Blowing a Whistle  —  I'm glad I live in a country with people who are vigilant in defending civil liberties.  But as I listen to the debate about the disclosure of two government programs designed to track suspected phone and e-mail contacts of terrorists, I do wonder if some of those who …

Secret Service “Visits” Outspoken Critic of Obama - Because of Twitter?  —  I know, RIGHT?  —  After you read this- you will wonder what country we are in.  —  Tom Francois is an outspoken critic of Barack Hussein Obama- and has a robust Twitter presence.  He also likes to dabble with his “paint” program to create funny cartoons.

Military sex assaults: Plan for outside prosecutor blocked in Senate  —  The future of the military justice system is uncertain this morning, as legislation aimed at stopping the growing number of sexual assaults in the armed forces was rejected by key members of Congress, on the grounds that the changes go too far.

FBI sharply increases use of Patriot Act provision to collect US citizens' records  —  The FBI has dramatically increased its use of a controversial provision of the Patriot Act to secretly obtain a vast store of business records of U.S. citizens under President Barack Obama, according to recent Justice Department reports to Congress.

Darrell Issa On IRS Investigation: Releasing Full Transcripts Now Would Be ‘Reckless’  —  WASHINGTON — One week after he released partial transcripts of interviews with IRS officials involved in the scandal surrounding the targeting of conservative groups, the chair of the House Oversight …

A Little Birdie Told Me  —  WASHINGTON — In her first two days on Twitter, Hillary Clinton did not bother to follow the man she wants to follow.  —  No @BarackObama for @HillaryClinton as of Tuesday night.  —  Hillary debuted firmly entrenched in Clintonworld, following Bill, Chelsea …

Walker says he will sign abortion ultrasound bill  —  Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said Tuesday he will sign a measure that's quickly working its way through the Republican-controlled Legislature that would require women seeking an abortion to undergo an ultrasound.

Former President George W. Bush's Image Ratings Improve  —  Views of Bush more positive than negative for first time since 2005  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Americans' views of former president George W. Bush have improved, with 49% now viewing him favorably and 46% unfavorably.

Iowans: State, U.S. on diverging paths  —  The frustration with Obama stands in stark contrast to Iowans' feelings about the state of their state.  —  Results of this poll had Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and his Republican advisers doing a happy dance — he gets a job approval rating of 58 percent, his all-time high for this term.

Challenging Obama-knows-best  —  “Trust-me” is President Barack Obama's preferred mode of action in times of crisis — and his go-to comment to nervous staffers has always been some version of “Relax, I got this.”  —  But that message is an increasingly hard sell for Obama in his second term …

Trailing, Gabriel Gomez takes fight to Ed Markey  —  Underdog Massachusetts Republican Senate candidate Gabriel Gomez went all out in a debate against frontrunner Ed Markey Tuesday to pin Washington's ills on the longtime Democratic congressman.  —  Gomez said the national debt, now $17 trillion …

Man Details Risks in Exposing China's Forced Labor  —  MASANJIA, China — The cry for help, a neatly folded letter stuffed inside a package of Halloween decorations sold at Kmart, traveled 5,000 miles from China into the hands of a mother of two in Oregon.  —  Scrawling in wobbly English …

Germans accuse U.S. of Stasi tactics before Obama visit  —  (Reuters) - German outrage over a U.S. Internet spying program has broken out ahead of a visit by Barack Obama, with ministers demanding the president provide a full explanation when he lands in Berlin next week and one official likening …

CBS anchor snubs sex scoop  —  CBS anchor Scott Pelley was furious after John Miller's scoop about the State Department sex scandal broke not on his “CBS Evening News,” but early Monday on “This Morning” hosted by Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Norah O'Donnell, network sources tell Page Six

Mali manual suggests al-Qaida has feared weapon  —  TIMBUKTU, Mali (AP) — The photocopies of the manual lay in heaps on the floor, in stacks that scaled one wall, like Xeroxed, stapled handouts for a class.  —  Except that the students in this case were al-Qaida fighters in Mali.

Carey Mulligan Passes on Hillary Clinton Biopic  —  The actress was being eyed to play the former first lady in James Ponsoldt's film.  —  Carey Mulligan will not be stepping into the shoes Hillary Rodham Clinton for Rodham, Temple Hill and The Arlook Group's biopic of the former first lady, New York senator and secretary of state.

Patrick Leahy files gay couples amendment  —  Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy is trying again on immigration and gay rights.  —  The Vermont Democrat filed an amendment to the Gang of Eight immigration bill on Tuesday that would allow gay U.S. citizens to petition their foreign spouses to become permanent residents.

Bloomberg Urges No Gifts to Democrats Who Blocked Gun Bill  —  Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, in a sharp escalation in the battle over gun control, is seeking to punish Democratic senators by taking away the one thing they most need from New Yorkers: money.  —  On Wednesday, Mr. Bloomberg …

NSA surveillance puts George Orwell's ‘1984’ on bestseller lists  —  George Orwell's “1984.”  (Carolyn Kellogg / Los Angeles Times)  —  Big Brother is watching.  And people are reading.  —  Thanks to the ongoing National Security Administration surveillance scandal, George Orwell's …