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.) …

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden says U.S. government has been hacking Chinese universities, businesses and politicians for FOUR YEARS as he finally breaks cover  —  Edward Snowden, the former CIA analyst behind the NSA leaks, has claimed that the U.S. government has been hacking Hong Kong and Chinese networks for at least four years.

Peter King Calls For Legal Action To Be Brought Against Greenwald (VIDEO)  —  Rep. Peter King (R-NY) on Wednesday elaborated on his call for journalists to be punished if they report on classified information, singling out The Guardian reporter at the center of the firestorm …

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 …

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 …

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.

Ways and Means Chairman: IRS targeting of Tea Party groups didn't start in Ohio  —  The IRS's singling out of conservative groups did not originate in Cincinnati, the House Republican in charge of tax policy said Wednesday.  —  House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) …

The Obama Surveillance Revelations Are Pushing Liberals Over the Edge  —  Progressives aren't going to give the president a pass on civil liberties anymore.  —  The email went out shortly after midnight Thursday, a few hours after the news broke about the Obama administration's large-scale monitoring …

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 …

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.

Judge Rules for Interns Who Sued Fox Searchlight  —  A Federal District Court judge in Manhattan ruled on Tuesday that Fox Searchlight Pictures had violated federal and New York minimum wage laws by not paying production interns, a case that could upend the long-held practice of the film industry …

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.

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 …

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 …

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

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.