Lawmakers tire of playing ‘20 questions’ in surveillance briefings  —  (Reuters) - Some members of the Congress say that getting straight answers from intelligence agencies about top-secret surveillance is like playing the game “20 Questions,” where answers come only if a questioner knows exactly what to ask.

Bill Clinton splits with Obama on Syria  —  Bill Clinton told Sen. John McCain he agrees that President Barack Obama should act more forcefully to support anti-Assad rebels in Syria, saying the American public elects presidents and members of Congress “to see down the road” and “to win.”

AUDIENCE MEMBER CONFRONTS BILL MAHER AFTER COMIC SLAMMED SARAH PALIN'S SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD  —  Conservative Ron Futrell knew to expect plenty of left-of-center jibes when he settled into his seat to see Bill Maher at The Pearl Theater in Las Vegas June 8.  —  Futrell didn't think he'd hear …

Senate votes down GOP border amendment  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — In an early test of support for a comprehensive immigration bill, the Senate on Thursday voted down a Republican attempt to require the U.S.-Mexico border to be under control for six months before immigrants here illegally could take the first steps toward citizenship.

Three Signs Republicans Haven't Learned Any Lessons From 2012  —  After last year's drubbing, Republicans vowed to change their ways.  But as 2013 wears on, they're sticking to the script that got them in trouble.  —  To much acclaim, the Republican National Committee released its road map …

IF THE GOP IS THIS STUPID, IT DESERVES TO DIE  —  Democrats terrify Hispanics into thinking they'll be lynched if they vote for Republicans, and then turn around and taunt Republicans for not winning a majority of the Hispanic vote.  —  This line of attack has real resonance with our stupidest Republicans.

Americans' Confidence in Congress Falls to Lowest on Record  —  Congress ranks last on list of 16 institutions; military earns top spot again  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Americans' confidence in Congress as an institution is down to 10%, ranking the legislative body last on a list of 16 societal institutions for the fourth straight year.

THE SECRET WAR  —  INFILTRATION.  SABOTAGE.  MAYHEM.  FOR YEARS FOUR-STAR GENERAL KEITH ALEXANDER HAS BEEN BUILDING A SECRET ARMY CAPABLE OF LAUNCHING DEVASTATING CYBERATTACKS.  —  Illustrations by Mark Weaver  —  INSIDE FORT MEADE, Maryland, a top-secret city bustles.

Obamacare?  We were just leaving ...  Dozens of lawmakers and aides are so afraid that their health insurance premiums will skyrocket next year thanks to Obamacare that they are thinking about retiring early or just quitting.  —  The fear: Government-subsidized premiums will disappear …

Supreme Court strikes down gene patents  —  The court said naturally occurring DNA cannot be patented, but synthetic DNA can be.  Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the court's opinion.  —  The case involved two genes that help detect women's risk of developing breast cancer.

GOP's Jackson discusses past drug use, bankruptcy  —  No. 2 on GOP ticket also acknowledges that he filed for bankruptcy in the past  —  E.W. Jackson, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor acknowledged Wednesday that he used marijuana and experimented with other controlled substances in his youth.

Jeff Duncan questions IRS rifle usage  —  Rep. Jeff Duncan wants to know why IRS law enforcement agents are training with AR-15 rifles.  —  As chairman of the House Homeland Security oversight subcommittee, Duncan (R-S.C.) toured a federal law enforcement facility in late May and noticed agents training …

Scowling face of the state  —  As soon as the Constitution permitted him to run for Congress, Al Salvi did.  In 1986, just 26 and fresh from the University of Illinois law school, he sank $1,000 of his own money, which was most of his money, into his campaign to unseat an incumbent Democratic congressman.

New CIA #2 Pick Used to Read Anne Rice Aloud at Her Bookstore's Erotica Night  —  In her 20s, Avril Haines held erotica readings at the Baltimore bookstore and restaurant she co-owned at the time.  Ben Jacobs and Avi Zenilman report.  —  The former host of “Erotica Night” …

Danielle Powell, Grace University Student Kicked Out For Being Lesbian, Must Repay Thousands  —  Danielle Powell was close to getting her bachelor's degree when she was kicked out of her university for being gay in 2012, and now says the only way the school will transfer her credits to another school is if she agrees to pay $6,300.

NYU booting blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng amid Shanghai expansion: sources  —  NYU isn't letting a pesky thing like human rights stand in the way of its expansion in China.  —  The university has booted a blind Chinese political dissident from its campus under pressure …