President Obama Defends NSA Spying  —  It's “transparent,” the president tells Charlie Rose in an interview.  Here's a portion of that transcript, from PBS.  —  Via: Matt Dunham / AP  —  Barack Obama: Well, in the end, and what I've said, and I continue to believe, is that we don't have to sacrifice …

Opinion recap: One hand giveth....  Analysis  —  In a ruling that might easily be misunderstood if not read very closely, the Supreme Court on Monday simultaneously strengthened Congress's hand in expanding the ranks of eligible voters, and yet assured states that they retain the ultimate power to decide who gets to vote.

Texas Congressman: Masturbating Fetuses Prove Need for Abortion Ban  —  As the House of Representatives gears up for Tuesday's debate on HR 1797, a bill that would outlaw virtually all abortions 20 weeks post fertilization, Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) argued in favor of banning abortions …

West scolds Putin over Syria before G8 meeting  —  (Reuters) - Western leaders rebuked Russian President Vladimir Putin for supporting Syria's Bashar al-Assad in his battle to crush an uprising, setting the stage for what could be a tense two-day G8 summit.  —  U.S. President Barack Obama …

Our Commitment to Our Users' Privacy  —  We've worked hard over the years to earn our users' trust and we fight hard to preserve it.  —  To that end, we are disclosing the total number of requests for user data that law enforcement agencies in the U.S. made to us between December 1, 2012 and May 31, 2013.

CNN Poll: Big generational divide in immigration battle  —  Washington (CNN) - While a small majority of Americans are in favor of the immigration bill currently before the U.S. Senate, according to a new national poll the old and young don't see eye to eye on the issue.

Public Remains Opposed to Arming Syrian Rebels  —  Six-in-Ten Say Opposition May Be No Better than Current Government  —  OVERVIEW  —  Broad majorities continue to oppose the U.S. and its allies sending arms and military supplies to anti-government groups in Syria.

FOIA suit reveals Guantánamo's ‘indefinite detainees’  —  GUANTANAMO BAY NAVY BASE, Cuba — The Obama administration Monday lifted a veil of secrecy surrounding the status of the detainees at Guantánamo, for the first time publicly naming the four dozen captives it defined …

Obama threatens to veto House farm bill  —  The White House on Monday threatened to veto the farm bill coming to the House this week.  —  President Obama is opposed to $20.5 billion in food stamp cuts in the bill, the White House said in an official policy statement.

Iran President-Elect Wants to Ease Strains With U.S., but Sees No Direct Talks  —  TEHRAN — President-elect Hassan Rowhani of Iran, speaking Monday for the first time since his election victory, said he wanted to reduce tensions with the United States but ruled out direct talks between the two estranged nations.

Obama: ‘Iranian people rebuffed the hardliners and the clerics’  —  President Obama said Monday that the Iranian people have “rebuffed the hardliners and the clerics” in the country by electing a moderate president over the weekend.  —  “I think it says that the Iranian people want to move …

GOP plan to appeal to millennials: “Make abortion funny”  —  Young Christian-right leaders think the answer to their problems with young voters lies in more snark  —  “How do you make abortion funny?”  That was a key question mulled at a major conservative gathering Friday …

Mansion spending records indicate improper billing by Virginia governor and his family  —  RICHMOND — Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) and his wife, Maureen, have used taxpayer money for a range of small personal items they should have paid for themselves under state policy, according to spending records.