U.S. charges Edward Snowden with espionage in leaks about NSA surveillance programs  —  Federal prosecutors have filed a sealed criminal complaint against Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who leaked a trove of documents about top-secret surveillance programs …

Is Michael Bloomberg Using City Resources For His “Mayors Against Illegal Guns” Group?  —  I really hate doing the question headline, but this definitely needs answering.  I started poking around last night.  —  At first I pinged mayorsagainstillegalguns.org and found that it was resolving at a New York City government IP address.

White House doesn't have ‘figure on costs’ of Africa trip  —  President Barack Obama makes the first extended trip to Africa of his presidency next week—but he won't be stopping in the country of his birth.  —  Obama's weeklong trip—June 26-July 3—which he's taking with his wife, Michelle …

House GOP ratchets up battle with Senate over student loan rates  —  House Republicans on Saturday stepped up the battle over student loans by accusing Senate Democrats of blocking a GOP plan to keep interest rates from doubling.  —  In a twist, they tried to ally themselves with President Obama …

New pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC attracts donors and worries  —  The campaign has a flashy Web site and official logo T-shirts and signs.  Prominent Democrats have endorsed it and written $25,000 checks.  Its paid operatives and volunteers have set up shop in an Alexandria strip mall office …

Leahy: GOP Border Security Amendment ‘A Christmas Wish List For Haliburton’  —  Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) said Friday that the new border security amendment added to the immigration reform bill in the Senate is nothing more than a gift to defense contractors, but the Senate Judiciary Committee …

My Abortion, at 23 Weeks  —  KIRKLAND, Wash. — I BELIEVE that parenthood starts before conception, at the moment you decide you want a child, and are ready and able to create a safe and loving home for her or him.  I support abortion rights, but I reject the false distinction between the terms “pro-choice” and “pro-life.”

Food Network Drops Paula Deen  —  Paula Deen, the self-proclaimed queen of Southern cooking and a sugary mainstay of the Food Network, was dropped by the network on Friday, following a bewildering day in which she failed to show up for an interview on the “Today” show and then in two online videos begged …

Netroots Nation: First Impressions  —  SAN JOSE, Calif.—The main ballroom of the convention hall was about half-full.  The big “draw” for the first night's keynote speech was Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, who's beloved on the left for trying to reform the filibuster.  But he's not exactly a major newsmaker.

Rep. Louie Gohmert Has Some Feelings About the Farm Bill, America  —  On Thursday afternoon, Rep. Louie Gohmert gave a long, rambling floor speech.  This isn't the most unusual thing to see happen on the House floor on a Thursday afternoon, but Gohmert really made this 30-minutes count:

What's Taking the Supreme Court So Long?  —  The biggest cases are still to come—and we should be celebrating this drawn-out finale, writes Richard L. Hasen, in defense of the court's end-of-term crunch.  —  With everyone anxiously awaiting potentially blockbuster decisions on issues …

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts  —  WASHINGTON, DC - Today, President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:  — Denise Bauer - Ambassador to Belgium, Department of State  — John Berry - Ambassador to Australia, Department of State