Obama in the doldrums  —  Not yet six months into his second term, Barack Obama's presidency is in a dead zone.  —  A combination of familiar Washington intransigence and a more recent run of bad news and political setbacks have left him with less influence over his circumstances …

‘Lookout List’ Not Much Broader Than Originally Thought, Contrary to Reports  —  Acting IRS commissioner Danny Werfel on Monday told reporters that the now-infamous “Be On The Lookout” list was far broader than was originally disclosed in the Treasury Department inspector general's report.

Obama to Outline Ambitious Plan to Cut Greenhouse Gases  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama will propose a sweeping plan to address climate change on Tuesday, setting ambitious goals and timetables for a series of executive actions to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and prepare the nation for the ravages of a warming planet.

Immigration Overhaul Clears Pivotal Vote in Senate  —  The Senate voted today to accept an amendment calling for stricter border security as part of comprehensive immigration reform.  —  The amendment that was at stake was the “deal” sponsored by Sens. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and John Hoeven …

Justice Samuel Alito's middle-school antics  —  The most remarkable thing about the Supreme Court's opinions announced Monday was not what the justices wrote or said.  It was what Samuel Alito did.  —  The associate justice, a George W. Bush appointee, read two opinions …

Senate candidates make one last pitch for votes  —  Gomez-Markey Senate race may draw low turnout  —  Former US senator Scott Brown conferred with GOP US Senate candidate Gabriel Gomez during an election eve rally at the Common Market restaurant in Quincy.

Paula's Worst Ingredients  —  Paula Deen is where sass meets crass, where the homespun and folksy curdle into something with a sour aftertaste.  —  Her manner may be as sugary as her cooking, her smile as big as the hams she hawked for Smithfield.  But she doesn't pause when she should.

Bolton Plans a Tour of Early-Primary States  —  Watch out, Rand Paul.  —  As Paul, a Kentucky senator, plans for a 2016 presidential run, he is talking up his views on foreign policy, which, broadly speaking, include less intervention in foreign conflicts and a smaller military budget.

Rick Santorum Becomes CEO of Faith-Based Film Studio  —  The former GOP presidential hopeful has raised millions of dollars to make faith-based, uplifting movies in the mode of “Soul Surfer,” except that they won't “water down the truth.”  —  Rick Santorum is getting into the film business …

Was Hastings' Car Hacked?  —  The peculiar circumstances of journalist Michael Hastings' death in Los Angeles last week have unleashed a wave of conspiracy theories.  —  Now there's another theory to contribute to the paranoia: According to a prominent security analyst, technology exists that could've allowed someone to hack his car.

Richard Matheson, 1926-2013  —  Tor.com is saddened and staggered to learn of the passing of Richard Matheson, the esteemed author of I am Legend, The Shrinking Man, What Dreams May Come, Hell House, the script for the Steven Spielberg film Duel, and many Twilight Zone scripts, among many more works.