Screaming protest disrupts vote on abortion bill  —  Sen. Wendy Davis, speaking to a large and adoring crowd gathered outside the Senate door, thanked her supporters.  —  “Today was democracy in action,” she told the crowd.  “You all are the voices we were speaking for from the floor.”

The Chief Justice's Long Game  —  IN an opinion brimming with a self-confidence that he hides behind a cloak of judicial minimalism, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., writing for a conservative Supreme Court majority in Shelby County v. Holder, cripples Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

Passion fades for President Obama among Democrats  —  A majority of Americans regard President Obama favorably, but his numbers have softened considerably among his fellow Democrats, according to new polling conducted by the Washington Post and ABC News.  —  Obama's favorability stands at 53 percent …

Plan B for climate change  —  IN HIS second inaugural address, President Obama promised to do more about climate change.  Now, five months later, he has explained what he meant.  —  The president missed his chance to pass a major climate bill when Democrats ruled Capitol Hill in his first term …

Julia Gillard ousted as Australia prime minister  —  Julia Gillard confirms she will not contest next parliamentary elections after losing Labor party leadership ballot to Kevin Rudd  —  Australia's first female prime minister, Julia Gillard, has been sacked by her party just months …

IRS credit cards used for wine, pornography, IG report says  —  WASHINGTON - Another government watchdog report has flagged inappropriate behavior at the IRS, this time claiming government credit cards were used to make questionable purchases on items ranging from wine to online pornography.

Anthony Weiner Surges to Lead in Democratic Mayoral Race: NBC NY/WSJ/Marist Poll  —  The poll finds Weiner with 25 percent and Quinn with 20 percent among registered Democrats  —  Democratic mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner has surged ahead of his opponents in a new NBC 4 New York/Wall Street Journal poll …

‘Crossfire’ coming back to CNN  —  Washington (CNN) - An institution is coming back to CNN.  —  “Crossfire,” the long-running political debate show that aired on CNN from 1982-2005, is getting a reboot, the news network announced Wednesday.  Four new hosts - two on the left, and two on the right - will debut the program this fall.

Zimmerman Trial Day 2 - Analysis of State's Witnesses  —  Today can only be characterized as an utter debacle for the prosecution in Florida v. Zimmerman.  Besides the testimony of a couple of highly professional law enforcement witnesses, the testimony of the the other State witnesses ranged …

Player taken into custody  —  North Attleborough, Massachusetts (CNN) — New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was arrested and booked at a police station in North Attleborough, Massachusetts, on Wednesday morning.  —  He will be taken to Attleboro District Court, where he will be arraigned.