Texas voter ID law “will take effect immediately,” says Attorney General Greg Abbott  —  update: The Texas DPS will start issuing voter IDs on Thursday.  More below  —  WASHINGTON — The implications of today's landmark ruling could be swift and stunning.

An Assault on the Voting Rights Act  —  The conservative majority on the Roberts Court issued another damaging and intellectually dishonest ruling on Tuesday.  It eviscerated enforcement of the Voting Rights Act, in which Congress kept the promise of a vote for every citizen.

Liveblog: Senators Trying to Determine if Abortion Bill Passed … Updated:  —  Texas senators are trying to get to the bottom of whether Republicans successfully pushed through a vote on Senate Bill 5, the omnibus abortion restriction bill, ahead of their midnight deadline.

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 …

RECENT MASSACHUSETTS SENATE ELECTIONS  —  Massachusetts has had five US Senate elections in the last seven years, more than any other state.  —  Year Results  —  Democrat Elizabeth Warren polled strongly in heavily Democratic greater Boston, and in cities statewide, to defeat incumbent Republican Scott Brown 54 to 46 percent.

Markey tops Gomez for Senate seat  —  Democrat Edward Markey defeated Republican Gabriel Gomez in the Massachusetts special Senate election, confirming consistent polling that had shown him ahead and calming Democratic fears of another special election upset.

Weiner Leads Democrats in Race for NYC Mayor: Poll … Former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner leads City Council Speaker Christine Quinn in the race for New York City's Democratic mayoral nomination for the first time, snatching the frontrunner mantle as the contest heads into the final months before the primary …