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.

High Court Strikes Down Defense Of Marriage Act … The Supreme Court issued rulings on two highly-anticipated cases on gay marriage.  It ruled the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman, is unconstitutional.

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 …

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 …

‘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.

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 …

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.