Statement from Edward Snowden in Moscow  —  One week ago I left Hong Kong after it became clear that my freedom and safety were under threat for revealing the truth.  My continued liberty has been owed to the efforts of friends new and old, family, and others who I have never met and probably never will.

Obama: ‘Planet Will Boil Over’ If Young Africans Are Allowed Cars, Air-Conditioning, Big Houses  —  (CNSNews.com) - President Barack Obama said at a town hall event in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday that unless we find new way of producing energy “the planet will boil over” …

Implementation of the Supreme Court Ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act  —  Statement from Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano:  —  “After last week's decision by the Supreme Court holding that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional …

What if Hillary Clinton passes on 2016?  —  For Democrats, there is no fallback: It's Hillary Clinton or probably a long bout of depression ahead of 2016.  —  With expectations hitting a fever pitch three-and-a-half years out that Clinton is running for president again, every move she makes …

G.O.P. Groups Offering Cover for Lawmakers on Immigration  —  WASHINGTON — Fox News viewers in Florida will see a new commercial in the coming weeks urging them to call Senator Marco Rubio.  “Thank him for keeping his promise, and fighting to secure the border,” a narrator says in the ad …

Obama urges ‘restraint’ in Egypt  —  President Obama, left, addresses a news conference with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete in Dar es Salaam.  (Saul Loeb / AFP / Getty Images / July 1, 2013)  —  DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania - President Obama said Monday that Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi …

Dan Balz Book: Mitt Romney Voted Against 2012 Run In Family Poll  —  WASHINGTON — Over the Christmas break of 2010, Mitt Romney and his family took an internal poll on whether he should run for president once more.  Twelve family members cast ballots.  Ten said no. One of the 10 was Mitt Romney himself.

Mark Udall brother missing after hike  —  Sen. Mark Udall's brother, James Udall, is missing after going on a solo hike in Wyoming, the senator's office confirmed to POLITICO.  —  The 61-year-old, who goes by Randy, was trekking in the Wind River Range and was supposed to come out of the mountains last Wednesday but never did.

A racial turnabout in the George Zimmerman trial.  —  “It's not about racial profiling,” said lawyer Daryl Parks about the murder trial of George Zimmerman.  “We never claimed this was about race.”  —  What makes these statements “head-scratching,” as New York's Daily News describes them …

Democrats land top recruit to challenge McConnell in Kentucky  —  Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes announced Monday she will challenge Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), giving Democrats their favored candidate and turning the race one of the 2014 cycle's marquee contests.

‘Future lawsuit’: CNN broadcasts George Zimmerman's Social Security number  —  CNN viewers were shocked to see George Zimmerman's personal information, including his Social Security number, broadcast live on TV. … A screenshot of the information shown on CNN, with the confidential information redacted by Twitchy:

Egypt on the edge after Mursi rebuffs army ultimatum  —  (Reuters) - President Mohamed Mursi rebuffed an army ultimatum to force a resolution to Egypt's political crisis, saying on Tuesday that he had not been consulted and would pursue his own plans for national reconciliation.

Kerry, Meeting With Russian Counterpart, Seeks Syria Talks Soon  —  BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei — Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday that the United States and Russia are still working toward holding an international peace conference on Syria and agreed that it should take place “sooner rather than later.”

Branstad team signals ‘game on’ for 2014 re-election campaign  —  Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and his team are hiring campaign staff, opening a campaign headquarters and fundraising in earnest.  —  It's the unofficial flipping of the switch, and it means “game on” for 2014 …

Gun rights come with responsibilities  —  I'm a patriot who believes in 2nd Amendment.  My 7-state tour will promote common-sense action.  —  July 4 gets the parades and the celebrations, as it should.  But I'm going to start my celebration of American independence early.

6.8 Day Is Here!  —  Washington hasn't passed a new law to avert it, so today's the day that all of higher education has, it seems, been dreading: The day that interest rates on subsidized federal student loans double, going from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent.  —  Hooray?