Top Items:
Paul Krugman / New York Times:
Republicans Against Reality — Last week House Republicans voted for the 40th time to repeal Obamacare. Like the previous 39 votes, this action will have no effect whatsoever. But it was a stand-in for what Republicans really want to do: repeal reality, and the laws of arithmetic in particular.
Discussion:
Balloon Juice, Business Insider, The Mahablog, Politico, Post Politics, Daily Kos and Paul Krugman
RELATED:
Reuters:
Exclusive: U.S. directs agents to cover up program used to investigate Americans — (Reuters) - A secretive U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration unit is funneling information from intelligence intercepts, wiretaps, informants and a massive database of telephone records to authorities across …
Discussion:
The Hill, The Switch, The Hinterland Gazette, Hit & Run, emptywheel, Hot Air, VodkaPundit and New York Times
Kyle Cheney / Politico:
Obamacare message war goes local — CENTREVILLE, Va. — A race to define Obamacare to the masses began today between the stacks at the Centreville Library. Over pizza in Decatur, Texas. And with a glass of wine in Naples, Fla. — Dozens of communities around the country hosted pro-Obamacare events …
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers, Hot Air, americanthinker.com, Twitchy, Heritage Action for America, Michelle Malkin and VodkaPundit
RELATED:
Wall Street Journal:
Congress's ObamaCare Exemption — The President intervenes to give Members and staff a break. — To adapt H.L. Mencken, nobody ever went broke underestimating the cynicism and self-dealing of the American political class. Witness their ad-libbed decision, at the 11th hour and on the basis …
Discussion:
americanthinker.com, Real Clear Politics, Betsy's Page and American Power
Associated Press:
Dead people gave nearly $600K to campaigns since 2009 — WASHINGTON — The dead can't vote, but they can give money to politicians. — Thirty-two people listed on federal campaign records as “deceased” have contributed more than $586,000 to congressional and presidential candidates …
Discussion:
Reuters, The Raw Story, Real Clear Politics and Jammie Wearing Fools
Hilary Andersson / BBC:
Boston bomber ‘had far-right papers’ — What was behind Boston bombing? Hilary Andersson reports — One of the brothers suspected of carrying out the Boston bombings was in possession of right-wing American literature in the run-up to the attack, BBC Panorama has learnt.
Discussion:
The Jawa Report, Jihad Watch, The Raw Story and Jammie Wearing Fools
Alexandra Jaffe / Ballot Box:
McConnell slams GOP challenger as ‘Bailout Bevin’ in new ad — Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) reelection campaign is out with a new ad hitting Tea party challenger Matt Bevin as “bailout Bevin” and highlighting a number of tax liens assessed on his business and vacation home.
Discussion:
CNN
RELATED:
Perry Stein / Talking Points Memo:
Tea Party Challenger To McConnell: ‘Be A Man, Run On Your Record’
Howard Fineman / The Huffington Post:
At Fancy Farm, Kentucky Tea Party Guy Has a Good Debut
At Fancy Farm, Kentucky Tea Party Guy Has a Good Debut
Discussion:
Balloon Juice
Mark Mazzetti / New York Times:
U.S. Extends Closing of Some Diplomatic Posts — WASHINGTON — Nineteen American diplomatic outposts across the Middle East and North Africa will remain closed this week, the State Department said Sunday, despite what officials said was no new information about terrorist plots that they believe are in the works.
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, CBS News, Foreign Policy, msnbc.com, Hot Air, Wall Street Journal and The Week
RELATED:
By Ali Watkins / McClatchy Washington Bureau:
Embassy closings, travel warning renew debate over NSA data collection
Embassy closings, travel warning renew debate over NSA data collection
Discussion:
Firedoglake
Jen Psaki / US Department of State:
Statement on Update of Embassy and Consulate Closure
Statement on Update of Embassy and Consulate Closure
Discussion:
msnbc.com, The Daily Caller, World News, Mediaite, The Hinterland Gazette, The Moderate Voice and The Hill
Jonathan Martin / New York Times:
G.O.P. Governors Warn Party Members in Congress Not to Shut Government — MILWAUKEE — Worried about the potential impact on the fragile economies in their states, Republican governors this weekend warned their counterparts in Congress not to shut down the federal government as part of an effort …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, The Plum Line, Daily Kos, Mediaite, Taegan Goddard's … and Booman Tribune
Andrea Chang / Los Angeles Times:
Newsweek sold again, this time to digital news company IBT Media — Newsweek, once a prominent print news magazine, has been sold to IBT Media for an undisclosed amount. (Karen Bleiler / AFP/Getty Images) — Newsweek, the former weekly news magazine that now publishes online only, is being sold to digital news company IBT Media.
Discussion:
Ed Driscoll
RELATED:
Kate Taylor / New York Times:
Health Care Law Raises Pressure on Public Unions — Cities and towns across the country are pushing municipal unions to accept cheaper health benefits in anticipation of a component of the Affordable Care Act that will tax expensive plans starting in 2018. — The so-called Cadillac tax …
Discussion:
Right Wing News
RELATED:
Matea Gold / Washington Post:
August recess now high season for interests lobbying lawmakers
August recess now high season for interests lobbying lawmakers
Discussion:
ABC News
Robert Draper / New York Times:
Steve Schmidt Says Republican Campaigns Haven't Changed. But They Will. — You've been hired by the A.C.L.U. to win over Republicans on same-sex marriage. What's the argument that you make to those who are resistant? — A few years ago, there was universal agreement in the party that marriage is between one man and one woman.
Discussion:
The Fix
Ralph Z. Hallow / Washington Times:
Newt Gingrich sees major Mideast mistakes, rethinks his neocon views on intervention — Welcomes libertarian debate on U.S. military involvement — Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a leading neoconservative hawk and staunch supporter of Israel, says the U.S. military interventions …
Discussion:
CBS DC
Benjamin Wallace-Wells / New York Magazine:
What Is Chris Christie Doing Right? — He's hugely popular in a state way to his left. He's unafraid to take on a national party considerably to his right. And he's most adored when he's acting reprehensibly. — In New Jersey, charisma is a blunt instrument.
Discussion:
Daily Kos
Alexandra Jaffe / Ballot Box:
Holt hits Booker as ‘no progressive’ in first ad — Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.) is launching his first television ad just a week out from the New Jersey Senate Democratic primary, hitting frontrunner Cory Booker as “no progressive.” — The ad riffs off of Holt's experience as a scientist …
Discussion:
Politico