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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

Tea Party Challenger To McConnell: ‘Be A Man, Run On Your Record’  —  Matt Bevin, the Tea-Partier challenging incumbent Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in the Republican primary, called on the five-term senator to “be a man” and “run on his record.”  —  “I beg him to tell the people …

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 …

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.

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.

A much-maligned engine of innovation  —  A brilliant exploration of new ideas in business argues that government is behind the boldest risks and biggest breakthroughs  —  The Entrepreneurial State: Debunking Public vs Private Sector Myths, by Mariana Mazzucato, Anthem Press, RRP£14.99, RRP$18.95