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.

Capitol Hill intelligence committee leaders: Terror threat ‘specific’ and ‘serious,’ included dates  —  Capitol Hill lawmakers, including top-ranking members of intelligence committees, on Sunday described the terror threat that closed 22 U.S. embassies and consulates across the Muslim region …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Santorum ‘open’ to 2016 run  —  Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Penn.) is mulling running for president in 2016.  —  “I'm open to looking into a presidential race in 2016,” Santorum said Sunday on NBC's “Meet the Press.”  “But we got a little ways, we got elections in 2014.”

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 …

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.

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

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 …

Six months later, State of the Union policy goals gathering dust  —  Nearly six months after President Obama used his State of the Union address to outline a broad, progressive agenda for his second term, many of the policy priorities that earned applause from his base appear to be gathering dust.

Marco Rubio's new mission: Win back the Republican Party's base  —  Sen. Marco Rubio's immigration push might have hurt his chances of winning the GOP presidential nomination, Republican lawmakers say.  [WATCH VIDEO]  —  While it's still a long way until 2016, a number of GOP lawmakers …

Statement on Update of Embassy and Consulate Closure  —  Press Statement  —  Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson  —  Washington, DC  —  Given that a number of our embassies and consulates were going to be closed in accordance with local custom and practice for the bulk of the week …