US doesn't know what Snowden took, sources say  —  HONG KONG - 2013: In this handout photo provided by The Guardian, Edward Snowden speaks during an interview in Hong Kong.  Snowden, a 29-year-old former technical assistant for the CIA, revealed details of top-secret surveillance conducted …

Syria opposition: Chemical agents kill hundreds in Damascus countryside  —  (CNN) — Syrian opposition groups claimed that hundreds were killed Wednesday when the government used chemical agents in rebel strongholds in the Damascus countryside.  —  Videos posted online by opposition activists …

Why the White House is uneasy with picking Janet Yellen as Fed chair  —  Obama advisers have reservations about having the current Fed vice chairwoman succeed Ben Bernanke.  (Federal Reserve/Flickr)  —  Many of the economic advisers whom President Obama consults with favor Larry Summers to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve.

Police: Australian baseball player killed by Oklahoma teens — just because  —  (CNN) — A random act of violence has left a promising 23-year-old college baseball player dead, a family devastated and two countries half a world apart rattled.  —  Christopher Lane, who was from Australia …

Bill Kristol reverses course: Sarah Palin 'doesn't have a future' in U.S. politics  —  Republican political strategist and Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol appeared on “Morning Joe” Tuesday morning to walk back statements he made to ABC Online on Sunday regarding the political fortunes of erstwhile Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R).

How The NRA Built A Massive Secret Database Of Gun Owners  —  While the National Rifle Association publicly fights against a national gun registry, the organization has gone to incredible lengths to compile information on “tens of millions” of gun owners — without their consent.

The price Gina Gray paid for whistleblowing  —  President Obama, in his news conference this month, said that Edward Snowden was wrong to go public with revelations about secret surveillance programs because “there were other avenues available for somebody whose conscience was stirred and thought …

Al Jazeera Makes Limited American Debut  —  There was ample attention in journalistic circles as Al Jazeera America had its premiere on Tuesday — particularly among those who could not watch.  —  The news channel — which replaced Current TV at 3 p.m. Eastern time — was expected to be carried …

Islamists Step Up Attacks on Christians for Supporting Morsi's Ouster  —  NAZLA, Egypt — The call for revenge raced through this village southwest of the capital and echoed from the loudspeakers of mosques last week as the military invaded two protest camps in Cairo, killing hundreds …

Senator Cruz may have to wait eight months to stop being Canadian  —  (Reuters) - Senator Ted Cruz, who recently discovered that he is likely a Canadian, must win security clearance from Canada's spy agency, fill in a four-page form and then wait up to eight months to sever his ties to America's northern neighbor.

Top Roger Ailes Adviser Fired and Escorted From Fox News Building (Exclusive)  —  UPDATED: Brian Lewis, executive vp corporate communications, was ousted after an investigation found breach of contract and “issues relating to financial irregularities,” the network says in a statement.

House Republican says he's met with lawyers about impeaching Obama  —  Rep. Kerry Bentivolio this week said he's consulted with lawyers about impeaching President Obama.  —  The Michigan Republican on Monday said it would be “a dream come true” to see the president forced from office over criminal misconduct.

Immigration Reformers, Wake the F' Up!  —  I get that it's difficult for immigration reformers to see and accept the writing on the wall — that reform is likely dead in this Congress.  It's incredibly important for the country as well as for millions of undocumented immigrants whose lives will be directly affected.

William Galston: How Much Transparency Do We Really Want?  —  Nations at war do not have a responsibility to make their military strategy public.  —  The controversy over NSA surveillance raises two distinct issues—privacy and transparency—that are often conflated.

NSA story cuts into Obama's popularity with young voters  —  Controversy over the National Security Agency's surveillance programs is eroding President Obama's popularity — particularly among young voters.  —  Some polls show a double-digit drop in Obama's approval rating since Edward …

Newest Spy Court Pick Is a Democrat but Not a Liberal  —  WASHINGTON — Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who has filled a secret court that oversees surveillance almost entirely with Republican-appointed judges, has named Judge José A. Cabranes, a Democratic appointee …

'I'm Not Paranoid': Matthews Says GOP'ers Calling Obama ‘Obama’ Attempt to ‘Delegitimize’ Him  —  MSNBC host Chris Matthews went off on Tuesday about what he characterized as a variety of efforts by Republicans and conservatives to “delegitimize” President Barack Obama.