Peter King: Ted Cruz ‘is a fraud’  —  Washington (CNN) - The government shutdown showdown is getting ugly.  —  Republican Rep. Peter King said Friday that his Republican colleague in the Senate, Ted Cruz, “is a fraud” who will “no longer have any influence in the Republican Party” …

Elections used to have consequences  —  If you listen to congressional Republicans defend their shutdown scheme and crusade to destroy the federal health care system, they'll routinely use the same phrase.  The “American people,” the GOP claims, are on their side.

Darrell Issa to travel to Libya  —  Darrell Issa is scheduled to travel to Libya next week as part of his investigation into the attack last year on the Benghazi consulate, according to documents obtained by POLITICO.  —  The California Republican, who chairs the House Oversight …

The final triumph of welfare reform  —  The Third Way was supposed to end welfare politicking as we knew it, but no one told Republicans  —  House Republicans voted yesterday to cut $40 billion in funding for SNAP — the anti-poverty program commonly known as “food stamps” — because …

Time to Act on Climate Change  —  I didn't plan for a life built around protecting the environment.  In fact, I started my career as a health agent in the town of Canton, Mass., and later worked for the Stoughton Board of Health.  But at some point I realized that at its core …

A guide to freaking out about the newest Obamacare glitch  —  Welcome to Health Reform Watch, Sarah Kliff's regular look at how the Affordable Care Act is changing the American health-care system — and being changed by it.  You can reach Sarah with questions, comments and suggestions here.

Rollie Chance, Wrongly Suspected Navy Yard Shooter: I Thought ‘This Must Be A Joke’  —  WASHINGTON — No one knows what it's like to be a dead mass murderer.  But for about 20 minutes on Monday, Rollie Chance got about as close to that experience as you can get.

US nearly detonated atomic bomb over North Carolina - secret document  —  Exclusive: Journalist uses Freedom of Information Act to disclose 1961 accident in which one switch averted catastrophe  —  A secret document, published in declassified form for the first time by the Guardian today …

Anthony Weiner: 'I'm not an idiot'  —  In his first national media interview since losing the New York City mayoral primary, former Rep. Anthony Weiner joined Geraldo Rivera for a nearly 20-minute appearance on Rivera's radio show Friday, taking responsibility for his loss while also blaming …

What Your Neighborhood List-Serv Tells You About The Demise of America  —  I read the subject line for the latest message on my neighborhood listserv with interest: “Kids Cutting Grass?”  —  A few years ago I'd used a post with a similar headline to find someone to do some yard work.

Norwalk pastor violated 20-plus women using ‘healing hands,’ cops say  —  An associate pastor at a church in Norwalk arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting more than 20 female parishioners allegedly told his victims the sex acts were a necessary part of using “healing hands.”