Health insurance exchange launched despite signs of serious problems  —  Days before the launch of President Obama's online health ­insurance marketplace, government officials and contractors tested a key part of the Web site to see whether it could handle tens of thousands of consumers at the same time.

Conservative group widens IRS lawsuit  —  A conservative group announced Monday that it was broadening out its lawsuit against the Obama administration for the IRS's singling out of Tea Party groups.  —  The American Center for Law and Justice, which first sued administration and IRS officials in May …

Man Spends 4.5 Hours on Obamacare Hotline But Still Can't Sign Up  —  Yesterday in the Rose Garden, President Obama touted the Obamacare hotline and recommended people call to sign up for Obamacare.  “[T]he point is the call centers are available,” Obama said, sounding as though he were in the middle of an infomercial.

Poll: Major damage to GOP after shutdown, and broad dissatisfaction with government  —  Video: Will voters remember the shutdown next year?  Incumbents usually win elections.  But after a shutdown, near-default and historic lows in Congressional approval, voters are claiming they'll reverse that trend in 2014.

Marco Rubio: White House hiding ‘ugly things’  —  Sen. Marco Rubio on Tuesday hit the Obama administration for a lack of transparency on Obamacare, saying the White House is withholding information so people won't see the “ugly things” of the law.  —  “I think what they're worried …

Michael Bloomberg to buy big for Terry McAuliffe  —  Michael Bloomberg's pro-gun-control super PAC will drop $1.1 million on ads for Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the final two weeks of the Virginia governor's race.  —  The billionaire New York City mayor's money will be siphoned through Independence USA PAC …

Democrats to go on offense in tax debate  —  Democrats plan to capitalize on Republicans' poor handling of the recent fiscal showdown, parlaying it into another legislative victory.  —  Emboldened Senate Democratic leaders are planning to go on offense on raising taxes.

Democratic Takeover of the House Is Still a Long Shot  —  Democrats will need Republicans to continue self-destructing, among other things, to return to the majority in 2014.  —  Those who already are saying that the House of Representatives is now “in play” are getting a little ahead of their skis—forgetting a few key factors.

Meet the New Hillary  —  Back on the campaign trail for the first time since 2008, the former secretary of state has a new celebrity and gravitas—but some of the same old flaws.  —  FALLS CHURCH, Virginia — On Saturday, Hillary Clinton was a campaigner again.

Republican Mega-Donors Quietly Celebrate Chris Christie's Marriage Surrender  —  Activists are angry, but GOP elites are praising Christie's step away from culture war.  “I mean, he's a rare guy who's been able to appeal to people with sincerely held beliefs on both sides of this issue.”

Hannity Dials Obamacare Call Center, Operator Says No One Likes It  —  At the top of his radio program today, Sean Hannity called in to an Obamacare call center.  Hannity was able to get through to an operator after only several moments of waiting.  He spoke to the operator for nearly 10 minutes …

Special PACs Spent Money at Resorts, Book Says  —  WASHINGTON — A new book from a conservative advocate of tighter campaign finance regulations seeks to draw attention to a number of questionable but legal fund-raising activities — some potentially damaging, others certainly embarrassing …

And that's a good thing.  —  See Slate's complete coverage of Obamacare.  David Auerbach explains what's gone wrong with healthcare.gov, and David Weigel explains why Republicans are calling for Kathleen Sebelius to be fired.  —  Last week Canada's Supreme Court ruled that doctors …

Democrats Reach Out to Business After Shutdown  —  Two leaders of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Monday sent a letter to business leaders reminding them that House Democrats last week voted unanimously for legislation to raise the debt limit and avert potential default …

Inside The Meeting Where Obama And Reid Vowed Not To Be ‘Taken In By These Crazy People’  —  WASHINGTON — Barack Obama and Harry Reid needed to clear the air.  The relationship between the president and the Senate majority leader had been deteriorating since 2011, with Reid losing respect …