Carney denies people misled on keeping healthcare coverage  —  White House press secretary Jay Carney on Tuesday denied President Obama had misled the public when he said that consumers could keep their health insurance plans after the passage of the Affordable Care Act.

Joe Lhota: Republican Sandy Foes Like Tom Coburn Shouldn't Use NYC As An “ATM”  —  As our Dan Friedman reported, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) was in the city Monday on the eve of the Sandy anniversary - to the chagrin of some critics who say senators like Coburn who fought Sandy aid should not draw …

Top Dem Admits: ‘We Knew’  —  House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer conceded to reporters today that Democrats knew people would not be able to keep their current health care plans under Obamacare and expressed qualified contrition for President Obama's repeated vows to the contrary.

Morning Plum: Why normal debate about Obamacare is impossible  —  Foes of Obamacare are excitedly citing a rash of new stories claiming untold Americans are “losing” their insurance, as CBS News' Norah O'Donnell puts it.  One of them is this NBC News story, which reports that …

'We're Really Screwed Now': NSA's Best Friend Just Shivved The Spies  —  One of the National Security Agency's biggest defenders in Congress is suddenly at odds with the agency and calling for a top-to-bottom review of U.S. spy programs.  And her long-time friends and allies are completely mystified by the switch.

Democratic Congressman Blows Up At GOP During Obamacare Hearing: ‘Are You Really Serious?’  —  Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) slammed Republicans for failing to support the Affordable Care Act once it became law, challenging them to go back to their districts and tell their constituents that they'll be taking away their coverage.

Nevada lawmaker says he'd vote for slavery if his constituents wanted him to  —  A Nevada assemblyman said he would vote in favor of legislation allowing for slavery if it was something his constituents wanted him to do.  —  Jim Wheeler, a Republican from Gardnerville …

How the Alger Hiss Case Explains the Tea Party  —  Many Americans have forgotten, or never learned about, the Alger Hiss case.  One of the most dramatic trials of the 20th century, it helps explain not only the rise of McCarthyism in the early 1950s and the presidencies of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan …

Rand Paul Plagiarized Speech From Wikipedia, Rachel Maddow Says  —  Did Rand Paul plagiarize his speech from Wikipedia?  It sure seems that way, as Rachel Maddow pointed out on Monday.  —  In a speech given in support of Virginia gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli, Paul referenced the 90s science fiction movie Gattaca.

The White House on Spying  —  The White House response on Monday to the expanding disclosures of American spying on foreign leaders, their governments and millions of their citizens was a pathetic mix of unsatisfying assurances about reviews under way, platitudes about the need for security …

Survey |  2013 American Values Survey: In Search of Libertarians in America  —  ▶ Read the full report here.  —  ▶ Read the topline questionnaire, including the survey methodology, here.  —  ▶ Read the news release here.  —  According to a newly developed Libertarian …

Cheney Insists Iraq War Was Worth It Because Of WMD  —  Former Vice President Dick Cheney said on Monday that what the United States gained as a result of the war in Iraq was that Iraq now does not have weapons of mass destruction.  —  While professing that he's not trying to blame Cheney …

2014 Midterms Could Decide Senate Majority for Years to Come  —  Republicans can't afford to have any weak candidates next year if they want to regain control of the upper chamber.  —  This is not going to be one of those columns that we read almost every other year proclaiming the next election …

Ohio Governor Defies G.O.P. With Defense of Social Safety Net  —  COLUMBUS, Ohio — In his grand Statehouse office beneath a bust of Lincoln, Gov. John R. Kasich let loose on fellow Republicans in Washington.  —  “I'm concerned about the fact there seems to be a war on the poor,” he said …

U.S. Death Penalty Support Lowest in More Than 40 Years  —  Sixty percent of Americans favor death penalty for convicted murderers  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Sixty percent of Americans say they favor the death penalty for convicted murderers, the lowest level of support Gallup has measured since November 1972, when 57% were in favor.

Sigh.  Benghazi Again?  —  I watched Lara Logan's 60 Minutes report on Benghazi last night, and when it was over I had two thoughts:  — That took a year of reporting?  — Did you just outsource the whole script to the Republican National Committee?  —  Honestly, there was just nothing there.

O'Connor Performs Same-Sex Wedding at High Court  —  Retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has officiated at the wedding of a gay couple at the Supreme Court, at least the second such ceremony at the court since its June decision that expanded federal recognition of same-sex marriage.

Ted Cruz heads to early-primary state South Carolina to meet the pastors  —  Sen. Ted Cruz got a good — but mixed — reception in Iowa over the weekend among Republicans in the politically important Hawkeye state.  The Republican governor took a shot at Cruz and there is some anxiety …

What is the most likely path forward for the ACA exchanges?  —  I had lunch yesterday with a friend and I was asked that question (and I asked it in turn).  My answer, with some ex post editing, was this:  —  1. The chance of “no smooth resolution” for the health care exchanges crisis is now 60-40.

Tom DeLay Says He Is On A Mission From God  —  Former U.S. House Majority Leader Republican Tom DeLay told a tea party group that God has told him to lead a constitutional revival.  What that means for his political future remains to be seen.  —  Speaking to the Texas Patriots at an event …

Sebelius blames contractors for ObamaCare problems  —  Sebelius blames a “subset” of contractors who “have not met expectations” for the website's problems in an opening statement she'll deliver Wednesday to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.  —  She'll tell the panel that the Centers …