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 …

U.S. says France, Spain aided NSA spying.  —  U.S. officials say the phone records collected by the Europeans—in war zones and other areas outside their borders—were shared with the NSA as part of efforts to protect allied troops and civilians.

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

The Unbearable Lightness of Obama  —  The president didn't know the NSA was spying on world leaders, but he's found time for at least 146 rounds of golf.  —  Is there a method to President Obama's style of leadership, his methods of decision-making, his habits of attention, oversight and follow-through?

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 …