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.

42% Identify with Obama Politically, 42% with the Tea Party  —  Voters are evenly divided when asked whether they agree more politically with President Obama or with the average member of the Tea Party.  But an enormous partisan gap colors virtually all opinions of the Tea Party.

Everyone spies: Intelligence insiders shrug amid outrage over US snooping allegations  —  The White House, under fire from closest allies, is taking a closer look at the National Security Agency's vast data collection.  NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.  —  LONDON - Amid the growing furor …

Reid's Office Responds To Coburn's ‘A—hole’ Comment  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-NV) office responded on Tuesday to Sen. Tom Coburn's (R-OK) comment on Monday in which he called Reid an “absolute a—hole.”  —  “Nothing says ‘comity’ like childish playground name-calling …

NOBEL PRIZE WINNER FAMA TO CNBC'S SANTELLI: 'There's So Much Confusion In What You Said It's Difficult To Answer'  —  Nobel prize winner Eugene Fama was on CNBC earlier today to discuss the Federal Reserve and its extraordinary monetary policy.  —  Pragmatic Capitalism's Cullen Roche flagged …

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.

First on CNN: Obama administration warned about health care website  —  Washington (CNN) — The Obama administration was given stark warnings just one month before launch that the federal healthcare site was not ready to go live, according to a confidential report obtained by CNN.

Why Won't The GOP Let Us Have a Normal Debate?  Why!?  —  Greg Sargent thinks it's unseemly and ill-mannered for Republicans to focus on the fact that a great many people are losing their health insurance because of ObamaCare.  He does make a few very reluctant concessions.  For instance:

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 …

Shortened Battery Life Found in Some New iPhones  —  The Apple iPhone 5S is supposed to have significantly longer battery life than its predecessors.  But for a small number of the new models, a manufacturing defect has caused the battery to drain quickly, according to the company.

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.

Rand Paul Has Given Speeches Plagiarized From Wikipedia Before  —  Another example of the Kentucky Republican seemingly copying parts of a speech verbatim from the online encyclopedia.  —  Last night, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow pointed out the similarities between Rand Paul's talk in Virginia …

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 …

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.

Peterson: ‘Absolutely opposed’ to farm bill in a broad budget deal  —  The top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee is pushing back hard against the notion of wrapping farm policy into the broad budget conference set to launch this week.  —  A bipartisan group will begin negotiations Wednesday …

Senate Democrats Struggle to Defend Health Insurance Promises  —  As he stepped off an escalator leading from the Capitol's underground subway system to the U.S. Senate, Ron Johnson opened up a yellow folder, pulled out a copy of the “If You Like Your Health Plan, You Can Keep It Act,” and handed it to fellow senator Chris Coons.

Democrats Introduce Bill to End Debt Limit Brinkmanship  —  Three Democratic senators, led by Charles E. Schumer of New York, introduced legislation Tuesday to permanently install a new procedure on the debt limit that would all-but-eliminate the threat of default.

ACLU Strongly Supports Sensenbrenner-Leahy Bill Reforming NSA Surveillance Authorities  —  USA Freedom Act Would Limit NSA Spying  —  CONTACT: 212-549-2666, media@dcaclu.org  —  WASHINGTON - A bipartisan reform bill to rein in the National Security Agency's bulk collection, analysis …