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.

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.

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.

Spying Known at Top Levels, Officials Say  —  WASHINGTON — The nation's top spymaster said on Tuesday that the White House had long been aware in general terms of the National Security Agency's overseas eavesdropping, stoutly defending the agency's intelligence-gathering methods …

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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:

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.

Busy day in Boston: Red Sox vs. Obama  —  President Barack Obama's jaunt to downtown Boston on Wednesday could strike out with the locals.  —  That's because the commander in chief will touch down in Beantown on the same day the Boston Red Sox are playing a potential World Series clinching game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Hill aides can quietly stay off health exchanges  —  Obamacare is, once again, turning Capitol Hill upside down.  —  Congressional offices this week have been forced into a frenzied, late-hour scramble to decide which of their staffers will be pushed onto the District of Columbia's health insurance exchanges …

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 …