ARAPAHOE HIGH GUNMAN HELD STRONG POLITICAL BELIEFS, CLASSMATES SAID  —  The teenage gunman who entered Arapahoe High School on Friday afternoon and shot two fellow students with a shotgun was outspoken about politics, was a gifted debater and might have been bullied for his beliefs, according to students who knew him.

Exclusive: Thousands of HealthCare.gov sign-ups didn't make it to insurers  —  Enrollment records for close to 15,000 HealthCare.gov shoppers were not initially transmitted to the insurance plans they selected, according to a preliminary federal estimate released Saturday.

Officials Say U.S. May Never Know Extent of Snowden's Leaks  —  WASHINGTON — American intelligence and law enforcement investigators have concluded that they may never know the entirety of what the former National Security Agency contractor Edward J. Snowden extracted from classified government computers …

Nelson Mandela memorial security scandal: ‘There were no checks’  —  BELTWAY CONFIDENTIAL WHITE HOUSE BARACK OBAMA NELSON MANDELA  —  It's becoming increasingly clear that when President Obama arrived at the Nelson Mandela memorial service in Johannesburg, South Africa Tuesday …

Inequality As A Defining Challenge  —  It has taken an amazingly long time, but inequality is finally surfacing as a significant unifying issue for progressives — including the president.  And there is, inevitably, a backlash, or actually a couple of backlashes.

Christie Views Lane Closings on George Washington Bridge as Overblown  —  TRENTON — It began with a few orange traffic cones in September, when local access lanes to the George Washington Bridge abruptly closed for four days, gridlocking Fort Lee, N.J.  —  But after legislative hearings …

Cross-state presidential rivalries building for 2016  —  Several possible contenders for president could end up running against political allies from their own states.  Donations and bragging rights are at stake.  —  Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, left, and Rep. Paul Ryan appear together …

Budget deal in Congress raises White House hopes on other priorities  —  A round of successful deal-making on Capitol Hill has altered the political dynamic in Washington, raising hopes within the Obama administration that stalled second-term priorities such as immigration might still have a chance at success.

Washington is Selfie City  —  As the world bid farewell to Nelson Mandela, the most revered figure of our time, Washington kept its focus on the things that really matter:  —  Why did President Obama shake hands with Raúl Castro at the memorial service?  What was up with the sign language interpreter at the memorial?

Why Unemployment Benefits Should Be Extended  —  Why extend the emergency federal unemployment-insurance program?  Herewith, two reasons:  —  1. In normal times states (typically) offer 26 weeks of unemployment ("UI") benefits to qualifying workers.  During recessions …