Post-ABC News poll shows Democrats at risk in November as Obama's approval rating falls  —  Democrats face serious obstacles as they look to the November elections, with President Obama's approval rating at a new low and a majority of voters saying they prefer a Congress in Republican hands …

John Kerry backpedals on Israel ‘apartheid state’ comment  —  Secretary of State John Kerry, under fire for warning that Israel risks becoming “an apartheid state” in the absence of a peace deal, released a statement Monday evening pushing back hard.  —  “I will not allow my commitment …

Shooter Injures Six In Georgia Town Where Everyone Is Required To Own A Gun  —  A gunman opened fire Tuesday morning at a FedEx facility in Kennesaw, Georgia.  Six were shot, with their injuries ranging from minor to one in critical condition.  Authorities report that the gunman is dead.

Mark Cuban calls Donald Sterling's comments “abhorrent,” endorses maximum league punishment  —  Apr 26, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban reacts during the game against the San Antonio Spurs in game three of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center.

Kerry: U.S. Taped Moscow's Calls to Its Ukraine Spies  —  The secretary of state claimed in a private meeting that the U.S. intelligence community has recordings of pro-Russian forces being managed by government handlers in Moscow.  —  The United States has proof that the Russian government …

Saving the System  —  All around, the fabric of peace and order is fraying.  The leaders of Russia and Ukraine escalate their apocalyptic rhetoric.  The Sunni-Shiite split worsens as Syria and Iraq slide into chaos.  China pushes its weight around in the Pacific.

Why Democrats Should Avoid the ‘R’ Word  —  From time to time, we all read something where suddenly words jump out from the page, grabbing our attention.  This happened to me the other day while reading a memo from Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg and strategist James Carville …

Candidates won't commit to McConnell  —  A slew of Republican candidates running for the upper chamber won't say whether they would back Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) if he bids for another term as GOP leader.  —  While Tea Party candidates often run against GOP leaders in Washington during primary contests …

DOJ's ‘Operation Choke Point’ May Be Root of Porn Star Bank Account Closings  —  Despite being in good financial standing, adult film performers and others in the porn industry have had bank accounts abruptly terminated—and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) may have had something to do with it.

How to Really Rein In the Super Rich  —  Thomas Piketty is right—inequality is on the rise.  But until Wall Street gets out of Washington, neither the French economist nor regular Americans will be able to shift the status quo.  —  Thomas Piketty, meet Bobby Tolbert.

Snowden Retained Expert in Espionage Act Defense  —  WASHINGTON — Edward J. Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who provided journalists a trove of classified documents, retained a well-known Washington defense lawyer last summer in hopes of reaching a plea deal …

Ratings Slip at MSNBC as Jet Coverage Lifts CNN  —  April proved a cruel month for MSNBC, with the news channel hitting some of its lowest ratings in seven years, and its prominent morning show, “Morning Joe,” falling to third place in the cable news competition.

Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: April 2014  —  Liz Hamel, Jamie Firth and Mollyann Brodie … Overall opinion remains unchanged from March  —  Despite the announcement that at least 8 million people have signed up for health insurance through the ACA's new marketplace, overall favorability …

Ralph Nader's America: Impeach Obama, decriminalize drugs, libertarians & progressives unite!  —  What if Washington politics were no longer defined by partisan gridlock but instead by a cross-party alliance that forged solutions?  The alliance would be unstoppable.

Big Texas Utility Files for Bankruptcy  —  Too big just failed.  —  The troubled Texas utility Energy Future Holdings - which, as TXU, was private equity's biggest-ever buyout - filed for bankruptcy on Tuesday.  —  After months of on-again, off-again talks between the company …