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 F. Kerry's Israeli gaffe a diplomatic nightmare  —  Photo by:  —  MAKING A MESS: Secretary of State John F. Kerry's latest verbal faux pas, telling international officials that Israel risks becoming ‘an apartheid state’ was blasted by former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton as being ‘outrageous and defamatory.’

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 two 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.

Russia says US astronauts could be hurt by Ukraine sanctions  —  Moscow (AFP) - Russia warned Tuesday that American astronauts on the International Space Station could be hurt by new US-led sanctions over the escalating crisis in Ukraine, where pro-Moscow militants seized more public buildings in the east.

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 …

Meet The Woman Who Did Everything In Her Power To Hide Her Pregnancy From Google  —  They see you when you're sleeping, they know when you're awake...  CREDIT: Flickr/Robert Scoble  —  Janet Vertesi, assistant professor of sociology at Princeton University, had an idea: would it be possible to hide her pregnancy from big data?

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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.

FAKE HATE: Montclair State Muslim Charged After Bogus Hate Crime Report  —  An 18-year-old Montclair State University student was charged with filing a false report after he alleged three white men in hoodies beat him and called him an “Islamic terrorist” Thursday night.  —  It was all a lie.

Dems' hopes rise to keep Senate  —  The gossipy, amusing political narrative in the fight for majority control of the Senate is now all about the feuding between Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and the Koch brothers.  —  Last week Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee …

OK to sell widow's home over $6 bill, judge rules  —  BEAVER, Pa. (AP) - A widow was given ample notice before her $280,000 house was sold at a tax auction three years ago over $6.30 in unpaid interest, a Pennsylvania judge has ruled.  —  The decision last week turned down Eileen Battisti's request …

The New Paul Ryan Is All About Heart  —  The most impressive thing about Paul Ryan's political career is how successfully he has evaded any interrogation of his motives.  Reporters are a famously cynical lot, prone to analyzing politicians' words or deeds as maneuvers for self-advancement.