Donald Sterling tells Anderson Cooper: I was ‘baited’ into ‘a terrible mistake’  —  Clips from the exclusive interview with Donald Sterling will be released on CNN.com and “New Day” in the early morning.  Watch Anderson Cooper's full interview with Sterling at 8 p.m. ET Monday on “AC360” on CNN.

Sen. Marco Rubio: Yes, I'm Ready to be President  —  He's a 42-year-old freshman senator, but when asked by Jonathan Karl on “This Week” if he's ready to be president, Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida answered without hesitation.  —  “I do ... but I think that's true for multiple …

Bachmann, Wasserman Schultz spar on CNN  —  Some clear tension arose between Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann during a segment Sunday on CNN's “State of the Union,” as the two went head to head on a handful of issues …

Hagel ‘Open’ to Reviewing Military's Ban on Transgender People  —  WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in an interview broadcast on Sunday that the military should “continually” review its prohibition on transgender people in the armed forces, calling into question whether …

STILL HERE  —  “You want me out of your life,” Monica Lewinsky wrote in a draft of a letter to President Bill Clinton in December, 1997.  At that point, their sexual encounters in his Oval Office study, which had begun two years earlier during a government shutdown and were facilitated by a pizza delivery, were still secret.

In midterm elections, Democrats can have some hope of retaining control of Senate  —  Senate races are not House races.  —  This seems obvious.  But amid increasing chatter about just how bad the national environment will be for Democrats in midterm elections this fall, it's an important point to remember.

A modern pope gets old school on the Devil  —  VATICAN CITY — A darling of liberal Catholics and an advocate of inclusion and forgiveness, Pope Francis is hardly known for fire and brimstone.  —  Yet, in his words and deeds, the new pope is locked in an epic battle with the oldest enemy of God and creation:

The Closing of the Collegiate Mind  —  Opponents of free speech have chalked up many campus victories lately as ideological conformity marches on.  —  There was a time when people looking for intellectual debate turned away from politics to the university.

Jindal: ‘The war over religious liberty is a war over free speech’  —  Speaking at Liberty University's 2014 Commencement yesterday, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal (R) attacked “elite” liberals who, he claimed, have launched “an assault on the freedom of expression in all areas of life.”

Secret Service agents pulled off White House patrol to help protect a top official's aide  —  The Secret Service monitored Brenda Allen and her family for months.  The surveillance came after an altercation with her neighbor, who worked for former Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan.

Cantor faces tea party fury in his back yard  —  SHORT PUMP, VA. — Just a few miles from his family home, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) felt the wrath of the tea party Saturday, when activists in his congressional district booed and heckled the second-most powerful House Republican.

Obama Congratulates Michael Sam, White House Says  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama congratulated Michael Sam today, after he made history as the first openly gay player drafted into the NFL when he was picked by the St. Louis Rams, the White House said.  —  “The President congratulates Michael Sam …