The Supreme Court Just Made It Harder For Women To Exercise Their Right To Choose  —  The Supreme Court unanimously struck down Massachusetts' abortion buffer zone law on Thursday, ruling in favor of anti-choice protesters who argued that being required to stay 35 feet away from clinic entrances …

Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology  —  Even in an increasingly Red vs. Blue nation, the public's political attitudes and values come in many shades and hues.  —  Partisan polarization - the vast and growing gap between Republicans and Democrats - is a defining feature of politics today.

Obama: World Cup Impacting Some Foreign Policy Moves  —  On his way to Minnesota today, President Obama took a break from his day job to watch one of the most anticipated World Cup matches so far — the U.S. vs. Germany — and he told ABC's George Stephanopoulos that the international sporting event …

Immigration reform effectively dead until after Obama leaves office, both sides say  —  The two-year attempt to push immigration reform through Congress is effectively dead and unlikely to be revived until after President Obama leaves office, numerous lawmakers and advocates on both sides of the issue said this week.

The Maddening Illogic of the IRS ‘Coverup’ Conspiracy Theory  —  We know that there aren't many scientists in the Republican congressional delegation, because if there were, they couldn't use the “I'm not a scientist” excuse to duck questions about climate change.

Matt Lauer Asks GM CEO If She Can Do Her Job And Be A Good Mom (VIDEO)  —  Today Show host Matt Lauer on Thursday asked General Motors CEO Mary Barra if she felt she could run a company and be a good mother during an interview about the company's controversial recalls.

The mocker-in-chief  —  The sarcastic bear is loose, and he's loving every minute of it.  —  President Barack Obama is letting his inner Don Rickles run free, mocking climate deniers as the crowd who used to think the moon was made out of cheese or spineless dopes who can't or won't listen …

Rise of a right-wing quack: Faux-historian David Barton's shocking new influence  —  Back when Glenn Beck was one of the most admired men in America and Fox News' No. 1 celebrity, he introduced to the nation at large a “historian,” well known among the Christian right, by the name of David Barton …

Lawyer clarifies Walker not target  —  A Wisconsin special prosecutor clarified Thursday that GOP Gov. Scott Walker was not the target of his investigation into what he described in earlier court papers as a “criminal scheme.”  —  Francis Schmitz, who is being accused of prosecutorial misconduct …

McDaniel Goes Over the Brink  —  A lot of us spent a good part of yesterday wondering what the basis might be of some Chris McDaniel challenge to the results in Mississippi on Tuesday night.  Would Team McDaniel stick to investigating clear and provable violations of state law (e.g. …

Howard H. Baker Jr., ‘Great Conciliator’ of Senate, Dies at 88  —  Howard H. Baker Jr., a soft-spoken Tennessee lawyer who served three terms in the Senate and became known as “the great conciliator” in his eight years as the chamber's Republican leader, died on Thursday at his home in Tennessee.

Odds tilt toward GOP Senate  —  Republicans are in the strongest position to win back the Senate since losing it eight years ago.  —  Over several months, the party has expanded its range of targeted seats, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has helped defeat insurgents …

New York's Ban on Big Sodas Is Rejected by Final Court  —  The Bloomberg big-soda ban is officially dead.  —  The state's highest court on Thursday refused to reinstate New York City's controversial limits on sales of jumbo sugary drinks, exhausting the city's final appeal and dashing …

The Pitchforks Are Coming?  For Us Plutocrats  —  To: My Fellow Zillionaires  —  You probably don't know me, but like you I am one of those .01%ers, a proud and unapologetic capitalist.  I have founded, co-founded and funded more than 30 companies across a range of industries …

Nancy Pelosi to travel to border, meet detained minors  —  House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi will travel to the southern border of the U.S. on Saturday to be briefed by Customs and Border Protection on the flood of unaccompanied minors entering the country.

Obamacare's Prognosis Grows Dimmer  —  A nightmare for Affordable Care Act supporters has been the possibility that only the sick would be left to purchase insurance through its exchanges, driving premiums up and insurers out.  While the law's boosters have been quick to dismiss the possibility …