TURLEY AGREES TO SERVE AS LEAD COUNSEL FOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE  —  As many on this blog are aware, I have previously testified, written, and litigated in opposition to the rise of executive power and the countervailing decline in congressional power in our tripartite system.

Keystone at Senate tipping point  —  Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and other supporters of the Keystone XL oil pipeline are stuck at 59 votes — one vote shy of the supermajority they need to move their bill forward on Tuesday.  —  Sens. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) …

Questions About Sharpton's Finances Accompany His Rise in Influence  —  The Rev. Al Sharpton, who came to prominence as an imposing figure in a track suit, shouting indignantly at the powerful, stood quietly on a stage last month at the Four Seasons restaurant, his now slender frame wrapped …

What Jon Gruber's Quotes Really Tell Us About Obamacare—and American Politics  —  The controversy over Jonathan Gruber, the MIT economist and Obamacare “architect” who talked about the “stupidity of American voters,” seems to be losing a bit of energy.  I'm not sure how much I can add …

Israel on Edge After Attackers Kill Five in Synagogue  —  JERUSALEM — Two Palestinians armed with a gun, knives and axes stormed a synagogue complex in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of West Jerusalem on Tuesday morning and killed four men in the middle of their morning prayers, the Israeli police said.

Obama in Winter  —  They say failure can be a good teacher, but, so far, the Obama administration is opting out of the course.  The post-midterm period has been one of the most bizarre of the Obama presidency.  President Obama has racked up some impressive foreign-policy accomplishments …

Uber Executive Suggests Digging Up Dirt On Journalists  —  Senior vice president Emil Michael floated making critics' personal lives fair game.  Michael apologized Monday for the remarks.  —  Emil Michael, senior vice president of business for Uber, in July.  —  David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Long Shot  —  Martin O'Malley ought to be a Democrat's dream candidate.  In two terms as the governor of Maryland, he's ushered in a sweeping liberal agenda that includes gay marriage, gun control, an end to the death penalty, and in-state college tuition for undocumented immigrants.

NFL suspends Vikings RB Adrian Peterson without pay for remainder of the season  —  He will not be considered for reinstatement before April of 2015.  The NFL Players' Association said in a statement that it will appeal Peterson's suspension and is demanding a neutral arbitrator handle the appeal.

Donnie Swaggart Says That Gay Rights Activists Would Love To Behead Christians  —  Last month, Donnie Swaggart, son of the infamous televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, hosted a panel discussion on the “Frances & Friends” television program dedicated to discussing the controversy that had erupted in Houston …

In Mr. Obama's own words, acting alone is ‘not how our democracy functions’  —  DEMOCRATS URGING President Obama to “go big” in his executive order on immigration might pause to consider the following scenario:  —  It is 2017.  Newly elected President Ted Cruz (R) insists he has won a mandate to repeal Obamacare.

Democrats Send Mixed Messages on Immigration Timing  —  Senate Democrats appear united in their view that President Barack Obama should take executive action on immigration, but they are sending mixed messages on the timing.  —  Administration officials have said an announcement will come …

Incredible Audio Of Gov. Jay Nixon Bumbling Through An Answer About Ferguson  —  Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) has declared a state of emergency and activated the state national guard in anticipation of a grand jury decision in the shooting of Michael Brown by Ferguson, Mo., police officer Darren Wilson.

McConnell Pushes Republicans to Silence Senate Debate on NSA Reform Bill  —  The Republican leader said the measure would help ISIS kill Americans.  —  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is asking his fellow Republicans to block a bill that would curtail the government's domestic spying powers.

Democrats lash out at Pelosi  —  House members go on the record with rare open criticism of their leader.  —  The discontent with Nancy Pelosi is breaking out in the open.  —  Democrats in the House have quietly grumbled about Pelosi since suffering devastating losses on Election Day …

The New Republican Plan To Rig The 2016 Presidential Election  —  Last week, Michigan state Rep. Pete Lund (R) revealed a plan that would rig the Electoral College to ensure Republican victories in 2016 and beyond if it were enacted in a sufficient number of states.

Peter Kassig's Powerful Silence Before ISIS Beheaded Him  —  The former Army Ranger did not address the camera.  —  It's tough to take any solace when the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria commits a murder, as it made clear yet again on Sunday it had done with the release of a video …

GOP officials deny knowing about coded Twitter accounts  —  Washington (CNN) — Top officials at the campaign committee for House Republicans said Tuesday they weren't aware of anonymous Twitter accounts that were used ahead of the midterms to share internal polling data with outside groups, potentially violating campaign finance laws.