Bill O'Reilly and Fox News Redouble Defense of His Falklands Reporting  —  The Fox News host Bill O'Reilly on Monday stepped up his defense against reports that he embellished stories about his war reporting earlier in his career, while some former colleagues continued to say he had exaggerated his experiences.

GOP gets bad news on ObamaCare repeal plan  —  The Senate's chief referee has dealt a significant setback to conservatives who want to send an ObamaCare repeal bill to the president's desk this year.  —  GOP sources say Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough has raised red flags …

Federal Officials Close Investigation Into Death of Trayvon Martin  —  The Justice Department announced today that the independent federal investigation found insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights charges against George Zimmerman for the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin on Feb. 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida.

The disappeared: Chicago police detain Americans at abuse-laden ‘black site’  —  The Chicago police department operates an off-the-books interrogation compound, rendering Americans unable to be found by family or attorneys while locked inside what lawyers say is the domestic equivalent of a CIA black site.

VA Secretary Robert McDonald Falsely Claimed He Served In ‘Special Forces’  —  WASHINGTON — Robert McDonald, the secretary of veterans affairs, wrongly claimed in a videotaped comment earlier this year that he served in the Army's elite special forces, when his military service of five years …

Eric Garner's daughter on Al Sharpton: 'He's all about the money'  —  Al Sharpton (left) and Erica Snipes.  —  Al Sharpton is all about the Benjamins, a daughter of police chokehold victim Eric Garner claims in a bombshell videotape.  —  Erica Snipes tees off on the reverend as interested primarily …

On Homeland Security funding, Republicans govern without logic  —  WHATEVER ITS merits or shortcomings, a federal judge's decision last week blocking the Obama administration's immigration policy offered congressional Republicans an escape path from the corner into which they had painted themselves …

Hugh Hewitt to moderate first GOP presidential debate  —  Radio talk-show host Hugh Hewitt will moderate the first Republican presidential debate as part of a partnership between Salem Media Group and CNN.  The debate will take place Sept. 16 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.

Boehner, McConnell: Pipeline veto purely political  —  The White House should look for common ground on Keystone, not interest group approval.  —  Tuesday, as promised, the new Congress is sending the White House legislation that would approve the Keystone XL pipeline.

Walker breaks out in national GOP race  —  PPP's newest national Republican poll finds a clear leader in the race for the first time: Scott Walker is at 25% to 18% for Ben Carson, 17% for Jeb Bush, and 10% for Mike Huckabee.  Rounding out the field of contenders are Chris Christie and Ted Cruz at 5% …

The humbling of Rahm  —  All signs point to a second term for the Chicago mayor.  But at what cost?  —  It ought to be a coronation, Rahm Emanuel must figure.  But as he nears what might or might not be the end of his exhausting race for a second term as Chicago's mayor …

UN climate panel head resigns amid sex claims  —  Tristan McConnell with Mariette Le Roux in Paris  —  Nairobi (AFP) - The head of the UN's climate science panel, Rajendra Pachauri, stepped down Tuesday in the wake of sexual harassment claims against him that have surfaced at a crucial time on the climate agenda.

Durbin: Selma Anniversary Should Give GOP Pause About Opposing Loretta Lynch  —  Race and a top nomination for the Obama cabinet.  —  The nomination of Loretta Lynch for attorney general has not moved through the Senate quite as quickly as Democrats had hoped.

Alaska allows recreational marijuana as campaign spreads  —  (Reuters) - Smoking, growing and owning small amounts of marijuana became legal in Alaska on Tuesday, as a growing decriminalization movement reached the United States' wild northwest frontier.  —  The Republican-leaning state …

Growing Support for Campaign Against ISIS - and Possible Use of U.S. Ground Troops  —  Shifting Views on How Best to Defeat Global Terrorism  —  The public has grown more supportive of the U.S. fight against ISIS, as about twice as many approve (63%) as disapprove (30%) …

Jeb and the ‘Immortal 306’  —  Today, the Republican nomination process is a muddle.  The Washington Post recently christened Jeb Bush the frontrunner, and for good reason.  He is pulling in the top Republican talent — the donors, consultants, and various policy advisors necessary to fund and run a top-notch campaign.

Two Senate Democrats Invite Netanyahu to Separate Meeting  —  Senators Richard Durbin and Dianne Feinstein write to the prime minister.  —  (Bloomberg) — Two U.S. Senate Democrats who criticized the circumstances surrounding Benjamin Netanyahu's planned speech to Congress next week …