US-China relations chill over Snowden  —  Press secretary Jay Carney blasted China in unusually blunt terms as the administration hunted for Snowden, the leaker of National Security Agency documents who is now believed to be hiding out in Russia.  —  Carney dismissed Hong Kong's legal justification …

Immigration Overhaul Clears Pivotal Vote in Senate  —  The Senate voted today to accept an amendment calling for stricter border security as part of comprehensive immigration reform.  —  The amendment that was at stake was the “deal” sponsored by Sens. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and John Hoeven …

Obama to Outline Ambitious Plan to Cut Greenhouse Gases  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama will propose a sweeping plan to address climate change on Tuesday, setting ambitious goals and timetables for a series of executive actions to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and prepare the nation for the ravages of a warming planet.

IRS chief: Inappropriate screening was broad  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Internal Revenue Service's screening of groups seeking tax-exempt status was broader and lasted longer than has been previously disclosed, the new head of the agency said Monday.  —  An internal IRS document obtained …

Justice Alito's Inexcusable Rudeness  —  A justice of the Supreme Court should not act like a high schooler on the bench; when the target is a fellow justice, the offense is even greater.  —  I suspect that the cause of cameras in the Supreme Court suffered a blow on Monday.

Obama in the doldrums  —  Not yet six months into his second term, Barack Obama's presidency is in a dead zone.  —  A combination of familiar Washington intransigence and a more recent run of bad news and political setbacks have left him with less influence over his circumstances …

Rick Santorum Becomes CEO of Faith-Based Film Studio  —  The former GOP presidential hopeful has raised millions of dollars to make faith-based, uplifting movies in the mode of “Soul Surfer,” except that they won't “water down the truth.”  —  Rick Santorum is getting into the film business …

Bolton Plans a Tour of Early-Primary States  —  Watch out, Rand Paul.  —  As Paul, a Kentucky senator, plans for a 2016 presidential run, he is talking up his views on foreign policy, which, broadly speaking, include less intervention in foreign conflicts and a smaller military budget.

Richard Matheson, 1926-2013  —  Tor.com is saddened and staggered to learn of the passing of Richard Matheson, the esteemed author of I am Legend, The Shrinking Man, What Dreams May Come, Hell House, the script for the Steven Spielberg film Duel, and many Twilight Zone scripts, among many more works.

Afghan forces put down attack on presidential palace: police  —  (Reuters) - Afghan forces put down an early morning attack by Taliban insurgents on the presidential palace and nearby buildings in central Kabul on Tuesday, with police saying all the assailants had been killed after a 90-minute gunfight.

Paula's Worst Ingredients  —  Paula Deen is where sass meets crass, where the homespun and folksy curdle into something with a sour aftertaste.  —  Her manner may be as sugary as her cooking, her smile as big as the hams she hawked for Smithfield.  But she doesn't pause when she should.

Star Scientific CEO financed shopping spree for first lady  —  Businessman paid thousands of dollars for first lady's designer goods  —  In the spring of 2011, Virginia first lady Maureen McDonnell flew to New York and was treated to a high-end shopping spree courtesy of Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams Sr.

Mitch McConnell Is Either Very Bad at Math or Horribly Disingenuous  —  The Senate minority leader took me to task on Friday.  Unfortunately, he had his facts wrong on virtually every count.  —  Last Friday morning, I attended a ballyhooed speech given by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell at AEI …

Ralph Nader outlines 2016 plan  —  Ralph Nader insists that he's done with his own presidential races, but he still has some plans for 2016.  —  “I'm going to find at least ten enlightened billionaires or multibillionaires and I'm going to have a criteria.  Have they spoken out about where they think the country is going?