Obama sends message by naming Sochi Olympic delegation  —  The White House delivered a strong message of opposition to Russia's anti-gay laws Tuesday with the announcement of its delegation to the opening ceremony of the Sochi Olympics.  —  The White House delegation will include an openly gay athlete: tennis great Billie Jean King.

The reboot: Can Podesta save Obama?  —  Barack Obama's at the lowest point of his presidency.  Can John Podesta save him?  —  When President Barack Obama's chief of staff, Denis McDonough, approached John Podesta a few weeks ago about taking over the high-aggravation job of White House counselor …

Budget Deal Offers a Reprieve From Washington Paralysis  —  WASHINGTON — Something odd happened here on Tuesday.  The Senate advanced a two-year bipartisan budget deal that will now surely be sent to the president for his signature later this week without waiting for a cliff, a chasm, a deadline or a shutdown to force its hand.

Duck penis studies, lifecoaches for Senate staff: $30B in government spending questioned  —  WASHINGTON - While the White House and Congress griped this year about the pain of automatic budget cuts, the federal government still managed to spend billions of dollars on seemingly frivolous projects …

Harvard Student Charged In Bomb Hoax  —  BOSTON (CBS) — A Harvard student has been charged in connection with Monday's bomb threats which shut down four Harvard buildings and canceled finals for many students.  —  The U.S. Attorney's office says Eldo Kim, 20, of Cambridge …

When I launched my first campaign in 1999, I knew that the arc of my public service would have many chapters.  It has been a tremendous privilege to serve the people of Utah during my time in the United States House of Representatives, but my time in the House should not be the sum total of my service.

Brewer weighs in on ‘white’ Santa controversy  —  PHOENIX — Governor Jan Brewer got caught up in the controversy surrounding the ethnicity of Santa Claus on Tuesday.  —  Watch the video above to hear her response when asked by 3TV Political Editor Dennis Welch if she believes Santa Clause is white.

This is the ad every Democrat should be scared of in 2014  —  Ending Spending, a conservative outside group dedicated to, well, ending (government)spending, is running an ad in New Hampshire that will be replicated endlessly by Republican candidates and groups in the 2014 midterm election.

Obama ‘hijacks’ tech executive meeting to make ‘PR pitch’ on Obamacare website fix instead of dealing with NSA surveillance  — The White House telegraphed in advance that the president wanted to talk up his efforts to fix healthcare.gov, but no one in the room was interested

The global warming scam that will not die  —  We were all supposed to be dead by now, fried to a toasty potatolike chip.  Or doomed to die with the polar bears.  It was to be a soggy end for the most beautiful planet in the cosmos and for all the passengers riding on it.

Rangel Will Seek Reelection, Plans to Announce This Week  —  Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel will run for a 23rd term representing his Harlem district and plans an announcement as early as Thursday, people close to the legendary lawmaker said.  —  “He's decided,” said a source in contact with Rangel.

The Morning Plum: The consequences of GOP opposition to Obamacare  —  As of now, over two dozen states are not opting in to Obamacare's Medicaid expansion, thanks largely to hostility to the law among GOP governors who are turning down huge sums of federal money that could otherwise …

After Ruling Critical of N.S.A., Uncertain Terrain for Appeal  —  WASHINGTON — As Judge Richard J. Leon heard arguments last month in a challenge to a National Security Agency program, he said only one thing was certain.  —  “I'm not sure how I'm going to come out,” he said, “but I know it's going upstairs.”

Jerry Brown, urged to run for president, won't rule out 2016 bid  —  Some are urging California Gov. Jerry Brown to run a fourth time for president, in part to stop the front-runner, Hillary Rodham Clinton.  (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / May 23, 2013)  —  If he weren't the nation's oldest governor …

Texas congressmen take aim at Affordable Care Act's navigators  —  Dozens of Obamacare supporters attended Monday's congressional hearing at the Eisemann Center in Richardson.  Luis Veloz, 20, of Dallas told the crowd that he and his family do not have health insurance.

Second worst year on record for jailed journalists  —  For the second consecutive year, Turkey was the world's leading jailer of journalists, followed closely by Iran and China.  The number of journalists in prison globally decreased from a year earlier but remains close to historical highs.

Rep. Latham won't run for reelection  —  Rep. Tom Latham (R-Iowa) won't run for reelection, he announced Tuesday evening, opening up a competitive House seat in southwestern Iowa.  —  “It is never a perfect time or a right time to step aside.  But for me, this is the time,” he said in an email to supporters.

D.C. Council Approves Minimum Wage Increase  —  In a rather anticlimactic moment, the D.C. Council unanimously passed an increase in the minimum wage today to one of the highest levels in the country.  —  Council chair Phil Mendelson moved to place both the minimum wage increase and paid sick days …

Exclusive: Inside Steve Stockman's Disgusting, Condemned Campaign Office (PHOTOS)  —  Those looking for dirt on Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX) need look no further.  TPM has obtained photographs taken by the local officials who recently shut down Stockman's campaign office in Webster, Texas.

WAS IT SOMETHING WE SAID?  —  Moral Hazard, the Irish setter owned for photo-op purposes by New York Times columnist David Brooks, sat at the window of the farmhouse and watched the sparrows dance upon the new-fallen snow.  There was a warm glow about the room from the blazing fireplace …