IRS: Lerner emails may exist after all  —  The IRS might not have lost the backups of former agency administrator Lois Lerner's emails after all, according to a top IRS official.  —  In testimony released Monday, Thomas Kane, the IRS's deputy associate chief counsel, told House Oversight investigators …

Ukraine says Russian officer pushed the button to shoot down MH17  —  Kiev, Ukraine (CNN) — As bodies from Thursday's air disaster reached a facility Tuesday in Kharkiv, Ukraine, the Ukrainian government ratcheted up its accusations against Moscow, saying a Russian officer shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

Israel pounds Gaza despite international peace efforts  —  (Reuters) - Israel pounded targets across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, saying no ceasefire was near as top U.S. and U.N. diplomats pursued talks on halting fighting that has claimed more than 500 lives.

How Jon Stewart Made It Okay to Care About Palestinian Suffering  —  This Gaza war has brought a new level of American awareness of the pain of Palestinian civilians.  And we have Jon Stewart to thank.  —  When I interviewed The Daily Show's Jon Stewart two years ago for a documentary I co-directed …

Seeking redemption in 2016, Rick Perry finds power in immigration standoff  —  CLEAR LAKE, Iowa — He came here for redemption.  At the Clear Lake Evangelical Free Church, Rick Perry held his arms across his torso and swayed as the choir sang during last Sunday's morning service.

Obama's LGBT Executive Order endangers religious liberty  —  Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, left, applauds as President Obama waves after signing an executive order to protect LGBT employees from federal workplace discrimination in the East Room of the White House in Washington.

Goodbye to the Republican Wave?  —  Republicans entered this election cycle with high hopes.  President Obama's approval ratings had sunk into the low 40s, and the rollout of the Affordable Care Act had been an unmitigated disaster.  In an off-year election, Democrats weren't expected …

Charles Schumer: Adopt the Open Primary  —  WASHINGTON — POLARIZATION and partisanship are a plague on American politics.  —  Political scientists have found that the two parties have each grown more ideologically homogeneous since the 1970s.  The Senate hasn't been so polarized since Reconstruction …

Exclusive: US intelligence source claims Hamas has many more tunnels than Israel says  —  American satellites have preliminary findings of around 60 tunnels on the Israel-Gaza border, according to senior official; number could actually be higher.  —  As Israeli security forces thwarted …

Jet Wreckage Bears Signs of Impact by Supersonic Missile, Analysis Shows  —  A piece of wreckage from the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200 that was shot down in eastern Ukraine last week bears telltale marks of small pieces of high-velocity shrapnel that apparently crippled the jet in flight.

Showdown for GOP nomination in key Senate race  —  (CNN) - This one's ugly, and personal.  —  Voters cast ballots Tuesday in Georgia's Republican Senate primary runoff, after weeks of the two candidates sharpening their attacks.  —  Follow @politicalticker Follow @psteinhausercnn

There are 57,000 kids at the border who need temporary shelter.  Shame on the Democratic governors who are turning them away.  —  Immigration is a complex problem.  So is the long-term question of how the United States should handle the influx of tens of thousands of children from Central America.

MSNBC Contributor Slams Network For Pro-Israel Coverage: ‘We Are Ridiculous!’  —  An MSNBC contributor used her appearance on the cable news channel Monday to sharply criticize its coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict.  —  During an interview on “Ronan Farrow Daily,” Palestinian journalist …

Chris Christie suggests it's unlikely he'll campaign for Cuomo's opponent anytime soon  —  christie-cuomo-port-authority- bayonne.jpg  —  Matt Arco/NJ Advance Media, for NJ.com By Matt Arco/NJ Advance Media, for NJ.com  —  GREENWICH, Ct.  — Gov. Chris Christie was campaigning as chairman …

Limousine liberalism's good works  —  Is it hypocritical for a really, really rich person to object to rising inequality?  —  I've been thinking about this in light of the derision the Clintons are facing for charging six-figure speaking fees while pontificating about income polarization and the plight of the poor.