Obama's approval rating grows following memorable week  —  Story highlights  —  Washington (CNN)Could Barack Obama's great week mark a turning point in his poll numbers?  —  After months of stagnant approval ratings, a new CNN/ORC poll finds that for the first time in more than two years …

VIDEO: Brawl Breaks Out In Front Of South Carolina Statehouse Over Confederate Flag  —  COLUMBIA, S.C. (CBS Atlanta/AP) — One man has been arrested after a fight over the Confederate flag in front of the South Carolina Statehouse.  —  The brawl started about 7:15 p.m. Monday …

BuzzFeed's Ben Smith Says Ted Cruz 'Approaches Going Viral Like It's His Job'  —  Why was Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) showing the Internet his best impression of Homer Simpson?  —  It was an open question on Tuesday after BuzzFeed News published a video of the presidential candidate rattling off impersonations …

Ted Cruz rides the backlash  —  Sen. Ted Cruz is hoping to ride the conservative backlash on gay marriage to the front of the Republican presidential pack.  —  The Texas Republican has hit the Supreme Court with repeated rhetorical barbs in the wake of its ruling Friday that allowed …

A college balks at Hillary Clinton's fee, books Chelsea for $65,000 instead  —  When the University of Missouri at Kansas City was looking for a celebrity speaker to headline its gala luncheon marking the opening of a women's hall of fame, one of the names that came to mind was Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Chris Christie Announces Run, Pledging ‘Truth’ About Nation's Woes  —  LIVINGSTON, N.J. — Gov. Chris Christie declared his candidacy for president here on Tuesday in a 20-minute speech full of New Jersey-style swagger, vowing that as president, “there is one thing you will know for sure: I say what I mean and I mean what I say.”

The Next Culture War  —  Christianity is in decline in the United States.  The share of Americans who describe themselves as Christians and attend church is dropping.  Evangelical voters make up a smaller share of the electorate.  Members of the millennial generation are detaching themselves from religious institutions in droves.

Rand Paul Meets With Cliven Bundy on Nevada Campaign Stop  —  Republican presidential candidate Sen. Rand Paul met with southern Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy on Monday during a question-and-answer session in the town of Mesquite with about 50 supporters and activists interested in land rights.

At the Supreme Court, a Win for Direct Democracy  —  IN 2000, voters in Arizona adopted a state constitutional amendment that created an independent commission to draw congressional districts.  But the commission immediately faced a legal challenge: the United States Constitution gives …

‘The Solution I Propose Is Massive Civil Disobedience’  —  ASPEN, Colo.—Scholar Charles Murray traces his latest book back to a story he heard from a family friend: a small business owner who found himself targeted by a federal regulatory agency.  “Like most businesses of his sort …

Donor Says Girl Scouts Can't Use $100K Gift for Transgender Girls  —  So the organization gave the money back.  And now they want your help.  —  Courtesy Girl Scouts of Western Washington  —  A $50,000 donation is cause for celebration at the Queen Anne offices of the Girl Scouts of Western Washington.

Misty Copeland Is Promoted to Principal Dancer at American Ballet Theater  —  Misty Copeland, whose openness about race in ballet helped to make her one of the most famous ballerinas in the United States, was promoted on Tuesday by American Ballet Theater, becoming the first African-American …

Justice Department faults Ferguson protest response  —  FERGUSON  • Police trying to control the Ferguson protests and riots responded with an uncoordinated effort that sometimes violated free-speech rights, antagonized crowds with military-style tactics and shielded officers from accountability …

California vaccine bill SB 277 signed into law by Jerry Brown  —  SACRAMENTO — Ending months of speculation, Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday signed into law Senate Bill 277, which requires almost all California schoolchildren to be fully vaccinated in order to attend public or private school …

Court Revives Defunct NSA Mass Surveillance Program  —  The NSA's phone dragnet is back—for now.  —  A federal court has revived the National Security Agency's bulk collection of Americans' phone records, a program that lapsed earlier this month when sections of the Patriot Act briefly expired.

Liz Warren: “I love what Bernie is talking about”  —  Senator doesn't dismiss campaigning for Bernie Sanders  —  Photo by:  —  Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren isn't ruling out joining ultra-liberal Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on the campaign trail in New Hampshire …

Conservative confab highlights 10 themes to watch in 2016 race  —  Scott Walker is running a straight-ahead, no frills, meat-and-potatoes campaign.  The Wisconsin governor has honed a very basic sales pitch, focusing on growth, reform and safety (his word for national security).  (AP Photo)