In A Rush To Be First, CNN, FOX, Huffington Post and TIME Get Supreme Court Story Exactly Wrong

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BREAKING NEWS: #SCOTUS struck down individual mandate for #healthcare. #CNN

28 Jun 12

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Supreme Court upholds Obama health care law

The Supreme Court upheld President Obama's health care law today in a splintered, complex opinionthat gives Obama a major election-year victory.

Obama Leads Romney In Polls Of Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania

WASHINGTON -- Three new Quinnipiac University polls released on Wednesday show President Barack Obama leading presumptive Republican challenger Mitt Romney in Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania.

As Exxon CEO Calls Global Warming’s Impacts ‘Manageable’, Colorado Wildfires Shutter Climate Lab

Fueled by a warming climate, Colorado is experiencing its worst fire season in its history.

As researchers at Boulder’s National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)joined 32,000 other Coloradans in fleeing the fires, ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson spoke to the Council on Foreign Relations about the “manageable” risks of climate change:

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 sales banned by US court

A court has banned sales of Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet in the US while it decides on the firm's patent dispute with Apple.

Robert Reich: Why Taxes Have to Be Raised on the Rich

Single-Payer Health Care Favored By House Progressives If Court Strikes Down Obamacare

WASHINGTON -- The last thing House progressives want is for the Supreme Court to strike down President Barack Obama's health care law. But if the high court rules Thursday that some or all of the law is unconstitutional, progressives are ready to renew their push for the model of health care they wanted all along: the single-payer option.

Supreme Court Health Care Decision Will Define The Future Of The American Health Care System

An odyssey that began during the presidency of Teddy Roosevelt and dominated much of President Barack Obama's first term in the White House could conclude Thursday at the Supreme Court. With it could end the best hope to date for the nearly 50 million Americans without health insurance and the hundreds of millions more burdened by rising costs.

Top 5 Ways Republicans Have Turned Washington DC Into Their Legislative Playground

Last night, a bill to grant Washington, DC, budget autonomy had to be pulled from the schedule after Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) tacked on restrictions that supported his Republican agenda.

CHICAGO DECRIMINALIZES SMALL AMOUNTS OF MARIJUANA

The Chicago City Council has voted 43-2 to “decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.” The city will now “issue a ticket for possession of 15 grams of marijuana or less,” but arrests “would still be mandated for anyone caught smoking pot in public or possessing marijuana in or near a school or in or near a park.” Chicago joins a number of states and cities who are considering similar decriminalization legislation. 15 states and a number of cities have reduced the penalty for possession of small amounts of marijuana, including: Seattle, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, as well as university towns like Champaign, Illinois, and Madison, Wisconsin.

Top 10 Reasons Republicans Want To Impeach President Obama

For more than two years, Republicans in Congress have wanted to impeach President Obama.

Every few months, they come up with creative new rationales to justify their desire to prematurely remove Obama from office, ranging from his immigration policies to birther hysteria to conspiracy theories about Arctic islands.

Obama Investigations By GOP Heat Up Before 2012 Election

WASHINGTON -- Contempt of Congress? Subpoenas? Stonewalling?

Maybe there's a smoking gun in the Republican-led investigations of the Obama administration – and President Barack Obama's pushback. But a large part of them could be what always goes on during a presidential campaign: political gamesmanship.

Stockton, California To Declare Bankruptcy

STOCKTON, Calif. — Officials in Stockton said Tuesday that mediation with creditors has failed, meaning the Central California city is set to become the largest American city ever to declare bankruptcy.

NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’S LOBBYING ACTIVITIES

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has launched an investigation into the contributions of “tax-exempt groups that are heavily involved in political campaigns, focusing on a case involving the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has been one of the largest outside groups seeking to influence recent elections but is not required to disclose its donors,” the New York Times reports. Schneiderman is “seeking e-mails, bank records and other documents to determine whether the foundation illegally funneled $18 million to the chamber for political and lobbying activities.” The Chamber spent $66 million on lobbying in 2011 and has “pledged to spend at least $50 million on issue ads during the 2012 election cycle.” Recent reports have revealed that health insurers funneled at least $102.4 million through the Chamber in an effort to defeat Obamacare and undermine its implementation.

TEXAS GOP PLATFORM CALLS FOR REPEALING VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965

The Republican Party of Texas released its platform this month, calling on Congress to repeal the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. “We urge that the Voter [sic] Rights Act of 1965 codified and updated in 1973 be repealed and not reauthorized,” the platform reads. Texas is one of nine states with a history of racial discrimination that must get clearance from the Department of Justice before altering its voting laws.

National HIV and STD Testing Day

The National HIV and STD Testing Resources Web site (aka HIVtest.cdc.gov and FindSTDtest.org) is a service of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This Web site provides users with locations for HIV and STD testing and STD vaccines around the United States.

iPhone 4S, Lumia 900, Droid Razr Maxx: Three Great Smartphones You Should Not Buy

Imagine that you are inside your favorite mobile phone retail store. The air conditioning blows cool on the back of your neck; you tap your foot to the Foster the People tune playing softly on the loudspeaker. In your left hand, you hold the smartphone you've been eyeing for months -- you know, the one from the TV commercials, with the funny celebrity.

The 5 Craziest Policies In Texas Republicans’ 2012 Platform

The Republican Party of Texas released its 2012 platform this month, outlining its policies on taxation, education, and a host of other issues related to the economy. Texas Republicans, according to the platform, support eliminating the minimum wage and the prevailing wage, doing away with the Department of Education and Department of Energy, and “reducing taxpayer funding to all levels of education” — but those aren’t even the most damaging positions.

Man Dies After Prison Nurse Tries To ‘Cut Costs’ By Denying Him Care

A Minnesota mother is suing the correctional facility where her son, Xavier Scullark-Johnson, died after being denied emergency care by his prison nurses. The 27-year-old St. Paul native was less than three months away from his prison release when he passed away in June 2010.

Rebuild the Dreams Paul Zehrer, Puts A Human Face On The Student Debt Problem

Dear Reader,

You really should watch this, if you've got a second.

With just 5 days to go before federal student loan interest rates double, Paul Zehrer, a Rebuild member and Emmy-nominated filmmaker, has produced a powerful, short new video showing who and what this fight is really about. Watch now -- and then call your senators, if you haven't yet.

Justice Scalia Cites Pro-Slavery Laws Excluding ‘Freed Blacks’ To Justify His Anti-Immigrant Opinion

As ThinkProgress reported yesterday, conservative Justice Antonin Scalia’s dissenting opinion claiming that Arizona’s entire harsh immigration law should be upheld sacrifices both factual and mathematical accuracy in order toattack one of the Obama Administrations recently announced policies. Perhaps the oddest part of Scalia’s dissent, however, is the fact that he actually relied on pro-slavery laws excluding free persons of African descent from much of the south to justify allowing Arizona to target undocumented immigrants:

Arizona Immigration Law: GOP Criticisms Disputed By Data Saying Crime, Border Crossings Have Dropped

WASHINGTON -- Illegal immigration has fallen precipitously and border enforcement is at an all-time high, but that's hard to tell from statements Republicans blasted out Monday after the Supreme Court struck down much of Arizona's immigration law.

Rodney King’s Family Plead for Help With His Burial Costs!

When Rodney King, 47, passed away on June 17th from an alleged drowning, little did the public know that he was broke. King, who was brutally beaten by the Los Angeles police department in 1991, has died penniless. Now his family members need money to lay his body in the ground, reports TMZ.

Pastors Wife Jailed For Gambling Away $430,000 Of Church’s Money?

Houston Pastor Charles Gilford, 58 and his wife Adriane, 53, (pictured) were arrested and charged with bilking their former congregation out of $430,000 in church funds and using them for gambling trips to Louisiana, according toKHOU News.

Jesse Jackson Jr. Leave Of Absence: Congressman Being Treated For Exhaustion

CHICAGO -- U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who defeated a primary challenge this year despite being the target of a House ethics investigation, has been on a medical leave for two weeks and is being treated for exhaustion, his office announced Monday.

Louisiana Private Schools Teach Loch Ness Monster Is Real In Effort To Disprove Evolution Theory

Some students at private schools in Louisiana are being taught that Scotland's fabled Loch Ness monster is real, a claim that is then held as evidence disproving Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, theScotsman reports.

White House Touts Auto Industry Success As New Fuel Economy Standards Loom

The White House will host a three-hour conference Wednesday to tout what it calls the "innovative success story" of the auto industry's clean cars, advanced technology and job growth as the government prepares to adopt stricter fuel economy standards.

For-Profit Colleges Owned By Wall Street Companies Fare Worst Under New U.S. Measures

For-profit colleges owned by publicly traded corporations were among the worst in preparing students for jobs that allow them to repay debts, according to U.S. Department of Education data that offers the first glimpse at how career training schools will perform under Obama administration rules that begin this fall.

What You Need to Know About Today’s Supreme Court Rulings

Today, the Supreme Court issued three very important rulings:

With Gas Prices Expected To Drop Below $3, Republicans Suddenly Silent On Obama’s Role

Experts predict average gas prices may fall below $3 this fall after dropping14 cents in two weeks. When prices hit a record high, Republicans attributed sole responsibility to President Obama, even though there is no evidence that factors like drilling impact what consumers pay.

For Black Male Intellectuals Who Have Considered Suicide When Black Women Were Too Much

[Editor's note: The gross generalizations when using the blanket terms of "black women" or "black men" are not to be understood as engaging the stereotype of "all" and lumping everyone into broad categories. But for the sake of easy communication in an already lengthy blog post, please adjust your comprehension accordingly. That is to say, if I'm not writing about you, then so be it; if the shoe fits, wear it, if not, then don't. JLL]

Testosterone Makes Women Want To Pleasure Themselves Rather Than Have Sex

It has long been assumed that men typically want to have sex more often than women because they have higher levels of testosterone. But a team from the University of Michigan found that women with high testosterone had a greater desire to masturbate compared to their peers.

CEO Pay Grew By 12 Percent Last Year, While Worker Wages Near All-Time Lows (Banks)

According to an analysis by the pay research group Equilar, compensation for top bank CEOs grew by nearly 12 percent last year. The Financial Times noted that these increases occurred “despite widespread falls in profits and share prices“:

RIM Reportedly Considers Splitting Off Smartphone Business

LONDON (Reuters) - BlackBerry maker Research in Motion is considering splitting its business in two, separating its struggling handset manufacturing division from its messaging network, The Sunday Times reported.

34 Lawmakers Changed Their Investments After Receiving Private Briefings About 2008 Economic Crisis

Last November, 60 Minutes aired a report showing that House Financial Services Chairman Spencer Bachus (R-AL) made tens of thousands of dollarstrading stock as he was receiving private economic briefings during the height of the 2008 financial crisis. Due to weak insider trading rules, Bachus was cleared of any legal wrongdoing by the Congressional Ethics Committee, but the case still motivated Congress to pass the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act, which supposedly prevents lawmakers from profiting off information they receive in private briefings with top economic officials.

SUPREME COURT DOUBLES DOWN ON CITIZENS UNITED

The Supreme Court just announced a 5-4 decision striking down Montana’s ban on corporate money in elections. The decision was handed down without hearing oral argument on the case, meaning that the five conservative justices were not even open to hearing arguments that their election-buying decision in Citizens United might have been wrongly decided.

SUPREME COURT REJECTS CHALLENGE TO ‘SHOW ME YOUR PAPERS,’ STRIKES DOWN PART OF ARIZONA IMMIGRATION LAW

The Supreme Court just announced that parts of Arizona’s harsh immigration law, SB 1070, are preempted by federal immigration law. Significantly, however, the justices did also held that it was “improper for the lower courts to enjoin Section 2(B), which requires police officers to check the legal status of anyone arrested for any crime before they can be released.”

'Bath Salts' Drug Trend: What Are They Really?

"Ivory Wave," "Purple Wave," Vanilla Sky," and "Bliss" -- all are among the many street names of a so-called designer drug known as “bath salts,” which has sparked thousands of calls to poison centers across the U.S. over the last year.

Ten Things You Would Miss About Obamacare

The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act this week and could potentially strike down part or the whole of ‘Obamacare.’ Below are 10 things you will miss about the law if the justices invalidate it:

Last-Of-His-Kind Galapagos Tortoise Dies At 100: Lonesome George

QUITO, June 24 (Reuters) - Lonesome George, the last remaining tortoise of his kind and a conservation icon, died on Sunday of unknown causes, the Galapagos National Park said. He was thought to be about 100 years old.

Funny Political Cartoons: On Going 2012

The Sunday 24th 2012 Talking Heads

Today, it looks like Darrell Issa is going full- or semi-full-Ginsburg today, because of this week's executive privilege declaration over documents related to the failed Fast and Furious "let's hand out some guns and hope for the best" anti-gunrunning operation, that none of us would have known about had it not been for the fact that strayed guns from that program ended up adjacent to a dead Border Patrol agent. Now the Obama administration has asserted executive privilege, we can head right into the part where everyone bounces up and down in the seat like Obama cut a hole in the undercarriage, and it's causing everyone tremendous pain.

Supreme Court Decision Looming

WASHINGTON -- It's the biggest secret in a city known for not keeping them.

The nine Supreme Court justices and more than three dozen other people have kept quiet for more than two months about how the high court is going to rule on the constitutionality of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

GOP Oversight Chair Admits There Is No Evidence Of White House Involvement In Fast And Furious

Last week, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH)claimed that the White House decision to invoke executive privilege to prevent the release of some documents related to the “Fast and Furious” investigation indicated some sort of admission of a White House cover-up. Today, pressed by Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace, House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) admitted that there is absolutely no evidence to back up Boehner’s allegation:

Outsourcer-in-Chief in the Oval Office?

The Washington Post has a blockbuster, must-read story today detailing how Mitt Romney and Bain Capital were “pioneers in the practice of shipping work from the United States” to countries like India, China, and elsewhere.

4 Policies That Can Help Women (And Men) ‘Have It All’

Former State department official Anne-Marie Slaughter’s piece in the Atlantic, entitled “Why Women Still Can’t Have it All,” has set off a fire-storm of discussion about women and men in the work force. Whether you agree with Slaughter, Salon writer Rebecca Traister (who takes on Slaughter’s arguments), or facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg (who has provided advice on this topic), there are certainly policy solutions that would address the problems facing parents in the modern workplace. Here are four policy ideas that could help America’s government and businesses keep up with its families:

NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING IN EXTREME POVERTY UP 50% SINCE 2000

Economics blogger Evan Soltas broke down census figures and found that since 2000, the number of people living in “extreme” poverty — that is, incomes totaling less than half of the federal poverty line — has climbed an astounding 50 percent, accelerating most dramatically after the recession began four years ago. In 2010, 6.7 percent of Americans were living in extreme poverty, up from 5.2 percent in 2007 and just 4.7 percent in 2000. That represents the largest jump by a single income bracket among those hovering near the poverty line.

House Republicans vote for Styrofoam cups (These Phuckers I Tell You)

One of Republican House Speaker John Boehner’s first “reforms” was to dump a “Green the Capitol” campaign begun under predecessor Nancy Pelosi, and restore Styrofoam cups to the House cafeteria.

CORPORATE PROFITS ARE AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH

The Business Insider notes that, at the same time that corporate profits are at an all-time high as a percentage of the economy, wages are at an all-time low. Last year, corporations made a record $824 billion, which didn’t stop conservatives from continually claiming that President Obama is anti-business.

Jerry Sandusky Guilty

BELLEFONTE, Pa. -- Jerry Sandusky entered the Centre County Courthouse Friday as one of the most celebrated figures in the history of Penn State sports. He left a convicted child molester.

SENATE LEADERS REACH AGREEMENT TO PREVENT STUDENT LOAN RATES FROM DOUBLING

After two filibusters by Republicans, it seems that the Senate has finallycome to an agreement on freezing student loan rates. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) are apparently working out the final details on how they will cover the cost of the bill, which will prevent student loans from doubling this month. Methods to pay for it, according to the National Journal, “include Democratic proposals involving pensions. The deal also includes a GOP proposal to cut off subsidized student loans after six years, saving about $1.2 billion a year.”

Wild Conspiracy Theory's Driving The Fast And Furious Investigation

Here is theory that some Congressional Republicans believe: The Obama Administration intentionally handed over automatic weapons to Mexican drug cartels, who they knew would commit violent acts, because they wanted to scare Americans into supporting stricter gun laws.

Black Women, "How do you feel about yourself today?" Seriously It's An Honest Question

This lady lays out a gimps of what she has seen in the mirror, or as she states it, what's the problem with some of her fellow Sista's as things are today.  She repeats, "Black Women Ain't Shyt."  Do you believe that's not the case or do find just a bit of truth to what she is saying.  Remember, if you often agree with just one point someone is saying,  there might be others you agree with as well.

SEGREGATION AND FEMINISM: BLACK FAMILIES MARGINALIZED IN 1964

The Deal That White Feminists Made With White Supremacists In The Sixties

“The fundamental problem…is that of family structure…[T]he Negro family in the urban ghetto is crumbling.”

Daniel Patrick Moynihan, in his 1965 report for the U.S. Department of Labor, wrote that the largest problem facing the socio-economic improvement of African Americans was the weakness of the black family. More specific, it was the inability of the black man to make enough money to support a wife and children.

Five Questions Men Should Ask Themselves Before Having Sex

Jun 21, 2012 By Dr. Boyce Watkins

I’ve been a Black man for quite a while now. It’s been a fun ride, with its ups and downs, but I have to say that in this journey, where half the world is working to secure your extinction, you realize that your ability to think and make critical decisions can become the key to your survival. But beyond surviving, you also want to prosper. Part of your path to prosperity should include good family planning.

Matt Sandusky, Jerry Sandusky's Adopted Son, Says Through Lawyer His Father Sexually Abused Him

BELLEFONTE, Pa. -- Lawyers for one of Jerry Sandusky's adopted sons said the man has told authorities the former Penn State assistant football coach abused him.

Miami Heat Win 2012 NBA Championship: LeBron James Leads Way Over Oklahoma City Thunder

MIAMI — The decision is final: LeBron James made the right call coming to Miami.

Finally an NBA champion, it's all worth it now.

POLL: MOST REPUBLICANS STILL BELIEVE THAT IRAQ HAD WMD

A new poll conducted by Dartmouth government professor Benjamin Valentino found that 63 percent of Republican respondents still believe that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction when the United States invaded in 2003, even though this assertion has been thoroughly debunked. In comparison, only 27 percent of independents and less than 15 percent of Democrats believed in the misinformation. Additionally, 64 percent of Republican respondents believe that President Obama was born in another country. As the Huffington Post’s Dan Froomkin notes, “this latest poll result seems to indicate a refusal — unique to the modern Republican Party — to acknowledge facts.”

Members Who Supported Massive Giveaway To Big Oil Have Received $38.6 Million From The Industry

The House of Representatives, which already holds the title of the most anti-environment House ever, today added another mark to the list — the Domestic Energy Production Act, H.R. 4480. The act is specifically designed to increase oil and gas development, with measures that block safeguards from smog and pollution and mandate drilling on public lands. The House Republicans passed this pollution and plunder energy package overrun by oil and gas industry interests, 248 to 163. This breakdown includes 229 Republicans and 19 Democratic members.

Crack Is Not Worse Than Marijuana, Says One Drug Enforcement Agent

Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), a staunch advocate for the legalization of medical marijuana, rebuked Michele Leonhart, the head of the Drug Enforcement Agency, yesterday at a Congressional hearing because she would not say if crack is worse than marijuana.

Empty Desks On National Mall Represent Number Of U.S. High School Drop-Outs Per Hour

A powerful installation on the National Mall today is meant to call attention to the nation’s current drop-out rate: the 857 desks represent the number of students who drop out of high school in the United States every single hour, according to the College Board’s calculations.

Republicans Holding Nearly 3 Million Transportation Jobs Hostage For 6,000 Temporary Oil Jobs

With as many as 2.9 million new and existing jobs on the line, House Republicans are refusing to pass a transportation reauthorization bill, even after the Senate’s version of the bill overwhelmingly passed through the upper chamber in a 74-22 bipartisan vote.

Mitt Romney NALEO Speech Does Not Clarify Stance On Obama Immigration Policy (First He Wanted Them To Self Deport!)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Mitt Romney promised Latinos on Thursday that he would swiftly reform the American immigration system -- once again without saying whether he would end President Obama's policy allowing some young undocumented immigrants reprieve from fear of deportation.

Color Struck: Would Obama Have Been Elected if He Looked Like Wesley Snipes?

Jun 21, 2012 By Dr. Boyce Watkins

I am not sure why certain questions or thoughts pop into my brain. Sometimes those questions help me figure things out and other times, they get me into serious trouble. I have no idea what this one is going to do, but I had to ask it anyway: Would Barack Obama have been elected President of the United States if he were as dark as Wesley Snipes?

12.8 MILLION RECEIVE INSURANCE REBATES AS A RESULT OF OBAMACARE

12.8 million Americans will receive $1.1 billion in rebates from insurers that have not met minimum spending guidelines in Obamacare, the administration announced Thursday morning. The Affordable Care Act requires insurers to spend 80 to 85 percent of premium dollars on health care services or issue rebates to policy holders. The average rebate is valued at $151 per household.

Increasing The Minimum Wage During Times Of High Unemployment Doesn’t Hurt Job Growth

A group of House Democrats recently proposed legislation that would raise the federal minimum wage to $10 an hour, roughly where it would have to be to match the peak buying power the wage reached in 1968. Cities and states across the country are taking action on their own,raising their minimum wages in an effort to help low-income workers.

Post-Katrina School Firings Wrongful, Louisiana Judge Rules

NEW ORLEANS -- Thousands of New Orleans school employees were wrongfully fired after Hurricane Katrina scattered the populations and shut down the city and its schools, a Louisiana judge ruled Wednesday.

Galaxy S3 Review: Samsung's Latest Gives iPhone 4S Run For Its Money

Advertisements for the Galaxy S3, the new top-of-the-line Android smartphone from Samsung, claim that the GS3 was "designed for humans."

The Scam Wall Street Learned From the Mafia

How America's biggest banks took part in a nationwide bid-rigging conspiracy - until they were caught on tape

C.I.A. Said to Aid in Steering Arms to Syrian Opposition

WASHINGTON — A small number of C.I.A. officers are operating secretly in southern Turkey, helping allies decide which Syrian opposition fighters across the border will receive arms to fight the Syrian government, according to American officials and Arab intelligence officers.

Do You Want to Pay for a Tax Break for Millionaires?

GOP Plan: Raise Your Taxes, Slash Them for Millionaires

As we’ve been discussing for months, the core of the Romney-Ryan budget plan is massive tax cuts for wealthy paid for by increasing taxes on the middle class and slashing funding for Medicare, Medicaid, and basically everything else the government does — including programs that benefit the middle class each and every day.

Right Wing Group: Protections To Prevent Prison Rape Are Too ‘Costly’ And ‘Heavy-Handed’

A right-wing “think tank” released areport today criticizing the Obama administration’s new anti-prison rape protections as a “burden” that is too “costly” and “heavy-handed.”

Apple Store Refuses To Sell Popular Devices To Iranian Americans

Two would-be customers at an Alpharetta, Georgia Apple Store walked out empty handed last week after the store refused to sell them Apple’s popular iPad and iPhone gadgets because the two customers were speaking Farsi.

Karl Rove: Too Clever For His Own Good With Crossroads GPS Secrecy?

WASHINGTON -- Measures that secretive political groups keep coming up with to avoid disclosing donors may eventually backfire, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said Wednesday.

Nancy Pelosi Says Obama Should Use Constitution To Avert Debt Crisis

WASHINGTON -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Wednesday that President Barack Obama should use the 14th Amendment to declare the debt ceiling unconstitutional in the event that Congress hurtles toward another debt showdown.

HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE APPROVES CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS RESOLUTION AGAINST ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER.

The vote was 23-17. The contempt resolution was approved despite the Obama administration asserting executive privilege over the documents sought by Congressman Issa. Politico reports, “The next step would be a vote of the full House, but a floor vote is not expected before next week.” Updates to come.

Executive Privilege Does Not Apply Exclusively To Presidential Communications

With today’s announcement that the Obama administration will assert executive privilege over some “Fast & Furious” documents, a number of critics in Congress have suggested that this must mean the President was involved with the scandal. But this conclusion relies on a fundamental misunderstanding — or willful ignorance — on their part about what executive privilege is.

Over Two Decades, Abortion Rate Dropped For Women In Their 20s Because Of Contraception Access

Between 1990 and 2008, pregnancy and abortion rates for women in their twenties dropped dramatically, a new study revealed today. Pregnancy rates fell by 18 percent, while abortion rates dropped by a third.

Nancy Pelosi Slams Contempt Vote: 'I Could Have Arrested Karl Rove ... But We Didn't'

WASHINGTON -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Wednesday that the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is playing politics with its vote to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress, an action she said that even she didn't seek as House Speaker when she thought someone was legitimately deserving of it.

In FOMC Rate Decision, The Fed Does The Absolute Least It Can Do

The Federal Reserve is failing to achieve both of its legally mandated goals, full employment and stable prices. And yet it chose on Wednesday to do the absolute least it could do to change that.

AMERICANS WANT CONGRESS TO PASS NEW HEALTH REFORMS IF SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN OBAMACARE

If the Supreme Court overturns the Affordable Care Act, then 77 percent of Americans want the president and Congress to work on a new legislative overhaul of the health care system, according to a new AP-GfK poll. Only 19 percent say they want lawmakers to leave health care the way it is if the health care reform law is struck down. Ahead of the Supreme Court ruling, which is expected at the end of this month, House Republicans continue to insist that Obamacare must be repealed, but it isunclear what their plan would be to replace it.

Arizona GOP Chair On Radio Show When Host Called Obama A ‘Monkey,’ Said Nothing

Yesterday, ThinkProgress reported on a radio host in Arizona who publicly called President Obama a “monkey,” before saying, “I voted for the white guy myself.” Barbara Espinosa stood by her comments during the show, and after the show aired, going so far as to defend herself in comments sectionsand in a blog post on her website — that post was removed yesterday.

Summer Heat Wave 2012: Record Temperatures May Burn Northeast's First Day Of Summer

PHILADELPHIA — If you need a reminder that summer has officially started, just walk outside: Temperatures across the Northeast are expected to approach triple digits.

Ron Paul Admits He's On Social Security, Even Though He Believes It's Unconstitutional And Which He Once Likened To Slavery (More Of "I've got mine" . . . but the rest of us should be on our own.)

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) may rail against Social Security insolvency in the public eye, but that hasn't stopped him from accepting the government checks.

Stem Cell Clinical Trials Suggest Highly Touted Medical Technology Is Headed For Prime Time

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN—For more than a decade, stem cell therapies have been touted as offering hope for those suffering from genetic and degenerative diseases. The promise took another step toward reality last week with announcements here at the annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) that two groups are moving forward with human clinical research, one focusing on a rare genetic neurological disease and the other for the loss of vision in the elderly.

Environmental Killings Report Reveals Startling Number Of Activist Deaths

A new report from international NGO Global Witness suggests that, in the past decade, 711 individuals have been killed while defending land and forest rights. 106 of these deaths allegedly came in 2011, with the number killed almost doubling over the past three years.

90 Million Workers Won't Be Needed By 2020, Study Says

Tens of millions of people worldwide will be condemned to long-term joblessness unless global leaders make significant changes to address unemployment and worker training, according to a new study.

Food Stamp Vote In Senate Blocks Bid To Restore $4.5 Billion In Aid

WASHINGTON -- The Senate overwhelmingly rejected a bid to preserve some $4.5 billion in food stamps funding, as part of the massive farm bill, on Tuesday.

Obama Executive Privilege Asserted Over Fast And Furious Documents

President Barack Obama has asserted executive privilege in response to requests made by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, who has embarked on a controversial investigation into the Department of Justice's Operation Fast and Furious gun-walking program.

Dad who beat daughter's molester to death won't be charged

A grand jury has decided not to charge a young Texas man who beat to death an assailant who was molesting his 5-year-old daughter.

GOP Backup Plan on Immigration: Deceive Latinos

GOP Trying to Etch A Sketch Away Its Record on Immigration

Two new polls out this week show the peril of the Republican Party’s vehemently anti-immigrant policies. First, Gallup reported that anti-immigration sentiment is at a historic low, with 66 percent of Americans saying immigration is a “good thing.” And then just today a Bloomberg News poll reveals that Americans overwhelmingly back the president’s new immigration policy. Just 30 percent of likely voters oppose it, while 64 percent support it — including independent voters, who back it by a 2:1 margin. Some polls have also shown President Obama leading Mitt Romney by a nearly 50-point margin among Latinos.

Juneteenth: Celebrating The Early Moments Of Freedom Today

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day orEmancipation Day, is a holiday of notable significance for many African Americans. June 19, 1865, highlights the abolition of slavery in the state of Texas, marking a historic moment in American history and the culmination of President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation that was written three years prior (the African Americans pictured were celebrating Juneteenth in the year 1900). Texas was resistant to the emancipation of slaves, but a military operation led by Union troops caused the end of slavery in the Lone Star state.

Republicans Attempt To Raid Food Stamps: Would Reduce Average Monthly Benefit By $90

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) is advancing an amendment to the 2012 farm bill that will cut more than $4 billion from the food stamp program and could take $90 out of the average benefit just as millions of lower-income families are struggling to make ends meet in a difficult economy. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) agreed to bring the measure up for a vote, along with an amendment from Sen. Kirstin Gillibrand (D-NY) that may “restore some of the lost funding” as part of a compromise on Monday.

10 Issues To Watch On State Ballot Initiatives This November

This November, voters won’t just choose the next President of the United States, they will vote on referendums and state constitutional amendments that may determine the course of public policy in their states in a number of subject areas. Currently, 127 questions are certified for spots on 33 statewide ballots and 104 of them will be voted on in November. Here are ten of the most important policies that will be voted on in November:

Fannie And Freddie Fail On Oversight of Foreclosure Contractors, Housing Agency Report Says

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac failed to keep tabs on thousands of contractors hired to manage more than 1 million foreclosed homes, possibly exposing the mortgage giants to double billing or charging for work that was never done, according to an alarming Federal Housing Finance Agency report.

Adidas Cancels Controversial ‘Slave’ Sneakers

German sports apparel maker Adidas has canceled the release of the controversial JS Roundhouse sneaker, which featured rubber ankle shackles, after a huge public outcry, reports CNN.com.

Author Alice Walker Says ‘NO!’ to Hebrew ‘Color Purple’ Translation

Alice Walker (pictured), one of the most-prolific writers of our time, is refusing to authorize a Jewish translation of her 1983 Pulitzer prize-winning work “The Color Purple,” citing what she has often referred to as an “apartheid state,” reports The Jerusalem Post.

House Democrats Committee Out-Raises GOP Counterpart, Prepares Fall Ad Onslaught

House Democrats are crowing about a stronger fundraising month than their GOP counterparts had and planning to use the cash for a late-election-cycle ad blitz.

Microsoft Surface Takes On iPad With It's Secret Weapon: The Keyboard

In the hours leading up to Microsoft's surprise event, it had become clear the company was going to introduce its own tablet. As the announcement neared, I wondered what would differentiate a Microsoft tablet from Apple's mighty iPad, causing casual shoppers to look it over in the electronics aisle and decide that it's the tablet they need to buy.

Asian Immigrants To U.S. Now Surpass Hispanics

WASHINGTON -- For the first time, the influx of Asians moving to the U.S. has surpassed that of Hispanics, reflecting a slowdown in illegal immigration while American employers increase their demand for high-skilled workers.

Wesley Warren Jr., Man With 100-Pound Scrotum, Turns Down Free Surgery Offer

A man who made headlines for his 100-pound scrotum now says he turned down an offer for free surgery to get rid of his bulging problem.

P. Krugman: 'Ireland Is Romney Economics In Practice'

If Mitt Romney is elected president, the U.S. will experience an economic disaster the likes of which have been recently seen in Ireland, according to Paul Krugman.

Julian Assange Tries To Get Asylum From Ecuador

QUITO, Ecuador — Embattled WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange took refuge Tuesday in Ecuador's embassy in London and is seeking political asylum, the South American nation's foreign minister said.

Bundlers From Obama's 2008 Campaign Fundraising Disappear In 2012

WASHINGTON –- In politics, as in life, no good deed goes unpunished. Just ask President Barack Obama.

As States Repurpose Welfare Funds, More Families Fall Through Safety Net

STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. -- Brianna Butler would prefer never again to see the inside of the DeKalb County welfare office. She is eager to work. This she says repeatedly.

Iowa Could Lose $1.8 Billion By Stripping Abortion Funding For Rape And Incest Victims

Forty-one GOP legislators in Iowa have filed a motion with the Iowa Department of Human Services attempting to halt all government-funded abortion services in the state — even in cases of rape or incest. If successful, Iowa would join South Dakota, the only state that currently denies Medicaid funding for abortion services and could lose millions in federal funding:

ARIZONA RADIO HOST CALLS OBAMA A ‘MONKEY’

Barbara Espinosa, the host of an Arizona radio show called “Hair on Fire,” called the President a “monkey” on a recent radio segment. “I don’t believe in calling him the first black president,”she said, “I voted for the white guy myself. I call him a monkey.” When outrage erupted over her racist comments, Espinosa went on the Internet to defend herself. In one comments section, she linked to a Google image search of the words “Obama as monkey cartoon” and wrote, “With a last name of Espinosa I’m anything but racist.” She also wrote a post on her website titled “YES! I Did Use the Word Monkey and Obama in same sentence…” You can listen to her original comments here:

Scientist Hunt For Component in Breast Milk That Seems To Kill HIV

Is breast best for inhibiting HIV? An unknown component of breast milk kills HIV particles and virus-infected cells, as well as blocking HIV-transmission in mice with a human immune system.

Aunt Jemima, And How It Changed U.S. Trademark Law

In the late 19th century, R.T. Davis purchased a struggling milling company that put out a ready-made pancake mix branded with an older, matronly black woman in an apron and kerchief. Aunt Jemima’s appearance on the package implied long hours in a southern kitchen and an authentic, homey product. The actual pancake mix reportedly did not live up to that image, but Davis bolstered his new brand by bringing Jemima to life: Davis hired Nancy Green, a former slave, to portray Aunt Jemima in ads and at events.

Grim job prospects could scar today's college graduates

Megan Silsby earned a biology degree last month from Virginia Tech, and she considers herself a full-time worker even though she hasn't landed a job in this rough economy.

African Becomes International Criminal Court’s 1st Black, Female Prosecutor

Fatou Bensouda (pictured) became theInternational Criminal Court‘s (ICC) first African and female prosecutor on June 15, the BBC reports.

Republicans Want Food Stamps Cut By Billions

WASHINGTON — The 1,000-page “farm bill” being debated in the Senate is somewhat of a misnomer. Four of every five dollars in it – roughly $80 billion a year – goes for grocery bills for one of every seven Americans through food stamps.

Eric Hovde, GOP Senate Candidate: Press Should Stop Writing Sob Stories About Poor People

WASHINGTON -- Wisconsin U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde (R) says he is sick and tired of reading sad stories about people struggling in the recession. Instead, he wants to see the media focus more on the debt and the larger problems afflicting the country.

Birthers Erect ‘Obama Outhouse’ At Montana GOP Convention

A shotgun, an outhouse, and a birth certificate stamped “bullshit” all made appearances at Montana’s GOP convention over the weekend.

7 Major Issues Mitt Romney Won’t Take A Position On

In March, Mitt Romney demanded “President Obama needs to level with the American public about his real agenda.” But on numerous topics, Romney has refused to answer basic questions about his views, leaving voters to guess at where he stands on important issues. Romney’s ambiguity appears to be a calculated strategy to avoid alienating the conservative base or moderate swing voters. If he’s successful in avoiding articulating policy positions, he can market himself as the “generic Republican” alternative to President Obama.

With Deadline Approaching, House GOP Still Holding 1.9 Million Transportation Jobs Hostage

A long-term transportation package that would re-authorize current spending on highway construction projects and lock-in infrastructure spending for future projects appears all but dead thanks to Republican obstruction in the House of Representatives. With time running out before current authorization ends at the end of the month, House Republicans are demanding the Senate add approval of the Keystone XL pipeline to a transportation bill that already passed with widespread bipartisan support.

CHART: Why Cutting Public Sector Jobs Usually Means Firing Teachers And Police Officers

Republican lawmakers at the state and local level have cheered public sector job cuts, calling them necessary medicine for economic recovery. However, as this chart from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities shows, public sector job cuts at the state and local level translate, in large part, into firing teachers and public safety workers, as they make up the largest number of state and local government employees. According to the White House, 250,000 teachers have lost their jobs in the last three years.

Frank Rich: Nuke ’Em (Why It Was Good That The President Attacked Romney)

Barack Obama has made his mistakes as a politician and as a president, but here is one thing he indisputably did right: pummel Mitt Romney with a volley of attack ads once Romney sewed up the Republican nomination. Obama was playing by the rules, honoring historical precedent in both parties, and pursuing the one must-do task before him in an election year (winning).

HUGE CROWD GATHERS IN NEW YORK CITY TO PROTEST STOP AND FRISK

The Sunday June 17th 2012 Talking Heads

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

More on leaky leaks, with David Plouffe and Joe Lieberman and General Michael Hayden, plus paneling, is what's on store for today. By the way, your week of leaks continued this week, with a document from the White House's trade negotiations. It's pretty certain that this won't be discussed on any of these shows today, so be sure to read about it, if you haven't already.

A very unhappy father's day for 3 goons, their 46 goonettes and 78 children

78 kids 46 mothers only 3 fathers

Virile: Desmond Hatchett, left, has 30 children by at least 11 women while Terry Turnage, right, has 23 children by 17 women. They are both trying to get their child support payments lowered

Greek Elections: Greece Votes To Decide Future Of Bailouts, Austerity And Euro

ATHENS, Greece — Greek exit polls show the conservative New Democracy party and the anti-bailout Syriza party neck and neck in a crucial election for the future of the country and the eurozone.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

GOP Health Care Plan: Repeal Quickly, Replace Slowly

WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans intend to seek quick repeal of any parts of the health care law that survive a widely anticipated Supreme Court ruling, but don't plan to push replacement measures until after the fall elections or perhaps 2013.

Rodney King Dead: Face Of LA Riots Dies At Age 47

Rodney King, the man who was at the center of the infamous Los Angeles riots, wasfound dead this morning, TMZ has reported. He was 47.

AVERAGE CEO PAY AT LARGEST COMPANIES GREW TWICE AS FAST AS WORKER WAGES IN 2011, RISING TO $14.5 MILLION

Median pay for America’s 200 highest-paid chief executives rose to $14.5 million in 2011, a 5 percent increase over 2010, according to an analysis done by the New York Times. Worker pay, meanwhile, rose just 2.8 percent for the year. CEO pay on Wall Street rose even faster, growing by more than 20 percent in 2011. The average Fortune 500 CEO now makes 380 times more than the average worker, as CEO pay has grown more than 127 times faster than worker pay over the last 30 years. The growth in executive compensation that has contributed to skyrocketing levels of income inequality isn’t necessarily tied to performance of the top companies, however: while their pay continues to increase, average stock prices have remained flat, and many of the companies with the highest paid CEOs actually saw drops in their share prices over the course of the year.

Race Matters: Why Gallup Poll Finds Less Support For President Obama

WASHINGTON -- With the race for president between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama now shifting into high gear, politicians, journalists and the general public are scrutinizing each new poll, with every small swing in one direction or another elevated to outsized importance.

Recession Fallout: Americans Hang On To Wealth They Have Left

Looking back, the financial lives many Americans enjoyed until just a few years ago can seem like a mirage.

On a suburban cul-de-sac northwest of Atlanta, Michael and Patricia Jackson are struggling to keep a house worth $100,000 less than they owe. In a small town in West Virginia, Michael Bobic, who last year lost his job as a college professor, sells Star Trek collectibles on eBay to get by.