Greg Giroux

Alaska has emerged as a key battleground in the proxy war between political action committees seeking to influence which party manages the Senate's legislative agenda in the next session of Congress.

Edward Snowden's older sister, Jessica Snowden, is a researcher for the Federal Judicial Center, a Washington policy shop for the judicial branch. His mother, Elizabeth "Wendy" Snowden, is an administrative clerk for Maryland's federal court. His father, Lonnie Snowden, retired in 2009 from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney said it was "a mistake" for Arizona Sen. John McCain, R, to pick Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential running mate in 2008. Palin hadn't "passed that test" of readiness to serve as president because her political experience was limited, Cheney said in an interview with ABC News.