Besides Mississippi voters rejecting a controversial anti-abortion measure, and upstate NY voters rejecting candidates with artsy nude photos, there were other big elections around the nation which gave a glimpse into the country's current mood. Ohio voters rejected an anti-labor law, Arizona voters recalled the extremist Tea Party-friendly state senator, and as a result, Democrats are starting to feel confidant again. more ›

Mayor Bloomberg is donating $25,000 apiece to six Democratic Virginia State Senate candidates to ensure that the party maintains control of the Senate and opposes weakening Virginia's already-lax gun laws. Five of them are from Northern Virginia (or "NoVa," for those who have survived it) and the sixth is in the Hampton Roads area. Virginia Republicans are pushing to loosen gun regulations, including the one gun per month restriction currently on the books. Virginia is New York's number one source of illegal handguns. more ›

While other states continue a disgraceful race to the bottom when it comes to their immigrants, Mayor Bloomberg has repeatedly supported progressive immigration reform and denounced unnecessary and cruel deportations. In this spirit, the mayor's office recently reversed positions on a law sponsored by councilmember Christine Quinn that will make it harder for federal authorities to deport illegal immigrants in custody at Rikers Island. "Our goal is always to protest public safety and maintain national security, while ensuring New York remains the most immigrant-friendly city in the nation," Bloomberg's chief policy advisor tells the Times. more ›

Sexual proclivities are what they are—some people really do fall in love with the Eiffel Tower, or are sexually attracted to their car. But that doesn't mean that it's cool to repeatedly expose yourself and masturbate in front of a woman dressed as the Statue of Liberty. Some patriotic displays are best left to the imagination. more ›

Christina-Taylor Green, the little girl born on September 11, 2001, who died in Jared Lee Loughner's January shooting in Tucson, is going to be honored with a 9'11" statue made from steel from the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. more ›

Arizona officials are pretty miffed that those city slickers in Mayor Bloomberg's administration hired private investigators to illegally purchase guns at a Phoenix gun show last week. Undercover video showed investigators at the Crossroads of the West gun show easily buying Glocks like the kind used by Jared Loughner in the Tuscon massacre—a loophole in federal gun laws allowed them to buy the guns without a background check, but two gun vendors illegally sold guns to "buyers" who confessed that they probably wouldn't pass a background check. The probe was a chilling reminder of how easy it is to get your hands on semi-automatic weapons, but Arizona officials think Bloomberg should just mind his own beeswax. more ›

Among the many unnerving details that emerged this week about Arizona gunman Jared Lee Loughner, who is accused of killing six and wounding 14 others last weekend during an apparent assassination attempt on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, was a report of a video he made denouncing Pima Community College as a death camp, which ultimately got him suspended. Gawker found the video, in which Loughner bitterly narrates a trip around his college campus. At one point, he says, "This is the school that I go to. This is my genocide school, where I'm going to be homeless because of this school. I haven't forgot the teacher that gave me the B for freedom of speech." You can see the video below. more ›

As the week has gone on, more and more unnerving details have emerged about Jared Lee Loughner, the accused shooter in last weekend's attempted assassination of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords which left six dead and 14 others injured. But late today, the Times reports on a particularly strange new development: law enforcement officials say they have multiple photos of Loughner posing with a Glock 9mm pistol next to his "naked buttocks and dressed in a bright red g-string." more ›

Sarah Palin and the Tea Party have received a lot of criticism in the wake of last weekend's tragic shooting in Tucson, Arizona, prompting Palin to defend herself in a video yesterday, using the antiquated claim of "blood libel." Now, Tucson Tea Party co-founder Trent Humphries has gone one step further, calling the Tea Party victims of the shooting, and arguing that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is partially responsible for having a lack of security. Regarding Palin's controversial gun-target map, he told the Guardian UK: "It's political gamesmanship. The real case is that she [Giffords] had no security whatsoever at this event. So if she lived under a constant fear of being targeted, if she lived under this constant fear of this rhetoric and hatred that was seething, why would she attend an event in full view of the public with no security whatsoever?" more ›

Mayor Bloomberg, who has already used the assassination attempt in Arizona to push his gun agenda, was asked today about the role of rhetoric and right-wing politicians like Sarah Palin in the tragedy. And—not surprisingly for a man who has been a Democrat, a Republican and an Independent and is constantly eyeing the White House—he instead chose to take target at the shooter and his weapon: more ›

In the aftermath of Saturday's deadly shooting in Tucson, Arizona, in which six were killed and 14 others wounded during an apparent assassination attempt on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, police and media outlets have been scrambling to learn more about the accused shooter, Jared Lee Loughner. And if that means dragging his high school girlfriend into the burning hot eye of the media, then so be it. more ›

The US Attorney in Arizona has filed charges against Jared Lee Loughner, the accused gunman in yesterday's tragic shooting in Arizona in which six people were killed and 14 wounded. He has been hit with three charges of attempted murder (of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and two members of her staff) and two charges of murdering federal employees (Judge John Roll and Gabriel Zimmerman, a Giffords staff member). And inspectors now believe Loughner was a lone gunman, and have found evidence of a premeditated attempt to assassinate Rep. Giffords. more ›

Six people were killed and 14 others were injured yesterday after a gunman opened fire on a crowd of people at a political meet-and-greet outside an Arizona supermarket. Among those killed were several septuagenarians, Arizona's top federal judge, a political aide to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, and a 9-year-old girl who was born on September 11, 2001. more ›

Yesterday, politicians of all parties came together to support Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords's speedy recovery after she was shot in the head at her "Congress at Your Corner" event in Tuscon. Suspected gunman Jared Lee Loughner is currently in federal custody, and many New York politicians have released statements on the unthinkable event. "This hateful crime is a tragedy beyond words," said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who dined with Giffords less than a week ago. "More than just a rising political star and phenomenal talent, she is an incredible person." more ›

According to reports, Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot during a public appearance at a Tuscon grocery store today. There are conflicting reports whether she is in surgery or was killed. ABC reports that as many as 12 people had been shot at the "Congress at Your Corner" event outside a Safeway store, and that Giffords had been shot in the head. Two hours ago, she tweeted, "My 1st Congress on Your Corner starts now. Please stop by to let me know what is on your mind or tweet me later." [UPDATES BELOW] more ›

New Yorkers of all kinds have been protesting Arizona's new immigration law pretty much since it was announced, and with good reason; the melting pot of America has a reputation for accepting immigrants. A new survey confirms that tradition, with New Yorkers opposing the law by a 2-1 margin. However, the percentage among white people polled was 49-47 for the law. Were guessing they make up a majority of the 52% who want the law here. more ›

Did all the protesting and demonstrating in NYC against Arizona's immigration-enforcement law give you a warm fuzzy feeling that blue state New Yorkers are quite the progressive bunch? Well, it's time to reevaluate. A new poll [pdf] by the Siena Research Institute—the same one that noted 61% opposition to the "Ground Zero" mosque—has more disillusioning news in store for any liberal New Yorker who feels sure that what happened in Arizona could never happen here. more ›

The two men who were arrested for running onto the field at Friday's Mets-Diamondbacks game in protest of Arizona's immigration law have been released after their arraignment yesterday. Michael Synan, 26, and Christian Peruero, 22, were charged with criminal trespass and interfering with a public sporting event. The two ran across the outfield in the 7th inning, waving Mexican flags as they went down. But one was out there for more than just the Mexicans—he was sporting a Puerto Rico World Baseball Classic hat. Though initial reports said there were nearly 200 protesters in the area, the Daily News says there were just 40 at Citi Field. more ›

Two men carrying Mexican flags ran across the outfield during the 7th inning of the Mets-Diamondbacks game last night, punctuating a night of protest around the stadium. Hundreds gathered to promote a boycott against Arizona, its baseball team and the 2011 All-Star Game until the state's controversial immigration law is repealed. They probably would have gotten the point across better if they had been naked. more ›

With Arizona's controversial immigration-enforcement law taking effect yesterday, hundreds participated in a New York City march and rally. According to City Room, the rally started with "about 30 people. But the crowd grew quickly as local groups like Vamos Unidos from the Bronx, and DRUM, a Southeast Asian group based in Jackson Heights, Queens, gathered their ranks and found additional support among grandmothers dressed in skirts and sneakers, church groups, women in hijabs, and a former Arizona border patrol agent." more ›