For the last several days we’ve been narrating the odd aftermath of ABC’s Jon Karl’s blockbuster but ultimately erroneous report about the White House Benghazi emails. This afternoon he released what I believe is his first statement on the controversy as such …

Statement from ABC News’ Jonathan Karl: “I regret that one email was quoted incorrectly and I regret that it’s become a distraction from the story, which still entirely stands. I should have been clearer about the attribution. We updated our story immediately when new information became available.”

This seems at best willfully misleading. Read More

Two year old shoots himself in the mouth with unsecured handgun.

I’ve seen this pattern before where the Virginia GOP nominates one right-leaning but relatively mainstream candidate on the top of the state ticket and then someone really off the wall in the second spot. This year would seem to fit that mold. The new Lt. Gov. candidate, an African-American, says Planned Parenthood is worse than the KKK and laments African-Americans “slavish devotion” to the Democratic party. Watch.

Late Update: A few people have written in to ask whether I really mean to call Ken Cuccinelli “relatively mainstream.” Actually, no. In that sense he sort of breaks the mold. I’m thinking of earlier cycles in Virginia. But this year we at least have the pattern of the VA GOP deciding that they have to go way further right than the top of the ticket. And with Cuccinelli that takes some doing.

Give a few minutes to Jane Mayer’s vivid new story on the Koch brothers, PBS, and soft censorship.

A new poll shows Michele Bachmann may have her work cut out for her in her next reelection campaign. Dems have had hopes for this seat a few times but perhaps the element of scandal could be tipping the scales.

VA GOP Attorney General candidate tried to pass a law that mandated that women report their miscarriages to police.

Little Man.

Rubio ‘very concerned’ that Obama administration ‘targeted a Fox News reporter.’

Up until now, the White House’s handling of the release of the inspector general’s report that revealed the IRS targeting of conservative groups has seemed routine and appropriate. But Jay Carney is briefing reporters right now at the White House (watch) and has made a couple of new revelations, one of which runs counter to what he told reporters last week. Read More

GOP aides tell me the struggle will be to take this IRS thing from being about TP victims to being about an administration’s corruption

— Robert Costa (@robertcostaNRO) May 17, 2013