Politico:

The FBI probed a late-night swim in the Sea of Galilee that involved drinking, numerous GOP freshmen lawmakers, top leadership staff – and one nude member of Congress, according to more than a dozen sources, including eyewitnesses.

During a fact-finding congressional trip to the Holy Land last summer, Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.) took off his clothes and jumped into the sea, joining a number of members, their families and GOP staff during a night out in Israel, the sources told POLITICO. Other participants, including the daughter of another congressman, swam fully clothed while some lawmakers partially disrobed.

Sort of family values — all swimmin’ together — but it’s saved by the fact that it’s still OK to kill an abortion provider in Kansas.

Exclusive – GOP Scolded after Drinking, Nudity in Israel [Politico]

They just double down: “Instead of owning up to the fact that The Jim Henson Company stopped doing business with them because they’re overrun with bigots, [Chick-Fil-A] is making fake Facebook accounts to defend its honor on the social network. How do we know the accounts are fake? Just check out this back and forth on Chick-fil-A’s Facebook page between real, breathing people and “Abby Farle”, a Facebook account that was made 8 hours ago by a chicken PR flack with a stock image of a teenage girl as her profile picture:” [Gizmodo]

“DALLAS, July 24 (UPI) — Dallas police said they arrested a man whose gun accidentally went off inside a Walmart store, injuring two other customers.Todd Canady, 23, of Waco had allegedly bolted from the store in the Lake Highlands district Monday night when he was confronted by an off-duty police officer about the shooting, which left a woman and a 5-year-old child wounded.”[UPI.com]

“The ACLU of Arizona has released thousands of emails it says prove that SB 1070, Arizona’s controversial immigration law, was racially motivated. According to a report by the Arizona Republic, the emails, acquired through a public records request, are to and from the author of SB 1070, recalled Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce (R).” ‘[Think Progress]

Because the god of conservatives and the GOP wants them to kill brown teenagers – from the Sean Hannity interview:

Despite the apology, Zimmerman made it clear that he didn’t regret any of his actions, because it was all divinely pre-ordained. “It was all God’s plan, and for me to second guess it or judge it…,” he said before trailing off. When Hannity asked if there was anything he’d do differently in retrospect, Zimmerman answered, “No, sir.” Later he added, “I do wish there was something, anything, I could have done that wouldn’t have put me in the position where I had to take his life.” Earlier in the interview, Zimmerman defended having a gun on him, noting that he always carried one unless he was at work.

When people walk around with guns, they will use them. God + guns = dead people. It’s that simple.

In First Interview, George Zimmerman Expresses No Regrets [Gawker]

How can people keep sending this idiot to Congress?

Rep. Michele Bachmann defended her attempt to root out “deep penetration” by the Muslim Brotherhood into the U.S. government Friday, writing a 16-page letter explaining and expanding on her initial charges against Huma Abedin and others of being terrorist sympathizers. Bachmann’s letter came in response to a challenge from a fellow Minnesota lawmaker, Rep. Keith Ellison, a Democrat who was the first Muslim elected to Congress. Ellison last week asked Bachmann for evidence to support a series of letters the Republican sent to five national security agencies demanding investigations into alleged Muslim Brotherhood infiltration in their ranks.

If she was in the British Parliament she’d be out at the next election.

Bachmann Defends Her Witch Hunt [Salon]

If you didn’t hate him already: