Like the line attributed to Groucho Marx, several Vermont officials are denying reports of police violence at a protest by telling the public in effect: “Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?” Yet all reports and videos show that police violence started after (not before) the road had been cleared and busses of dignitaries had been let through.

How much impact does foreign policy have on American elections? Do we know? Do we even think much about it? But foreign policy affects all of us. We need to realize this.

Eurasia Review puts it this way:

On Thursday former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan resigned from his position as the U.N.-Arab League peace envoy citing the "increasing militarization on the ground" and "the clear lack of unity" in the U.N. Security Council.

A unique example of bipartisan teamwork, the Fix Congress Now Caucus has been founded in the House to attempt to pass legislation through compromise. The caucus was initiated by Rep. Scott Rigell (R-VA), and co-founded by Rep. Reid Ribble (R-WI), Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR), and Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN), making it an even group of two Democrats and two Republicans.

And check out her reason why:

Today’s world news round-up. An independent breakdown of notable global developments in a news update.

In France, socialist Hollande makes the wealthiest pay - Washington Post

With a focus on social media blunders, Twitter gaffes, and Facebook faux pas, we’ll be profiling one politician, political figure, organization, or candidate who has committed one of the social media sins in our weekly series Social Slipups. 

In the spirit of the Olympics, this week's Social Slipup will profile The Independent's Los Angeles correspondent, Guy Adams, focusing on his recent suspension from Twitter. The journalist was banned from the social network on July 28th, a ban that only lasted one day.

His sin:

Plus, the droughts centered in the heartland, in prime growing areas

When Congress passed the Orwellian bill HR 437 in May, it was dubbed the Anti-Occupy law. It criminalizes dissent and protest in and around federal buildings. What's worse, the federal government doesn’t have to tell anyone when an area becomes suddenly protected but can arrest people anyway for violating rules they had no way of knowing were in effect.

The entire world watched Michael Phelps earn enough medals in the 2012 Olympic Games to become the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time. It's a huge accomplishment from someone who trained his whole life to be in the position he is in now, but what if being the winningest Olympian in the history of the modern games also means being the most taxed?