Q&A: What Does Monday’s NSA Ruling Mean?

A federal judge on Monday ruled against the National Security Agency’s collection of phone records, saying the program “almost certainly does violate” the Constitution. Here are answers to key questions on the ruling.

Q: What’s the gist of the ruling?

A: Judge Richard Leon says it’s probably unconstitutional for the National Security Agency to collect millions of phone records when the vast majority of people whose records are getting taken aren’t suspected of involvement with terrorism.

Seib & Wessel: What We’re Reading Monday

Recommended reading from around the Web:

Lawrence Summers explores the possibility that the economy is suffering from “secular stagnation”—a chronic low-growth pattern that can be changed only by letting artificial bubbles build up—and argues that such a condition can be prevented with policies that encourage “productive investment or highly valued consumption.” [Washington Post]

Ryan Says GOP to Make Debt-Ceiling Demands in Early ’14

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) signaled that Republicans would not raise the debt ceiling next year without some sort of concessions from Democrats, saying lawmakers were still crafting their strategy.

“We, as a caucus, along with our Senate counterparts, are going to meet and discuss what it is we want to get out of the debt limit,” Mr. Ryan said on Fox News Sunday. “We don’t want ‘nothing’ out of the debt limit. We’re going to decide what it is we can accomplish out of this debt limit fight.”

Budget Negotiators See Tax Overhaul Up Next

Having negotiated a big budget deal, House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) and Senate Budget Chairwoman Patty Murray (D., Wash.) think the next area for bipartisan agreement could be on a tax overhaul.

In a joint, pretaped appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday morning, Mr. Ryan said Republicans want to move on a tax overhaul and could do so early next year.

“I’m hopeful, as a Ways and Means member as well, that we can start moving tax reform legislation,” Mr. Ryan said.

“Watch the Ways and Means Committee in the first quarter of next year,” he said. “We’re going to be advancing tax reform legislation because we think that’s a key ingredient to getting people back to work, to increasing take-home pay, to … grow this economy.”

Five Quotes From the Talk Shows

Here is a selection of quotesfrom Sunday’s political talk shows:

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” about Speaker John Boehner’s backlash against tea party groups last week. “Well, look. I think John just kind of got his Irish up. He was frustrated that these groups came out in opposition to our budget agreement before we reached a budget agreement. I was frustrated, too. But I think these are very important elements of our conservative family. I would prefer to keep those conversations within the family.”

Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” on North Korea’s leader, Kim Jung Un and the execution of his uncle, Jang Song Thaek: “It tells us a lot about, first of all, how ruthless and reckless he is. And it also tells us a lot about how insecure he is, to a certain degree…It’s a very ominous sign of the instability and the danger that does exist.”

Kerry Says North Korean Execution Is Sign of Instability

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un is “ruthless and reckless” and the execution of his uncle underscores the importance of a well-coordinated international effort to reduce nuclear threats from the country, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday.

Last week, Jang Song Thaek was executed and accused of attempting “to overthrow the state.” He was the uncle and considered to be a mentor to North Korean supreme leader Mr. Kim.

“It tells us a lot about, first of all, how ruthless and reckless he is,” Mr. Kerry said in an interview that aired Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.” “And it also tells us a lot about how insecure he is, to a certain degree.”

Sunday Talk Preview: Budget and Gun Control

The House budget deal  and the one-year anniversary of the Newtown, Conn., shootings are expected to be the focus of Sunday’s political talk show discussions. Here is the schedule of guests, as compiled by the Associated Press.

Sebelius Declines to Say If She Ever Offered Resignation

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the administration official who has been the face of the Affordable Care Act and who has shouldered much of the blame for the troubled HealthCare.gov website, declined to say Friday whether she had ever offered her resignation to President Barack Obama.

“I’m not going to discuss what I talk about with the president,” she said during an appearance in Miami.

Celebrities Promote Health Insurance, Face Taunts

Celebrities of varying degrees of fame are taking to Twitter to promote health insurance, but some are facing conservative blowback. People’s “sexiest man alive” is among those wading into the debate over Obamacare.

Meet Deborah Lee James, Confirmed as Air Force Secretary

WASHINGTON – Deborah Lee James will be installed as the new Air Force Secretary next Tuesday, following a Senate confirmation vote Friday.

Although Ms. James was not a controversial nominee — winning approval on a 79-6 vote Friday — her confirmation has been held up for months.

Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R., N.H.) had initially blocked a vote over questions about the Air Force’s plans to retire the A-10, an attack plane used to support troops in combat.