Congress' approval ratings remain dismal, according to a new CNN/ORC International poll.

Its June 11-13 survey found Congress' approval number at 16 percent, up 1 percentage point from November, when most of the current lawmakers were elected.

The poll surveyed 1,014 adult people by phone. Margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Congress' ratings have been low for some time. Some figures: January, 2012, 11 percent; December, 2011, 16 percent; August, 2011, 14 percent.

"It's against the law for the NSA to record and monitor Americans' phone calls. It's against the law, and the law is very clear on this," House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Mich., told CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday.

Rogers explained that the data is in a "lock box."

He called it "a lock box of only phone numbers, no names, no addresses." For that data to get further, "it would mean that the NSA have to conspire with the FBI, would have to conspire with both parties in Congress on the intelligence committees and the oversight functions in the executive branch to do something beyond what the law very narrowly allows. I just find that implausible."

But what, asked moderator Candy Crowley, about allegations someone from NSA had been listening in on a phone call without a warrant in on case.

"I can't tell you how strong we need to make this clear," Rogers said. "The NSA is not listening to Americans' phone calls, and it is not monitoring their e-mails. If it did, it's illegal. It's breaking the law."

And not recording them either, Crowley asked?

"I could go get a warrant on a criminal case, yes, absolutely," Rogers explained, "but that's very, very different. And I think they think that there's this mass surveillance of what you're saying on your phone call and what you're typing in your e-mails. That is just not happening. And it's important, I think, for people to understand because there's all this misinformation about what these programs are."

Republicans really like Paul Ryan. But Democrats like New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Those are key findings of a new Gallup poll released Friday. It tested the public's view of five potential 2016 Republican presidential candidates: Ryan, the 2012 party vice presidential nominee; Christie; Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

"The five Republican officeholders currently appear to meet two minimum factors for a successful presidential campaign: they are generally well-liked by the Republican rank-and-file, and are more liked than disliked by the larger general population," said an analysis by Gallup's Jeffrey Jones.

But, he said, Christie and Ryan offer "interesting contrasts."

His analysis: "Ryan's high favorability among Republicans but lower favorability among the general public would position him to do well in the Republican primaries, but perhaps make him a less formidable general election candidate.

"Christie, on the other hand, would appear to be a stronger general election than Republican primary candidate, given his lower favorability among Republicans but higher favorability among Democrats and Americans more generally."

House Speaker John Boehner made it clear Thursday he's still strongly supporting controversial domestic surveillance programs.

"I've made it very clear this program does not target innocent Americans in any way, shape or form.  These programs have helped keep America safe," he said at his weekly news conference.

"They've enhanced our ability to go after terrorists who want to bring harm to the American people."

Boehner called on the White House to explain the programs more fully.

''Frankly, I'm a little surprised that the White House hasn't stood up and made clear on an ongoing basis over this last week just how important these programs are," he said.

"For those of us who have been briefed on these programs, who are aware of these programs, we're aware how much safety they brought us.  And we're also aware of many examples where they've helped us eliminate terrorist threats."

House Speaker John Boehner Tuesday declared Edward Snowden, who leaked top secret domestic spy data to the media, a "traitor."

Boehner, R-Ohio, spoke to ABC's "Good Morning America."

"He's a traitor," the speaker said. "The president outlined last week that these were important national security programs to help keep Americans safe, and give us tools to fight the terrorist threat  that we face."

Boehner supported the program. "The president also outlined that there are appropriate safeguards in place  to make sure that there's no snooping, if you will on Americans here at home."

What troubled the speaker was "the disclosure of this information puts Americans at risk.  It shows our adversaries what our capabilities are.  And it's a giant violation of the law."

Read the entire interview here.

Rep. David Price, D-N.C., a co-founder of the bipartisan House Democracy Partnership, issued a statement today condemning the conviction of 43 employees of non-governmental groups in Egypt (story here)

Price said he and other members of the House commission have visited Egypt since the uprising that unseated President Hosni Mubarak in 2011, and talked to senior Egyptian officials about the case.

“Today’s ruling is a major setback for Egyptian democracy at a time when the country’s ability to make good on the promise of the Arab Spring is already being severely tested.

“The NGO workers convicted in this case, Egyptians as well as Americans, were guilty of nothing more than working in good faith to build a brighter, more democratic future for the Egyptian people. By allowing the judicial process to be perverted for political ends, the Egyptian government has sent a chilling message about its commitment to the rule of law and inflicted unnecessary harm on its relationship with the United States.”

Acting IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel faced a polite but determined grilling Monday from a House appropriations subcommittee, and told them past IRS behavior in the tax exempt controversy was "unacceptable and must be addressed."

Werfel pledged a progress report by the end of the month. Looking at some applications for tax exempt status, he said, "there were inexusable delays in processing many of these applications, and some organizations were required to furnish unnecessary information in support of their applications."

Members of the subcommittee from both parties agreed, and Werfel acknowledged "there was a series of management oversight failures and a lack of internal controls to ensure the appropriate treatment of applications."

Werfel, who has only been with the IRS for a few days, insisted the agency "stands ready to confront the problems that occurred."

Good,said Chairman Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla. "In an arrogant and absolute abuse of power, the IRS office in Cincinnati singled out groups and individuals based on their political philosophy for extra scrutiny," he said. "They were harassed, intimidated and bullied, and no one spoke up."

Republicans are launching "mobile billboards" monday to tie vulnerable House of Representatives Democrats to the Internal Revenue Service controversy.

Trucks will drive around four congressional districts, noting House Democrats' backing of the 2010 health care law.

 The IRS has a big role in administering the law, though reports from Congress' Government Accountability Office showed that thus far, the IRS has effectively done its job with respect to that law.

In any event, Republicans will be visible starting Monday in the districts of Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., Ron Barber, D-Ariz., John Barrow, D-Ga.., and Collin Peterson, D-Minn. 

It’s time that House Democrats are held accountable for their support of ObamaCare, especially now that the scandal-ridden IRS is in charge of enforcing the program.

Economic conservatism has hit a five year low, according to a Gallup poll released Friday.

And, the survey suggests, "ideological attitudes in the country may be shifting."

The poll found that social liberalism is up six points since 2001 and is embraced by about half the Democrats and those who lean Democrats.

"It is possible that Americans are returning to a certain sense of normalcy on economic ideology, while social ideology continues to charter new ground," said a poll analysis.

Here's more from Gallup:

Lois Lerner, who headed the Internal Revenue Service office at the center of controversy for
targeting conservative groups, was placed on administrative leave Thursday, the second IRS official to face disciplinary action.

Acting Commissioner Steven Miller was asked to resign last week by President Barack Obama.

Lerner is being replaced by Ken Corbin, who will become acting director, exempt organizations,
tax exempt/government entities division.

A veteran IRS official, Corbin was touted by Danny Werfel, the new acting IRS commissioner, for a “track record of leading large work groups.” Those skills, said Werfel, “make him an ideal choice to help lead the Exempt Organizations area through this difficult period.”