Rhetoric, race and reality in America  —  The biggest threat to black youths is other young blacks, not white bigots.  —  Rev. Al Sharpton speaks during a news conference outside the Department of Justice while discussing Trayvon Martin case.  Sharpton called for the federal government …

Obama Plans to Unveil His Agenda for Economy  —  WASHINGTON — With major battles looming in the fall over the federal budget and the debt ceiling, President Obama is trying to regain the initiative, embarking on a campaign-style tour of the Midwest this week to lay out his agenda for reinvigorating …

25 Facts About The Fall Of Detroit That Will Leave You Shaking Your Head  —  Submitted by Michael Snyder of The Economic Collapse blog,  —  It is so sad to watch one of America's greatest cities die a horrible death.  Once upon a time, the city of Detroit was a teeming metropolis …

Virginia Republican Suffers Abortion Backlash From Donors  —  Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli has less than half as much cash as Democratic opponent Terry McAuliffe, with a prominent list of Republican donors sitting out this year's most competitive U.S. political contest — and in some cases switching sides.

OBAMA CO-SPONSORED LEGISLATION STRENGTHENING ILLINOIS' “STAND YOUR GROUND” LAW  —  CHICAGO - This past week President Obama publicly urged the reexamination of state self-defense laws (see remarks below).  However, nine years ago then-State Sen. Barack Obama actually co-sponsored a bill …

Southern Avenger no more: Rand Paul aide Jack Hunter leaves staff, returns to punditry  —  The man who for years called himself the “Southern Avenger” says he now seeks to avenge his own honor.  —  Jack Hunter, the aide to Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul who has been under fire …

George Zimmerman Emerged From Hiding for Truck Crash Rescue  —  George Zimmerman, who has been in hiding since he was acquitted of murder in the death of Trayvon Martin, emerged to help rescue someone who was trapped in an overturned truck, police said today.

Christie may be forced to quit as governor  —  If the polls are right and Chris Christie wins a lopsided reelection victory this fall, it will put the New Jersey governor in position to seek the presidency in 2016.  That's the conventional wisdom, at least, and there's plenty to be said for it.

Detroit, the New Greece  —  When Detroit declared bankruptcy, or at least tried to — the legal situation has gotten complicated — I know that I wasn't the only economist to have a sinking feeling about the likely impact on our policy discourse.  Was it going to be Greece all over again?

Poll: Obama's approval rating drops for second straight quarter  —  President Obama's approval rating fell for the second consecutive quarter, according to Gallup's average of daily tracking polls for the last three months.  —  Obama averaged a 47.9 percent approval rating for his 18th quarter in office …

In Climbing Income Ladder, Location Matters  —  The odds of rising to another income level are notably low in certain cities, like Atlanta and Charlotte, and much higher in New York and Boston.

‘Stop Hillary’ group ramps up anti-Clinton efforts  —  Washington (CNN) - Hillary Clinton may or may not run for president in 2016, but the conservative effort to derail her potential candidacy is already underway.  —  Iowa poll: Who wins a Clinton-Christie 2016 showdown?

Some Mormons Search the Web and Find Doubt  —  A Mormon Doubts: Hans Mattsson was once a high-ranking leader for the Mormon church in Europe.  He joins others who are experiencing a crisis of faith and finding few answers from their church.  —  In the small but cohesive Mormon community where he grew up …

Cameron unveils online porn curbs  —  Every household in the UK is to have pornography blocked by their internet provider unless they choose to receive it, David Cameron has announced.  —  In addition, the prime minister said possessing online pornography depicting rape would become illegal …

McConnell to get Tea Party challenger  —  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will have a challenger from the right in Matt Bevin, a local businessman and Tea Party candidate who plans to announce his run for Senate this week.  —  Bevin, who has been exploring the race since February …

The Last Days of Big Law  —  You can't imagine the terror when the money dries up  —  Of all the occupational golden ages to come and go in the twentieth century—for doctors, journalists, ad-men, autoworkers—none lasted longer, felt cushier, and was all in all more golden than the reign of the law partner.