NSA gathered thousands of Americans' e-mails before court struck down program  —  The National Security Agency unlawfully gathered as many as tens of thousands of e-mails and other electronic communications between Americans as part of a now-discontinued collection program, according to a 2011 secret court opinion.

Judge sentences Bradley Manning to 35 years  —  A military judge on Wednesday morning sentenced Army Pfc. Bradley Manning to 35 years in prison for leaking hundreds of thousands of classified documents to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks.  —  Manning, 25, was convicted last month of multiple charges …

Poll: Louisiana GOPers Unsure If Katrina Response Was Obama's Fault  —  A significant chunk of Louisiana Republicans evidently believe that President Barack Obama is to blame for the poor response to the hurricane that ravaged their state more than three years before he took office.

Bill's Turn at Bat  —  So it turns out that Michael Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio, who's campaigning for mayor on a promise to de-Bloomberg Gotham, do have something in common.  —  Both men, who grew up in the Boston area, threw caution to the wind and admitted while running for mayor of New York that they were Red Sox fans.

Syria conflict: ‘Chemical attacks’ kill hundreds  —  Chemical weapons attacks have killed hundreds on the outskirts of Damascus, Syrian opposition activists say.  —  Rockets with toxic agents were launched at the suburbs of the Ghouta region early on Wednesday as part of a major bombardment on rebel forces, they say.

‘Senseless’ shooting of Australian Chris Lane sparks calls for U.S. boycott  —  (CNN) — They were younger than him, just teenagers who were driving around, apparently bored and looking for somebody to kill, according to police in Duncan, Oklahoma.  —  The indiscriminate shooting of Christopher Lane …

Fox News firing tied to Ailes book  —  The decision last month by Fox News chief Roger Ailes to fire his top communications executive, Brian Lewis, was due to a number of factors, including what the network's parent company 21st Century Fox has described as “financial irregularities” and breaches of contract.

(Credit: Michael Lionstar)  —  I can vividly remember the first time I read Camille Paglia.  I was visiting New York with my mom during college and we happened across “Vamps and Tramps” at a bookstore near our hotel.  Lying in neighboring twin beds, I read passages out loud to her.

UPS to drop 15,000 spouses from insurance, cites Obamacare  —  United Parcel Service Inc. plans to remove thousands of spouses from its medical plan because they are eligible for coverage elsewhere.  The Atlanta-based logistics company points to the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare …

18th woman accuses San Diego mayor  —  (CNN) — Another woman has come forward to accuse San Diego Mayor Bob Filner of sexual harassment.  —  Businesswoman Dianne York told CNN that Filner put his hands on her buttocks during a photo opportunity that followed a meeting three months ago.

The Terrible Obama Black Dog Conspiracy  —  Warning: cute puppy ahead.  Watch the video and you'll be filled with a moment of puppy sighs.  It seems that Bo has a new pal to keep him company when he isn't doing White House stuff. … Yeah, Sunny's cute, and I've loved Bo from day one.

Joe Biden cancels fundraiser, stays with son in Texas  —  WASHINGTON — Vice President Joe Biden has canceled an event Thursday in Rhode Island to remain in Houston while his son is being evaluated at a Texas cancer center.  —  Biden was scheduled to headline a fundraiser …

Maggie Gallagher: Chris Christie ‘Banned Chastity’ By Signing Ex-Gay Therapy Ban  —  Maggie Gallagher claimed that her first response to Gov. Chris Christie (R) signing New Jersey's ban on ex-gay therapy for minors was issued in error, but her actual response is not so different.

Scott Walker's stealth 2016 strategy  —  MADISON, Wis. — He can't use the Senate soapbox to rack up media hits and political points, like Rand Paul or Marco Rubio.  He isn't poised to run up the score in his reelection campaign as a show of strength heading into 2016, as Chris Christie intends to do this November in New Jersey.

Rep. Clyburn likens American media to Nazi propagandists  —  Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), the third-ranking House Democrat, on Wednesday accused the U.S. media of spreading “manufactured controversies” that pose dangers similar to the propaganda spread by the Nazis during the Holocaust.

Abandoned Dogs Roam Detroit in Packs as Humans Dwindle  —  Detroit Dominated by Pitbulls as 50K Dogs Roam Free  —  As many as 50,000 stray dogs roam the streets and vacant homes of bankrupt Detroit, replacing residents, menacing humans who remain and overwhelming the city's ability to find them homes or peaceful deaths.

The GOP Plan to Crush Silicon Valley  —  What will become of Steve Jobs's angel?  —  When Congress returns from its summer recess in early September, it will have exactly nine legislative days to agree on a budget or the government will shut down.  House Republicans are seeking far greater cuts …

Gay Reporter Kicked Off Kremlin Network After Protesting Anti-Gay Law  —  Reporter James Kirchick was kicked off the air of Russian TV Wednesday after he refused to talk about Bradley Manning and instead spoke about the Russian government's anti-gay laws.  —  “Being here on a Kremlin-funded …