Rob Ford takes leave as recent drug video emerges  —  A second video of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking what has been described as crack cocaine by a self-professed drug dealer was secretly filmed in his sister's basement early Saturday morning.  —  The clip, which was viewed by two Globe and Mail reporters …

Dems on thin ice for 2014  —  Amid a torrent of fresh and frightening polling, Democrats are clinging to some comforting silver linings: flush war chests, a few strong individual polls, a robust gender gap.  But it will be months before we know if they are kittens balancing on branches or cats with nine lives.

Eyewitness account: A minute-by-minute look at what happened during Clayton Lockett's execution … Well, it's a Lockett's execution didn't go well.  I lay the blame on the bleeding heart liberals who blocked Oklahoma's access to the execution drugs we've used in the past.

Justice Scalia Makes Epic Blunder In Supreme Court Opinion  —  It's not often that a Supreme Court justice makes a factual blunder in a formal opinion.  —  Legal experts say Justice Antonin Scalia erred in his dissent in the 6-2 decision Tuesday to uphold the Environmental Protection Agency's authority …

New evidence that Ben Rhodes told Susan Rice and Hillary Clinton to blame the video.  —  Most of the media refuses to cover what happened in Benghazi in 2012, and Congressional Republicans have been less than skillful in their probes.  But the story isn't going away despite the best efforts …

Meet Mary Burke, the Woman Who Could Beat Scott Walker  —  She's a political novice—and that may be what it takes to knock off Wisconsin's governor, of whose jobs plan she says: 'I've seen eighth-graders' term papers that are more thoughtful.'  —  Republicans call her “Millionaire Mary,” …

If Data Were a Journalist  —  He'd work for Ezra Klein.  —  “Vox.com joins a crowded field of data-driven news sites,” USA Today reported earlier this month on Ezra Klein's new venture.  Maybe “Data” should have been capitalized.  —  A pair of articles the site published yesterday …

What is Hillary Clinton afraid of?  —  Over the 25 years Hillary Clinton has spent in the national spotlight, she's been smeared and stereotyped, the subject of dozens of over-hyped or downright fictional stories and books alleging, among other things, that she is a lesbian …

Meet the Poster Child for ‘White Privilege’ - Then Have Your Mind Blown  —  He's 20, he's white, and he's a freshman at Princeton University.  —  According to the ethnic and feminist studies college students and professors who frequently and vehemently complain that this country is steeped …

Conyers' place on ballot may hinge on backdated registrations  —  Conyers (John T. Greilick / The Detroit News)  —  Washington — An attempt to get Democratic Detroit Congressman John Conyers kicked off the August ballot is focusing on whether backdated voter registrations …

Subway removes ham and bacon from nearly 200 stores and offers halal meat only after ‘strong demand’ from Muslims  — Pork is forbidden and while other meat can be eaten, it must be sourced, slaughtered and processed according to strict rules  — Subway said all halal meat served …

Committee Learns Who's Paid for Obamacare: As of April 15, Only 67 Percent of Enrollees in Federal Marketplace Had Paid First Month's Premium  —  Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee to Hold Hearing NEXT WEEK with Insurance Companies to Discuss Detailed Enrollment Data

Bundy Ranch Speaker Warns Of ‘Civil War On A Vast Scale,’ Promises Harry Reid Will Have His ‘Balls Ripped Off’  —  http://www.youtube.com/watch?  v=2uEXkmMealE  —  In a speech to the militia members still gathered at Cliven Bundy's ranch in Nevada last week, Mike Vanderboegh …

Oprah considering Clippers bid  —  Oprah Winfrey, David Geffen and Larry Ellison will join together in a bid to buy the Los Angeles Clippers if the NBA's board of governors votes to force Donald Sterling to sell the team, Geffen told ESPN's Jeremy Schaap on Wednesday.

AT&T Has Approached DirecTV About Possible Acquisition  —  AT&T has approached DirecTV about a possible acquisition of the satellite-TV firm, say people familiar with the situation, the latest sign of a possible shakeup in the television industry.

Jobs: The best way to fight poverty  —  Much of Washington's ongoing economic policy debate focuses on reducing poverty, with many arguing to raise the minimum wage and expand government programs.  But this focus ignores two simple truths.  —  First, poverty arises from sagging employment …

Obamacare Just Saved The U.S. Economy From Contraction  —  As the U.S. economy teetered on the brink of contraction in the first quarter, one thing stood out.  Healthcare spending increased at its fastest pace in more than three decades.  —  That surge is attributed to the implementation …