Who do Americans blame for the VA scandal?  —  Shares -  —  NEW YORK — Americans split in their thoughts over who they think is most to blame for the problems at Veterans Affairs department medical facilities, which involve allegations that VA hospitals kept delays in treatment off the books …

MS Tea Party vice chairman arrested in Cochran case  —  UPDATED: Madison city court officials say that Mark Mayfield will appear before a judge today.  —  Also, attorney Kevin Camp, who represents Clayton Kelly, said two more arrests either have been or will be made in addition to Mayfield.

‘No Place to Hide,’ by Glenn Greenwald  —  “My position was straightforward,” Glenn Greenwald writes.  “By ordering illegal eavesdropping, the president had committed crimes and should be held accountable for them.”  You break the law, you pay the price: It's that simple.

House reformers claim victory over NSA  —  Lawmakers worried about protecting civil liberties said they had scored a win on Thursday with the passage of the USA Freedom Act.  —  The bill had to overcome opposition from members on both sides of the aisle who worried it was too weak to curb …

Las Vegas, Cincinnati out of the mix for 2016 GOP convention  —  (CNN) - Las Vegas and Cincinnati withdrew bids to host the 2016 GOP convention, the Republican National Committee announced Thursday.  —  Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, and Kansas City are still in contention to host the convention …

Democratic Senator Says Some Oppose Obamacare Because Obama Is Black  —  Republican Sen. Ron Johnson responds, “God help you for implying I'm a racist.”  —  A senior Democratic senator suggested Wednesday that President Obama's race factored into opposition to the Affordable Care Act …

Citing N.B.A. Example, Senators Urge N.F.L. to Act on Redskins' Name  —  WASHINGTON — Fifty members of the Senate have signed a letter to the N.F.L. to urge its leadership to press the Washington Redskins to change the team name in the aftermath of tough sanctions against the owner …

The Case for Reparations  —  Two hundred fifty years of slavery.  Ninety years of Jim Crow.  Sixty years of separate but equal.  Thirty-five years of racist housing policy.  Until we reckon with our compounding moral debts, America will never be whole.  —  Ta-Nehisi Coates … — Deuteronomy 15: 12-15

Creation Museum To Display Dino Skeleton It Says Proves Bible  —  The creationist Creation Museum in Petersburg, Ky. plans to unveil a new attraction this weekend: a world-class Allosaurus skeleton.  —  But unlike other museums, where dinosaur skeletons are used to “indoctrinate our kids …

Fox anchor Gregg Jarrett jailed briefly after incident in MSP airport bar  —  Fox News anchor Gregg Jarrett was jailed Wednesday after being arrested in a bar at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport.  —  Jarrett, who is a weekend co-anchor on the FOX News Channel, was arrested about 12:30 p.m …

Meghan McCain: ‘I hate Karl Rove’  —  Meghan McCain was sharply critical of Karl Rove during an interview with Larry King, going so far as to say she hates him and that he needs to apologize to her family.  —  The daughter of the 2008 Republican presidential nominee showed no love …

How I Got Kicked Out Of The 9/11 Museum  —  The National 9/11 Museum opened to the public yesterday, with dozens of museum employees on hand to assist visitors through exhibits, numerous Red Cross workers and chaplains eager to help those who needed comfort, and at least three security guards …

Bold witness to alleged abuse by federal agents comes forward (Thank you readers 12,000 views in one day)  —  Alpine Texas - Nicholas Branson is a 30 year old student at Sul Ross University, studying for a degree in geology.  Now this student and former Eagle Scout is afraid for his future, for his career and even for his life.

Thailand military seizes power in coup  —  The BBC's Jonah Fisher says the move is likely to lead to confrontation  —  Thailand's military has announced it is taking control of the government and has suspended the constitution.  —  In a TV statement, army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha vowed …