U.S. Said to Rebuff Iraqi Request to Strike Militants  —  WASHINGTON — As the threat from Sunni militants in western Iraq escalated last month, Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki secretly asked the Obama administration to consider carrying out airstrikes against extremist staging areas, according to Iraqi and American officials.

Libertarians' scary, new guru: Why Dave Brat is no populist hero  —  Some on the left may see a kindred spirit — but here's why the man who beat Eric Cantor is anything but  —  Both the left and the right have found reasons to celebrate the upset of Majority Leader Eric Cantor in Tuesday's Virginia primary.

Political Polarization in the American Public  —  How Increasing Ideological Uniformity and Partisan Antipathy Affect Politics, Compromise and Everyday Life  —  Republicans and Democrats are more divided along ideological lines - and partisan antipathy is deeper and more extensive - than at any point in the last two decades.

In S.F., Rick Perry compares homosexuality to alcoholism  —  Texas Gov. Rick Perry, speaking in San Francisco on Wednesday night, said the U.S. would better serve its diverse population by letting the states handle many economic and social policies, a point he perhaps inadvertently drove home …

All Our Patent Are Belong To You  —  Yesterday, there was a wall of Tesla patents in the lobby of our Palo Alto headquarters.  That is no longer the case.  They have been removed, in the spirit of the open source movement, for the advancement of electric vehicle technology.

Bush 41 jumps on his 90th birthday  —  Programming note: CNN will air “41ON41,” a film about President George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States, based on interviews with 41 people who know him best, Sunday at 9 and 11 p.m. ET  —  (CNN) - Former President George H.W. Bush Thursday celebrated …

The Troubling Case of Chris Hedges  —  Pulitzer winner.  Lefty hero.  Plagiarist.  —  In early 2010, the editors at Harper's Magazine began reviewing a lengthy manuscript submitted by Chris Hedges, a former New York Times reporter.  In the piece, Hedges had turned his eye to Camden …

Tennessee Democratic Congressman Is Looking Everywhere For Hillary Clinton  —  “Does anyone have a good phone number” for the former secretary of state?  Staff for Rep. Steve Cohen are asking every Democrat on Capitol Hill.  Update: Cohen's office says the email is run-of-the-mill.

Travis County prosecutor fired over remarks about juror  —  AUSTIN — A top Travis County felony prosecutor was fired Wednesday after comments he made about a juror during a recent court proceeding for a convicted killer about to go to trial on a related charge.  —  Travis County prosecutor fired over remarks about juror KVUE

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl Heading Back to U.S.  —  Two senior defense officials say the freed Taliban prisoner will arrive at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio sometime after midnight.

Iran has deployed Revolutionary Guard forces to fight al Qaeda-inspired militants in Iraq, Iranian security sources said  —  Iran has deployed Revolutionary Guard forces to fight al Qaeda-inspired militants that have overrun a string of Iraqi cities and has helped Iraqi troops win back control …

Impoverished Mother Dies In Jail Cell Over Unpaid Fines For Her Kids Missing School  —  A housing unit at the Berks County Jail where Eileen DeNino died.  —  CREDIT: Berks County, PA  —  A mother of seven died in a Pennsylvania jail over the weekend while serving a two-day sentence.