The plan for saving Iraq begins by ousting Maliki  —  What would an effective quick response to the catastrophic civil wars in Iraq and Syria look like?  Sometimes in foreign policy, as in sports, it can be useful to visualize the right technique — and then hit the ball.

John Doe prosecutors allege Scott Walker at center of ‘criminal scheme’  —  By Patrick Marley and Daniel Bice of the Journal Sentinel  —  Madison — Prosecutors allege that Gov. Scott Walker was at the center of an effort to illegally coordinate fundraising among conservative groups to help …

Dianne Feinstein: Keep Brian Schweitzer ‘away from my husband’  —  Attention Brian Schweitzer: Dianne Feinstein's husband may want a word with you.  —  The former Montana governor had harsh words for the Senate Intelligence chairwoman in a profile published by National Journal on Thursday …

Public Faith in Congress Falls Again, Hits Historic Low  —  Of major U.S. institutions, Americans most confident in the military  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Americans' confidence in Congress has sunk to a new low.  Seven percent of Americans say they have “a great deal” or “quite a lot” …

Megyn Kelly to Dick Cheney: Wrong, sir  —  FOX News' Megyn Kelly had some tough questions for former Vice President Dick Cheney on Wednesday night, after he and his daughter, Liz, offered a scathing review of the Obama administration's foreign policy.  —  “In your op-ed [in the Wall Street Journal] …

Hillary Clinton Asked To Inscribe “Hard Choices” To Ambassador Stevens  —  Jason Mattera caught up with Hillary Clinton at one of the DC stops on her book tour this week, and asked the former Secretary of State if she would mind signing a copy of Hard Choices... but with a twist.

House GOP Crowns Kevin McCarthy The Next Majority Leader  —  House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy of California will be the next majority leader.  —  As expected, Republicans elected McCarthy to replace ousted Rep. Eric Cantor once he steps down from the post on July 31.

CIA hatched plan to make demon toy to counter Osama bin Laden's influence  —  For more than a decade, the CIA has deployed drones, satellites, spies, informants and tracking devices to thwart al-Qaeda in Pakistan.  —  The spy agency also considered a plan to wage war with toys.

Bill O'Reilly Uncensored: On Hillary Clinton, the 2016 GOP, and His Fox News Colleagues  —  Highlights from the <em>Factor</em> host's Upper East Side sit-down with Geraldo Rivera.  —  Even on New York City's Upper East Side, Bill O'Reilly can draw a packed house of true believers.

Republican Congressman Tells Men: Wives “Desperately” Need Their Husbands To Step Up  —  “Your children need you.  Your woman, your wife, she needs you.  It's time that you become a real man.”  —  Republican Rep. Tim Huelskamp Thursday talked Thursday about the need for husbands to step up …

Why we're banning Redskins in The Seattle Times  —  The most controversial name in sports won't appear again in The Seattle Times' print edition or on the seattletimes.com home pages as long as I am sports editor.  —  It's time to ban the use of “Redskins,” the absurd, offensive and outdated name of the NFL team in Washington, D.C.

Shouting Match Erupts at Chris McDaniel Event  —  JACKSON, Miss. -A quiet morning campaign event erupted into a shouting match Thursday morning when a Democratic voter crashed a coffee klatch by State Sen. Chris McDaniel and got into an angry confrontation the conservative who is challenging six term Sen. Thad Cochran.

Why the Redskins Trademark Ruling Should Terrify You  —  Like most people, I haven't been all that interested in the controversy over whether the name of the Washington Redskins is offensive.  Personally, I'm more offended that Washington, DC, has become the kind of megalopolis that can support an NFL team.

Washington Post, New York Times and Mozilla team up for new Web site comment system  —  In an unusual partnership, The Washington Post, the New York Times and software developer Mozilla will team up to create digital tools that will make it easier for readers to post comments and photos …