Iraqi Factions Jockey to Oust Maliki, Citing U.S. Support  —  BAGHDAD — Alarmed over the Sunni insurgent mayhem convulsing Iraq, the country's political leaders are actively jockeying to replace Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, Iraqi officials said Thursday.

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 …

Brian Schweitzer says his ‘gaydar’ goes off when he sees Eric Cantor  —  (CNN) - Former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer chose an interesting path and offered puzzling critiques since he tossed his name in the hat for a potential presidential run in 2016.  —  But comments the Democrat …

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.

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] …

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” …

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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.

MARK UDALL VOTES ‘NO’ ON KEYSTONE, SAYS MORE TIME NEEDED; GOP POUNCES  —  Rarely has a dead-end vote caused this much trouble for U.S. Sen. Mark Udall.  —  But on Wednesday the Colorado Democrat was forced, once again, to pick sides in the fight over the Keystone XL pipeline …

High School In Woodbury Blocks Students From Accessing Conservative Sites  —  A Woodbury High Schooler claims he uncovered political bias in the implementation of a firewall blocking some political Web sites at his school.  —  18-year-old Andrew Lampart, a senior at Nonnewaug High School …

NH Poll Shows Shaheen Leading Brown by 10 Points in Senate Race  —  Incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen leads challenger Scott Brown 49 percent to 39 percent, with Brown, a Republican and former U.S. senator from Massachusetts, viewed more unfavorably than positively …