Chris McDaniel Challenges Mississippi Senate Primary Votes After Loss  —  The Tea Party-backed candidate who has refused to concede defeat to Republican U.S. Senator Thad Cochran in Mississippi's primary runoff said his campaign has found more than 1,000 instances of ballots cast by people who were ineligible to vote.

Taliban Mount Major Assault in Afghanistan  —  KABUL, Afghanistan — In one of the most significant coordinated assaults on the government in years, the Taliban have attacked police outposts and government facilities across several districts in northern Helmand Province …

Facebook Conducted Psychological Experiments On Unknowing Users  —  The latest way that Facebook has been peeking into its users' personal lives may be the most surprising yet: Facebook researches have published a scientific paper that reveals the company has been conducting psychological experiments …

Soul Legend Bobby Womack Dead at 70  —  Veteran singer had numerous hits, yet suffered multiple health issues throughout seven-decade career  —  Bobby Womack, the legendary soul singer whose career spanned seven decades, died Friday at age 70.  A representative for Womack's label XL Recordings confirmed …

Matt Drudge gives rare interview on WTOP Friday … WASHINGTON — More than the gridlock in Washington, political commentator Matt Drudge is concerned with immigration and the situation at America's border.  —  “I know there are big fights throughout the country,” he says.

Is The Times Ignoring a Scandal at the I.R.S.?  —  Has The Times been interested enough in the politically charged events involving the Internal Revenue Service?  —  Many readers don't think so.  One, Harry Koenig of Monroe Township, New Jersey, wrote to me this week with strong words of criticism.

Obama: Republicans Don't Do Anything But Call Me Names!  [VIDEO]  —  And also he's pretty sure they got a bigger piece of cake.

Is climate change destabilizing Iraq?  —  This winter was not a good one for farmers in the Fertile Crescent.  —  A punishing drought hit most of Syria and northern Iraq during what's normally the wettest time of the year.  In the mountains of eastern Turkey, which form the headwaters …

What Happened to the Facebook Phone?  Not Very Much, It Seems  —  Facebook has long wanted to be a major part of how you use your smartphone.  Now, it looks as if the company has all but abandoned one of its major strategies to do so.  —  The company has disbanded the team …

Saginaw Republican Party isn't for or against felon seeking state House seat on GOP ticket  —  Jordan Haskins speaks speaks against a LGBT nondiscrimination ordinance during the personal appearances section of the Saginaw City Council meeting, Monday, April 7, 2014.

Stewart and Colbert: Still funny, but pulling their punches against the president  —  I take Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert seriously because they're more than just funny.  —  These two cable guys have changed the nature of comedy and, I believe, had an impact on journalism as well.