Witness to a shelling: first-hand account of deadly strike on Gaza port  —  There is a deafening explosion, then a second.  Four children are dead.  Four survivors reach the safety of our hotel  —  The retaining wall of Gaza's harbour sticks out into the Mediterranean about 100 metres …

How Americans Feel About Religious Groups  —  Jews, Catholics & Evangelicals Rated Warmly, Atheists and Muslims More Coldly  —  Jews, Catholics and evangelical Christians are viewed warmly by the American public.  When asked to rate each group on a “feeling thermometer” ranging from 0 to 100 …

Martin O'Malley Gets Aggressive  —  The odds aren't great against Hillary Clinton, but the Democratic governor from Maryland is doing the actual things people do before running for president: donors, new policies, campaign travel, distance from Obama.  “I think people are going to be surprised at the amount of time he does this.”

Elizabeth Warren: The government shutdown was over birth control  —  BELTWAY CONFIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN ELIZABETH WARREN WAR ON WOMEN CONTRACEPTION  —  Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., on Tuesday blamed last October's government shutdown on Republicans wanting to deny women access to birth control.

The Coming Democratic Schism  —  There is a striking generational split in the Democratic electorate.  —  This deepening division is apparent in a June Pew Research Center survey of more than 10,000 people, “Beyond Red vs. Blue.”  The Pew survey points up the emergence of a cohort …

Dem birth control bill stalls  —  Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked a bill that would require companies to offer birth control coverage in staff health plans.  —  Democrats had moved the legislation as a response to last month's Supreme Court ruling rejecting the healthcare law's mandate …

FEDS TO OPEN $50 MILLION RESORT FOR ILLEGAL CHILDREN - Complete With Tennis Courts, Sauna & Pools  —  Welcome to America!  —  The Obama administration has awarded a $50 million contract to a charitable group to buy a Texas resort hotel and transform it in to a 600 bed facility for juvenile illegal aliens.

The Continuing Agonies of the Super-Rich  —  As we well know by now, being rich in America is tough.  Imagine driving your Porsche out the Goldman Sachs garage, intent on a relaxing weekend at your Hamptons retreat, only to find some wretched Occupy sympathizer giving you a dirty look through …

Stewart To Clinton: ‘No One Cares’ About Your Book, Are You Running For President?  (VIDEO)  —  Jon Stewart went straight to the burning question Tuesday night when Hillary Clinton stopped by “The Daily Show.”  —  “I think I speak for everyone when I say no one cares …

$80 Billion Offer From Rupert Murdoch Is Rejected, but Time Warner May Be in Play  —  The media giant 21st Century Fox, the empire run by Rupert Murdoch, made an $80 billion takeover bid in recent weeks for Time Warner Inc. but was rebuffed.  —  The bold approach could put Time Warner in play …

Iggy Azalea's post-racial mess: America's oldest race tale, remixed  —  As a white female rapper mistakes appropriation for artistry, here's how black women remain pushed to the sidelines  —  Recently, my nine year-old nephew came running into the room, eager to find a seat to watch a performance by Iggy Azalea on an awards show.

Poll: Dead Heat in Hotly-Contested Iowa Senate Race  —  The Senate race in New Hampshire isn't as fluid, with only 6 percent of registered voters saying that they're undecided between incumbent Shaheen and Brown.  It also isn't as close: Shaheen is beating her GOP rival 50 percent to 42 percent.

One in Six Say Immigration Most Important U.S. Problem  —  Immigration concerns surged in July, while economic mentions ebbed  —  PRINCETON, NJ — With thousands of undocumented immigrant minors crossing the nation's southern border in recent months, the percentage of Americans citing immigration …

WH director won't testify before Issa panel  —  White House political director David Simas will not appear before the House Oversight Committee to testify Wednesday, despite a subpoena from Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the White House said Tuesday.  —  In a letter to Issa on Tuesday …

Family That Owns Hobby Lobby Plans Bible Museum in Washington  —  WASHINGTON — The evangelical Christian family that owns Hobby Lobby, the chain of craft stores, made history two weeks ago when the Supreme Court overturned the Obama administration's mandate that family-owned companies must …

Nancy Pelosi's goal is to win 25 seats.  Here's how she thinks it can happen.  —  House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told The Washington Post Tuesday that her goal is to win 25 seats this November — a bold statement given that historical trends suggest that the party …

Surge of Central American Children Roils U.S. Immigration Debate  —  Obama Job Rating Steady, No Change in Economic Views  —  As the president and Congress struggle over how to deal with the influx of thousands of unaccompanied minors from Central America across the U.S.-Mexican border …