Exclusive: Obama Told Lawmakers Criticism of His Syria Policy is ‘Horsesh*t’  —  Hillary Clinton and Congressmen alike have called on Obama to arm Syria's rebels.  But the President fumed at lawmakers in a private meeting for suggesting he should've done more.

Eyewitness to Michael Brown shooting recounts his friend's death  —  FERGUSON, Missouri — The last moments of Michael Brown's life were filled with shock, fear and terror, says a witness who stood just feet away as a police officer shot and killed the unarmed teen.

Robin Williams Lived Intensely  —  Robin Williams is dead at 63.  The comedian carried insecurity and self-doubt with contagious intensity.  He was so grandiose and wild that it would've irritated audiences to their cores had his eyes not betrayed an insatiable melancholy, imploring, please, I just want to be liked.

Was an Accusation of Plagiarism Really a Political Attack?  —  There aren't too many worse things you can suggest about an author than that his or her work is plagiarized.  It's the book-world equivalent of spreading the word that a financial adviser has cooked the books or that the parish priest has designs on the altar boys.

Times Reporter Is Injured in Iraq Helicopter Crash  —  ERBIL, Iraq — A helicopter carrying aid from Iraq's Kurdish autonomous government to stranded Yazidi refugees in the Sinjar mountains of northern Iraq crashed on Tuesday, killing the pilot and injuring other passengers …

David Gregory's flight to nowhere  —  David Gregory wasn't supposed to host “Meet The Press” on Sunday.  He was on a planned vacation in Nantucket, where, the night before, he had hosted a special presentation of the Boston Pops, sponsored by Coastal Living and Real Simple.

Iran congratulates Iraq's PM pick, snubs Maliki AFP 1 hr ago  —  Tehran (AFP) - Iran officially ended its long-time allegiance to Iraq's sidelined Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Tuesday, swinging its support behind newly designated premier Haidar al-Abadi in a congratulatory message.

Koch-linked group cancels Michigan ads  —  A powerfully funded group backed by the conservative Koch brothers has canceled over a million dollars' worth of Michigan ads for the month of August, according to sources tracking the 2014 air war.  —  Freedom Partners, which had booked …

Obama's standing among voters is hurting Democrats, poll finds  —  WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is dragging down his party and hurting the prospects of fellow Democrats as they head into midterm elections that will determine who controls Congress, according to a new McClatchy-Marist poll.

Dana Milbank: Obama vacations as the world burns  —  President Obama must really be teed off.  —  Hillary Rodham Clinton, his once-loyal secretary of state and his likeliest successor, has gone rogue, criticizing his foreign policy as too timid.  —  Dana Milbank writes about political theater in the nation's capital.

Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary  —  Technical information: (202) 691-5870  • www.bls.gov/jlt Media contact: (202) 691-5902  JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER - JUNE 2014  —  There were 4.7 million job openings on the last business day of June, little changed from 4.6 million in May …

W.H. to reverse part of lobbyist ban  —  The White House is poised to reverse a key part of its ban on registered lobbyists serving in government.  —  The Office of Management and Budget will release a new rule on Wednesday expected to allow registered lobbyists to participate …

Campus Activism: the Fight for Imaginary Victories  —  Campus activism is, by and large, the world of make-believe.  Whenever students occupy a president's office, Tinkerbell is not far away.  Whenever faculty demand a boycott, Professor Dumbledore winks at Professor Snape.

Can the G.O.P. Ever Attract Black Voters?  —  STORRS, Conn. — ON the morning of March 6, 1989, students began to gather at a flagpole on the campus of Howard University.  Then they entered the administration building, chained doors shut, locked arms and announced that they would not leave until key demands were met.