Is Gov. Rick Perry's Bad Judgment Really a Crime?  —  Gov. Rick Perry of Texas is one of the least thoughtful and most damaging state leaders in America, having done great harm to immigrants, abortion clinics and people without health insurance during his 14 years in office.

Trayvon Martin's Mom: ‘If They Refuse to Hear Us, We Will Make Them Feel Us’  —  Sybrina Fulton is the mother of Trayvon Martin and the founder of the Trayvon Martin Foundation.  In a letter to the family of Ferguson teen Michael Brown written exclusively for TIME, Fulton reflects on what the families now share.

Obama Is Seen as Frustrating His Own Party  —  WASHINGTON — The meeting in the Oval Office in late June was called to give President Obama and the four top members of Congress a chance to discuss the unraveling situation in Iraq.  —  But Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, wanted to press another point.

Frustration in Ferguson  —  The response to the killing of the unarmed teenager Michael Brown — whom his family called the “gentle giant” — by the Ferguson, Mo., police officer Darren Wilson — who was described by his police chief as “a gentle, quiet man” and “a gentleman” — has been anything but genteel.

Reparations for Ferguson  —  A few weeks ago I received an anxious text from my wife informing me that a group of young men were fighting outside of our apartment building.  We've spent most of our adult lives in New York, and most of that time in New York living in Harlem.

Egypt Urges US Restraint Over Missouri Unrest  —  CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt on Tuesday urged U.S. authorities to exercise restraint in dealing with racially charged demonstrations in Ferguson, Missouri - echoing language Washington used to caution Egypt as it cracked down on Islamist protesters last year.

Why Obama won't give the Ferguson speech his supporters want  —  TWEET SHARE +1 LINKEDIN EMAIL PRINT  —  President Obama's statement today on Ferguson began with the words “I also want to address the situation in Ferguson.  Earlier this afternoon I spoke with Governor Nixon...” It didn't get much more passionate from there.

Support for U.S. Airstrikes in Iraq; Concern About Getting Too Involved  —  Republicans Offer Stronger Backing for Airstrikes than Democrats  —  As fighting rages in Iraq, most Americans (54%) say they approve of U.S. airstrikes against Islamic militants there, while 31% disapprove.

Obamacare Losing Punch as Campaign Weapon in Ad Battles  —  Republicans seeking to unseat the U.S. Senate incumbent in North Carolina have cut in half the portion of their top issue ads citing Obamacare, a sign that the party's favorite attack against Democrats is losing its punch.

The Kochs' plan to beat Harry Reid  —  LAS VEGAS — Harry Reid's reelection is more than two years off, but the Koch brothers' political machine is already methodically laying the groundwork that will be used to try to take him out.  —  The efforts in recent months have been largely subterranean, but they are unmistakable.

Police Officer Pushes CNN's Don Lemon From Sidewalk  —  CNN reporter Don Lemon said a St. Louis County police officer pushed him away from the sidewalk where he was reporting live form Ferguson, Mo. on Monday.  —  During a segment on “The Situation Room,” CNN cut to Lemon as he was being corralled away from the road.

Top staffers leaving FitzGerald campaign  —  A potential mass exodus from Ed FitzGerald's gubernatorial campaign is afoot, with several of the Democratic nominee's top aides and experienced Ohio political consultants transitioning away from a campaign seemingly under a siege of negativity.

A Texas Democrat Tries to Fix the Border  —  Rep. Henry Cuellar is battling Republicans and Democrats alike to end the humanitarian crisis on America's southern border.  But does a guy picking fights with everyone from President Obama to Ted Cruz stand a chance?

Ice Bucket Challenge Donations Continue to Exceed Expectations  —  Washington, D.C. (August 18, 2014) — As of Monday, August 18, The ALS Association has received $15.6 million in donations compared to $1.8 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 18).