Eric Holder's Legacy  —  By any measure, the nearly-six-year tenure of Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. has been one of the most consequential in United States history.  His decision to resign, which he announced on Thursday, was long anticipated; he has said he will stay on through his successor's confirmation.

Conservatives Launch ‘Unprecedented’ Campaign Against Pro-Marriage Equality Republicans  —  National Organization for Marriage, Family Research Council, and CitizenLink lash out against candidates “working to actively alienate the Republican base.”  —  Olaf Faeskorn/Tisei for Congress

Beating Brownback Would Redeem 2014  —  After reading Patrick Caldwell's very thorough explanation of why Gov. Sam Brownback's in danger of losing in November, I'm more convinced than ever that whether or not Republicans are kept from taking control of the Senate, it would be an important …

The Secret Goldman Sachs Tapes  —  Probably most people would agree that the people paid by the U.S. government to regulate Wall Street have had their difficulties.  Most people would probably also agree on two reasons those difficulties seem only to be growing: an ever-more complex financial system …

Crunch time for Jeb Bush  —  It's now or never for Jeb Bush.  —  The former Florida governor flirted with presidential runs in 2008 and 2012 but ultimately demurred, always with the flickering possibility of mounting a campaign down the road.  But at 61 years old, the second son …

Outside Groups' Planned Spending by the Numbers  —  Seven high-profile national political organizations have asked television stations to set aside more than $80 million in airtime to shape Senate races between now and Election Day, Nov. 4.  A look at where groups plan to empty their pockets during the next 5 1/2 weeks:

How Sen. Kay Hagan's husband won stimulus cash  —  When Kay Hagan voted for President Barack Obama's 2009 economic stimulus package, the Democratic senator hailed it as “the best way forward for working families across North Carolina.”  —  One of the families that later benefited is her own.

Why We're Talking About Mitt Romney  —  I've been mostly ignoring the various “Romney 2016!” trial balloons floated by various parties over the last six months or so (including by some of my dear friends, alas), but now that someone as sober and well-informed as Byron York has weighed in with a …

FBI blasts Apple, Google for locking police out of phones  —  FBI Director James B. Comey sharply criticized Apple and Google on Thursday for developing forms of smartphone encryption so secure that law enforcement officials cannot easily gain access to information stored on the devices — even when they have valid search warrants.

The Golden Bowl  —  Amy Chozick covers Hillary Clinton for the New York Times.  She is an enterprising and dedicated reporter, and many of her stories have annoyed the 2016 presidential frontrunner.  This week Chozick covered a meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative.  It was her turn to be annoyed.

US: Immigrant Families Fail To Report To Agents  —  3 photos  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Tens of thousands of young families caught crossing the border illegally earlier this year subsequently failed to meet with federal immigration agents, as they were instructed, the Homeland Security Department has acknowledged privately.