Early voting in Ohio blocked (UPDATED)  —  UPDATE 6:10 p.m. Justice Elena Kagan turned down without comment a separate request by Ohio's legislature for the same kind of order postponing some of the early voting options.  The legislature has been allowed into the controversy only as a “friend of the court,” not as a full party.

White House: Obama wasn't passing buck with ISIS comment  —  President Obama wasn't passing the buck by saying intelligence officials underestimated the threat from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the White House said Monday.  —  Press secretary Josh Earnest said officials …

U.S., Afghanistan sign security pact to allow American forces to remain in country  —  KABUL, Afghanistan — The United States and Afghanistan on Tuesday signed a vital security deal that allows some American troops to remain in Afghanistan beyond this year, ensuring a continuing U.S. presence in the region.

Ugly Senate fight could await Obama's attorney general nominee  —  BARACK OBAMA ERIC HOLDER THOMAS PEREZ ATTORNEY GENERAL JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ROBERT GATES  —  President Obama has a pretty obvious deadline for nominating a successor to departing Attorney General Eric Holder.

Mitt Isn't Ready to Call It Quits  —  “Hey, Ann, can you come here a sec?”  Mitt Romney called out, sinking into the cushions of a walnut-colored easy chair, his legs outstretched on a matching ottoman.  Romney's blue work shirt was tucked into faded jeans; sockless ankles peeked out from his New Balance sneakers.

For next attorney general, reach across aisle: Column  —  Like at Defense, an attorney general and a president should come from different parties.  —  Eric Holder has announced that he will be stepping down as attorney general as soon as a replacement can be named.

This Is What's the Matter With Kansas  —  Sam Brownback tried to create a conservative utopia.  He created a conservative hell instead.  —  The midterm elections of 2010 were good for Republicans nearly everywhere, but amid the national Tea Party insurgency, it was easy to overlook the revolution that was brewing in Kansas.

Reid, Daschle feud erupts  —  Simmering tensions between Harry Reid and Tom Daschle are erupting into an all-out feud.  —  Daschle is expressing frustration with the Senate majority leader (D-Nev.) for refusing to endorse Rick Weiland, a former Daschle aide who is running for the South Dakota seat held …

Zimmerman Family Values  —  Soon after George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin more than two years ago, George's loyal family learned that sharing his name meant sharing the blame.  It also meant a surreal new life filled with constant paranoia, get- rich-quick schemes, and lots and lots of guns.

The Modern Campus Cannot Comprehend Evil  —  Paglia is the author of Glittering Images: A Journey Through Art From Egypt to Star Wars.  —  Young women today do not understand the fragility of civilization and the constant nearness of savage nature  —  The disappearance of University …

2016's Clown Car Contenders  —  No, pervy ex-CEO Dov Charney isn't running for president.  But neither are Jim Webb or Carly Fiorina—or any of the other faded stars floating a potential candidacy to remain relevant.  —  He has been invited to speak at a breakfast for political activists in New Hampshire.

Hong Kong Protests Expose Generational, Economic Divide  —  Many in Older Generation Caution Against Putting Politics Before Economic Stability  —  HONG KONG—The fight over democracy that erupted into violence in Hong Kong over the weekend exposed a deep generational and economic divide …

Tracy Morgan's injuries in deadly crash were his fault, Wal-Mart says in response to lawsuit  —  The company claimed Monday that Morgan created his own suffering by failing to wear a seat belt on June 7, when a driver of a Wal-Mart tractor-trailer rammed into the comic's limousine bus.

No ruling in bid to make Dems fill Senate candidate vacancy  —  Plaintiff a no-show in election challenge suit  —  A three-judge Shawnee County panel did not decide Monday whether Kansas Democrats should be required to pick a replacement for Chad Taylor, who dropped out of the closely …

The Hole in Holder's Legacy  —  A few weeks ago, Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. gave a speech at the New York University School of Law on the subject of white-collar prosecutions.  In it, he offered a full-throated defense of his department's efforts in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.

Armed Intruder at White House Got to East Room  —  WASHINGTON — An armed man who jumped the White House fence this month made it far deeper into the mansion than previously disclosed, overpowering a Secret Service agent inside the North Portico entrance and running through the ceremonial East Room …