Joni Ernst: My Gun Will Defend Me If Government Decides ‘My Rights Are No Longer Important’  —  WASHINGTON — Joni Ernst, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Iowa, said during an NRA event in 2012 that she would use a gun to defend herself from the government.

Suspected killer in Ottawa shootings had a disturbing side  —  Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, the slain 32-year-old suspected killer of a Canadian Forces soldier near Parliament Hill, was a labourer and small-time criminal - a man who had had a religious awakening and seemed to have become mentally unstable.

The Truth about the “Palin Brawl” - The Media Reveals Its Bias Against Conservative Women Once Again  —  First, the media said Trig was not really my mom's kid.  —  Then, they claimed my mom said “I can see Russia from my house.”  —  Recently, they said my parents are giving a divorce.

The Democrats' Coming Blame Game  —  Less than two weeks before Election Day, Democrats are bracing for losses—and are already quietly trying to shift the blame.  —  Years of disappointment and tension between Democrats and their president are now on open display as politicians …

Senate Forecast: Cloudy With a Good Chance of a Republican Majority  —  With less than two weeks to go until Election Day, the picture in several key races remains hazy.  But when the dust settles, the most likely result is a Republican majority, as the Crystal Ball's outlook of Republicans adding five …

9 percent of likely 2014 voters are ‘enthusiastic’ about President Obama  —  We've written plenty on this blog about Democrats' enthusiasm deficit in the 2014 election.  This gap was, is and will almost definitely continue to be real through Nov. 4.  —  But while it's well understood …

Young stands behind Wasilla High School comments, adds government to suicide blame list  —  WASILLA — An unapologetic U.S. Rep. Don Young on Wednesday wasn't backing down from statements he made Tuesday at Wasilla High School that suicide shows a lack of support from friends and family.

Obama Is Too Cool for Crisis Management  —  By the time President Obama gave in and appointed an Ebola czar on Oct. 17, the White House response to this latest national crisis had already run a familiar course: the initial assurance that everything was under control; the subsequent realization that it wasn't …

Baby girl killed in Jerusalem is an American, US official says  —  Terrorist kills infant, wounds several, after ramming...  Watch: Car drives into crowd at light rail station in...  Netanyahu blames Abbas incitement for Jerusalem terro...  Shimshon Halperin, mourns the loss of his granddaughter Chaya Zissel Braun.

The Kind Of Racism That ‘Dear White People’ Overlooks  —  This post contains spoilers.  —  If you haven't seen Dear White People, you should.  It's the first film in years to really confront black identities, of which there are many, in a sharp and funny way.

Should the Poor Be Allowed to Vote?  —  If Hong Kong's pro-democracy protesters succeed in booting C.Y. Leung from power, the city's unelected chief executive should consider coming to the United States.  He might fit in well in the Republican Party.  —  In an interview Monday …

Christie Has ‘Head in Sand’ on Minimum Wage, Labor Chief Says  —  The Obama administration wants to raise the minimum wage, but Republicans aren't convinced.  —  Oct. 23 (Bloomberg) — New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has “got his head in the sand” when it comes to the plight …

Behind the numbers: ‘Kills’ against ISIS  —  Is the United States killing enough Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants?  —  It may be a macabre question but it is also a necessary one, according to some defense experts.  They wonder whether the military efforts by the U.S.-led coalition …

VIDEO: NYPD Officer Kicks Colleague in the Head During Arrest  —  BROOKLYN — An undercover NYPD officer rushing in to aid uniformed colleagues making an arrest kicked one of them in the head after apparently mistaking him for a suspect, a video obtained by DNAinfo New York shows.

Mormon Underwear, Revealed  —  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released an informational guide to “temple garments” on their website.  Why have these clothes been such a source of fascination in American culture?  —  Mormonism has long been a source of cultural fascination—and sometimes suspicion—in America.

King on gays: 'I don't expect to meet them should I make it to heaven'  —  Congressman speaks exclusively to the Herald  —  U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron, suggests gays won't make it to heaven.  —  What's more, in an interview, King intimated that the divorced or cohabitators could be thwarted …

Oops: Scott Brown lists self as Mass. state senator in recent campaign filing  —  New Hampshire Republican U.S. Senate candidate Scott Brown tried to politically navigate how he could run for office in the Granite State thirteen weeks after officially moving here from Massachusetts.

3 States Refuse Gay Unions Despite Court Rulings  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The writing is on the wall for gay marriage bans in Kansas, Montana and South Carolina after federal appeals courts that oversee those states have made clear that keeping gay and lesbian couples from marrying is unconstitutional.

Ottawa shooting: Kevin Vickers hailed as hero who helped stop attacker  —  ‘Thank God for Sgt at Arms Kevin Vickers,’ tweets Justice Minister Peter MacKay  —  House of Commons Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers was lauded by members of Parliament Wednesday for his reported role in stopping …

Richardson Reacts to New Poll Indicating Swing in His Favor  —  PORTLAND, Ore.- A dramatic shift in poll numbers has taken place since Governor John Kitzhaber's campaign became riddled with scandal.  A poll commissioned by KATU has Dennis Richardson with a surprising double-digit lead.

Justice Department condemns Ferguson leaks as effort to influence opinion  —  With a grand jury decision looming on whether a white police officer should face charges in the killing of an unarmed black 18-year-old in Ferguson, Mo., the investigation has sprung a few leaks.

UT/TT Poll: Abbott Holds Commanding Lead Over Davis … UT/TT Poll, October 2014: Summary UT/TT Poll, October 2014: Methodology  —  Republican Greg Abbott has a 16-point lead over Democrat Wendy Davis in the closing days of this year's general election for governor, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.