Democrats Paved the Way for Their Own Decline  —  They have subordinated their traditional focus on helping working-class Americans move up the economic ladder in favor of other priorities.  —  Much has been said about the long-term demographic challenges facing the Republican Party.

Inside Rand Paul's Plan to Run for Senate and President at the Same Time  —  The Kentucky Republican is announcing his bid for reelection this week.  But that is only the first step.  —  Rand Paul's brain trust has spent months developing an exhaustive political and legal battle plan …

Rolling Stone Never Gave the Villains of Its Gang Rape Story a Chance to Defend Themselves  —  When scholars of the Historical Jesus try to figure out whether certain stories or sayings reported in the Gospels are authentic—a complicated concept in this context, but never mind …

Hagel ouster highlights power shift  —  The forced resignation of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is exposing deep tensions between the Pentagon and President Obama's national security staff.  —  While administration aides characterized Hagel's departure as a mutual decision …

How the White House torpedoed Harry Reid's tax deal  —  The White House worked closely with liberal House Democrats last week to torpedo a tax deal that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-­Nev.) was negotiating with Republicans.  —  The unusual move to kill a Reid­-backed proposal …

Sharpton and his ‘Co-Mayor’ meet with Obama  —  Al Sharpton followed de Blasio to Washington to meet with Obama.  —  WASHINGTON — He never leaves home without him.  —  Bill de Blasio and “Co-Mayor” Al Sharpton are joined at the hip in New York, so why not in Washington?

Obama resists demands to curtail police militarisation calling instead for improved officer training  —  Obama has separately asked for extra federal funds to reform police departments across the country, in the wake of protests that followed the death of Michael Brown

Mitch McConnell Rider Could Roll Back Campaign Finance Laws  —  WASHINGTON — Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is trying to use a massive appropriations bill to loosen campaign finance rules.  —  The Republican leader's office is attempting to attach a policy rider to the omnibus bill …

Lawmakers make ‘hands up’ gesture on House floor  —  Several lawmakers took to the House floor Monday evening to make the “Hands up, don't shoot,” gesture to protest the police shooting of the unarmed Ferguson teen, Michael Brown.  —  “Hands up, don't shoot.

County police chief says Rams apologized for ‘Hands up’ gesture; team's VP says otherwise  —  • By Jim Thomas jthomas@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8197  —  UPDATED at 9:36 p.m. Monday with comment from Rams vice president.  —  Rams vice president of football operations Kevin Demoff …

Obama Dealt Major Setback in Closing Guantanamo  —  President Barack Obama's 5-year-old campaign to close the federal prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, suffered a major setback as lawmakers finalizing the annual defense policy bill rejected steps toward shuttering the facility.

Stewart Unloads On Hannity For Blaming Ferguson On Obama, Sharpton (VIDEO)  —  At the climax of a tour de force knocking Fox News coverage of Ferguson, Mo. on Monday's episode of “The Daily Show,” host Jon Stewart turned his ire on longtime punching bag Sean Hannity.

Republicans Float ‘Impeachment Lite’ Plan To Censure Obama  —  Impeachment has faded in Republican circles as an option to punish President Barack Obama over his sweeping executive actions to reshape immigration enforcement, ruled out even by hardliners like Rep. Steve King (R-IA) who are livid with the president and want to retaliate.

The new GOP divide  —  2016 Republicans disagree on surveillance, gay marriage and Common Core.  —  Two years ago, Bobby Jindal was pushing a state law to adapt national curriculum standards to local schools; today, not only is the Louisiana governor suing the federal government to stop Common Core …

Bosnian community in St. Louis outraged over fatal hammer attack in Bevo Mill neighborhood  —  • By Joel Currier jcurrier@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8256  —  UPDATED at 10:45 a.m. with arrest of third suspect in attack.  —  ST. LOUIS  • A third male suspect in a deadly hammer attack …

GOP Staffer Who Attacked Obama Girls Was Arrested During Her Own “Awful Teen Years”  —  Buster  —  The Republican congressional aide who castigated the Obama daughters for their lack of “class” and dressing as if they were angling for a “spot at a bar” was once arrested for larceny during her own …