A letter from a friend: Jackie's story is not a hoax  —  My name is Emily, and I was Jackie's suitemate first year.  I am writing to you in regards to Rolling Stone's recent statement of “misplaced trust” in Jackie.  I feel this statement is backwards, as it seems it was Jackie who misplaced her trust in Rolling Stone.

G.O.P. Donors Seek to Narrow Field of Presidential Candidates to One  —  Dozens of the Republican Party's leading presidential donors and fund-raisers have begun privately discussing how to clear the field for a single establishment candidate to carry the party's banner in 2016 …

Dems, It's Time to Dump Dixie  —  With Mary Landrieu's ignominious exit, the Democrats will have lost their last senator in the Deep South.  And that's a good thing.  They should write it off—because they don't need it.  —  I don't remember a much sadder sight in domestic politics …

Why Eric Garner is the turning point Ferguson never was  —  Ferguson, Mo., has captured the nation's attention for the better part of the past four months.  But in just a few short days in the national news, Eric Garner has become the political rallying point that Ferguson never has.

Sexual threats, other CIA methods detailed in Senate report  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Graphic details about sexual threats and other harsh interrogation techniques the CIA meted out to captured militants will be detailed by a Senate Intelligence Committee report on the spy agency's anti-terror tactics …

The Democratic Party's long term problem is worse than you think  —  As I noted this morning, anyone who cares about the future of the Democratic Party needs to ask whether the party's elders and wise men are thinking hard enough about how to regain ground on the state level.

No comments.  An experiment in elevating the conversation  —  For the next two months, we are turning off the comment function on all editorials, columns and letters in the opinion section.  —  Why?  —  Ferguson.  —  Last Sunday, we challenged our region to have the serious discussion …

McConnell Plots a Functional, Bipartisan Senate  —  Sen. Mitch McConnell wants to hit the ground running in January — and he thinks Democrats are ready to join him in crafting a more open, functional Senate.  —  In an exclusive interview in his Capitol office suite, the incoming majority …

The College Rape Overcorrection  —  Sexual assault on campus is a serious problem.  But efforts to protect women from a putative epidemic of violence have led to misguided policies that infringe on the civil rights of men.  —  An Accusation  —  Drew Sterrett couldn't know that when his friend slipped …

California quake  —  Up-and-comers are already jockeying ahead of Boxer's possible retirement.  —  A parade of ambitious California public figures, who've spent years itching for a shot at the state's top political offices, are anticipating a shake-up of the state's political hierarchy …

Warren criticizes Obama pick for Treasury in session with donors  —  During a meeting with nearly 50 of her top Boston-area donors Sunday night, Sen. Elizabeth Warren strongly criticized President Barack Obama's Treasury Department pick Antonio Weiss and said Hispanic and African-American families were …

Mom: Sister cuffed after cop shot boy  —  (CNN) — As Tamir Rice's 14-year-old sister rushed to her brother's side upon learning he'd been shot, police officers “tackled” her, handcuffed her and placed her in a squad car with the Cleveland officer who shot Tamir, her mother and a Rice family attorney told reporters Monday.

Massive downtown L.A. fire burns 3 towers; freeways begin to reopen  —  A massive fire in downtown Los Angeles early Monday engulfed an apartment tower under construction, damaged two other buildings and left freeways and roads closed.  —  The northbound 110 Freeway remained closed as of 5 a.m. …

White House to reporters: no selfies with Prince William  —  The President's aides warn the press against taking pictures of themselves during Obama's meeting with the Duke of Cambridge  —  The White House politely but firmly asked reporters not to take selfies in the Oval Office during …