Why ISIS Murdered Kenji Goto  —  Why did ISIS execute a second Japanese hostage?  Before the beheading of the journalist Kenji Goto, Japan didn't think that it was even in a fight with the Islamic State.  All Japan had done was contribute a couple of hundred million dollars in humanitarian aid to countries fighting ISIS.

GOP Senator: Don't Force Employees To Wash Their Hands After Using Toilet  —  In a week packed with news over concerns for public health, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) described his own history of opposing certain health and hygiene regulations, including those that require employees to wash their hands after using the bathroom.

Cruz: Block Lynch until Obama blinks on immigration  —  Stalling the attorney general nominee would be a ‘concrete’ tool 'to rein in the president's lawlessness,' he says.  —  Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is demanding that Republicans block the nomination of Loretta Lynch as attorney general until …

Cruz: Parents With ‘Religious Convictions’ Should Get A Pass On Vaccines  —  Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Tuesday said he believes children should be vaccinated, but he said he supports exemptions for people with certain religious beliefs.  —  Cruz said that there is “widespread agreement” …

Draft of Arrest Warrant for Argentine President Found at Dead Prosecutor's Home  —  BUENOS AIRES — Alberto Nisman, the prosecutor whose mysterious death has gripped Argentina, had drafted a warrant for the arrest of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, accusing her of trying …

The Big Lie: 5.6% Unemployment  —  Here's something that many Americans — including some of the smartest and most educated among us — don't know: The official unemployment rate, as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor, is extremely misleading.  —  Right now, we're hearing much celebrating …

Chris Christie Shows Fondness for Luxury Benefits When Others Pay the Bill  —  As Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey waited to depart on a trade mission to Israel in 2012, his entourage was delayed by a late arrival: Mr. Christie's father, who had accidentally headed to the wrong airport.

He's got a 'Downton Abbey'-inspired office, but Rep. Aaron Schock won't talk about it.  —  The Rayburn House Office Building is a labyrinth of beige offices.  —  And then, there's . . .  Rep. Aaron Schock's new digs.  —  Bright red walls.  A gold-colored wall sconce with black candles.

SECOND HARPER LEE NOVEL TO BE PUBLISHED IN JULY … NEW YORK (AP) — “To Kill a Mockingbird” will not be Harper Lee's only published book after all.  —  Publisher Harper announced Tuesday that “Go Set a Watchman,” a novel the Pulitzer Prize-winning author completed in the 1950s and put aside, will be released July 14.

Hammocks and Hammers  —  Greg Sargent draws attention to a conference call (or “tele-town hall,” which explains why the Des Moines Register's Jennifer Jacobs was allowed to listen in) Scott Walker held with Iowa conservative activists.  Jacobs seemed to think what was most newsworthy …

Scott Walker Presidential Bid Self-Destructs On ABC's ‘This Week’  —  Appearing yesterday on ABC's “This Week,” Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker announced that, “People want new, fresh leadership with big, bold ideas and the courage to act on it.  If we're going to take on a name from the past …

Columbia Student: I Didn't Rape Her  —  Paul Nungesser was cleared of a rape charge but faced a harsh trial-by-media.  Now, as new details come to light, he's speaking out and fighting back.  —  The Columbia University senior vividly remembers the day, in April 2013, when he received …

Bobby Jindal's Official Painting Looks Nothing Like Bobby Jindal  —  This is a picture of Bobby Jindal, the Republican Governor of Louisiana:  —  [Christopher Halloran / Shutterstock.com]  —  And now this is the official portrait of Governor Bobby Jindal, tweeted out by Louisiana political blogger Lamar White:

Young people will hit the polls in 2016, and they want Hillary  —  Young people are planning to turn out the vote in 2016.  And they have a clear choice at this point about who they want to be the nation's next president.  —  Those are some of the highlights from Fusion's Massive Millennial Poll …

‘Last Week Tonight With John Oliver’: Season 2 Has More Guests, “Long-Term Mayhem Production”  —  “I don't really feel like we've settled in yet,” John Oliver told a handful of reporters on Tuesday morning at HBO's New York City headquarters.  “I don't know what comfort level we'll reach or when …

Congressman: Measles Outbreak May Be Caused By ‘Illegal Aliens’  —  An Alabama congressman with virulently anti-immigrant beliefs has a new theory on who may be causing the current measles outbreak: “illegal aliens.”  —  Appearing on the Matt Murphy radio show Tuesday morning, Rep. Mo Brooks …

How Rand Paul bombed at Koch brothers gathering  —  His laid-back style turns off big money donors.  —  “Jeans might work for a younger audience,” said one attendee, “but these are old bulls who put on a tie every day to go to the office.”  Getty  —  Some of the most influential players …

EXCLUSIVE: Assault indictment for NYPD officer seen on video apparently stomping on suspect's head, sources say  —  Police Officer Joel Edouard, 36, was caught on a cell phone video seemingly kicking 32-year-old Jahmiel Cuffee in the head on July 23 during an arrest in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.