Some top Democrats are alarmed about Clinton's readiness for a campaign  —  Senior Democrats are increasingly worried that Hillary Rodham Clinton is not ready to run for president, fearing that the clumsy and insular handling of the nine-day fracas over her private e-mails was a warning sign …

Secret Service agents investigated for driving car into White House barrier  —  The administration is investigating allegations that two senior Secret Service agents, including a top member of President Obama's protective detail, drove a government car into White House security barricades …

Two police officers are shot in Ferguson  —  FERGUSON  • Two police officers were hit by gunfire early Thursday outside the Ferguson police department.  —  The shots were fired as police were confronting protesters who had gathered outside the police station.

Hate mail: Senators seek to sabotage Obama's foreign policy  —  The letter sent Monday by 47 Republican senators to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warning him not to sign an agreement with major nations limiting his country's nuclear program, was damaging to America's role in the world.

Casting out demons: why Justin Harris got rid of kids he applied pressure to adopt  —  Rep. Justin Harris blames DHS for the fallout related to his adoption of three young girls, but sources familiar with the situation contradict his story and paint a troubling picture of the adoption process and the girls' time in the Harris household.

Portsmouth Sheriff furious with judges after being told to remove American flag display from courthouse … Portsmouth, Va. - Portsmouth Sheriff Bill Watson says he is furious after a group of judges told him to take down an American flag display.  —  Sheriff Watson said his agency got …

Lindsey Graham Jokes: I'd Use the Military to Force Congress to Reverse Defense Cuts  —  During his remarks before the Concord City Republican Committee last week, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) suggested that robust military spending is absolutely necessary to defeat ISIS forces abroad, and that …

Foreign policy alters contours of GOP race  —  International issues have come front and center.  —  Politico Illustration / istock, AP and Getty images  —  Two days after signing the Senate GOP's letter to Iranian leadership Monday, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul found himself stretching to square …

Columbia Will Shrink Journalism School as Media Woes Mount  —  (Bloomberg) — Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism will reduce its class size and cut about six positions from its staff as the news industry retrenches.  —  The school will gradually reduce enrollment …

“Former Fetus” Signs Cause Stir at Capitol … Signs calling some state lawmakers former fetuses are causing a stir at the Capitol, with one representative accusing another of intimidating his staff by removing them.  —  One of the signs appeared Wednesday morning on the wall outside Rep. Jonathan Stickland's office.

Suspicious Fires Twice Destroyed Key Sharpton Records  —  And he didn't comply with tax and campaign filing requirements.  —  As Al Sharpton ran for mayor of New York City in 1997 and for president in 2003, fires at his offices reportedly destroyed critical financial records …

Why chivalry may not always be what it seems: Men who hold doors open and smile may actually be sexist, study claims  —  If you're the sort of gentleman who holds the door open for a lady - or the sort of woman who expects him to - then be warned.  —  Such acts of chivalry may actually …

EXCLUSIVE: California profs ‘unequivocally’ endorse American flag ban  — An online letter supporting students at UC Irvine who wanted to ban national flags, including the American flag, from their organization's lobby, has over 1,200 signatures.  —  In a letter uncovered …

Hillary's enduring media rift: Why her campaign needs structure and leadership ASAP  —  Hillary Clinton still doesn't get it.  Maybe she never will.  And maybe that's just fine.  —  The former secretary of state and current 2016 frontrunner doesn't get why anyone but her right-wing enemies …