The Clinton Way … Photograph by Spencer Platt-Getty Images

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.

Iran letter blowback startles GOP  —  John McCain: “It was kind of a very rapid process.  Everybody was looking forward to getting out of town because of the snowstorm.”  —  Some Republican senators admitted Wednesday they were caught off guard by the backlash to a letter warning Iranian leaders …

Democrats Have No Bench?  Be Serious.  —  Dan Balz of the Washington Post says Democrats have a problem for 2016: “The absence of a strong Democratic bench.”  National Journal's Josh Kraushaar replies, “Spot-on.”  The New York Times repeats the “weak bench” line and quotes Democrats who agree …

Sir Terry Pratchett, renowned fantasy author, dies aged 66  —  Fantasy author Sir Terry Pratchett has died aged 66, having had Alzheimer's disease for eight years.  —  “The world has lost one of its brightest, sharpest minds,” said Larry Finlay of his publishing company, Transworld.

Kerry mocks Florida's reported ban on ‘climate change’  —  Secretary of State John Kerry mocked Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) and his deputies Thursday amid reports that the state's environmental agency banned employees from mentioning climate change.  —  Though he did not mention Florida by name …

For 20 years I fought the law.  Today the law won  —  The police have been trying to nail an editor for years.  This morning, on Hampstead Heath, they finally got one  —  ell, I nearly made it.  More than 20 years of editing, with all kinds of people wanting to sue me and do me for sedition …

Conservatives Keep Losing to Leadership.  Can They Change the Game?  —  Stymied again and again on the House and Senate floor, tea party members need to take the fight outside.  —  Conservatives came to Washington labeling President Obama as enemy number one.

An Open Letter to 47 Republican Senators of the United States of America from Iran's Hard-Liners  —  You have opened our eyes.  We are brothers.  —  Dear senators:  —  Thank you for your letter of March 9 explaining your system of government.  We were unfamiliar with the complexity of your laws.

Ted Cruz Without Applause is the Most Gripping Video You'll See All Day  —  The Texas senator tanks at a presidential forum.  —  If, like many Americans, your job involves watching a lot of speeches by Ted Cruz, you have grown familiar with the Texas senator's applause lines.

Story Highlights  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Americans continue to name the government (18%) as the most important U.S. problem, a distinction it has had for the past four months.  Americans' mentions of the economy as the top problem (11%) dropped this month, leaving it tied with jobs (10%) for second place.

How a Lindsey Graham Joke Turned into a Coup Plot Against the Government  —  Does Lindsey Graham want to overthrow Congress?  Not quite.  —  Well, you can't catch everything.  This past Sunday, I was one of a handful of reporters listening to South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham …