Operation to retake Tikrit from Islamic State stalled by heavy casualties, discord  —  ISTANBUL — The much ballyhooed Iraqi government operation to capture the central city of Tikrit from the Islamic State has stalled three weeks after it began, amid widespread reports that Shiite Muslim militias …

Democrats are the new party of no  —  DEMOCRATS WHO have been filibustering the Senate's consideration of legislation to combat human trafficking cited concerns with language they claimed would greatly expand the reach of Hyde Amendment restrictions on abortion.

John Boehner To Take Victory Lap In Israel  —  March 31, 2015 is the deadline day for Iran and the countries negotiating a nuclear arms agreement to agree on a framework for the agreement.  It's also the day Speaker of the House John Boehner is scheduled to travel to Israel and meet …

Common Core's cyber spies  —  Bent over their computers in Salt Lake City, a dozen cyber sleuths scan the vast reaches of the Internet for contraband.  —  Only, they're not hunting traffickers of drugs or sex.  —  Story Continued Below  —  It's standardized testing season across the U.S. …

Conservatives seethe after attacks from allies of Boehner  —  Conservatives are seething after an outside group aligned with Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) spent hundreds of thousands of dollars targeting a trio of Republican lawmakers over threats to shut down the Department of Homeland Security.

Senate GOP punts on Medicare reform  —  Facing a difficult election map in 2016, Senate Republicans are steering clear of entitlement reform changes that their House counterparts are demanding.  —  Republicans in both chambers unveiled budgets earlier this week, with an eye towards negotiating a single fiscal plan in April.

20 Republicans who are gearing up to run for president  —  Get ready for the largest GOP presidential field in recent history.  —  As many as 20 Republicans are taking a serious look at running for the White House in 2016.  A handful of candidates have moved aggressively into the field …

Controversy surrounds Elk City mayoral candidate for dressing as a black woman  —  ELK CITY, Okla. - An Elk City mayoral candidate is at the center of controversy after several YouTube videos were shared around town.  —  In the video, Bill Helton, an Elk City commissioner and mayoral candidate …

By The Way, ICE Just Released 30,558 More Violent Criminal Illegal Aliens Onto American Streets  —  Back in 2013, Immigration and Customs Enforcement got ripped by Congress for releasing 36,000 violent criminal illegal aliens onto American streets.  Those criminals had convictions of homicide …

For 2016 Run, Scott Walker Washes ‘Wiscahnsin’ Out of His Mouth  —  COLUMBIA, S.C. — Out on the presidential campaign trail, Gov. Scott Walker has left “Wiscahnsin” back home in Wisconsin.  He now wants to strengthen the economy, not the “ecahnahmy.”  And while he once had the “ahnor” …

Iranian president Rouhani: Final nuclear deal possible  —  TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday painted an optimistic picture of ongoing negotiations with world powers over his country's nuclear program, saying there has been progress in the talks and that a final accord is possible.