The Rise of Rubio  —  A first-term Florida senator sets his sights on the White House  —  Five days before he would take the biggest step of his young political career, Marco Rubio called Bernie Navarro, a Miami real estate investor, to ask for a favor.  Rubio wanted to have a small …

Clinton Campaign Will Accept Donations From Lobbyists And PACs  —  WASHINGTON — Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign will accept donations from lobbyists and political action committees, a difference in policy from the man she's hoping to replace, President Barack Obama.

Scott Walker's Wisconsin approval rating drops in latest poll  —  By Lee Bergquist and Patrick Marley of the Journal Sentinel  —  As Gov. Scott Walker moves closer to a formal announcement that he will run for president, the latest Marquette University Law School poll shows Walker's job …

McConnell plays hardball  —  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has dug in on Loretta Lynch's nomination to be attorney general, highlighting his willingness to play hard ball with the Democratic minority.  —  His maneuvers on Lynch shed light on how he will lead the upper chamber …

Deal Reached on Fast-Track Authority for Obama on Trade Accord  —  WASHINGTON — Key congressional leaders agreed on Thursday on legislation to give President Obama special authority to finish negotiating one of the world's largest trade accords, opening a rare battle that aligns the president …

Bill Shuster admits ‘private and personal relationship’ with airline lobbyist  —  She “doesn't lobby my office,” Transportation chairman says.  —  Nick Calio, Bill Shuster, Sandra DePoy, Annie Keech, Gil Keech, Valerie Nelson, Shelley Rubino and Marty DePoy are shown at the Heart's Delight Vintner's Dinner …

The largest presidential campaign in N.H.?  It's not even close.  —  For nearly two years, potential Republican presidential candidates have visited New Hampshire to meet with activists, interview with local media, and speak at party functions.  If they're lucky, these White House hopefuls …

Why We've Decided to Organize  —  Some of us on the Gawker Media editorial staff have decided to try to unionize.  Here's a brief explanation.  —  I will say first of all that I'd prefer not to be writing this story yet, because the organizing effort is still in the early stages.

Jeb Bush Takes Jab at Hillary Clinton: 'I Don't Need to Go to Chipotle' … CONCORD, N.H. - When it comes to chipotle, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush cooks it himself.  —  “I actually cook it at home.  I don't need to go to Chipotle,” Bush said at a Republican gathering at the Snow Shoe Club …

The world according to Jeb Bush  —  If Jeb Bush is elected president, the United States won't be on speaking terms with Cuba and will partner more closely with Israel.  He'll tighten sanctions on Iran and urge NATO to deploy more troops in Eastern Europe to counter Vladimir Putin.

Why is the 2016 Democratic field so old?  —  Why are the Democrats running for president so old?  Blame the Clintons.  —  There are five Democrats who have either declared or are thinking about running for president.  Three — Joe Biden, Bernard Sanders, and Jim Webb — will be over 70 years old on Inauguration Day 2017.

Woman fired for being a prostitute by Dutch central bank  —  Employee said to have charged €450 an hour as prostitute specialising in sadomasochism  —  Just when it seemed the image of bankers couldn't get any more battered or bizarre, the Dutch central bank has fired …

Police: Muslims threw Christians overboard during Med voyage  —  Raw: 400 Migrants Believed Drowned Off Libya  —  ROME (AP) — Italy's migration crisis took on a deadly new twist Thursday as police in Sicily reported that Muslim migrants had thrown 12 Christians overboard during a recent crossing …

Woe of White Men, Again?  —  Hillary Clinton's entry into the race for the presidency has goosed the egos of some conservative ganders.  —  Wayne LaPierre, the C.E.O. and executive vice president of the National Rifle Association, on the eve of Clinton's announcement said of President Obama …

Gaze into my eyes  —  Humans bond emotionally as we gaze into each other's eyes—a process mediated by the hormone oxytocin.  Nagasawa et al. show that such gaze-mediated bonding also exists between us and our closest animal companions, dogs (see the Perspective by MacLean and Hare).

Martin O'Malley takes shot at Clinton over gay marriage and immigration  —  'I'm glad Secretary Clinton's come around to the right positions on these issues,' top potential challenger says in response to Guardian question  —  Hillary Clinton's top potential challenger for the Democratic …