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 …

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 …

She rides by van: The Hillary Clinton launch  —  See Hillary ride in a van!  Watch her meet everyday Americans!  Witness her ordering a burrito bowl at Chipotle!  Which she did wearing shades, as did her chief aide Huma Abedin, yielding security-camera pictures that made them look …

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 …

Deli Owner Closes Shop After Displaying Controversial White History Sign  —  There was nothing out of the ordinary about Jimbo's Deli on Main Street in Flemington, New Jersey.  That was until owner Jim Boggess posted a sign in his shop window at the beginning of March which declared, “Celebrate your white heritage in March.

Clinton endorses Elizabeth Warren for Time magazine  —  (Reuters) - Hillary Clinton made her most ringing endorsement yet of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren's efforts to tamp down on “Wall Street's irresponsible risk taking” in a two-paragraph Time magazine article on Thursday.

Italian police: Muslim migrants threw Christians overboard  —  Story highlights  —  Rome (CNN)Muslims who were among migrants trying to get from Libya to Italy in a boat this week threw 12 fellow passengers overboard — killing them — because the 12 were Christians, Italian police said Thursday.

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 …

College Apologizes for Serving Mexican Food During Sci-Fi Event  —  Stevenson College is apologizing to its students for serving Mexican food during “Intergalactic” night.  —  In a letter sent out to students, the college apologized for having “a Mexican food buffet,” while also featuring spaceships and aliens.

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 …

Jon Stewart Rips Apart Dick Cheney For Aiding And Abetting The Iranians  —  After former vice president and war criminal Dick Cheney actually had the gall to go on right-wing hate talker Hugh Hewitt's show and accuse President Obama of being the “worst president ever” and wanting to …

Obama immigration orders face major test in federal court  —  President Obama's executive actions on immigration will be tested on Friday when a federal appeals court considers whether to lift an order blocking the actions to allow millions of immigrants without legal status to remain in the United States.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

Tulsa Reserve Deputy Robert Bates apologizes to Eric Harris' family, dismisses false records report  —  Speaking publicly for the first time since he shot and killed an unarmed man during a police raid earlier this month in Oklahoma, 73-year-old reserve deputy Robert Bates apologized to the family …

Fee to Be Charged for Video of South Carolina Shooting, Publicist Says  —  NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — The video of a North Charleston police officer shooting an unarmed man in the back will now cost news outlets that want to run it $10,000, according to a publicist representing the man who shot it.