The GOP's First Big 2016 Test: Fitting Candidates on the Debate Stage  —  From 23 debates in 2012 to as many as 17 candidates in 2016.  —  The Republican Party has a whole new debate problem in 2016.  —  After suffering through a seemingly endless and unwieldy stream of 23 debates in the 2012 cycle …

Republicans Tread Carefully as Islamic State Claims Credit for Texas Shooting  —  When is a shooting a terrorist attack?  —  t daveweigel  —  Last week, Iowa Representative Steve King brought Dutch politician and speaker Geert Wilders to Washington for a series of briefings with conservatives.

Lindsey Graham: Everything That Starts With ‘Al-’ In Middle East Is Bad  —  Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is not a linguist.  —  “Everything that starts with ‘Al’ in the Middle East is bad news,” Graham said at a dinner in Boston on Monday with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, according to investigative journalist Uri Blau.

Louie Gohmert Sounds The Alarm About Possible Military Takeover Of Texas  —  Tea party darling Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) on Tuesday demanded that the U.S. military alter a planned training exercise that some conspiracy theorists believe is cover for a possible takeover of the Lone Star state.

How Mike Huckabee Became the New Sarah Palin  —  In late January a once-dominant figure in Republican politics suddenly began hinting at a presidential run and got a lot of negative feedback.  It had to make Mitt Romney feel better.  —  Yes, 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin pointedly refused …

Freddie Gray arrest documents drawn up for wrong people  —  Unlimited Access.  Try it Today!  Your First 10 Days Always $0.99

The Dangerous Myths Surrounding Charlie Hebdo  —  Two recent events—the spectacle of Garry Trudeau, the Doonesbury creator, attacking a group of murdered cartoonists for offending his sensibilities, and the protest organized by a group of bien-pensant writers against the PEN American Center …

Hillary Clinton's rope-line antagonist  —  Andrea Mitchell's back on the trail, and she's not taking no for an answer.  —  In the usual scrum of reporters crowded around Hillary Clinton, sticking microphones, cameras and phones in the Democratic front-runner's face on her campaign trips to early states …

Auburn woman files federal case against homosexuals  —  An Auburn woman calling herself an ambassador for God and his son, Jesus Christ, filed a federal lawsuit Friday against all homosexuals.  —  Sylvia Driskell, 66, said in the suit that she is petitioning the U.S. District Court of Omaha to be heard “in the matter of homosexuality.

Couple found guilty of having sex on Bradenton Beach  —  MANATEE — After only 15 minutes of deliberation, a jury Monday found a couple guilty of having sex on Bradenton Beach.  —  The convictions carry maximum prison sentences of 15 years.  —  Jose Caballero, 40, and Elissa Alvarez, 20 …

A sign of things to come in the Democratic party  —  Last night at a public hearing on the budget in Prince George's County, Maryland, a flyer with the following headline was circulated: … The flyer goes on to attack the “Israel lobby,” which allegedly is using Black politicians to split …

Hillary Clinton's Appeal Survives Scrutiny, Times/CBS News Poll Says  —  Hillary Rodham Clinton appears to have initially weathered a barrage of news about her use of a private email account when she was secretary of state and the practices of her family's foundation, an indication …

Corker expects ‘overwhelming vote’ on Iran bill Thursday  —  Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said Tuesday that he expects an “overwhelming vote” on Thursday in favor of legislation that would allow Congress to review a nuclear deal with Iran.  —  Corker also said he believes that Senate Majority …

Republicans finally get their budget  —  Check it off the to-do list: Congressional Republicans have finally passed a budget.  —  The Senate on Tuesday cleared the House-passed budget agreement, bringing Republicans over the finish line on their long-held goal of passing a fiscal blueprint that balances in a decade.

Bloomberg: on Bobby Jindal's watch, Louisiana's tattered finances the consequence of two key factors  —  This combination made from file photos shows Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, left, and Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson.  This is name-dropping season for the 2016 presidential hopefuls …

FAIL: Only 18 Percent of 8th-Graders Proficient in US History  —  Results of the “Nation's Report Card” released this week by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) show that only 18 percent of 8th-graders are “proficient” or above in U.S. history, and only 23 percent are proficient in civics.

Red Higher Ed Reforms Put Pressure on Carolina Blue  —  A right-leaning public policy foundation is making waves in North Carolina's public university system.  The Chronicle of Higher Education reports on how the John William Pope Center for Higher Education Policy is getting traction among the state's Republican political leadership.

In first Latino outreach, Hillary Clinton will lay out her vision for immigration reform  —  Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Tuesday will embark on her most significant outreach yet to Latinos in her campaign during a stop in Nevada, where they lavished her with love in the 2008 primaries.

Sources: Grayson's girlfriend wants his House seat  —  Grayson's girlfriend, Dena Minning, has reached out to at least one Democratic-leaning group and clearly expressed her interest in running for his House seat if he runs for Senate.  —  As Florida Rep. Alan Grayson mulls a Senate campaign …

DEA agents jail student 5 days with no food, water; get slap on wrist  —  Federal agents responsible for leaving a 23-year-old UC San Diego engineering student in a holding cell for five days without food or water received only reprimands or short suspensions from the Drug Enforcement Administration, according to the Justice Department.

Online activists raised $60K for Tamir Rice's family — so where did all that money go?  —  Shaun King was furious.  —  The author and life coach turned activist has been one of the most prominent online voices in recent months, as protests of police impunity that began in Ferguson, Mo. …

Mayor de Blasio Is Irked by a Subway Delay  —  The email, blunt and to the point, popped into City Hall aides' inboxes at 12:17 p.m., and the subject line said it all: “2 problems today.”  —  Mayor Bill de Blasio, it seemed, was not pleased.  —  In a stern, bullet-pointed missive on Monday …