Aide to Kamala Harris, 2 others accused of running rogue police force  —  An aide to state Atty. Gen. Kamala D. Harris and two others are accused of operating a rogue police force that claimed to exist for more than 3,000 years and have jurisdiction in 33 states and Mexico, authorities said Tuesday.

Woman's 911 call to order pizza saves her from domestic abuse  —  A quick-thinking Highlands County woman saved herself and her children from possible harm when she ordered an online pizza with a secret message saying she was being held hostage.  —  Highlands County Sheriff's Office investigators …

Baltimore mayor asks DOJ for civil rights probe into city police department  —  Baltimore mayor says police dept. will get body cameras 03:20  —  Baltimore (CNN)Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake requested Wednesday that the Department of Justice order a “pattern or practice” …

16 people who are hot for McDonald's new Hamburglar  —  McDonald's brought back its iconic Hamburglar mascot on Wednesday, and much to Twitter's delight, he's actually pretty smokin'.  —  The beefed up new Hamburglar has folks fanning themselves over his slick new trench coat …

ISIS threatens controversial blogger Pamela Geller in message boasting of ‘71 trained soldiers in 15 different states’  —  ISIS appears to declare war on controversial blogger Pamela Geller on Tuesday in an ominous online message claiming it has fighters across America ready to attack “any target we desire.”

Statement from New England Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft on the Wells Report  —  “When I addressed the media at the Super Bowl on January 26 - over 14 weeks ago - I stated that I unconditionally believed that the New England Patriots had done nothing inappropriate in this process …

Bill Clinton concedes role in mass incarceration  —  Bill Clinton addresses foundation donations 01:34  —  (CNN)President Bill Clinton on Wednesday conceded that over-incarceration in the United States stems in part from policies passed under his administration.

VIDEO: Gay Couple Bashed With Chair at Chelsea Dallas BBQ  —  MANHATTAN — A gay couple was bashed over the head with a wooden chair, knocked to the ground and kicked by two men hurling anti-gay slurs at the Chelsea Dallas BBQ Tuesday night, in an attack captured on a graphic video, according to police and the victims.

This isn't 1968.  Baltimore isn't Watts.  And Hillary Clinton isn't Michael Dukakis.  —  I wish I could introduce Richard Cohen and Lloyd Green to Antonio Morgan.  Cohen of course is my Washington Post colleague and columnist.  Green is a former Justice Dept. official and former opposition research counsel for the Republican Party.

New Iowa poll: Scott Walker leads, Jeb Bush in 7th place  —  The latest Iowa polling numbers are great news for Scott Walker, and terrible news for Jeb Bush.  —  The Wisconsin governor retains his advantage among Iowa Republican caucus-goers, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday …

“Gay Conservative” Is an Oxymoron … If the term “conservative” is to have any meaning at all, it must include certain ideals and exclude others.  —  The political editor of a nominally conservative website, Townhall.com, revealed this week that he is a practicing homosexual.

Analysis: Republican Budget Claims Don't Add Up  —  On paper and in speeches, Republicans boast that Congress' first budget since they won control of the Senate and House last fall will eliminate red ink within a decade.  —  Actually, it will do nothing of the sort.

Joss Whedon Calls “Horsesh*t” On Reports He Left Twitter Because Of Militant Feminists  —  “I just thought, Wait a minute, if I'm going to start writing again, I have to go to the quiet place, and this is the least quiet place I've ever been in my life,” Whedon told BuzzFeed News.

An Inside Look at the Hillary Clinton Inner Circle  —  Some expected names and some surprises-a who's who in the campaign.  —  t MarkHalperin  —  For a quarter-century, Clintonology has been all about figuring out who's up and who's down, who's part of the inner circle, and who's been left out in the cold.

LAPD Chief Beck: No ‘Extraordinary Circumstances’ to Justify Venice Fatal Police Shooting  —  LAPD Chief Charlie Beck on Wednesday addressed the death of an unarmed homeless man fatally shot by an officer following a confrontation near the historic Venice sign, saying the shooting concerned him and an investigation was underway.

CNN Anchor Says Constitution Doesn't Protect Hate Speech, Try Reading It.  Okay, Let's Do That.  —  Chris Cuomo is co-host of CNN's morning show.  He's also a former law and justice correspondent for ABC News.  He has a law degree from Fordham University and is a licensed attorney.

CONFEDERATE FLAG PHOTO UPSETS CHAPEL HILL STUDENTS  —  Concerned parents told ABC11 Monday that a photo posted to the social media site Instagram has upset many students.  —  The picture was allegedly taken by an East Chapel Hill High School student.  It shows two girls waving confederate flags.

Harry Reid's power play rankles GOP  —  Mitch McConnell implores his troops to let the minority leader know he's not the boss anymore.  —  M.Scott Mahaskey/POLITICO  —  Senate Republicans emerged from their weekly luncheon Tuesday with a clear directive from party leaders …

Pentagon credit cards used for gambling, escorts  —  IG report finds military officials and civilians used government cards for ‘adult entertainment.’  —  A Defense Department audit has found that a significant number of Pentagon employees used their government credit cards to gamble and pay for …

A Response to My Critics—This Is a War  —  Pamela Geller is the President of the American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI) and publisher of PamelaGeller.com.  —  Some are saying I provoked this attack.  But to kowtow to violent intimidation will only encourage more of it.

Questions for Hillary Clinton: Immigration  —  Hillary Rodham Clinton led a round-table discussion at Rancho High School in Las Vegas on Tuesday.Credit: Isaac Brekken for The New York Times … On Tuesday, at an event in Las Vegas, Mrs. Clinton laid out an extensive and ambitious plan …

Mayor Bill de Blasio's Crusade  —  Bill de Blasio is trying to remake America's biggest city — and he doesn't plan to stop there  —  One afternoon in early April, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio strode onto the back porch of Gracie Mansion, the Upper East Side mayoral residence, to bask in the city's first truly warm day of spring.

The G.O.P.'s War on Science Gets Worse  —  During last fall's midterm election campaign, “I'm not a scientist” became a standard Republican answer to questions about climate change.  The line seemed to invite parody, and Stephen Colbert (among others) obliged.

Report: Iranian Navy Chases After U.S. Warships  —  An Iranian naval fleet chased a U.S. warship and military planes through the waters off the southern coast of Yemen late Monday in yet another provocative encounter between the two nations, according to Iranian state media reports.