Waiting for Jeb to jump  —  Bush is in no hurry to formally declare his candidacy, and it might be hurting his chances.  —  Getty  —  By the end of last week, almost everyone had jumped into the pool.  Almost everyone except John Ellis Bush, who still sits at the water's edge …

Halperin interview of Ted Cruz was painful  —  SAN DIEGO — Imagine the following pep talk that a young Ted Cruz might have gotten from his father, Rafael, about 35 years ago.  —  “My son, I was tortured in a jail cell in Cuba, but I managed to come to the United States and build a life so that you could live your dreams.

The Killing of Osama bin Laden  —  It's been four years since a group of US Navy Seals assassinated Osama bin Laden in a night raid on a high-walled compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.  The killing was the high point of Obama's first term, and a major factor in his re-election.

Anti-government resistance now the beating heart of GOP  —  Some folks thought it was “inflammatory.”  Some said it was “irresponsible,” others, “absurd,” still others, “disappointing.”  —  Those are some of the words affronted conservatives used in emails last month to describe my column …

Saudi Arabia Says King Won't Attend Meetings in U.S.  —  WASHINGTON — Saudi Arabia announced on Sunday that its new monarch, King Salman, would not be attending meetings at the White House with President Obama or a summit gathering at Camp David this week, in an apparent signal …

Handgun Found In Prisoner's ‘Butt Cheeks’ During Search  —  2.3 K  —  A prisoner in New Jersey was caught with a handgun hidden in his “butt cheeks.”  —  According to reports, 21-year-old Darquan Lee was brought to a Bridgeton, New Jersey, police station on Friday after being arrested on a contempt of court warrant.

Thousands turn out for Prince's ‘Rally 4 Peace’ benefit concert  —  Devoted fans like Luther Washington said Prince's “Rally 4 Peace” concert Sunday was just what Baltimore needed to heal after massive protests shook the city in recent weeks.  —  Outside Royal Farms Arena …

Nine Georgia Deputies Fired Over Death Of Student Matthew Ajibade  —  Nine sheriff's deputies in Georgia were fired on Friday over the New Year's Day death of a black inmate who had been placed in restraints, officials said.  —  The dismissals come amid a series of killings by police …

A new world order?  Putin and Xi put friendship on display  —  Echoes of the past as Moscow's Victory Day parade stirs memories of a previous anti-American alliance  —  At first sight, things look very different now.  When President Xi Jinping of China took pride of place next to Vladimir Putin …

“Stay Quiet and You'll Be Okay”  —  As we mentioned a week ago, I'm none too well at the moment, and it so happens my preferred position in which to write causes me severe pain - which is presumably some kind of not so subtle literary criticism from the Almighty.  But I'm back, more or less, with lots to catch up on.