How the ‘ick factor’ could doom Hillary — and her party  —  Another day, another three Hillary stories — all of which continue the ongoing tarnishment of the Clinton brand.  —  Tarnishment (n): The dilution of the quality of a trademark due to its association with a similar but inferior or more questionable version.

In Beaumont, Ted Cruz Spars a Bit … BEAUMONT — Presidential hopeful Ted Cruz hit some of his main stump points while meeting with local leaders here Tuesday afternoon — promising to defend the Constitution, step back from the Obama administration's foreign policy and promote economic growth.

Hillary Clinton's State Department Staff Kept Tight Rein on Records  —  Aides scrutinized, sometimes blocked release of documents requested under public-records law  —  WASHINGTON—When Hillary Clinton was secretary of state, her staff scrutinized politically sensitive documents requested …

The protected, connected liberal media elite  —  On Dec. 23, 2012, former NBC anchor David Gregory hosted an interview with National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre on “Meet the Press.”  —  As expected, the interview was hostile, with Gregory repeatedly badgering LaPierre …

Iowa Democrats: Flawed Hillary Clinton Our Only Hope  —  A Bloomberg Politics/Purple Strategies focus group finds Democrats resolved over their presidential frontrunner.  —  t writerknowles  —  Iowa Democrats see Hillary Clinton as a presidential candidate who, despite her flaws …

The Problem of Underinsurance and How Rising Deductibles Will Make It Worse  —  Findings from the Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance Survey, 2014  —  31 million people in the United States were underinsured in 2014  —  11% of privately insured adults had a deductible of $3K or more in 2014, up from 1% in 2003

Record-High 60% of Americans Support Same-Sex Marriage  —  Story Highlights  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sixty percent of Americans now support same-sex marriage, as the Supreme Court prepares to rule on its constitutionality next month.  This is up from 55% last year and is the highest Gallup …

Alan Grayson called cops on wife for allegedly using his credit card  —  Florida Rep. Alan Grayson recently called his estranged wife a “gold digger,” but a review of the potential Senate candidate's soap-opera divorce case shows he unsuccessfully tried to have her criminally charged for far less …

Iran's supreme leader: Foreigners can't interview our scientists  —  Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that he would not tolerate “unreasonable demands” from world powers during nuclear negotiations, making clear that he would not allow inspectors to interview the country's scientists.

Elizabeth Warren Won't Say If She'll Back Hillary Clinton  —  Senator Elizabeth Warren wouldn't say Tuesday whether her differences with Hillary Clinton over trade would cause her to withhold her endorsement from the Democratic presidential frontrunner.  —  Asked repeatedly by Bloomberg's Peter Cook …

CBO director: ObamaCare funds were assumed to be for all states  —  The man who led the Congressional Budget Office when ObamaCare was being constructed said Tuesday it was the “common understanding” at the time that subsidies would be available in all states — a crucial question in a looming Supreme Court case.

Federal Judge Says DC Gun Carry Law is Unconstitutional  —  A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction saying the District of Columbia's new concealed carry law is unconstitutional.  —  The order, issued Monday by Judge Frederick J. Scullin, was the second decision in less …

Too close to call: Matt Bevin leads James Comer by 83 votes; Comer calls for recanvass  —  The race for the Republican gubernatorial election went down to the wire and then some Tuesday night.  —  After 214,187 votes were counted, Louisville businessman Matt Bevin held an 83-vote lead …

Bobby Jindal plans to issue an executive order enforcing intent of religious freedom bill  —  Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said he plans to issue an executive order enacting the intent of religious freedom legislation that died in a House committee Tuesday, May 19, 2015.  (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com |

Israel begins separating Palestinians, Israelis on West Bank buses  —  Palestinian workers will now have to return to West Bank via the same checkpoints they entered Israel, and will not be able to ride on lines with Israelis.  —  Israel on Tuesday launched a pilot program under directive …

Minimum wage: L.A. City Council approves increase to $15 by 2020  —  The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday backed a plan to raise the city's minimum wage to $15 per hour, joining a trend sweeping cities across the country as elected leaders seek to boost stagnating pay for workers on the lowest rungs of the socio-economic ladder.