Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert Indicted On Federal Charges  —  The Justice Department charged the Illinois Republican Thursday for evading reporting requirements and lying to the FBI as part of a scheme to pay off the victim of “prior bad acts.”  —  Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Sen. Bernie Sanders' Essay: Women ‘Fantasize About Being Raped’  —  In a 1972 essay, presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) opined that men fantasized about women being abused.  He also claimed that women fantasized about being gang raped.  —  In an article entitled “Men-And-Women …

Today's Editorial: We bungled the Obama attack letter  —  There is no excuse for the letter The Daily Item published on Memorial Day.  We did something we shouldn't have and the readers who called us on it deserve accountability.  —  The straight forward reason the letter headlined …

Scott Walker attacked over abortion quote that he didn't actually say  —  “Most people I talk to, whether they're pro-life or not, I find people all the time who'll get out their iPhone and show me a picture of their grandkids' ultrasound and how excited they are, so that's a lovely thing.

Release Detail  —  May 28, 2015 - Five Leaders In 2016 Republican White House Race, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Rubio, Paul Are Only Republicans Even Close To Clinton  —  There are five leaders - or no leaders - as Republican voters look at likely GOP candidates in the 2016 White House race …

Paula Jones warns against voting for Hillary Clinton because of Bill  — Paula Jones sued President Bill Clinton for sexual harassment, saying he propositioned her when he was Arkansas governor  — Her case led to investigation in which Bill Clinton denied under oath having sex with Monica Lewinsky …

Shepard Fairey on the Future of Political Art and Whether Obama Lived Up to His ‘Hope’ Poster  —  The street artist's web series, Rebel Music, tracks young people around the world using art and music to push back The Man.  —  Street artist Shepard Fairey and the Viacom-owned MTV …

Donald Trump to make ‘major’ announcement in NYC on June 16  —  Outspoken billionaire exec will then travel to NH; presidential run appears likely  —  If you're a Donald Trump fan, mark June 16 on your calendar.  If you're a Donald Trump fan in New Hampshire, mark June 17.

SomeBlackLivesDontMatter  —  BlackLivesMatter, the slogan of the movement that began in earnest after the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, is a lie.  —  Taken at face value, the phrase is a truism, since obviously all lives matter.  But the people who use it as a shibboleth …

Complaints prompt Catholic university to remove statue of priest praying over Indians  —  Saint Louis University has removed a statue on its campus depicting a famous Jesuit missionary priest praying over American Indians after a cohort of students and faculty continued to complain …

Despite Opposing Sandy Relief, Cruz Calls For Federal Aid For Texas Flood  —  Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Wednesday assured Texans that the state would receive federal relief following major flooding, even though the senator opposed federal funding following Hurricane Sandy.

A Letter to My Liberal Jewish Friends  —  The president's address last week to Congregation Adas Israel as “an honorary member of the tribe” was something other than it seemed.  —  President Obama speaks at Congregation Adas Israel in Washington, DC on May 22.  Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.

Politics: Rick Santorum announces doomed presidential bid in interview with pretend journalist  —  Ugh.  —  I may give Bernie Sanders a lot of flak for being unelectable, but I don't want anyone to think Democrats have the market cornered when it comes to candidates with no chance of winning.

‘Draw Muhammad’ contest planned in Phoenix  —  An Phoenix area anti-Muslim activist is planning a “draw Muhammad” cartoon contest and rally in Phoenix on Friday.  The event is being dubbed a “Freedom of Speech Rally” and comes three weeks after a similar event in Garland, Texas, that prompted violence by two alleged ISIS sympathizers.

GOP Senator Says ‘The Lego Movie’ Is Part Of An ‘Insidious’ Propaganda Campaign Against Business Owners  —  A concerted propaganda effort underway in America has created a “cultural attitude” in which people believe “government is good and business is bad,” Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) told a local reporter for WisPolitics.com.

Man Threatens Suicide, Police Kill Him  —  Justin Way was in bed with a knife.  His girlfriend called a non-emergency number to try to get him into a hospital.  Minutes later, cops shot him dead.  —  On May 11, Justin Way was drinking and threatening to hurt himself.

Ex-Schock aide dishes to FBI  —  A onetime aide raises questions about the legality of a flight with an insurance company exec.  —  A onetime aide to Aaron Schock told the FBI this week that the embattled ex-congressman and two employees flew on a private jet with an insurance company executive last year …

Even George Pataki Doesn't Want Those Damn Moderates  —  As I noted yesterday, it says a lot about the continued rightward drift in the GOP that even in a 18-candidate presidential field everybody still wants to be the “true conservative.”  We had a graphic illustration of that today …

A Lifeline for Low-Income Americans  —  The Lifeline program was established in 1985 to help low-income Americans afford access to vital communications.  Our nation's enduring promise is opportunity for all, and helping financially struggling Americans access basic communications empowers individuals …

Polluted Political Games  —  I've admired the Clintons' foundation for years for its fine work on AIDS and global poverty, and I've moderated many panels at the annual Clinton Global Initiative.  Yet with each revelation of failed disclosures or the appearance of a conflict of interest …