Lincoln Chafee doubles down on metric conversion  —  Democratic presidential candidate Lincoln Chafee did not give a centimeter on his defense of the metric system Thursday, touting the economic benefits and the symbolic importance of the United States joining the rest of the world in implementing the measurement scale.

Cruz apologizes for Biden joke at Livingston Co. dinner  —  Howell — GOP presidential candidate Ted Cruz used a speech before Livingston County Republicans on Wednesday night to tell jokes about liberals and Democrats, including Joe Biden on the week the vice president lost his eldest son to brain cancer.

White House Brief: Things to Know About Rick Perry  —  Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry is entering the 2016 race for the Republican presidential nomination Thursday.  Key things to know about him:  —  THE BRIEF  —  The longest-serving governor in Texas history, Perry was a Democrat who became …

Limbaugh to GOP: Don't accept Caitlyn Jenner  —  Conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh thinks Republicans should reject Caitlyn Jenner, even if she agrees with them politically.  —  Limbaugh said on his radio show Tuesday that liberals are trying to “redefine normalcy” …

Dish Network in Merger Talks With T-Mobile US  —  Dish and T-Mobile have agreed Charlie Ergen would be chairman and John Legere CEO, sources say  —  Dish Network Corp. is in talks to merge with T-Mobile US Inc., people familiar with the matter said, a deal that would accelerate a wave …

As FIFA allegations swirled, Clintons gave Qatar a stage — and legitimacy  —  During the closing session of the Clinton Global Initiative's 2013 annual meeting, Bill Clinton called to the stage a former rival named Hassan Abdullah Al-Thawadi.  —  Three years earlier, Al-Thawadi …

Gawker Media Votes To Unionize  —  Yesterday, more than 100 Gawker Media editorial employees voted on the question of whether to be represented by the Writers Guild of America, East for the purpose of collective bargaining—that is, whether we want to form a union.  The results are in.

Story highlights  —  (CNN)Usaamah Rahim, who was fatally shot after waving a military knife at law enforcement officers, was originally plotting to behead Pamela Geller, an activist and conservative blogger, law enforcement sources told CNN on Wednesday.  —  But Rahim, a 26-year-old security guard …

Inequality Troubles Americans Across Party Lines, Times/CBS Poll Finds  —  Americans are broadly concerned about inequality of wealth and income despite an economy that has improved by most measures, a sentiment that is already driving the 2016 presidential contest, according to a New York Times/CBS News poll.

The campaign to put Julian Castro on Hillary Clinton's VP shortlist  —  It's way too early, Clinton insiders say.  But the Castro buzz is useful as Democrats court Hispanics.  —  Getty  —  The Democratic National Convention isn't for 13 months, and Hillary Clinton isn't the party's nominee …

Obama's trust-me approach falls flat with Democrats  —  President Obama's argument that Democrats should trust his vision on trade is falling flat on Capitol Hill.  —  Democrats — even some of Obama's closest allies — say it's not enough for the president to pronounce his trade agenda the most progressive in history.

Broad Public Support for Legal Status for Undocumented Immigrants  —  Other Attitudes About Immigration More Mixed  —  With immigration shaping up to be a major issue in both the final years of the Obama administration and the 2016 presidential campaign, most Americans (72%) continue to say undocumented

One Person, One Vote?:  Voting Case Has Potential to Put House Further Out of Reach for Democrats  —  Voting Case Has Potential to Put House Further Out of Reach for Democrats  —  In 2012, Republicans won a majority of seats in the House even though more people voted for Democratic candidates over all.

9 Completely Bonkers Things The Newest GOP Presidential Candidate Believes About The Constitution  —  Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry is expected to announce his bid to seek the GOP presidential nomination on Thursday.  It will be Perry's second attempt to secure a home at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue …

Attorney says officer wasn't assaulted with skateboard  —  We're hearing for the first time from the attorney representing the family of the two step-brothers who were shot by an Olympia police officer.  Drew Mikkelsen reports.  —  CONNECT  —  OLYMPIA, Wash. - An attorney …

Lindsey Graham compares Hillary Clinton to Kim Jong Un  —  Lindsey Graham says Hillary Clinton is avoiding media questions on the campaign trail because she lacks confidence in her own foreign policy record.  —  “Well, it's easier to talk to the North Korean guy than it is her,” …

The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is the Other Party  —  How negative partisanship is dividing Americans and shaping the outlook for the 2016 election  —  Which candidate will emerge from the crowded Republican presidential field next year?  Can anyone stop or at least slow …

GOP open to extending ObamaCare subsidies  —  House conservatives are hinting at support for a temporary extension of Obama-Care subsidies if the Supreme Court cripples the law, even as they set up a working group to develop their own plan.  —  The high court is set to rule later this month …

Bill would ban noncompete clauses for low-wage workers  —  Two Democratic senators said Tuesday they will introduce legislation banning noncompete contracts for low-wage workers.  —  The bill from Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Al Franken (D-Minn.) would ban noncompete clauses …

Let Transgender Troops Serve Openly  —  Staff Sgt. Loeri Harrison could receive the paperwork any day now, forms certifying that after an exemplary eight-year Army career, she is no longer fit for duty and must leave Fort Bragg because she is transgender.  —  Early this year …

How the Red Cross Raised Half a Billion Dollars for Haiti ­and Built Six Homes  —  Even as the group has publicly celebrated its work, insider accounts detail a string of failures