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 …

Carly Fiorina reveals personal net worth of $59 million  —  GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina revealed on Wednesday evening that she and her husband have a net worth of $59 million — as she took a barely veiled shot at Hillary Clinton over transparency.

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” …

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 …

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 …

Hunting for Hackers, N.S.A. Secretly Expands Internet Spying at U.S. Border  —  WASHINGTON — Without public notice or debate, the Obama administration has expanded the National Security Agency's warrantless surveillance of Americans' international Internet traffic to search for evidence …

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 …

Parents of teen who survived tragedy at Bear Lake speak; community rallies to mourn those who died  —  NORTH OGDEN, Utah — Monday afternoon, 7 best friends and 6 mothers headed to Bear Lake for a trip they had all spent months planning.  They ate lunch, swam, and then took turns touring the lake on a ski boat.

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

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.

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 …

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.

John Cusack Talks ‘Love & Mercy,’ Drug Trips, and How Obama Is ‘Worse Than Bush’  —  In a wide-ranging chat, the celebrated film star discusses his excellent biopic on Beach Boys frontman Brian Wilson, psychedelics, and why President Obama has let him down.  —  “I just say what I think, and if people don't like it, that's OK.”

Twitter Just Killed Politwoops  —  A Twitter spokesperson just provided the following statement to Gawker regarding the apparent suspension of Politwoops' access to Twitter's developer API, which enabled the Sunlight Foundation-funded site to track tweets deleted by hundreds of politicians.

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 …

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 …

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,” …