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 …

Clinton rivals pounce as her ratings fall  —  A once-sleepy Democratic presidential primary contest is fast coming alive as Hillary Rodham Clinton's poll numbers fall and a diverse array of long-shot opponents step forward to challenge her.  —  The recent developments mark a dramatic evolution …

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.

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” …

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

To Overcome Rising Inequality, Workers Need More Bargaining Power  —  The Fiscal Times  —  There is widespread agreement that inequality increased over the last several decades, but why that has happened is the subject of considerable debate.  — Is it because technological change reduced the number of good, middle class jobs?

Ben Carson Reports Big Earnings From Books, Speeches  —  Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson and his wife, Candy, earned between $8.9 million and $27 million in a recent 16-month period, largely fueled by book royalties, speaking engagements and Mr. Carson's service on the board of directors for two big companies.

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.

Obama Bets It All on the Mullahs  —  The president looks to secure his legacy with a deal that would prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power.  But can he stave off the hawks both here and in Tehran?  —  The moment of truth for U.S.-Iranian relations—and for President Obama's foreign policy legacy— is nearly upon us.

I'm a liberal professor, and my liberal students terrify me  —  I'm a professor at a midsize state school.  I have been teaching college classes for nine years now.  I have won (minor) teaching awards, studied pedagogy extensively, and almost always score highly on my student evaluations.

Attorney: Scottsdale yoga instructor was drugged  —  File video: Yoga instructor facing sex abuse charges  —  The attorney for a 33-year old yoga instructor accused of having oral sex with a 15-year-old boy at a Bar Mitzvah earlier this year said he believes his client was drugged while at the party.

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 …

GEORGE R.R. MARTIN EXPLAINS WHY THERE'S VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ON GAME OF THRONES  —  “If you portray a utopia, then you probably wrote a pretty boring book”  —  The five-year conversation about gender issues and Game of Thrones has recently reached a fever pitch.