JIM WEBB ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR PRESIDENT  —  Dear friends:  —  After many months of thought, deliberation and discussion, I have decided to seek the office of the Presidency of the United States.  —  I understand the odds, particularly in today's political climate where fair debate is so often drowned out by huge sums of money.

George Takei: Justice Thomas ‘a clown in blackface’  —  Actor and gay rights advocate George Takei is slamming Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas after his dissent to last week's decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide claimed that the government can neither give nor take away human dignity.

Bobby Jindal administration will start issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in downtown New Orleans  —  Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration will start giving out marriage licenses to same-sex couples at the state Department of Vital Records in downtown New Orleans Thursday afternoon …

Sorry, Donald Trump Has A Point  —  NBC, Univision and Macy's have all thrown The Donald under the bus, in the heaviest blow to schlock culture in this country since the cancellation of “Jersey Shore.”  —  The carnage ranges widely across media, encompassing reality TV ("Celebrity Apprentice" …

President Obama Mocks GOP Nominating Contest as Political ‘Hunger Games’ … What if the presidential nominating process were like “Hunger Games”?  —  Well, President Obama suggested today that the GOP field has enough candidates to try it out.  —  “I've lost count how many Republicans are running for this job.

Rick Perry Assails Republicans' Lack of “Moral Legitimacy” on African Americans  —  Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry accused his party of trading its “moral legitimacy” for political pragmatism in abandoning the cause of African Americans and, along with it, the black vote.

Watch Lindsey Graham Choke Up Talking About Joe Biden  —  When Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) celebrated his retirement from the Air National Guard last week after 33 years of military service, he was greeted at the ceremony by an unexpected guest: Vice President Joe Biden.

Activists Planned to Burn U.S. Flag in NYC Park — When They Showed Up, These Guys Were Waiting  —  Anti-police activists were set to burn the American flag at a New York City park Wednesday evening, but their plans seemingly changed when dozens of bikers and veterans came out to counter protest.

Thank You, Donald Trump!  —  You've said some pretty offensive things about Latino immigrants recently, and I think they're worth addressing.  Because, you know, this is the United States of America, where I have a right to speak up even if I'm not a billionaire.  Isn't that awesome?

Attorney General Paxton could face first-degree felony case  —  The criminal investigation against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken a more serious turn, with special prosecutors now planning to present a first-degree felony securities fraud case against him to a Collin County grand jury, News 8 has learned.

Scott Walker's Hard Right Turn in Iowa May Hurt Him Elsewhere  —  Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin spent months persuading influential Republicans that he alone had the impressive conservative achievements and mainstream American appeal needed to not only win the party's nomination but also to recapture the White House.

This Bill O'Reilly piece on homeless people might be the worst Fox News segment ever  —  Fox New's Bill O'Reilly on Monday ran a horrible segment in which he characterized homeless people in New York City's Penn Station as dangerous, playing into some of the worst stereotypes about the homeless …

Tips for Talking to Your Family about the Affordable Care Act this Fourth of July  —  This Fourth of July, families across the nation will gather around hot dogs (or their favorite vegetarian alternative) and potato salad to spend some quality time together, watch fireworks and reflect on the holiday's meaning.

Social conservatives and libertarians will get married  —  The Republican Party, broadly speaking, is comprised of many factions that are often at odds with one another.  Prominent examples are the battles between the grassroots and the national party establishment and between defense hawks and non-interventionists.

Welcome to Wisconsin, Mr. President  —  Bright spots in the Obama economy are few and far between, as opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs are often quashed by a federal government that has grown too large, powerful and pervasive.  That's why it's telling that the president …

A Field Guide To Acela Republicans  —  As the 2016 campaign enters its first full summer, the Acela Republican, that rare but widely heralded species of candidate, is increasingly apparent on the national stage.  With Tuesday's entry of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie into the presidential contest …

Some GOP candidates becoming unhinged over gay marriage ruling  —  In 1824, in retirement 37 years after serving as the Constitutional Convention's prime mover, James Madison, 73, noted that the 1787 “language of our Constitution is already undergoing interpretations unknown to its founders.”

Revamped Bubble Wrap Loses Its Pop  —  Sealed Air, maker of the iconic packaging material, is rolling out a new flat version to cut down on the high costs of shipping air  —  Sealed Air Corp. has revamped its iconic Bubble Wrap.  The new product dubbed iBubble Wrap looks …