Trump Lashes Out At Critics, Makes Incendiary New Claims About Mexico  —  In a lengthy written statement Monday, Donald Trump doubled down on his recent remarks about Mexican immigrants being “rapists” and criminals, making the additional claim that “tremendous infectious disease is pouring across the border.”

Confessions of a Clinton reporter: The media's 5 unspoken rules for covering Hillary  —  The reporter's job is to “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable” — a credo that, humorously, was originally written as a smear of the self-righteous nature of journalists.

Amanda Peterson Dies — 'Can't Buy Me Love' Star Dead at 43 … KIDD KIDD  —  BONDSMAN TO THE RESCUE WITH $105K  —  ... Plus a Hot Dog

APNewsBreak: Cosby said he got drugs to give women for sex  —  5 photos  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bill Cosby admitted in 2005 that he got quaaludes with the intent of giving them to young women he wanted to have sex with, and that he gave the sedative to at least one woman and “other people …

‘The devil is taking control’: Watch SC senator derail Confederate flag debate with insane gay marriage rant  —  DON'T MISS STORIES.  FOLLOW RAW STORY!  —  South Carolina state Sen. Lee Bright (R) began debate about removing the Confederate flag from the statehouse grounds on Monday …

Eric Holder: Supreme Court justice?  —  Former Attorney General Eric Holder says he has no interest in returning to public life, even if offered a seat on the Supreme Court.  —  “I greatly enjoyed my career in public service, and I'll stay involved in political life in some form or fashion …

Video shows punch that led to QB De'Andre Johnson's arrest  —  FSU quarterback De'Andre Johnson at the Tallahassee bar Yiannis, State Attorney's Office  —  The State Attorney's Office released surveillance video today of Florida State University quarterback De'Andre Johnson punching a woman at a bar last month.

White House defends immigration policies after killing of San Francisco woman  —  The White House on Monday defended its immigration policies and blasted Republicans following the killing of a San Francisco woman — allegedly by an illegal immigrant.  —  When asked if the case was a failure …

The Romney half-century?  —  Not a very good Fourth for The Donald.  South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham (R), a candidate for president in 2016, stated it plainly: “He's running to be president of all of us.  It takes a level of maturity and thoughtfulness and demeanor that's not being exhibited here.”

Upcoming polls to lock in GOP debate field  —  More than a few Republicans are hoping their numbers will tick up at just the right time this month, knowing that it could make the difference between being on the main debate stage and being relegated to the B-team.

Officials: US jets scramble to intercept Russian bombers off California, Alaska coasts on July 4  —  This file photo shows a Russian Tupolev Tu-95 plane photographed by the Norwegian Air Force outside the coast of Norway in 2007.  (Reuters)  —  While the United States celebrated Independence Day …

A Study Documents the Paucity of Black Elected Prosecutors: Zero in Most States  —  WASHINGTON — Sixty-six percent of states that elect prosecutors have no blacks in those offices, a new study has found, highlighting the lack of diversity in the ranks of those entrusted to bring criminal charges and negotiate prison sentences.

The next big liberal cause: universal child care  —  Universal child care is becoming a central pillar of the liberal agenda — one that, if it is ever realized, could take its place alongside some of the great progressive reforms of the 20th Century, and possibly the Affordable Care Act …

Walker office already acts as if records exemption is law  —  Madison— Gov. Scott Walker announced over the weekend that Republicans were abandoning their plan to create new exceptions to the state's open records law, but for months the all-but-certain presidential candidate has been operating as if one exemption already was in place.