GOP leaders fear damage to party's image as Donald Trump doubles down  —  Since Donald Trump announced his presidential bid, he's drawn plenty of controversy and outrage for his comments on the campaign trail.  Here are some of the key moments.  (The Washington Post)

Jeb Bush: People Need to Work Longer Hours  —  Today, Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush, who as of-late has gone relatively gaffe-free, uttered a phrase that may not go over too well with the constituency he seeks to reach.  During an interview that was live-streamed on the app Periscope …

In Late-Night Move, House GOP Rallies To Defend Confederate Flag  —  In a sudden late-night reversal Wednesday, House Republicans unexpectedly rallied to the defense of the Confederate flag.  The surprise move came just one day after the House passed Democratic amendments to restrict the display …

Overflowing GOP Presidential Field Has Fox News in Demand  —  It's the stuff of Republican nightmares: Fox News runs out of advertising time.  —  But in an election bursting with money from an expected 17 Republican presidential candidates and dozens of outside groups supporting them …

Senate downplays Obamacare repeal  —  ‘No deadline,’ says Barrasso, as House conservatives cry foul.  —  Sen. John Barrasso, a point person on health policy, said there's no rush to do reconciliation.  Getty  —  July was supposed to be the big month for Obamacare repeal in Congress.

Puerto Rico's crisis illustrates the risks of mininum wage hikes  —  Greece's impending bankruptcy is dominating the headlines right now, but between that financial catastrophe and the one facing Puerto Rico, the latter probably deserves more attention in the United States — or at least more attention than it's getting.

How A Teenage Girl Who Gave An ‘Intimidating Look’ Was Sentenced To Up To 5 Years In Prison  —  WASHINGTON — In suburban neighborhoods around the country, teenagers sass their parents and yell at their peers.  Usually, they grow out of it.  In Detroit, a 17-year-old girl who misbehaved …

Medicare Plans to Pay Doctors for Counseling on End of Life  —  Medicare, the federal program that insures 55 million older and disabled Americans, announced plans on Wednesday to reimburse doctors for conversations with patients about whether and how they would want to be kept alive if they became too sick to speak for themselves.

Day of ‘technical’ glitches puts lawmakers on edge  —  Lawmakers are having a hard time swallowing the idea that a major stock exchange, a global airline and a prominent media outlet coincidentally suffered major outages on the same day.  —  The New York Stock Exchange halted trading …

Brent Budowsky: A Bernie Sanders summer  —  The surge in support for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in 2016 is the latest evidence of a progressive populist wave growing across America that has the potential to create a new political majority in the tradition of Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt and John Kennedy.

The new Willie Horton?  —  Juan Francisco Lopez Sanchez pleaded not guilty July 6 to first degree murder in the case of a woman who was fatally shot on a San Francisco pier.  The case has spurred debate about San Francisco's immigration policies.  (Reuters)  —  Is Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez the new Willie Horton?

Keith Olbermann, ESPN to Part Ways Once Again  —  The departure follows a point of contention over delivering “commentary” on his ESPN2 program.  —  Keith Olbermann is exiting ESPN once again.  —  The television personality, who rejoined the sports network in August 2013, won't be renewing his deal to anchor his ESPN2 program.

Donald Trump In 1999: “I Believe In Universal Health Care...It's An Entitlement” From Birth  —  “I'm very liberal when it comes to health care.”  —  Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images  —  Donald Trump, the reality TV host and real estate mogul running for the Republican presidential nomination …

To Help US Veterans Charity, George W. Bush Charged $100,000  —  Former President George W. Bush charged $100,000 to speak at a charity fundraiser for U.S. military veterans severely wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, and former First Lady Laura Bush collected $50,000 to appear a year earlier …