Exclusive: Trump threatens third-party run  —  NEW YORK — Donald Trump says the chances that he will launch a third-party White House run will “absolutely” increase if the Republican National Committee is unfair to him during the 2016 primary season.  —  “The RNC has not been supportive.

GOP's Favorability Rating Takes a Negative Turn  —  Republicans Less Positive About Their Party  —  The Republican Party's image has grown more negative over the first half of this year.  Currently, 32% have a favorable impression of the Republican Party, while 60% have an unfavorable view.

Jeb Bush pushes to ‘phase out’ Medicare  —  Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush appeared at a New Hampshire event last night sponsored by the Koch brothers' Americans for Prosperity, and the former governor raised a few eyebrows with his comments on the future of Medicare.

Mayflies force shutdown of Savanna - Sabula Bridge  —  Emergency crews were on scene over the weekend to clear a bridge after bugs took over.  —  On Saturday night, Teena Franzen recorded the incident while riding with her son in a Sabula police car.

Sandra Bland Death Ruled a Suicide by Hanging, Texas Prosecutor Says  —  Medical examiners ruled the death of Sandra Bland a suicide by hanging, and the autopsy uncovered no evidence of a violent struggle, a Texas prosecutor said Thursday.  —  Warren Diepraam, the first assistant district attorney …

Anthony Weiner got a job fixing PR messes — seriously  —  If you find yourself in a p.r. nightmare, there's a swashbuckling new hero you can turn to — Carlos Danger.  —  A top “crisis” public-relations firm with ties to Hillary Rodham Clinton has hired the last person in the world …

Exclusive: More MSNBC Changes Coming with Three Shows Out, Hard News and Chuck Todd Back  —  A well-placed source tells me MSNBC will announce today major changes to its afternoon lineup...arguably the most significant revamp the network has made at one time in its 19-year history.

Bison attacks woman who was trying to take selfie with it in Yellowstone Park  —  Yellowstone: Our first national park 9 photos  —  Yellowstone: Our first national park - Old Faithful Geyser may be the most-famous “resident” of Yellowstone National Park, but park ranger Dan Hottle …

‘Just stay behind me’ Construction worker helps teen escape I-95 abduction  —  HENRICO COUNTY, Va — Kevin Huntington knows things can get hectic along Interstate 95, especially in Northern Virginia.  The construction worker said what he saw last week, was like nothing he's ever experienced.

National Border Patrol Council Local 2455 statement  —  After careful consideration of all the factors involved in this event and communicating with members of the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) at the National level, it has been decided by Local 2455 to pull out of all events involving Donald Trump.

Judge must decide sentence for LAPD cop who assaulted woman on video  —  A judge is expected to decide Thursday whether a Los Angeles police officer should serve time behind bars for assaulting a South L.A. woman in an incident that was caught on video by a police cruiser camera.

New York Times Editor: Isn't It Awesome How Hillary's Stonewalling The Press?  —  In a podcast posted on the New York Times website earlier this week, the paper's editorial page editor openly praised Hillary Clinton's strategy of stonewalling the media and refusing to answer questions about her campaign.

The Gaping Hole in the Iran Debate  —  Iraqis peer through the window of an armored vehicle as the last American soldiers leave Iraq.  (Lucas Jackson / Reuters)  —  I have a fantasy.  It's that every politician and pundit who goes on TV to discuss the Iran deal is asked this question first …

The Toxic Worldview of Ta-Nehisi Coates  —  Moses gave us the Ten Commandments.  Paul gave us the epistles.  And Ta-Nehisi gave us, Between the World and Me.  —  Get POLITICO Magazine in your feeds  —  The new book by Atlantic writer Ta-Nehisi Coates, in the form of a letter to his son …

Coal executive slams Obama as 'nation's greatest destroyer'  —  Murray Energy Corp. Chief Executive Officer Robert Murray has accused the Obama administration of being “intent on destroying coal and our country for their bizarre personal and political ends.”

Socialism, American-Style  —  THE great 20th-century conservative economist Joseph Schumpeter thought the left had overlooked a major selling point in pressing the case for public — i.e., government — control over productive capital.  “One of the most significant titles to superiority,” …

Ted Cruz Is More of a Spider-Man Guy  —  Your new book is called “A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America.”  A few months ago you were in the news for warning a little girl that “the world is on fire.”  Do you believe setting things on fire is good or bad?  Both.

Donald Trump's Birther Strategy  —  His loony birth certificate quest fits into a xenophobic tradition in American politics.  —  SHARES  —  Soon President Barack Obama and Donald Trump will be half a world away from each other.  The president will be in Africa, where his trip is taking him to the country where his father was born.