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.

Jeb Bush defends Medicare ‘phase out’ comment  —  GORHAM, N.H. - During a town hall meeting here Thursday afternoon, Jeb Bush was put on the defensive about his comments Wednesday night about “phasing out” Medicare by an elderly woman who said she was worried about losing benefits she's spent years paying for.

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 …

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.

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.

Democrats drop Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson names from annual fundraising dinner  —  Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson are history in Connecticut.  —  Under pressure from the NAACP, the state Democratic Party will scrub the names of the two presidents from its annual fundraising dinner because of their ties to slavery.

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 …

Bison selfies are a bad idea: tourist gored in Yellowstone as another photo goes awry  —  Every year, more than three million people pour into Yellowstone National Park, eager to escape the cramped cubicles and tiny apartments from whence they came.  —  They gaze upon the geysers.

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.

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.

Turkey to Let U.S. Military Use Its Base to Launch Strikes Against Islamic State  —  Agreement allows U.S. to operate manned, unmanned planes from air base near Syrian border  —  Turkey agreed to allow the U.S. to use air bases there to launch strikes against Islamic State forces in neighboring Syria …

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.

‘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.

Civilian guard accidentally fires weapon outside Lancaster recruiting center  —  LANCASTER, Ohio — An armed volunteer guarding an Army recruiting station in the River Valley Mall area has been charged with a misdemeanor after he accidentally fired his AR-15 rifle this afternoon.

The Wisconsin Targets Tell Their Story  —  After victory in court, conservative activists talk on the record for the first time about their 21-month ordeal.  —  The John Doe investigation of Wisconsin conservatives collapsed last week with a powerful decision from the Wisconsin Supreme Court …

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 …

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 …