Planned Parenthood hires crisis communications firm  —  Planned Parenthood has hired high-profile Washington public relations firm SKDKnickerbocker as it scrambles to deal with the ongoing scandal and release of a third undercover video Tuesday showing a clinic's staff handling fetal tissue after an abortion.

Fox lowers threshold for early debate  —  The change serves to guarantee the presence of candidates such as Lindsey Graham and Carly Fiorina.  —  Getty  —  Fox News is opening its 5 p.m. debate to all the announced Republican candidates who fail to make the cut for the Aug. 6 prime-time event …

Donald Trump says he'd tap Sarah Palin for a Cabinet post  —  Donald Trump has succeeded in alienating many of his fellow Republicans with his personal attacks, but if he does win in November 2016 and is forced to assemble a cabinet of GOP allies, he knows exactly whom he would call on: Sarah Palin.

FOX 4 reporter confronts woman accused of stealing his identity  —  An accused credit card thief picked the wrong guy when she used FOX 4 consumer reporter Steve Noviello's Visa account to check into a North Texas hotel.  —  Farah Parks is accused of stealing Noviello's credit card information …

Meet Donald Trump's Proud Bullies, Goons, And Thugs  —  Photo illustration by BuzzFeed News / Trump: Getty Images  —  When Donald Trump's longtime political adviser and attorney was asked by the Daily Beast Monday to comment on a potentially explosive story about his boss …

Smoke That Pot Now, Chris Christie Tells Users in States That Allow It  —  Residents in U.S. states that have legalized marijuana should toke up while they still can, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said.  —  “If you're getting high in Colorado today, enjoy it,” Christie …

Under Oath, Donald Trump Shows His Raw Side  —  Donald J. Trump seemed irritated.  He had been grilled for two hours in a lawsuit over a failed Florida real estate project, and he told the lawyer that her questions were “very stupid.”  —  When the lawyer, Elizabeth Beck, asked for a medical break …

Cecil the lion's killer revealed as American dentist  —  EXCLUSIVE: A Minnesota father of two is discovered to be the hunter who shot dead Cecil - one of Zimbabwe's most loved lions  —  Cecil the lion - the most famous creature in one of Zimbabwe's national parks - was killed by an American hunter …

Dems clash with Kerry over Iran deal  —  Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee joined with Republicans in pushing back on the Iran nuclear deal Tuesday as Secretary of State John Kerry faced the panel.  —  Committee Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) said he was “troubled by” …

House conservative seeks John Boehner's ouster  —  The move by Rep. Mark Meadows represents a new level of opposition to GOP leadership from House's right wing.  —  Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) has filed a motion to try to force Speaker John Boehner from his leadership post.

Teen ‘Lured’ 8-Year-Old Santa Cruz Girl Into Apartment Before Killing Her, Dumping Body in Recycling Bin: Police  —  A teenage boy arrested in the death of an 8-year-old Santa Cruz girl who went missing over the weekend allegedly lured the child into his apartment before killing her and dumping …

Rule Vote Retribution Continues; Chaffetz Takes Away Subcommittee Gavel  —  And the payback keeps on coming.  —  After three conservative House Republicans were kicked off the whip team as a result of voting against a rule for trade legislation on June 11, a new round of punishment is being meted out …

Inside Rand Paul's downward spiral  —  He was once a serious contender for the White House.  Now, his campaign is fighting over what went wrong.  —  Rand Paul, once seen as a top-tier contender, finds his presidential hopes fading fast as he grapples with deep fundraising and organizational problems …

Mind-Blowing Temperature Fraud At NOAA  —  The measured US temperature data from USHCN shows that the US is on a long-term cooling trend.  But the reported temperatures from NOAA show a strong warming trend. … They accomplish this through a spectacular hockey stick of data tampering …

Tom Steyer unfazed by Hillary Clinton's silence on Keystone  —  “She isn't for Keystone,” the billionaire environmental activist says.  “She has no position.”  —  DES MOINES, Iowa — Tom Steyer's hard green line is turning soft when it comes to Hillary Clinton.

The Vox conversation  —  When Sen. Bernie Sanders launched his presidential campaign, few treated it as a serious challenge to Hillary Clinton.  Sanders, after all, isn't even a Democrat: He's an “democratic socialist.”  But his campaign struck a chord.  He's raised more than $15 million …

Jonathan Pollard, Spy for Israel, to Be Released on Parole in November  —  WASHINGTON — Jonathan J. Pollard, who was sentenced to life in prison in 1985 for passing classified documents to the Israeli government, will be released on parole in November after 30 years in prison, a government panel decided on Tuesday.

Walker Tells Private Group He'll Skip Florida Primary  —  Scott Walker has insisted he will be able to “compete anywhere in the country” as a candidate for president — but, at a private event in St. Louis on Sunday, Walker said he does not plan to compete in Florida, contradicting …

Obama Says ‘I Could Win’ 3rd Term as President  —  ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — President Obama asserted on Tuesday that he could win a third term if allowed by the Constitution, but said he was looking forward to life after the presidency, when he will be able to take a walk and spend more time with his family.