Poll: Bernie Sanders surges ahead of Hillary Clinton in N.H., 44-37  —  N.H. Democrats lukewarm to her tough image  —  Photo by:  —  Boston Herald front page - Aug 12.  2016  —  Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has rocketed past longtime front-runner Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire …

‘Top Secret’ emails found as Clinton probe expands to key aides  —  Four former aides have turned over personal emails  —  Senior senator skeptical of the extent of the review  —  Intelligence investigators say they have yet to see aides' emails … WASHINGTON

Donald Trump Slaps China for Sucking the ‘Blood Out of the United States’  —  Presidential candidate Donald Trump continued his tough talk in a speech Tuesday evening to over 2,500 supporters here.  The New York real estate mogul discussed the news that China had devalued its currency …

How I helped Todd Akin win — so I could beat him later  —  It was August 7, 2012, and I was standing in my hotel room in Kansas City about to shotgun a beer for the first time in my life.  I had just made the biggest gamble of my political career—a $1.7 million gamble—and it had paid off.

Chuck Schumer working the phones on Iran  —  He calls colleagues to explain his decision and assure them he will not be whipping opposition.  —  With liberal groups furious over his opposition to the Iran nuclear deal, Sen. Chuck Schumer has been quietly reaching out to dozens of his colleagues …

Trump Defends Planned Parenthood, Responds to GOP Critics on Hannity  —  Donald Trump sat down with Sean Hannity tonight and did everything from hit back at his conservative critics to defend Planned Parenthood to rip Hillary Clinton over her emails and foundation money.

NBC ends suspension of Brian Williams  —  NBC has reportedly ended its on-air suspension of Brian Williams.  —  The former “NBC Nightly News” anchor and managing editor — who was suspended without pay after he admitted in February that a story he recounted several times about coming under enemy fire …

‘Speech Nuts’  —  Does the left like anything in the Bill of Rights?  —  By  —  “The First Amendment has something in common with the Second Amendment,” writes the New Yorker's Kelefa Sanneh: “Both are unusually broad legal guarantees that mark a difference between America and the rest of the world.”

EPA chief: Colorado mine spill ‘pains me’  —  The head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sought to assure the public Tuesday that officials are taking seriously the mine waste spill it caused in a Colorado river.  —  Gina McCarthy said that the spill into the Animas River last week was …

Facebook is working on a Twitter-like app that lets publishers send mobile breaking news alerts to the masses  —  Facebook is working on a stand-alone mobile news application that seems to be part of its Facebook for Business initiative.  —  This product, which sounds similar to Twitter …

President Obama's Letter to the Editor  —  For the cover story of our Aug. 2 issue, Jim Rutenberg wrote about efforts over the last 50 years to dismantle the protections in the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the landmark piece of legislation that cleared barriers between black voters and the ballot.

Lawrence Lessig pondering 2016 bid because ‘the system is rigged’  —  Harvard Law professor Lawrence Lessig says he is mulling a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination because “the system is rigged” in favor of lobbyists and those able to exert their influence to a disproportionate degree.

Avoiding the Next Budget Crisis  —  LAS VEGAS — Over the past five years, Washington has lurched from one crisis to another — the 2011 debt ceiling crisis, the 2012 “fiscal cliff,” the 2013 government shutdown — spooking markets and rattling Americans' faith in our nation's democratic institutions.

GOP candidates wobble but don't fall down  —  Perry, Paul and Santorum keep going, fueled by super PAC money and a hope for that breakthrough moment.  —  The Great 2016 Republican Sorting has begun.  —  Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry thudded first, his campaign acknowledging this week …

How Obama could salvage the Iran deal  —  Even if Congress votes against the deal (and overrides a veto), Obama could halt many of the sanctions on his own.  —  Getty  —  If Congress votes down the Iran nuclear deal, President Barack Obama says, the agreement will collapse and war will come “soon.”