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 …

Head of Group Opposing Iran Accord Quits Post, Saying He Backs Deal  —  WASHINGTON — When the bipartisan advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran decided last week to mobilize opposition against the nuclear deal with Tehran, Gary Samore knew he could no longer serve as its president.

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.

State, federal officials clash over health of Animas River  —  EPA asks Hickenlooper to curb remarks about river's health  —  Gov. John Hickenlooper, left, looks at a fish trap being held by Jim White, an aquatic biologist with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, on Tuesday on the banks of the Animas River.

The Five Plausible GOP Candidates  —  From a Democratic standpoint, a moderate-conservative Republican ticket representing the two largest swing states would be cause for concern.  —  After their first presidential debates, it is time for Republicans to get serious.  Donald Trump won't be their nominee.

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.

Donald Trump to ‘Meet the Press’ - in person  —  Donald Trump, the Republican presidential front-runner who prefers telephone call-ins to sit-down interviews, has been booked for an in-person appearance on NBC's “Meet the Press” later this month, the On Media blog has learned.

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.

'I don't want to die in your cell:' Police release video of Ralkina Jones taken prior to death  —  Ryllie Danylko, Northeast Ohio Media Group By Ryllie Danylko, Northeast Ohio Media Group  —  CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio - “I don't want to die in your cell.”  —  Ralkina Jones spoke those words …

Dissent in Bernie Sanders' camp  —  The candidacy of Sanders adviser Larry Lessig could complicate matters.  —  Lessig speaks onstage at 'MAYDAY: The Fight To Save American, during the 2015 SXSW Music, Film + Interactive Festival.  Getty  —  An adviser to Bernie Sanders has been quietly urging …

CBO: Full sequester relief could add as many as 1.4M jobs  —  Reversing sequestration spending caps could create as many as 1.4 million jobs over the next two years, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said Tuesday.  —  At the request of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) …

‘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.”

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 …