CNN / ORC Poll: Trump tops in Iowa as Scott Walker drops  —  Washington (CNN)Donald Trump has a significant lead in the race to win over likely Iowa caucus-goers, according to the first CNN/ORC poll in the state this cycle.  —  Trump tops the field with 22% and is the candidate seen …

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 …

The Worst Ruth Marcus Column Ever  —  We need to freeze this Ruth Marcus column in amber so that it never perishes.  Future generations will not believe that it actually existed if they can't see it with their own eyes.  It is probably the purest form of wankery that has ever been constructed.

The Queen of Paradox and Her Crumbling Stone Wall  —  Hillary Clinton is both a political colossus and a catastrophe.  —  For once, Hillary Rodham Clinton seemed to be a decent candidate.  Taking aim at weak spots in the GOP lines, she attacked Jeb Bush on women's health, Marco Rubio on abortion …

Huckabee: DOJ Should ‘Criminally Prosecute Planned Parenthood’  —  Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) on Wednesday laid out how he would tackle Planned Parenthood without the support of Congress if he were elected president.  —  When asked on about Iowa radio host Simon Conway …

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.

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.

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.

Enormous explosion rocks China port city Tianjin, kills at least 13  —  A fire and at least two massive explosions around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday local time injured hundreds and left at least 13 people dead at an industrial area roughly 75 miles southeast of Beijing.  Dozens of building collapsed are cars were burned out.

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.

Send to Kindle Follow @taxreformer  —  Governor Chris Christie (R-N.J.), a candidate for the presidency of the United States, has signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge to the American people.  The pledge is a written commitment to the American people to “oppose and veto any and all efforts to increase taxes.”

Brandi Lee Weaver-Gates, Pennsylvania Beauty Queen, Arrested After Allegedly Faking Cancer  —  A Pennsylvania beauty queen is facing felony charges for allegedly raising thousands of dollars from donors whom she tricked into believing she was battling cancer, police say.

5 GAO workers charged with fraud in obtaining school lunch subsidies  —  Five employees of a federal government watchdog agency, one of whom is a member of the Prince George's County school board, were indicted Tuesday on charges of illegally obtaining reduced-price school lunches for their children, officials said.

Who Threatens America Most?  —  In what order does the Obama administration rank the biggest external threats to America's national security?  The short answer: It depends on whom and which agency you ask.  —  Official opinion is all over the lot, a sign of a rapidly changing world …

Obama Keystone Decision Caught in Undertow of Canadian Election  —  Canada's election in October has become yet another event shaping the seven-year saga of the Keystone XL pipeline, one that may lead the Obama administration to delay announcing a decision to approve or reject the $8 billion project.

Youngstown woman received racist letter, had truck torched  —  YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) - One Youngstown family is on high alert Tuesday evening.  —  In the last three weeks they found a threatening letter on a building they own, then Monday, someone torched their car.