We've lost a champion  —  It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of legendary civil rights activist Julian Bond, SPLC's first president.  He was 75 years old and died last evening, August 15, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.  —  From his days as the co-founder and communications director …

Sanders Campaign Reaches Out To Black Lives Matter Activists: “I Apologize It Took Our Campaign So Long”  —  In an email to activists obtained by BuzzFeed News, Bernie's African-American outreach director proposes a formal meeting between the senator and the activists who have disrupted his campaign this summer.

Fox News Poll: Shakeup in GOP field after first debate, Sanders gains on Clinton  —  The explosive first Republican debate has shaken up the 2016 GOP presidential race.  —  Who's up?  Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and businesswoman Carly Fiorina.  Who's down?

Brewers minor-leaguer makes baseball history by coming out publicly as gay  —  David Denson tips his hat to the crowd during the Pioneer League all-star game in August.  Denson hit a home run and was named MVP of the game against the Northwest League all-stars.  —  David Denson says it was a relief to tell Helena teammates

Donald Trump: It Would Be A ‘Miracle’ If Hillary Continues Run  —  Donald Trump said it would be a “miracle” if Hillary Clinton is able to continue her run for president in the wake of the controversy surrounding her use of a private email server to conduct official business as Secretary of State — but if she does, he'll beat her.

Melania Trump would be a first lady for the ages  —  If Donald Trump manages to win the presidency, his wife Melania, will be the first foreign-born first lady since John Quincy Adams' spouse, Louisa.  —  She'll also be the only one — as far as we know — who has posed nude.

Sharpton calls for black churches to lobby on Iran deal  —  Rev. Al Sharpton will push America's black churches to lobby in favor of the Iran nuclear deal, a new report says.  —  Sharpton is launching his push backing President Obama's pact with Tehran this weekend, according to The Huffington Post.

Backers fear old weaknesses stalk Clinton campaign  —  It was supposed to be different this time.  After the wounds of 2008, many of them self-inflicted, Hillary Rodham Clinton rebooted for 2016 with a new message, new advisers and new energy.  —  But two dynamics have crystallized this month …

Donald Trump: Undocumented Immigrants ‘Have to Go’  —  Donald Trump would reverse President Obama's executive orders on immigration and deport all undocumented immigrants from the U.S. as president, he said in an exclusive interview with NBC's Chuck Todd.  —  “We're going to keep …

Sanders rips Trump: ‘We left the helicopter at home’  —  Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) mocked GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump on Saturday for offering rides in his helicopter outside of the Iowa State Fair.  —  “Oh look, what can you do?  It's Donald Trump,” he quipped during the event …

Pro-Bush super PAC spending $10M-plus on initial TV campaign  —  1 photo  —  DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The powerfully funded super PAC backing Republican Jeb Bush will spend at least $10 million on television time in the earliest voting presidential primary states, the first salvo …