Bernie Sanders Leads Hillary Clinton By 9 in N.H., Gains in Iowa: Poll  —  Bernie Sanders has jumped out to a nine-point lead over front-runner Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire, and he's gained ground on her among Iowa voters in the Democratic presidential race, according to a pair of brand-new NBC News/Marist polls.

Another week of embarrassing shoes dropping for Hillary  —  Team Hillary keeps insisting there's nothing to that whole e-mail embarrassment — even as the shoes keep dropping.  —  Three in just the past week.  —  First came news that Hillary Clinton's private e-mails included highly classified information …

Madonna's Brother Defends Jailed Clerk Who Refused Marriage Licenses for Gay Couples  —  “Once again, the gay community feels the need to be sore winners,” wrote Christopher Ciccone, who himself is openly gay.  —  Madonna's brother, Christopher Ciccone, is speaking out in defense …

Is Trump the Candidate Reform Conservatives Are Seeking?  —  For the last few years, a small but prominent group of conservative writers and thinkers has urged the Republican party to rethink its economic agenda with a greater focus on the needs of the middle class.

The refugee crisis Europe helped bring on itself [With Comment By John]  —  Europe is paying the second installment on the debt for its indifference to the slow-motion disaster in Syria.  The first installment was (and will continue to be) an increase in the threat of domestic terrorism.

What have Bush, Clinton learned from voters' attraction to the outsiders?  —  At the beginning of this year, the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania sponsored a focus group in the Denver suburbs composed of a dozen adults — Republicans, Democrats and independents.

Clinton raised up to $500K in Puerto Rico visit  —  Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton reportedly brought in between $200,000 and $500,000 for her campaign in a Puerto Rico fundraiser Friday.  —  Clinton attended the 200-person event at the Condado Plaza Hilton in San Juan for approximately 90 minutes, according to CNN.

Kim Davis supporters call to free Rowan clerk … CONNECT  —  GRAYSON, Ky. — Hundreds of people gathered outside the Carter County Detention Center on Saturday and prayed for jailed Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, who was locked up just a few hundred feet away.

At West Point, Annual Pillow Fight Becomes Weaponized  —  For generations, freshmen cadets at the United States Military Academy have marked the end of a grueling summer of training with a huge nighttime pillow fight that is billed as a harmless way to blow off steam and build class spirit.

Gay rights bill faces GOP roadblock  —  Republicans are proving to be a roadblock for a sweeping civil rights bill championed by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.  —  Despite a string of federal victories for the LGBT community, including a landmark Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage …

When does your religion legally excuse you from doing part of your job?  —  Can your religion legally excuse you from doing part of your job?  This is one of the questions in the Kentucky County Clerk marriage certificate case.  But it also arises in lots of other cases — for instance …