NY Times Launches Its Jew-Tracker [Updated]  —  The New York Times today offers up a table examining the Democratic (but not Republican) Senators and House members opposed to Obama's Iran agreement, noting whether they are Jewish and the proportion of Jewish constituents in their state or district.

Huckabee: Dred Scott Decision “Remains To This Day The Law Of The Land”  —  The Dred Scott decision was overturned by the 14th Amendment.  —  While defending Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis's refusal to issue marriage licenses out of her religious opposition to same-sex marriage …

GOP aims to make Democrats pay politically for Iran vote  —  Democrats counter that Republicans are overplaying their hand.  —  It may be years before the political fallout of the Senate's mostly party-line vote Thursday to preserve the Iran nuclear agreement becomes clear.

Fiorina's Face: Trump Fights Like a Leftist ... And Wins  —  This should go without saying but in this increasingly shrill GOP primary of ours I want to be clear that analyzing Donald Trump's political tactics does not equal my condoning of them.  I've said before and I'll say again …

Ellen Pao Speaks: ‘I Am Now Moving On’  —  Over the past three and a half years, I have pursued a legal case against Kleiner Perkins for gender discrimination and retaliation.  Seeking justice in the courts has been painful for me personally and professionally, and for my family.

In Second Republican Debate, Donald Trump's Rivals Seek Points, Not Knockout  —  The Republican presidential candidates, increasingly certain that their televised debates can have make-or-break consequences for their campaigns, are preparing aggressive new tactics for their next face-off on Wednesday …

Oath Keepers Send Armed Guards To Protect Kim Davis From US Marshals  —  The Oath Keepers, the anti-government “Patriot” group that mounted an armed standoff with the Bureau of Land Management at the Bundy Ranch, stationed armed guards outside of military recruitment centers after the Chattanooga shooting …

Jindal calls Trump practically every name in the book  —  Bobby Jindal pulled no punches against Donald Trump on Thursday, raining down a deluge of criticisms on the current Republican leader in the polls, calling him “a narcissist,” “an egomaniac,” “non-serious,” “substance-free,” “insecure …

Joe Biden's Late Show Appearance With Stephen Colbert Turns Emotional  —  Stephen Colbert's new comedy show was effectively preempted Thursday, its third day on the air, in favor of a wrenching, intimate conversation about love, loss and running for president between the comedian and Vice President Joe Biden …

Rand Paul Tries to Reclaim the Spotlight  —  The race for the Republican presidential nomination has devolved into vehement denunciations, and Rand Paul's voice seems to have gone a bit hoarse in recent weeks.  —  The novelty of his libertarian brand has worn off as Republicans have swung …

NYPD cop James Frascatore covered up his mistaken arrest of James Blake; police commissioner, mayor apologize to the tennis star  —  The unapologetic cop who body-slammed tennis great James Blake outside a Midtown hotel without identifying himself as an officer allegedly tried to cover up the bogus arrest.

7th Graders in Tennessee Made to Recite ‘Allah Is the Only God’ in Public School  —  Middle school parents in Tennessee are up in arms on learning that their children were instructed to recite and write, “Allah is the only god,” as part of a world history project.

Obama Increases Number of Syrian Refugees for U.S. Resettlement to 10,000  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama, under increasing pressure to demonstrate that the United States is joining European nations in the effort to resettle Syrian refugees, has told his administration to take in at least 10,000 displaced Syrians over the next year.

Bernie Sanders ‘stunned’ over polls  —  Washington (CNN)Bernie Sanders said new polls that show him drawing even with front-runner Hillary Clinton in key primary states are stunning.  —  “You want me to tell you the truth?” he asked to CNN's Wolf Blitzer in an interview Thursday when asked about his strong showing.

A crisis in student loans?  How changes in the characteristics of borrowers and in the institutions they attended contributed to rising loan defaults  —  This paper examines the rise in student loan delinquency and default drawing on a unique set of administrative data on federal student borrowing …