White House rips Trump over birther reaction  —  President Obama's top spokesman slammed Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Friday for failing to condemn a supporter who claimed Obama is a Muslim who was born abroad.  —  “Is anybody really surprised this happened at a Donald Trump rally?”

Phoenix freeway-shootings suspect Leslie Allen Merritt Jr. tied to first 4 incidents  —  After arrest, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey tweets: ‘We got him!’  —  CONNECT  —  For nearly three weeks, life in Phoenix and the Valley was under a darkening cloud of fear as vehicles driving on freeways were hit …

Are Democrats and Republicans talking about the same country?  —  To the Democratic candidates, the 2016 presidential campaign is about shrinking the gap between rich and poor; combating climate change; and expanding voting rights, gay rights and workplace equality for women.

Joe Biden Edges Closer to Joining Presidential Race  —  Vice president's aides debate timing of entry and hone message for a possible campaign  —  Vice President Joe Biden's aides in recent days called Democratic donors and supporters to suggest he is more likely than not to enter the 2016 race …

Fiorina Leads in NH in Post-CNN Debate Poll  —  All the talking heads were talking about Carly Fiorina's debate performance, but were the voters of New Hampshire impressed as well?  —  Yes, they were.  —  In Voter Gravity's latest presidential flash poll through touchtone phone responses …

First Wave at Omaha Beach … UNLIKE what happens to other great battles, the passing of the years and the retelling of the story have softened the horror of Omaha Beach on D Day.  —  This fluke of history is doubly ironic since no other decisive battle has ever been so thoroughly reported for the official record.

The White House is more afraid of offending China's president than the pope  —  THE VATICAN has raised objections to a few of the guests invited to the White House arrival ceremony next week for Pope Francis.  The Wall Street Journal reported that the guests include transgender activists …

Is Kentucky clerk Kim Davis back in hot water?  —  Shares -  —  OWENSBORO, Ky. — The attorney for one of the deputy clerks in Kim Davis' office says Davis disobeyed a federal judge's order when she altered marriage license forms for same-sex couples.  —  In a separate filing Friday …

This Ted Cruz booster is 13, black, and just shredded Obama on clock kid  —  CJ Pearson's recent YouTube video criticizing President Obama.  —  Earlier this week, a 13-year-old kid named Coreco JaQuan Pearson sat down in front of a camera in the kitchen of his home in Grovetown …

Reverse Engineering Ahmed Mohamed's Clock... and Ourselves.  —  I have something in common with Ahmed Mohamed: as a youngster, I was also an electronics enthusiast.  At his age and even earlier, I frequently took apart electronic devices - anything from my own toys, to broken things around the house …

Obama nominates openly gay man to lead Army  —  President Obama is nominating Eric Fanning to be the next Army secretary.  If confirmed by the Senate, Fanning would be the first openly gay person to lead a branch of the armed services.  —  “Eric brings many years of proven experience …