Transcript: Pope Francis's speech to Congress … Mr. Vice-President,  —  Mr. Speaker,  —  Honorable Members of Congress,  —  Dear Friends,  —  I am most grateful for your invitation to address this Joint Session of Congress in “the land of the free and the home of the brave”.

Senate rejects effort to strip funding from Planned Parenthood  —  The Senate on Thursday rejected a short-term spending bill that would defund Planned Parenthood, thwarting the opening move by Republican leaders to avoid a government shutdown on Oct. 1.  —  Senators voted 47-52 on ending debate …

Critics pounce after Obama talks Crusades, slavery at prayer breakfast … President Obama has never been one to go easy on America.  —  As a new president, he dismissed the idea of American exceptionalism, noting that Greeks think their country is special, too.

Multiple Candidates Have a Path to the Presidency; Hillary Is Not One of Them [Updated]  —  Today's Quinnipiac poll contains more bad news-very bad news-for Hillary Clinton, if not necessarily for the Democrats.  The poll asks basic favorable/unfavorable questions about all of the presidential candidates …

A Day of Empty Seats and Donald Trump in Full Attack  —  NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — Donald J. Trump was never exactly a happy warrior, but with some of his Republican rivals gaining on him, he is showing clear signs of discontent.  —  Appearing here on Wednesday afternoon at what was billed …

What If Russia's Foreign Minister Conducted Official Business on an Unsecured Private Server?  —  Today Admiral Michael Rogers, head of the National Security Agency, testified before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee on cybersecurity.  Senator Tom Cotton asked him two questions …

White Guy Who “Settled” Downtown Brooklyn Tells Us Why He Lashed Out At Stroller Couple  —  The man who was recently caught on video berating a couple after their stroller hit his leg has not yet watched the video of himself shouting about how he “settled” Downtown Brooklyn for other white people.

Who's “the Party” That “Decides?”  —  Regular readers know I enjoy expressing irreverent thoughts about The Party Decides, the 2008 tome by political scientists Marty Cohen, David Karol, Hans Noel, and John Zaller that is often quoted like Holy Writ by academicians and even some journalists …

Hillary approved special status for aide Huma Abedin  —  <p>Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton greenlighted paperwork that changed her top aide Huma Abedin's job status to “special government employee” — a classification that allowed Abedin to work for an outside consulting firm …

Fiorina's long-held support for mandatory health insurance  —  From 2013: Carly Fiorina agrees with parts of Obamacare  —  (CNN)Carly Fiorina, who has joined other leading Republican presidential candidates in denouncing Obamacare, once backed an individual mandate to buy health insurance …

Donald Trump wants the FCC to fine a critical Fox News pundit  —  Donald Trump is still refusing to appear on the Fox News Channel — but apparently his self-imposed boycott doesn't prohibit watching the channel's shows.  —  Trump exploded on Twitter on Wednesday night after National Review …

Mother says she found special needs son wearing trash bag in classroom  —  Share Update: … CHICAGO — The mother of a CPS special needs child wants answers after she found her son wearing a trash bag when she visited his kindergarten classroom.  —  5-year-old Lloyd lives with epilepsy and is non-verbal.