Chaffetz enters speaker's race, pans McCarthy  —  <p>Rep. Jason Chaffetz has officially launched his dark-horse campaign for House speaker, arguing he's a better choice to unite the fractious Republican conference and that Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy lacks the communication skills …

Polls: Trump Still Leads in IA and NH, But Loses Ground  —  Donald Trump remains ahead in the early Republican nominating contests of Iowa and New Hampshire, but his lead has shrunk from a month ago, according to brand-new NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist polls of these two states.

Ore. Shooter's Dad: If He Hadn't Had Access To The Guns, It Wouldn't Have Happened  —  Ian Mercer, the father of the man who shot and killed nine people and injured nine others at a community college in Oregon last week told CNN Saturday that, had gun laws prevented his son from accessing the guns, the incident wouldn't have happened.

Clinton mocks Trump in ‘SNL’ premiere  —  <p>For the first time since her 2008 presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton on Saturday evening returned to the set of “Saturday Night Live," starring in a skit as “Val,” an easy-to-talk-to barkeep giving advice to the former secretary of state …

Biden to announce 2016 decision within days: report  —  Vice President Joe Biden is expected to announce whether he will run for president in the next seven to 10 days, according to CBS News.  —  Two of the three sources CBS News cited said the vice president is leaning toward running.

Most of 177 Twin Peaks bikers no longer wearing ankle monitors  —  Of the 177 bikers jailed after the May 17 Twin Peaks shootout, none remain in McLennan County jails and 135 of those were fitted with GPS ankle monitors after negotiating reduced bonds.  —  Almost five months later …

Thousands attend funerals for Jerusalem terror victims  —  President urges Israelis to continue visiting Old City, where fatal attack took place; Nehemia Lavi's father praises son's bravery  —  Thousands of Israelis attended the funerals Sunday of Rabbi Nehemia Lavi and IDF soldier Aharon Banita …

She was a conservative pundit.  He was a liberal activist.  At home, none of that mattered.  —  It was so Washington, the way they met.  She was on the dais at a panel discussion on media and politics, holding forth knowledgeably; he was in the audience, smitten.

Supreme Court Prepares to Take On Politically Charged Cases  —  WASHINGTON — The last Supreme Court term ended with liberal victories, conservative disarray and bruised relations among the justices.  The new one, which starts on Monday, marks the start of Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.'s second decade …

McCain: GOPers' Use Of Derogatory Language Is Hurting The Republican Party  —  Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said Sunday that the Republican presidential candidates who use — or don't correct — those who use derogatory language are hurting the GOP's chances at the White House.