Second Republican Congressman Admits Benghazi Committee Was ‘Designed To Go After’ Clinton  —  A second House Republican has now conceded that the overarching purpose of the House Select Committee on Benghazi has been to attack former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Obama to Announce Halt of U.S. Troop Withdrawal in Afghanistan  —  WASHINGTON — The United States will halt its military withdrawal from Afghanistan and instead keep thousands of troops in the country through the end of President Obama's term in 2017, Mr. Obama will announce on Thursday …

The Grown-Ups Take the Stage at the Democratic Debate  —  It was impossible not to feel a sense of relief watching the Democratic debate after months dominated by the Republican circus of haters, ranters and that very special group of king killers in Congress.

Rand Paul, It Is Time to Take Your Campaign Out Back and Shoot It  —  “Go home to Kentucky, Senator, and save your Senate seat before Kentucky's voters take the incompetence of your Presidential campaign as a reflection on you and your Senate campaign.”  —  What is the most endearing moment …

After years of hesitation, Democrats rally around calls for gun control  —  LAS VEGAS — The Democratic presidential candidates have thrust gun control forward as a dominant issue for the national election, crystallizing a sea change in the politics of a controversial subject that recent Democratic nominees have often avoided.

Jeb cuts back  —  Eager to show cost consciousness, the Bush campaign's “high life has ended.” … On the first day of a two-day Iowa swing back in August, Jeb Bush flew from Davenport to Ankeny in a private plane.  The next day, after he spent more than four hours bounding around …

FBI, Justice Department Investigating Daily Fantasy Sports Business Model  —  FBI agents have been contacting customers of DraftKings to ask them about their experiences  —  The U.S. Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are probing whether the business model …

WATCH: Alabama man shuts down cops who questioned him for jogging while black — and it's perfect  —  DON'T MISS STORIES.  FOLLOW RAW STORY!  —  An Alabama man recorded himself shutting down two police officers who questioned him for jogging while black.  —  The man, identified as Corey Dickerson …

GOP leaders ask for suggested changes to House rules  —  <p>Republican leaders are formally asking their rank-and-file members to propose changes to the rules governing the House GOP conference.</p><p> Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the chair of the Republican Conference and Rep. Luke Messer …

Treasury moves up debt limit deadline to Nov. 3  —  The Treasury Department has moved its deadline for Congress to raise the nation's borrowing limit to Nov. 3, giving lawmakers even less time to prevent a possible default on the nation's debt.  —  In a letter to lawmakers …

Woman believed to be on spice disrobes, trashes East Anchorage Subway  —  The woman accused of trashing an East Anchorage Subway Tuesday night has been identified as 35-year-old Nikki Abrell, authorities say.  —  She is charged with third-degree criminal mischief, harassment and resisting arrest …

Obama's effort to ‘nudge’ America  —  The government tried using behavioral science to shape people's behavior.  Here's what happened.

Newly Released Democratic Debate Ratings Prove That Voters Want Substance  —  Despite assurances from the mainstream media that Tuesday's Democratic debate would struggle to attract viewers — and suggestions its focus on policy would pale in comparison to the name-calling drama of Republican debates …

Abortion at the Supreme Court's Door  —  Despite a near-universal assumption that the Supreme Court will take up an abortion case in its new term, the general chatter hasn't included much detail about the specific issue, the stakes or the prospects.  This column is an effort to address those questions.

Ben Carson Puts Public Campaign Events on Hold for 2 Weeks  —  Republican presidential contender Dr. Ben Carson has put his public campaign events on hold for two more weeks to go on book tour for his new tome “A More Perfect Union” and catch up on fundraising events.

Are Democrats back-benching the ‘war on women’?  —  Share Tweet Reddit Digg Mail Print SMS More  —  Women's issues took a back seat at Tuesday's Democratic presidential debate, and attacks against Republicans for waging a supposed “war on women” were kept to a minimum.

Guns ‘n’ Moses: Why more Jews are packing heat  —  An Israeli man fires a weapon at a shooting range in Tel Aviv.  —  A Jewish suburban mom, a doctor and a cop walk into a shooting range.  —  That's no setup to a punch line; it's who you might find at the kind of New Jersey gun range …