Have Republicans Given Up on Fighting Donald Trump?  —  A strange defeatism takes hold on the debate stage. … Months ago, during the Summer of Trump, Republicans looked at the appearance of this gross, comic, orange interloper among them with a mix of shock and disdain.

Lupica: There's just no ‘value’ to Ted Cruz and his criticism to ‘New York values’  —  This is what Ted Cruz, who wasn't just born out of town but out of the country, said about Donald Trump the other day:  —  “Donald comes from New York and he embodies New York values.”

Walmart Continues Sharpened Focus on Portfolio Management  —  Company exits Walmart Express pilot as part of closing 269 stores globally; Impacted associates to receive assistance  —  Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT: NYSE) today announced plans to close 269 stores in the U.S. and globally.

Last Slide  —  Donald Trump has rented space at an Urbandale movie theater and will give Iowans free tickets to a showing of the Benghazi movie that critics of Hillary Clinton have been eagerly awaiting.  —  “Mr. Trump would like all Americans to know the truth about what happened at Benghazi …

Sean Penn has “a terrible regret” about “El Chapo” meeting  —  Actor Sean Penn is breaking his silence about his trip to Mexico to meet notorious drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.  In an interview for this Sunday's “60 Minutes,” Penn spoke to “CBS This Morning” co-host Charlie Rose Thursday night …

Marine Corps helicopters collide off Haleiwa; search on for survivors  —  EDITOR'S NOTE: This post is preliminary and items may change as more information becomes available.  —  (CNN/KHON2) — Two U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E helicopters are missing off the North Shore of Oahu late Thursday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Humiliated By Iran: How Did The Navy Let It Happen?  —  Weakness: How can an advanced, ultra-agile U.S. combat boat suffer a “navigation error” that leads to a terrorist state capturing its sailors?  Tehran just revealed military ineptitude warranting a congressional probe.

Gowdy: Witnesses have confirmed stand-down order on night of Benghazi  —  Rep.Trey Gowdy, chairman of the House Select Committee on Benghazi, said Wednesday that a number of witnesses had confirmed a stand-down order was given to military assets in proximity to Benghazi the night of the 2012 terror attack …

Miss Washington USA resigns amidst scandal  —  SEATTLE - Pageant officials say Stormy Keffeler has resigned as Miss Washington USA, following controversy surrounding an April DUI arrest.  —  Maureen Francisco, co-executive producer of Northwest Productions, works with Miss Washington USA.

Search is on for mysterious Powerball winner  —  Powerball players return to Chino Hills 7-Eleven, where one person purchased one of three winning Powerball tickets.  —  The search was on Thursday for the winner of the record Powerball jackpot, which was purchased in Chino Hills.

If Labor Dies, What's Next?  —  The only way unions can regain their strength and provide a counterweight to corporate power is if liberals join the fight.  —  Imagine America without unions.  This shouldn't be hard.  In much of America unions have already disappeared.

Robins takes down flyer advertising MLK ‘fun shoot’  —  Robins Air Force Base in Georgia has taken down a flyer advertising a “Martin Luther King Jr. Fun Shoot” scheduled for the holiday honoring the slain civil rights leader.  —  In a statement to Air Force Times, Robins apologized …