Why I'm Supporting Bernie Sanders  —  NO decision we make as Americans more dramatically affects the direction of our country than our choice for president.  He or she is more than the manager of the executive branch, commander in chief or appointer of judges.

Russian attack aircraft just flew within 30 feet of a U.S. Navy ship  —  In one of the most aggressive actions in recent memory, Russian warplanes conducted “simulated attacks” on the a U.S. Navy vessel in the Baltic Sea Tuesday, repeatedly flying within 30 feet of the ship, according to a defense official.

Cruz likely to block Trump on a second ballot at the GOP convention  —  What's the deal with the Colorado GOP convention?  —  What is a super PAC? … State of the 2016 race … Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz is close to ensuring that Donald Trump cannot win the GOP nomination …

The Time Ted Cruz Defended a Ban on Dildos  —  His legal team argued there was no right “to stimulate one's genitals.”  —  In one chapter of his campaign book, A Time for Truth, Sen. Ted Cruz proudly chronicles his days as a Texas solicitor general, a post he held from 2003 to 2008.

Octopus slips out of aquarium tank, crawls across floor, escapes down pipe to ocean … Inky the octopus didn't even try to cover his tracks.  —  By the time the staff at New Zealand's National Aquarium noticed that he was missing, telltale suction cup prints were the main clue to an easily-solved mystery.

Rubio says he wasn't endorsing Cruz  —  Marco Rubio doesn't want his praise for Ted Cruz to be interpreted as an endorsement.  —  The Florida Republican senator said Wednesday that his remarks Tuesday to Mark Levin that he wants a conservative and that Cruz is the only candidate left that …

Donald Trump meets with Megyn Kelly at Trump Tower  —  Donald Trump and the Fox News host Megyn Kelly met at Trump Tower on Wednesday morning, a person with knowledge of the matter told CNNMoney.  —  The meeting was brokered by Fox News chairman Roger Ailes.  —  Representatives for Trump and Fox News had no immediate comment.

How Donald Trump Is Right About Our ‘Rigged’ Politics  —  Matthew J. Dowd is an independent; chief political analyst for ABC News; and founder of Paradox Capital, a social-impact venture fund.  He was chief strategist of President George W. Bush's 2004 campaign.  He is on Twitter: @MatthewJDowd.

POLL: Clinton, Trump Hold Big Leads in Maryland  —  Trump polled well with likely Republican primary voters who do not have a college degree, earn less than $50,000 per year and do not practice a religion  —  Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump each hold big leads against their party rivals …

White House demands Maryland super PAC pull Senate ad  —  The White House is wading into one of the hardest-fought Democratic primaries in the country — to tell one side to stop invoking the president on its behalf.  —  In an unprecedented and forceful move, President Barack Obama's administration …

Peabody, world's top private coal miner, files for bankruptcy  —  Peabody Energy Corp (BTU.N) filed for U.S. bankruptcy protection on Wednesday after a sharp drop in coal prices left it unable to service debt of $10.1 billion, much of it incurred for an expansion into Australia.

Trump spokeswoman comes out swinging against Zuckerberg  —  Katrina Pierson, Trump Campaign Spokeswoman, responds to comments made by Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg about not building walls.  —  Katrina Pierson, a spokeswoman for GOP front-runner Donald Trump's presidential campaign …

Protester Briefly Disrupts Chelsea Clinton Event In East Liberty  —  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Chelsea Clinton was in Pittsburgh today to make a stop at her mother's campaign headquarters.  —  However, at least one protester got inside and briefly disrupted the event.  —  A woman screamed in a panicked voice, “She's killing us!

Five Big Banks' Living Wills Rejected by U.S. Banking Agencies  —  JPMorgan, others face limits after setback on resolution plans  —  Lenders first to set off Dodd-Frank remediation process  —  JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp. and three other major U.S. banks failed …

In blow to defense, judge to consider lies by Hastert at his sentencing  —  Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert through the years.  —  The federal judge overseeing Dennis Hastert's hush money case said he intends to factor in at Hastert's upcoming sentencing that the former speaker lied …

Trump won't attend White House dinner  —  says he will not be attending this year's White House Correspondents' Association dinner, despite receiving a flurry of invitations from the media.  —  Trump attended the annual dinner in 2011, only to have President Obama poke fun at him repeatedly in his comedy routine.

By Opposing Obama, the Republicans Created Trump  —  MEMO to Republican legislators biting your nails over the New York primary, wondering if you can finally derail Donald J. Trump's candidacy with, gulp, Ted Cruz: You brought it on yourselves.  —  Not just by failing for too long …

The 6 elements of an effective apology, according to science  —  COLUMBUS, Ohio - There are six components to an apology - and the more of them you include when you say you're sorry, the more effective your apology will be, according to new research.  —  But if you're pressed for time or space …