John Boehner talks election, time in office  —  “You can call me boner, beaner, jackass, happy to answer to almost anything,” said former Speaker of the House John Boehner as he took the stage at CEMEX Auditorium on Wednesday evening.  Boehner joined David M. Kennedy, faculty director …

Commentary: Yes, Donald Trump can beat Hillary Clinton  —  How would Donald Trump fare in a general election against Hillary Clinton?  The conventional wisdom is that he wouldn't stand a chance.  The GOP is divided.  His campaign, despite a recent spate of landslide primary wins, appears to have its own civil war going on.

Ted Cruz's Carly Fiorina VP Pick Could Backfire—Badly  —  On Tuesday, Donald Trump crushed the opposition, winning 110 of the 119 bound delegates available in the “Acela primary” of northeastern states.  Ted Cruz tried to bounce back by naming former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina as his Vice Presidential pick.

Will Ferrell to Play Former President Ronald Reagan in New Movie (EXCLUSIVE) … Having already famously portrayed former President George W. Bush in various comedy sketches, Will Ferrell is now setting his sights on another former commander in chief.  —  Sources tell Variety Ferrell …

ICE releases 19,723 criminal illegals, 208 convicted of murder, 900 of sex crimes  —  The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in 2015 decided not to deport but release 19,723 criminal illegal immigrants, including 208 convicted of murder, over 900 convicted of sex crimes and 12,307 …

Prince's Death: Local Investigators Ask for DEA's Help on Case  —  The county sheriff investigating the death of Prince is asking for help from the Drug Enforcement Administration, federal law enforcement officials told NBC News on Wednesday.  —  The officials say prescription painkillers …

Bernie Sanders to Cut Hundreds of Staff Members and Turn to California  —  WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Senator Bernie Sanders is planning to lay off “hundreds” of campaign staffers across the country and focus much of his remaining effort on winning California, he said in an interview Wednesday.

Defense bill would require women to register for draft  —  Women would have to register for the draft under an amendment added to an annual defense bill Wednesday.  —  “If we want equality in this country, if we want women to be treated precisely like men are treated and that they should not be discriminated …

President Obama Weighs His Economic Legacy  —  Eight years after the financial crisis, unemployment is at 5 percent, deficits are down and G.D.P. is growing.  Why do so many voters feel left behind?  The president has a theory.  —  Two months ago, across an assembly-room table in a factory …

Secret Service Plans to Raise White House Fence by 5 Feet  —  Secret Service: ‘Current fence simply is not adequate for a modern era’  —  The U.S. Secret Service plans to raise the height of the White House security fence by 5 feet and add a new concrete foundation to reduce the risk of fence-jumpers …

The Quiet American  —  Paul Manafort made a career out of stealthily reinventing the world's nastiest tyrants as noble defenders of freedom.  Getting Donald Trump elected will be a cinch.  —  Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump's palace, is impressive by the standards of Palm Beach …

Democratic Strategist: Trump Will Beat Hillary Like ‘A Baby Seal’  —  Democratic strategist Dave “Mudcat” Saunders believes Donald Trump will beat Hillary like a “baby seal,” and that working class whites who haven't already left the Democratic Party for cultural reasons will due so now for economic ones.

Yale Defies Calls to Rename Calhoun College  —  Despite fervent student protests, the president of Yale announced on Wednesday that the university would keep the name of a residential college named for the 19th-century politician and white supremacist John C. Calhoun.

Board of Governors approves anti-discrimination process for championships bids  —  Hosts must demonstrate environment will safeguard dignity of participants, spectators  —  The NCAA Board of Governors on Wednesday took steps to protect participants and spectators from discrimination at NCAA events.

Roy Moore says complaint on gay marriage order politically motivated  —  Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore responds to complaints over Marriage Protection Acts  —  Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore on Wednesday accused several groups, including the Southern Poverty Law Center and …

Daniel Loeb warns of hedge fund ‘killing field’  —  One of the most powerful US hedge fund managers believes that the industry is in “first innings of a washout” after a string of disastrous market calls inflicted steep losses on many funds.  —  Daniel Loeb's stark comments …

Biden makes unannounced trip to Iraq, his first since 2011  —  Cruz's big announcement, in 3 minutes … BAGHDAD — Vice President Biden arrived here Thursday at a moment of intense political turmoil for Iraq and its prime minister, who is fighting to hold onto his office amid a paralyzing political crisis …

Hispanic voter registration spikes  —  Registration among Hispanic voters is skyrocketing in a presidential election cycle dominated by Donald Trump  —  and loud GOP cries to close the border.  —  Arturo Vargas, executive director of the National Association of Elected and Appointed Officials …

Why I Blame TV for Trump  —  My friends in the TV news business are in a state of despair about Donald Trump, even as their bosses in the boardroom are giddy over what he's doing for their once sagging ratings.  —  “It feels like it's over,” one old friend from my television days told me recently.