It is disqualifying for a modern-day presidential nominee to refuse to release tax returns to the voters, especially one who has not been subject to public scrutiny in either military or public service.  Tax returns provide the public with its sole confirmation of the veracity …

House GOP warns Ryan to back Trump  —  Washington (CNN)Rank-and-file House Republicans are urging Speaker Paul Ryan to get behind presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, warning his resistance could lead to the party fracturing rather than uniting if he withholds his endorsement.

Sanders' California director leaves campaign  —  Bernie Sanders' campaign parted ways with its California state director Michael Ceraso on Wednesday morning, 27 days before the primary in the state that Sanders has repeatedly said is crucial to his effort to capture the Democratic nomination.

Harry Reid to Rep. Alan Grayson: ‘I want you to lose’  —  Rep. Alan Grayson angrily confronted Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid on Wednesday, disrupting a meeting of the Congressional Progressive Caucus in front of dozens of staffers and members of Congress.

Producer defends film on Reagan's Alzheimer's  —  A producer linked to a controversial movie about former President Ronald Reagan's Alzheimer's disease says backlash over its subject matter is unfair.  —  “I've never been close to a movie like that where so little information became such a tidal wave …

Trump: Muslim ban ‘just a suggestion’  —  appeared to subtly soften his tone on his proposed ban on foreign Muslims entering the United States Wednesday, in apparent response to criticism from the newly elected Muslim mayor of London.  —  The planned ban, Trump said on Fox News Radio's “Kilmeade and Friends,” is only “temporary.”

Trump: I Don't Regret McCain Comments, My Poll Numbers Went Up  —  “And what I said, frankly, is what I said.  And some people like what I said, if you want to know the truth.”  —  Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images  —  w.soundcloud.com  —  Donald Trump said in a radio interview on Wednesday …

My Father, Woody Allen, and the Danger of Questions Unasked (Guest Column)  —  EMAIL ME  —  Despite Dylan Farrow's damning allegations of sexual abuse, the director of Cannes' opening film today remains beloved by stars, paid by Amazon and rarely interrogated by media as his son, Ronan Farrow …

Senate votes down Iran amendment to energy spending bill  —  The Senate on Wednesday did not approve a controversial Iran measure that has for weeks held up work on an energy and water funding package.  —  The 57-42 vote, which fell short of the 60 votes needed to pass, clears the way for passage of the $37.5 billion spending bill.

FBI's Comey: I feel ‘pressure’ to quickly finish Clinton email probe  —  FBI Director James Comey said Wednesday he feels “pressure” to complete the federal investigation into Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's private e-mail server competently and quickly.

Megyn Kelly Opens Up About Surviving the ‘Ugly’ and ‘Threatening’ Donald Trump Attacks: ‘I Just Wanted It to Stop’  —  When Donald Trump publicly attacked Megyn Kelly a day after she moderated the presidential debate last August, the Fox News host had no idea it would last as long as it did.

America's Shrinking Middle Class: A Close Look at Changes Within Metropolitan Areas  —  The middle class lost ground in nearly nine-in-ten U.S. metropolitan areas examined  —  The American middle class is losing ground in metropolitan areas across the country, affecting communities from Boston to Seattle and from Dallas to Milwaukee.

Here's the Real Reason Everybody Thought Trump Would Lose  —  We thought Republicans were less, well, dumb.  —  Why did almost everybody fail to predict Donald Trump's victory in the Republican primaries?  Nate Silver blames the news media, disorganized Republican elites, and the surprising appeal of cultural grievance.

Jesse Jackson 'didn't know' dinner companion Le Pen  —  Paris (AFP) - US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson voiced “disgust” Wednesday at the ideas of French far-right veteran Jean-Marie Le Pen, after the surprise revelation that they had dined together in Paris.

Rep. Ami Bera's father pleads guilty to election fraud  —  Babulal Bera admits reimbursing donors to avoid contribution limits  —  Plea agreement says Babulal Bera reimbursed all but $5,326 of $268,726 contributed during two campaigns  —  Ami Bera says he was unaware of the scheme

Trump, Warren Trade Barbs After He Says She Didn't Have ‘Guts’ To Run For Prez  —  Presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump continued his attacks Wednesday against Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), tweeting that she didn't “have the guts” to run for the presidency.  —  He also questioned her Native American heritage again:

Michael Ratner, Lawyer Who Won Rights for Guantánamo Prisoners, Dies at 72  —  Michael Ratner, a fearless civil liberties lawyer who successfully challenged the United States government's detention of terrorism suspects at Guantánamo Bay without judicial review, died on Wednesday in Manhattan.

Trump takes credit for Budweiser name change  —  Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump  —  early Wednesday took credit for Anheuser-Busch rebranding its Budweiser beer as “America” for the summer.  —  “Mr. Trump, do you think you had something to do with Budweiser changing …

Does Old 2012 Clip Of Trump Praising Bill & Hillary Prove He's BRILLIANT?  —  TRUMP: I just like her.  I like her, and I like her husband.  Her husband made a speech on Monday at Mar-a-Lago, and it was very well received.  And he's a — he's a really good guy, and she's a really good person and woman.

About That Woman Dana Loesch Called Flat-Chested... Whoops.  —  Conservative radio host Dana Loesch may want to bury her head in sand for a day or two.  —  Not that she wasn't entitled to trash CNN commentator Kayleigh McEnany for saying anyone who doesn't support Donald Trump isn't really conservative.