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Trump reaches the magic number to clinch nomination — WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump reached the number of delegates needed to clinch the Republican nomination for president Thursday, completing an unlikely rise that has upended the political landscape and set the stage for a bitter fall campaign.
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How to Get Trump Elected When He's Wrecking Everything You Built — A day in the life of Reince Priebus, reluctant GOP peacemaker. … When Donald Trump wrapped up the Republican presidential nomination on May 3 by winning Indiana and forcing Ted Cruz from the race, it fell to Reince Priebus …


Marco Rubio says he's going to the GOP convention — Watch all of Marco Rubio's interview with CNN's Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” this Sunday, at 9 a.m. ET. — (CNN)Marco Rubio says he plans to attend the Republican convention, will release his delegates to vote for Donald Trump …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Hot Air and Political Wire

Rubio: ‘Unlikely’ I'll run for reelection — Mitch McConnell conducted a survey on Sen. Marco Rubio on Thursday: At a GOP caucus lunch, he asked senators whether they'd like to see Rubio run for reelection. — Every hand in the room went up. And then the Senate majority leader told senators …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Washington Post and AOL


Rubio faces pressure to run for reelection as GOP fears grow over his Senate seat
Discussion:
Daily Kos, Post On Politics and The Daily Caller

Delegates in hand, Trump says he's got GOP nomination
Discussion:
whorunsGov, Outside the Beltway and Daily Kos

Donald Trump has delegates to clinch GOP nomination
Discussion:
WTVR-TV, Washington Free Beacon, Chicago Boyz, The Root and The Right Scoop


Sanders camp: Discussions underway for Trump debate — 's campaign manager says “back-channel conversations” are underway with Donald Trump — 's staff about setting up a bipartisan debate between the two presidential candidates. — “I think it would benefit voters from across the country …
Discussion:
Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, MSNBC, Politicus USA and Don Surber
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The Racist Side of Bernie Sanders Supporters — More proof that “progressive” isn't a synonym for “tolerant.” — For decades, one narrative has dominated American politics: That while white liberal Democrats may not be perfect, they are far more trustworthy and far less scary when it comes to race than conservative Republicans.
Discussion:
Truth Revolt and Mediaite

Trump hits 1,237 — 1,237: It's official. — DONALD TRUMP …
Discussion:
ABC News, Washington Post and MSNBC

Team Sanders pressures Trump for debate
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CNN, Mother Jones, ABC News, TIME, Washington Post, Political Wire, Hot Air, Guns.com, New York Times, No More Mister Nice Blog, Mediaite, Common Dreams, Realtime Politics, Joe.My.God. and The Week

Bernie Should've Attacked Hillary's “Damn Emails”
Discussion:
Hit & Run, Common Dreams and Politico


Vince Foster was my brother. Donald Trump should be ashamed. — The writer served on the Federal Trade Commission from 1997 to 2003. — It is beyond contempt that a politician would use a family tragedy to further his candidacy, but such is the character of Donald Trump displayed in his recent comments to The Washington Post.
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Sen. Orrin Hatch reacts to meeting with Merrick Garland before it occurs — Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) hasn't yet met with Supreme Court nominee Merrick B. Garland for what has been a long anticipated encounter between the former Judiciary Committee chairman and the federal appeals court judge he has long praised.
Discussion:
Political Wire, Talking Points Memo, Daily Kos and The Bob and Chez Show


Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Having Only 8 Justices Hamstrings Supreme Court — SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said Thursday that having only eight high court justices isn't good, resulting in some 4-4 splits this year that denied litigants an opinion.

The superbug that doctors have been dreading just reached the U.S. — For the first time, researchers have found a person in the United States carrying bacteria resistant to antibiotics of last resort, an alarming development that the top U.S. public health official says could mean “the end of the road” for antibiotics.
Discussion:
Phenomena, USA Today, Balloon Juice, New York Magazine, Daily Mail, The American Conservative, NPR, CBS New York, Joe.My.God., WTVR-TV, NBC News and Consumerist


We Now Know Hillary Lied Multiple Times About Her Email Server — Ever since news broke that Hillary Clinton used an unauthorized and unsecured private e-mail server for all of her correspondence as secretary of state, she has defended herself with several arguments.
Discussion:
Roll Call, Power LinePower Line, Hot Air and Associated Press
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Baylor Demotes President Kenneth Starr Over Handling of Sex Assault Cases — Kenneth W. Starr, the former independent counsel who delivered a report that served as the basis for President Bill Clinton's impeachment in 1998, was removed as president of Baylor University on Thursday …
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Clinton, Sanders in Close RaceEach Leads Trump in Fall Matchup — Harris, Sanchez Lead Senate Contest, With Nearly A Third Of Likely Voters Undecided — Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are in a tight race in the Democratic presidential primary, while Donald Trump has the support of most Republican primary likely voters.
Discussion:
Washington Post, New York Magazine, Hot Air, Common Dreams, Talking Points Memo, Washington Times and Towleroad


Dem Rep. Calls Out Anti-Trans Witness: ‘You Are An Ignorant Bigot!’ (VIDEO) — During a House Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) railed against a witness who testified against the Obama administration's recent guidance for schools on how to accommodate transgender students.
Discussion:
The Bob and Chez Show and Towleroad
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Congresswoman Shuts Down Transphobic Woman: 'You're A Bigot, Lady'
Discussion:
The American Conservative and Joe.My.God.


EXCLUSIVE: 'Rosie O'Donnell's foul-mouthed rant against Donald Trump as she breaks six-week silence on the Republican front-runner to call him a ‘s*** stain with a tinge of orange’ — Rosie O'Donnell launched a foul-mouth rant against Donald Trump on Wednesday at New York's Beacon Theatre
Discussion:
Raw Story and John Hawkins' Right Wing News


Secret Text in Senate Bill Would Give FBI Warrantless Access to Email Records — A provision snuck into the still-secret text of the Senate's annual intelligence authorization would give the FBI the ability to demand individuals' email data and possibly web-surfing history …
Discussion:
Hit & Run


Obama's Fancy New Mansion Is Located 1,000 Feet From The Islamic Center Of Washington DC — The mammoth, multi-million-dollar mansion where President Barack Obama and his family will reportedly live after the first family exits the White House is located 1,096 feet from the Islamic Center of Washington …
Discussion:
Raw Story, alicublog, Washington Post and Daily Kos

RNC nabs Journey for post-convention blowout — The Republican National Committee has dedicated hundreds of thousands of dollars to bring the band Journey to Cleveland for a post-convention bash. — One source familiar with the details of the event said that the total cost of booking Journey is about $750,000.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo and The Daily Caller


Donald Trump's Top Adviser: ‘This Is Not A Hard Race’ — Paul Manafort explains why his boss is “gonna win,” no prob. — Global Editorial Director, The Huffington Post — Donald Trump “sees himself more as the chairman of the board” of the country. — ALEXANDRIA, Va. …
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Talking Points Memo, Vox, ABC News, Mother Jones, Bloomberg, Washington Post, CNN, Guardian, ThinkProgress, Hot Air, susiemadrak.com and Shakesville