GOP operatives dread Trump convention  —  Each presidential election year, Republicans eagerly await their national convention — a four-day celebration that draws thousands of GOP operatives, donors and lobbyists who are ready to party.  —  This year — the year of Trump — it's anything but a party.

Has Paul Ryan Lost the Sparkle He Needs to Sell the G.O.P. Agenda?  —  WASHINGTON — Paul D. Ryan, the reluctant House speaker, eager 2012 vice-presidential nominee and youthful answer to Hillary Clinton, should be sprinting toward the Republican convention, a bright, optimistic star poised to sell his party's agenda.

Four reasons Bernie Sanders waited so long to endorse Hillary Clinton  —  Four days after Barack Obama effectively clinched the Democratic nomination in 2008, Hillary Clinton endorsed him.  Four weeks after Clinton effectively clinched her party's 2016 nomination, Bernie Sanders still hadn't endorsed her.

First on CNN: Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal: I would decline ‘any role’ with Donald Trump  —  Washington (CNN)Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal told CNN Tuesday that he would decline “any role” offered by Donald Trump if contacted, but at this point the presumptive Republican presidential nominee's campaign has not reached out.

Worker Smashes “Racist” Panel, Loses Job  —  (Note: We have temporarily suspended commenting and True Vote-ing on this story because our server couldn't handle the demand; we wanted to avoid having the site crash.  We hope to renew those functions eventually.)

Minneapolis cops working Lynx game walk out over player comments, warm-up jerseys  —  Police union leader says walkout is justified.  —  Four off-duty Minneapolis police officers working the Minnesota Lynx game at Target Center on Saturday night walked off the job after the players held …

Berrien County courthouse shooter identified  —  COLOMA, Mich. (WOOD) — Larry Darnell Gordon has been identified as the man who took a deputy's gun inside the Berrien County Courthouse, fatally shooting two bailiffs and injuring two others.  —  The mother of Gordon's children …

Deputies say they were taunted, served tampered food at fast food restaurant  —  Deputies in Cleveland County were taunted by employees and served tampered food at a fast food restaurant while taking a lunch break in their uniforms, according law enforcement sources.

Hillary Clinton's Lead Over Trump Shrinks After Controversial Week: Poll  —  Hillary Clinton's lead over Donald Trump narrowed to 3 points this week after several days of controversy following FBI Director James Comey's recommendation that no criminal charges be brought against the former secretary …

Clinton Beats Trump Among College-Educated in Bloomberg Poll  —  The presumptive Democratic nominee's lead extends to white voters with college degrees, a group Mitt Romney won in 2012.  —  McCormickJohn  —  Hillary Clinton is crushing Donald Trump among college-educated white voters …

Indicted Dem: Orlando victims would be alive if agents weren't investigating me  —  (D-Fla.) said Friday that if the Department of Justice had been investigating the Orlando nightclub shooter instead of her, the 49 people killed in the massacre there last month would still be alive.

Ryan's request to block Clinton from intelligence briefings is denied  —  Hillary Clinton comments on new investigation  —  Washington (CNN)House Speaker Paul Ryan's attempt to block Hillary Clinton from receiving intelligence briefings once she's formally nominated by Democrats …

‘Lego Disney Castle’ Intricately Recreates Disney Resort's Cinderella Castle In 4,000 Bricks  —  After news leaked yesterday, Lego Group today confirmed a huge 4,000 piece Lego replica of its iconic Disney Resort Cinderella Castle: set 71040 Disney Castle.  —  Having been impressed …

‘Pokémon Go’ on iOS is digging deep into linked Google accounts (updated)  —  Niantic Labs: 'Google will soon reduce Pokémon Go's permission.'  —  If you spent your weekend wandering around capturing cartoon monsters on your phone, you're likely one of millions addicted to Pokémon Go …

Newborn with umbilical cord still attached found abandoned in Lowell, Ind.  —  Share Update: … LOWELL, Ind. - Police in northwest Indian are investigating a report of an abandoned baby.  —  Officers responded to a call in the 18000 block of White Oak Ave in Lowell around 11 a.m. today.

Are We on the Path to National Ruin?  —  San Antonio — I never really understood how fascism could have come to Europe, but I think I understand better now.  You start with some fundamental historical transformation, like the Great Depression or the shift to an information economy.

When Persuasion Turns Deadly  —  Some of you watched with amusement as I endorsed Hillary Clinton for my personal safety.  What you might not know is that I was completely serious.  I was getting a lot of direct and indirect death threats for writing about Trump's powers of persuasion …

Jeb Bush: ‘Conservatism Temporarily Dead’; Pope Border Mass Fueled Trump  —  “I'm disappointed I didn't break through,” Jeb Bush confessed during an interview with MSNBC Monday night.  “This would have been an extraordinary time to serve as President.  The country is desperately looking for leadership …