Police Say Security Guard, Not Robber, Pointed Gun at Ryan Lochte  —  RIO DE JANEIRO — A security guard brandished a gun after American swimmers vandalized a gas station bathroom, Brazilian police officials said Thursday, illuminating many aspects of an incident that has spiraled …

These protesters wanted to humiliate ‘Emperor’ Trump.  So they took off his clothes.  —  For much of the past year, Donald Trump proved uniquely untouchable, a political force of such mind-boggling invulnerability that he even bragged about attracting voters after hypothetically shooting someone on Fifth Avenue.

Gawker.com to End Operations Next Week  —  After nearly fourteen years of operation, Gawker.com will be shutting down next week.  The decision to close Gawker comes days after Univision successfully bid $135 million for Gawker Media's six other websites, and four months after the Silicon …

Justice Department says it will end use of private prisons  —  The Justice Department plans to end its use of private prisons after officials concluded the facilities are both less safe and less effective at providing correctional services than those run by the government.

Breitbart editor planned secret anti-Trump campaign to take down reporter  —  After former Breitbart News reporter Michelle Fields turned against the right-wing news site in May, the site's Washington Political Editor Matt Boyle had an idea.  —  Breitbart has been a major booster …

Trump adviser accused of making anti-Semitic remarks  —  WASHINGTON  —  Allegations of anti-Semitism have surfaced against one of Donald Trump's foreign policy advisers, raising further questions about the guidance the Republican presidential nominee is receiving.

1. Voters' general election preferences  —  Currently, 41% of registered voters say they would vote for Hillary Clinton if the general election were held today, while 37% say they would vote for Donald Trump, 10% say they would vote for Gary Johnson and 4% say they would vote for Jill Stein.

Our Views: Vacation or not, a hurting Louisiana needs you now, President Obama … Homes are surrounded by water in the Manchac Harbor subdivision off LA-42.  Aerials of severe weather flooding in Ascension Parish on Monday August 15, 2016.  —  President Barack Obama speaks during the third …

State Dept. confirms $400 million Iran payment conditioned on hostage release  —  Republicans are claiming vindication after the State Department confirmed on Thursday that the United States conditioned the release of a $400 million cash payment to Iran on the departure of American prisoners from Tehran.

New Ways to Control Your Experience on Twitter  —  We're introducing some new features that will give you more control over what you see and who you interact with on Twitter, rolling out to everyone in the coming days.  Here's what's new: … Notifications Settings  —  Don't want to see notifications from everyone?

Oklahoma Native American Says He Was Attacked Over Redskins Shirt  —  OKLAHOMA CITY -  —  An Oklahoma college student visiting Washington D.C. on a school trip, says he was beat up for wearing a Redskins Jersey.  And the person he got into a fight with was a White House official in charge of American Indian education.

An update on our efforts to combat violent extremism  —  Earlier this year, we announced we had suspended more than 125,000 accounts since mid-2015 for violating our longtime prohibition on violent threats and the promotion of terrorism and shared the steps we are taking as a company to combat this content.

How Bernie Sanders Avoided Disclosing His Personal Finances  —  Hillary Clinton Thanks Bernie Sanders 1:37  —  This story was originally published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C.

Koch network cancels Rubio ads  —  The powerful donor network helmed by billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch is canceling more than half a million dollars in Florida advertising designed to help Republican Marco Rubio  —  in his Senate race, according to Koch network spokesman James Davis.

House panel to probe FBI about whether Clinton perjured herself to Congress  —  WASHINGTON — A House panel will probe FBI officials next month over whether Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton perjured herself in testimony to Congress last year about her use of private email servers while she was secretary of state.

How Trolls Are Ruining the Internet  —  They're turning the web into a cesspool of aggression and violence.  What watching them is doing to the rest of us may be even worse  —  This story is not a good idea.  Not for society and certainly not for me.  Because what trolls feed on is attention.

Cruz's Image Among Republicans Tanks After GOP Convention  —  PRINCETON, N.J. — Republicans' views of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz have gotten significantly worse since he refused to endorse Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention, with his favorable rating falling from 59% to 43%.

Boy in the ambulance: shocking image emerges of Syrian child pulled from Aleppo rubble  —  Boy shown covered head to toe with dust was injured in airstrike on rebel-held district on Wednesday  —  Warning: this article contains images that readers may find distressing

Have North Carolina Republicans Found a Way to Reinstate Discriminatory Voting Rules?  —  DURHAM, N.C.—Bill Brian Jr. already sounded weary, and the meeting hadn't even started.  It was 5 p.m. Wednesday at the county office-building, and a typically sleepy meeting of the county board of elections had turned into a marquee event.

Sen. Sessions: Central Park Five Ad Shows Trump Has Always Believed In Law And Order  —  Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions, a prominent surrogate for Republican nominee Donald Trump, says Trump's 1989 newspaper ads advocating the death penalty for five men of color accused of raping a jogger …

Judge in Newark blasts U.S. attorney for seeking light sentences in corruption cases  —  A federal judge repeatedly criticized the U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark during a hearing Wednesday, scolding prosecutors for seeking light sentences — sometimes with no prison time …