On the eve of the 15th anniversary of 9/11, the Aleppo gaffes show we have learned nothing

The foggy aftermath of Gary Johnson's "What is Aleppo?" gaffe revealed how little U.S. policymakers know about ISIS The 2016 campaign story of the week seemed to be Gary Johnson's blunder during an MSNBC interview when he shockingly asked, "What is Aleppo?" That story, though, is really only the tip of the iceberg. The real story is the response to his gaffe.

Texas congressman calls Clinton ‘mentally impaired’

Rep. Louie Gohmert, never known for holding his tongue, made clear Friday morning that his disdain for Hillary Clinton runs deep. The Texas Republican called the Democratic nominee for president "mentally impaired," a line that drew approving laughter Friday at a gathering of religious conservatives.

Clinton: Time for ‘rethinking’ of US approach to North Korea

Hillary Clinton said Friday it was time for a "rethinking" of America's strategy for North Korea following the regime's latest test of a nuclear weapon. Donald Trump and his campaign chief, meanwhile, refused to outline the Republican presidential candidate's plans for defusing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The Latest: Streisand sings of Trump, ‘sad, vulgar clown’

At an LGBT fundraiser Friday for Hillary Clinton, the singer performed a parody of the Stephen Sondheim song "Send in the Clowns" with lyrics about the Republican nominee. "Is he that rich, maybe he's poor, 'til he reveals his returns, who can be sure?" Streisand sang to an applauding crowd.

Trumpa s running mate once had a very different view of Putin

As a candidate for vice president, Mike Pence is siding with his running mate and casting Russian President Vladimir Putin in favorable terms, saying this week that it's "inarguable" that Putin is a stronger leader than U.S. President Barack Obama. But as an Indiana congressman, Pence took a much more critical view of Russia under Putin's leadership, signing a letter to then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in 2006 expressing alarm about "mafia-style assassinations" being conducted against journalists in Putin's Russia.

Should U.S. pull personnel out of Turkey after coup attempt there?

A powerful California lawmaker wants Congress to consider moving U.S. personnel and military equipment out of Turkey into other Middle Eastern countries in the wake of an attempted coup in Turkey in July. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, the Republican chair of a House subcommittee on emerging threats, said the relationship between Turkey and the United States had changed over the past decade and that Turkey and its president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, could no longer be counted on as an ally.

House conservatives serve notice to Ryan _ and Clinton

Since returning from their summer recess, House conservatives have wasted no time showing just how tough they can make life for Speaker Paul Ryan - and for Democrat Hillary Clinton, if she becomes president. Conservatives look determined to force a vote in the coming days to impeach the head of the IRS despite deep misgivings among other Republicans about such a pre-election move.

Texas GOP congressman mocks Hillary Clinton as mentally impaired: There’s special needs there

Rep. Louie Gohmert, never known for holding his tongue, made clear Friday morning that his disdain for Hillary Clinton runs deep. The Texas Republican called the Democratic nominee for president "mentally impaired," a line that drew approving laughter Friday at a gathering of religious conservatives.

Morning Digest: James Zadroga’s father slams Scott Garrett for opposing aid to 9/11 responders

Donald Trump is the Republican nominee, which is frightening.We must make sure his hateful rhetoric does not even come close... Donald Trump has gone too far with his attacks on Gold Star parents Khizr and Ghazala Khan, whose son Army Capt. Humayun Khan... A Donald Trump White House would be a disaster, and this goes way beyond any ideological difference.

House conservatives serve notice to Ryan a ” and Clinton

House conservatives have wasted no time since returning from their summer recess showing just how tough they can make life for Speaker Paul Ryan - and for Democrat Hillary Clinton if she becomes president. Conservatives look determined to force a vote in coming days to impeach the head of the IRS despite deep misgivings among other Republicans about such a pre-election move.

Minnesota Supreme Court being asked to remove Trump-Pence from ballot

The DFL Party is asking the state Supreme Court to remove Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and running mate Mike Pence from the general election ballot in Minnesota. A petition filed late Thursday asks the court to order the secretary of state to strip the names off the Nov. 8 ballot.

Constantly Shifting Alliances in Syrian Civil War Are Orwell on Steroids

The United States, like every other interest involved in Syria, is on every side of the war. But let's talk about horse-race politics! So what did we learn from yesterday's impromptu lesson on how little everyone in the United States- from presidential candidates to former Iraqi ambassadors to the planet's "paper of record" -actually knows about the six-year-old Syrian civil war? Various things, I suppose, but for me the big reveal goes something like this: The commentariat is far more interested in discussing the media fallout of blunders such as Gary Johnson's cringe-inducing "What Is Aleppo?" remark than actually discussing what various candidates plan to do regarding U.S. foreign policy.

GOP blames Obama for slow-walking North Korea sanctions

A key Republican lawmaker demanded on Friday that the Obama administration implement tougher sanctions against North Korea after its Thursday nuclear test of its largest nuclear bomb so far. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, R-Calif., said the test shows the U.S. needs to be tougher on North Korea, and blamed the Obama administration for failing to implement the sanctions options approved by Congress just this year.

Trump calls Putin interference unlikely on Russian TV

Donald Trump gave an interview Thursday that aired on a television station funded by the Kremlin, arguing that the Russian government was "probably" not meddling in the American presidential race. Speaking to Larry King on RT America, which is an arm of government-funded news outlet Russia Today, Trump said it would "not be appropriate" if Russian forces were looking to influence the race, which is suspected by some investigators and has been fanned by Hillary Clinton's campaign as recently as Thursday morning.

House conservatives serve notice to Ryan – and Clinton

House conservatives have wasted no time since returning from their summer recess showing just how tough they can make life for Speaker Paul Ryan - and for Democrat Hillary Clinton if she becomes president. Conservatives look determined to force a vote in coming days to impeach the head of the IRS despite deep misgivings among other Republicans about such a pre-election move.

DOJ reportedly granted immunity to computer expert who deleted Clinton emails

The Department of Justice reportedly gave immunity to a computer expert who deleted Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's emails during its investigation into her private email server despite being ordered by Congress to keep them. The New York Times reported Thursday that the Justice Department's immunity deal with Paul Combetta likely means that Republican lawmakers' calls for federal authorities to investigate his deletions will go unheard.