Editorial: Smarter federal justice close at hand – Thu, 09 Jun 2016 PST

Republicans and Democrats have coalesced around the idea of federal sentencing reform to address the nation's high incarceration rate, but proposed legislation is serving a longer stretch in Congress than it should. Republicans and Democrats have coalesced around the idea of federal sentencing reform to address the nation's high incarceration rate, but proposed legislation is serving a longer stretch in Congress than it should.

Dana Milbank: Can’t be shocked Trump is racist – Thu, 09 Jun 2016 PST

At a rally Friday, Trump was discussing racial violence at his events and the perception that nonwhite people are against him, when he singled out a black man in the crowd. At a rally Friday, Trump was discussing racial violence at his events and the perception that nonwhite people are against him, when he singled out a black man in the crowd.

Bernie Bros Open Up to #FeelTheJohnson

With Bernie out, Sanders supporters are desperately looking to find a candidate worth their vote. But with Hillary representing the crony politics they've come to hate, and Trump being so horrendously awful for many of the same reasons and more, what kind of candidate can the wayward Democrats get a firm grip on, and ride to the finish? As it turns out, Johnson is that choice.

Now that there’s a Democrat in gov’s office, Scott targets Louisiana

Scott announced Wednesday that he is heading next week to Louisiana, where a s pecial session of the Legislature began Monday to cover a $600 million budget shortfall. New Gov. John Bel Edwards is looking to raise the state's income tax to help cover the budget hole, over push-back from the Republican-run Legislature.

House Speaker Paul Ryan Urges GOP Unity Behind Donald Trump

"Speaker Ryan reconfirmed the detailed discussions that he's had with Mr. Trump, and he reconfirmed that he as Speaker remains comfortable with Mr. Trump as our nominee," Rep. Chris Collins, R-New York, told reporters, an account seconded by other members. On Tuesday, Ryan slammed Trump's comments about federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel.

S.C. Democrats: Trump is a ‘threat’; withdraw your endorsements

South Carolina's top Democrat is calling on elected Republicans to rescind their endorsements of Donald Trump, saying Wednesday that the presumptive GOP nominee is a racist and xenophobe, in part due to his race-based attacks on a Hispanic judge. During a news conference, party Chairman Jaime Harrison said that, while he respects Republicans and their party, he doesn't understand how officials including Gov. Nikki Haley can condemn Trump's divisive rhetoric, yet say they still feel he's the best choice to be president.

Donald Trump drops hints on VP pick, says he has narrowed field down to ‘four or five’ candidates

In his first interview since the end of Republican primary season, Donald Trump discussed the progress he's made in his search for a running mate. The presumptive Republican nominee for president told Bloomberg that he has narrowed the field to "four or five politicians from within the party's establishment."

Brownback sets school finance special session a week before deadline

During a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Sam Brownback discusses his frustrations of being forced to call a special session to prevent schools from being closed due to the supreme court's ruling in the Gannon case. During a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Sam Brownback discusses his frustrations of being forced to call a special session to prevent schools from being closed due to the supreme court's ruling in the Gannon case.

Time to back the winner? Clinton, Trump try to unify parties

Energized by a final batch of primary victories, Hillary Clinton is setting out on the difficult task of uniting her fractured Democratic Party for the five-month presidential battle with Republican Donald Trump. Fellow Democrats urged Bernie Sanders to end his all-but-hopeless challenge to her, but still tried to give him space to make that difficult decision.

Ted Cruz proposes bill to keep U.S. from giving up internet governance role

Internet legislation proposed Wednesday in the Senate would prohibit the U.S. government from relinquishing its role with respect to overseeing the web's domain name system, or DNS, unless explicitly authorized by Congress. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration , a division of the Commerce Department, currently oversees control of the DNS, a virtual phonebook of sorts that allows internet users to easily browse the web by allocating domain names to websites the world over.

‘Fear and loathing’: Republican senator says his colleagues are bummed about Donald Trump

The Arizona senator, who has refused to endorse Trump, told KTAR's Bruce St. James and Pamela Hughes that there's little "enthusiasm" and plenty of "fear and loathing" among his Senate colleagues regarding the Trump candidacy. "Donald Trump did not receive a lot of - well, I guess there was one endorsement from the Senate prior to his claiming the nomination or being the presumptive nominee, just one," the Republican senator said, as first reported by BuzzFeed News .

State pollsters earn good grades

North Carolina has one of the most-polled electorates in the United States. As we head into a general election full of highly competitive races for governor, senator, president, and other offices, those of us who closely follow politics in the Tar Heel State will again appreciate the high frequency of polling available.

Garrett wins 5th District GOP nomination for Congress

U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett moved past two Republican primary challengers Tuesday to win his party's nomination to seek an eighth term representing the 5th District in northern and western New Jersey. Garrett of Wantage Township, Sussex County, this fall will face Democrat Josh Gottheimer of Wyckoff, Bergen County, a speechwriter for former President Bill Clinton and former Microsoft manager.

Lance defeats two 7th District challengers to win GOP nomination for Congress

As expected, U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance fended off two challengers Tuesday to win the Republican nomination to seek a fifth term representing north-central New Jersey's 7th District. Collecting 15,780 votes with 52 percent counted, he defeated businessman David Larsen of Oldwick, Hunterdon County, for the fourth time in a primary contest and first-time candidate Craig Heard of Succasunna, Morris County, another businessman.