New York Times Editor Testifies in Sarah Palin’s Defamation Lawsuit

The editor of the New York Times editorial board on Wednesday took the witness stand in a lawsuit filed by former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who claims that a June editorial in the paper defamed her by linking her to a 2011 mass shooting. James Bennet testified at a hearing before U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in a Manhattan federal court that he meant to link Palin to an "overall climate" of incitement to political violence, but not to say she caused the shooting.

Energy Secretary Perry visits Hanford

Energy Secretary Rick Perry, left, closely observes as worker trainers Joni Spencer, center, and Dean Beaver prepare to give a respirator demonstration Tuesday at the HAMMER Training Facility in Richland. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., stands next to Perry and Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., stands in between the workers at right.

Rachel Peterson, director of data center strategy and development for …

Rachel Peterson, director of data center strategy and development for Facebook, discusses the social media giant's decision to build a $750 million data center in New Albany, Ohio, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017. Rachel Peterson, director of data center strategy and development for Facebook, discusses the social media giant's decision to build a $750 million data center in New Albany, Ohio, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017.

North Korea spat renews push to change Guam’s government

The nuclear conflict with North Korea that has made Guam the target of a threatened attack has led to new calls to change the government of the Pacific island whose inhabitants are American citizens but have no say in electing the president or the use of military force. Guam is a U.S. territory where many of its 160,000 residents have long advocated for a different form of government; they just can't agree on what they want.

Trump to tackle opioid addiction in White House speech

President Donald Trump is poised to deliver a major speech Thursday on fighting the opioid epidemic, the deadliest drug crisis in U.S. history. "We're going to have a big meeting on opioids tomorrow," Trump told reporters as he left the White House Wednesday en route to Texas.

Unpredictable Race for Ex-Rep. Chaffetz’s Seat in Utah

As Republican voters in Utah's 3rd District begin trekking to the polls Tuesday morning, no one is certain who among the three hard-charging candidates will emerge the primary with the GOP standard to succeed former Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz in the special election November 7. Since the 3rd District was created in 1981, it has sent only one Democrat to the U.S. House. That was the late centrist Democrat Bill Orton, who won the seat in a major upset in 1990.

Alabama GOP Senate Primary Tests Reach Of McConnell, Trump

Sen. Luther Strange, R-Ala., has been endorsed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and President Trump ahead of Tuesday's GOP special Senate primary. But in Tuesday's primary, the leading candidate sounds and acts more like the president, while it's the incumbent, an appointed senator just fighting to make it into a likely runoff, who has Trump's actual blessing - but also the curse of being Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's favorite candidate.

5 Things That Will Happen When California Secedes from the U.S.

And whenever I see an article about the move for California to secede from the United States , the more I think that a vote to split is , collecting signatures for the 2018 ballot, "We feel like this current initiative is more feasible and will hold up more to scrutiny and legal challenges." " California made Arnold Schwarzenegger its governor.

Kansas Democrat shares ideas after spurning run for governor

Democratic state Rep. Cindy Holscher campaigned and voted for a dramatic shift in Kansas tax and budget priorities during the 2017 legislative session. The Johnson County representative embraced repeal of an income tax exemption to owners of 330,000 businesses and endorsed an increase in the state's personal income tax to close a budget deficit.

Venezuela expected to dominate Pence’s Latin American trip

Vice-President Mike Pence's visit to Latin America comes amid unrest in Venezuela and concern by its neighbours about a possible American military role. Pence planned to meet with Colombia's president, Juan Manuel Santos, later Sunday at the start of a weeklong trip likely to be dominated by conversations about the crisis in Venezuela.

Is there a buyer for Santee Cooper?

Gov. Henry McMaster and other politicians have been angling to sell Santee Cooper, the Moncks Corner-based public utility, after the cancellation of two nuclear reactors in Fairfield county last week. Lonnie Carter, the CEO of Santee Cooper, helped announce the cancellation of two unfinished nuclear reactors at the V.C. Summer station in Fairfield County on Monday.

Trump: ‘Many sides’ to blame for violent clashes in Virginia

President Donald Trump on Saturday blamed "many sides" for the violent clashes between protesters and white supremacists in Virginia and contended that the "hatred and bigotry" broadcast across the country had taken root long before his political ascendancy. That was not how the Charlottesville mayor assessed the chaos that led the governor to declare a state of emergency, contending that Trump's campaign fed the flames of prejudice.

Mike Pencea s official governor portrait unveiled

Mike Pence, who served as Indiana governor from 2013 to 2017, attended the unveiling of his official portrait during a visit Friday to the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis. The GOP lawmaker was joined by second lady Karen Pence; their daughter, Audrey Pence; his mother, Nancy Pence; and Gov. Eric Holcomb and his wife, Janet.