Trumpa s VP Finalists Include Christie, Gingrich

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich are among the finalists to be Donald Trump's running mate, sources confirmed to CNN on Thursday. Christie - a former Trump rival turned top defender - has received the official paperwork for the vetting process, according to a source with knowledge of events.

Biden says Sanders will endorse Clinton

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has assured Vice President Joe Biden that he'll eventually endorse his Democratic primary rival Hillary Clinton, Biden told an interviewer Thursday. "Oh, I've talked to Bernie, Bernie's going to endorse her, this is going to work out," Biden told National Public Radio in an interview for "Weekend Edition" that will air on Sunday.

Senate GOP Takes on Dems Grayson, Murphy

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio's last-minute decision to run for re-election - and a television take down of Democrat Rep. Patrick Murphy questioning his credentials and resume - is threatening to upend a crucial battle for Senate control, Politico reports . According to Politico, Republicans are looking to damage Murphy so badly that Democrats will be forced to overspend on his behalf ahead of the state's Aug. 30 primary, or abandon the race.

WashPost: Newt, Chris Christie Top Trump VP Choices

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is emerging as the leading vice presidential candidate for presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie running a close second, according to news reports. But more than a half-dozen other contenders remain in contention as the Trump campaign officially begins the vetting process, The Washington Post reports , based on conversations with "five people with knowledge of the process."

Rank-and-file Republican activists hear Trump rail against Clinton on trade

State Republican Party Chairwoman Jennifer Horn described the group of 150 Granite Staters who sweltered in a vacant, crumbling asphalt lot outside of a shuttered lightbulb factory to hear Donald Trump as "good, solid New Hampshire voters." Horn was the highest-ranking state GOP official to attend the event at the former Osram Sylvania facility, along with a few state representatives and a group of well-known veterans leaders.

Trump naming seasoned GOP hands to Pa. field effort

Donald J. Trump plans to name two respected Republican operatives to run his effort in Pennsylvania amid criticism that the real-estate developer has lagged in building the organization required of a presidential campaign. David Urban will be senior adviser and Ted Christian will be the state director, according to sources close to the Trump campaign who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to announce the move.

Ted Cruz & Jeh Johnson Square Off Over “Islamic Extremism” “Jihad” Characterizations

A contentious exchange took place between DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson and Texas Senator Ted Cruz Thursday during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing into DHS oversight. Cruz went after Secretary Johnson over the administration's alleged "scrubbing" of any references to Islamic extremism or the term "jihad" from DHS counterterrorism literature.

Spotify accuses Apple of anti-competitive behavior

Apple is "causing grave harm to Spotify and its customers," by rejecting an update to Spotify's iOS app, goes a letter sent by Spotify's general counsel to Apple's top lawyer, reports Re/Code . The letter suggests the streaming service intends to use the issue in its fight over Apple's rules governing subscription services using its App store, and copies of it went to - among others - Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who yesterday said, "Apple has long used its control of iOS to squash competition in music."

Top StoryCongress clears Puerto Rico rescue bill, sends to president

Congress delivered relief to debt-stricken Puerto Rico on Wednesday, sending President Barack Obama a last-minute financial rescue package to help the U.S. territory of 3.5 million Americans. The Senate passed the bill on a bipartisan 68-30 vote, three weeks after the House overwhelmingly backed the measure .

Congress approves Puerto Rico debt rescue package

Congress approved a rescue package Wednesday to help Puerto Rico escape a sea of debt, tossing a lifeline to the island territory just two days before it faces default on a $2 billion bond payment. Senators approved the rescue package, 68-30, turning back vociferous objections from liberal lawmakers who said the bill imposes colonial rule on average Puerto Ricans, and from conservatives who said the legislation will end up stiffing the bondholders who bought the territorial government's debt.

David Vitter files bill to zero out Obamacare ‘exemption’; maintains hold on nominee

President Obama's pick to lead the federal personnel office won't get a vote until the Congress cancels its special access to Obamacare health plans, Sen. David Vitter said Wednesday in a rebuke of his colleagues from the chamber floor. Mr. Vitter , the Louisiana Republican who is retiring at the end of this year, is using his senatorial privileges to put a hold on Beth Cobert 's nomination as director the Office of Personnel Management .

McConnell bids to shelter GOP senators from Trump upheaval

In this Nov. 13, 2014 file photo, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., right, followed by Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn of Texas, center, and Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., leave after McConnell was chosen to be the new majority leader, on Capitol Hill in Washington. McConnell faces a nearly impossible task this election year: protecting Senate Republicans from the political upheaval of Donald Trump's presidential campaign.