Washington flummoxed over federal Confederate flag displays

A year after South Carolina removed the Confederate flag from its capitol grounds, official Washington is struggling with further restrictions on the flag's display on federal property, including in the U.S. Capitol complex.

GOP tries to trick Democrats into abandoning Florida Senate race. Good luck with that.

Donald Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee, which is frightening.We must make sure his hateful rhetoric does not even... Sign if you agree: Presidents do not stop working in the final year of their term. Neither should the Senate.

In party platform, Democrats call for end to death penalty

The latest draft of the party's platform, released Friday, says the death penalty "has proven to be a cruel and unusual form of punishment" that "has no place in the United States of America." The inclusion of the provision represents a victory of sorts for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders - a longtime opponent of the punishment who has said he is remaining in the presidential race in order to fight for progressive causes.

Douglas Brinkley, Ryan Seacrest: Sunday guests

The Sunday morning chat programs will have politicians this Fourth of July weekend, but the lineup ranges from historians, such as Douglas Brinkley, to former "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest . The guest lineup: Sen. John McCain , R-Ariz., and Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C., talk to CBS' "Face the Nation" form Kabul, Afghanistan, at 10:30 a.m. on WKMG-Channel 6. The program also features Mitt Romney and Rep. Adam Schiff , D-Calif.

GOP senator: Lynch should formally hand over Clinton probe

Kelly Ayotte GOP senator: Lynch should formally hand over Clinton probe The Trail 2016: Meet and greet and grief Clean energy group backs two GOP incumbents MORE is joining a growing number of Republicans who want Attorney General Loretta Lynch to hand off a Department of Justice investigation into Hillary Rodham Clinton Labor chief: Clinton-Lynch meet not 'planned in advance' Clinton scheduled to interview with FBI: reports Dem platform draft adopts Sanders proposal on taxing foreign earnings MORE "I believe Attorney General Lynch should recuse herself from this case given the importance of the investigation and the need to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest to ensure that all Americans have confidence in the outcome," said Ayotte, the former attorney general of New Hampshire.

Christie, Gingrich for Veep?

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump could announce his running mate pick before the party's convention to help drum up excitement heading into Cleveland, a source familiar with the process told CNN. Trump, who has repeatedly said his choice for vice president was down to as few as four candidates, and his aides had previously said the pick would likely be announced at the convention.

The Clinton-Lynch Meeting: Corruption, Not Bad – Optics’by David…

The nation's top law-enforcement official and the former president and husband of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee - who is under federal investigation - had a talk. Rather than conceding that such a private encounter is at the very least a conflict of interest, Democrats preemptively complained about the "optics."

Hell, Noby Kevin D. WilliamsonTwo things: First, it is impossible for …

Second, it is easier to forgive defective judgment than deficient honor. Trump is out whining like the spoiled little princess he is and always has been that his fellow Republican presidential contenders, having been vanquished, are not making good on their promise to support the GOP nominee, presumably himself.

AP source: Gingrich being vetted for Trump VP

File-This March 8, 2014, file photo shows former House Speaker Newt Gingrich addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference annual meeting in National Harbor, Md. Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has begun formally vetting prospective vice presidential picks.

Carbon fiber recycling agreement signed today

An agreement was signed today creating a new partnership in carbon fiber recycling among the Composite Recycling Technology Center, Peninsula College and the Institute for Advanced Composite Manufacturing Innovation. Officials representing the three organizations signed memorandums of understanding following remarks by U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Mountlake Terrace, and representatives of the U.S. Department of Energy and the Port of Port Angeles in a packed room at the Composite Recycling Technology Center - referred to as CRTC - located at 2220 W. 18th St. In July 2015, the Port of Port Angeles was awarded a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce to retrofit a facility to house CRTC.

Out with the old

Senators John Hoeven, R-ND, and Heidi Heitkamp, D-ND, Thursday joined a bipartisan group of 10 senators, led by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., in urging the Department of Defense to replace the Vietnam-era UH-1N helicopters as soon as possible. While these helicopters are responsible for protecting the nation's intercontinental ballistic missile fleet, including those located around Minot Air Force Base, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command has deemed them insufficient for addressing current threats to our national security.

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."