Trump can’t stop making flattering comments about the Confederacy

Praising Robert E. Lee as a "great general" is just the latest example of the president waxing poetic about the Confederacy. LEWIS CENTER, OH - AUGUST 04: President Donald Trump speaks at a rally to show support for Ohio Republican congressional candidate Troy Balderson on August 4, 2018 in Lewis Center, Ohio.

Filmmaker Richard Linklater directs anti-Ted Cruz web ad

Filmmaker Richard Linklater is the latest celebrity wading into the tight U.S. Senate race in Texas with a social media ad attacking Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. The "Boyhood" and "Dazed and Confused" director made a 30-second spot for a political action committee backed by Cruz opponents.

Does Donald Trump deserve to win a Nobel Peace Prize?

Four former U.S. Presidents - Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter, Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt - have won the Nobel Peace Prize. Should Donald Trump's name be added to the list? Does Donald Trump deserve to win a Nobel Peace Prize? Four former U.S. Presidents - Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter, Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt - have won the Nobel Peace Prize.

In Wisconsin, a running mate shakes up governor’s race Source: AP

Wisconsin's Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor has been mistaken for a dead car crash victim, been confused with a white guy, been wrongly accused of kneeling during the national anthem and had his name left out of voter guides. Mandela Barnes is also shaking up the governor's race in a way rarely done by a running mate in Wisconsin.

New York festival urges aid, equality amid security panic

AFP / Angela Weiss Fast-rising US rapper Cardi B performed at the Global Citizen festival and urged young voters to turn out for November midterm elections The music and political worlds joined together Saturday to press for development aid, gender equality and voter participation, with a festival in New York's Central Park marred by a security scare. An unofficial closing event following a week of hectic diplomacy at the UN General Assembly, the Global Citizen festival hands out free tickets to fans who pledge to take actions such as petitioning their governments to support efforts to end the most extreme global poverty.

Samuel L. Jackson reacts to viral Kavanaugh/Pulp Fiction video

Senate Judiciary Committee member Senator Jeff Flake speaks with colleagues after a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on September 28, 2018, on the nomination of Brett M. Kavanaugh to be an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. - Kavanaugh's contentious Supreme Court nomination will be put to an initial vote Friday, the day after a dramatic Senate hearing saw the judge furiously fight back against sexual assault allegations recounted in harrowing detail by his accuser.

Mandela: A life of soaring symbolism, now harnessed by UN

Nelson Mandela's South African journey from anti-apartheid leader to prisoner to president to global statesman - the "Long Walk to Freedom" of his autobiography title - is one of the 20th century's great stories of struggle, sacrifice and reconciliation. Now the United Nations is seeking to harness its soaring symbolism.

‘No worries!’: Angela Bassett lets New York Times’…

"Hey Everybody, no worries!" Angela Bassett tweeted after being mistakenly identified as Omarosa Manigault Newman by The New York Times. 'No worries!': Angela Bassett lets New York Times' Omarosa Manigault Newman mix-up slide "Hey Everybody, no worries!" Angela Bassett tweeted after being mistakenly identified as Omarosa Manigault Newman by The New York Times.

Lincoln the 1st president to use electronic communications

Editor's note: The Illinois Bicentennial series is brought to you by the Illinois Associated Press Media Editors and Illinois Press Association. More than 20 newspapers are creating stories about the state's history, places and key moments in advance of the Bicentennial on Dec. 3, 2018.

Illinois celebrates first Barack Obama Day

The legislature of Obama's home state of Illinois, passed a law last year to designate Aug. 4 as a holiday. Just a few weeks ago, he spoke before a crowd of around 15,000 people in Johannesburg, South Africa, to honor the life of Nelson Mandela.

Michigan NewsAbdul El-Sayed gets national boost as progressives look for their next big win

New York Democratic congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez whirled through Michigan last weekend, stopping for selfies, giving impassioned speeches and stumping for gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Ocasio-Cortez is a rock star in progressive circles, maybe only behind Bernie Sanders, who also endorsed El-Sayed and will rally his supporters this Sunday.

Promoting voter ID, Trump says ID needed to buy groceries

A supporter of President Donald Trump heckles CNN Jim Acosta, left, during a Trump rally at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Fla., Tuesday, July 31, 2018. Trump rallied against Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, saying it's time for Florida to vote him out of office at the rally.

Months of Meryl: The Manchurian Candidate

JOHN : The one regrettable casualty of this feature-film series is, of course, Streep's Emmy winning performance in Mike Nichols' 2003 HBO adaptation of Tony Kushner's Angels in America . Perhaps we'll have time to dig into that series in the future, but suffice it to say we rank her work in it quite highly.