Defining what fascism really is

In the aftermath of the Republican convention and Donald Trump's speech, I have heard people and pundits use the word fascist to describe Trump. While I agree he can be an egotistical buffoon, one should be careful not to confuse his rhetoric about national sovereignty, adherence to the rule of law, and an over the top backlash against political correctness as fascism.

NC Dems return home following historic convention

In a week filled with stirring speeches and standout moments at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, picking the biggest was easy for Sen. Don Davis, D-Greene, a delegate to the event. Toward the end of the call from each state, Vermont Senator and Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders moved to suspend the rules and move forward with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as the official party nominee.

Clinton tries to wrestle change candidate mantle from Trump in Pennsylvania

Hillary Clinton, standing on a metal working factory floor here in Western Pennsylvania, tried to cut into Donald Trump's grip on white, working class voters by casting herself -- not the businessman-turned-Republican nominee -- as 2016's change candidate. Clinton, surrounded by factory equipment and spooled iron, attacked Trump's business record and argued that the more people listen to the Republican nominee talk, the more they realize "he is not offering real change, he is offering empty promises."

Trump says presidential debates shouldn’t compete with NFL

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump says he doesn't like going up against NFL games when he debates Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton this fall and that the football league complained to him about the debate schedule in a letter. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, at the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, in Denver, Friday, July 29, 2016.

The Fray: Jacobson sees Democrats ‘unified’ by convention

Former Orange County Democratic Chairman Jonathan Jacobson gushed about the Democratic National Convention on Friday as he returned from it, calling it the most successful of the 11 presidential conventions he's attended in spite of the sharp party split that carried from the primary season into the four-day gala in Philadelphia. Jacobson, who was a delegate for Hillary Clinton, praised the acceptance speech she had given the previous night, saying Clinton had laid out a positive message while establishing a “clear contrast” with Donald Trump, the Republican nominee.

David Ignatius: Is Russia trying to sway U.S. election?

For many decades, Russian intelligence agencies have used what they call “active measures” to destabilize their rivals. Now they seem to be turning those tools on the U.S. political system, though in the process they appear to have violated Rule No.

Clinton stumps for working-class votes on potential Trump terrain

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, center right, accompanied by Democratic Vice Presidential candidate, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., center left, speaks at an event at Johnstown Wire Technologies in Johnstown, Pa., Saturday, July 30, 2016. Clinton and Kaine are on a three day bus tour through the rust belt.

Libertarian Gary Johnson Keeps Fighting to Join the Presidential Debates

Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party's nominee for president, has made no secret of his desire to be on stage with Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton in the upcoming presidential debates . " Our America Initiative ," an arm of the Libertarian Party, filed a lawsuit last September against the Commission on Presidential Debates, challenging its "15 percent threshold."

Courts derail voting limits pushed by GOP in 3 states

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach listens and takes note as a judge declares in Shawnee County District Court that the state must count potentially thousands of votes from people who registered without providing documentation... . File-This June 21, 2016, file photo shows North Carolina NAACP president, Rev.

Elephant Donkey Symbols 031608

While most U.S. Senators are on a summer break from their home state for a few weeks, Tim Kaine is spending time north of the Mason-Dixon line. The Richmond Democrat has become his party's nominee for Vice-President and he's on the stump with ticket-mate Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Trump and Hillary get transition meetings with White House

With the Republican and Democratic nominees officially in place, White House officials are beginning their efforts to prepare both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton to assume office in January. White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough phoned the Trump and Clinton transition teams Friday to invite them for preparation sessions on the complex workings of the federal government.