This, Courtesy of MSNBC, Is Trayvon Martin's Dead Body.  Get Angry.  —  A reader of mine sent me this photo last night.  As the murder trial of George Zimmerman wheezes to its conclusion, the TV networks dutifully pipe in live pool video from the courtroom, as if it is force-fed …

You're Allowed To Carry A Gun Into The Texas Senate Gallery, But Not A Tampon  —  An example of an item that's not permitted in the Texas Gallery.  (Credit: Shutterstock)  —  On Friday afternoon, the Texas Senate will vote on a package of abortion restrictions that Republican lawmakers …

Janet Napolitano, Homeland Security chief, to head UC  —  U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is being named the next president of the 10-campus UC system.  (Alex Wong / Getty Images / July 18, 2012)  —  Janet Napolitano, the U.S. secretary of Homeland Security and former governor of Arizona …

Statement by Edward Snowden to human rights groups at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport  —  Edward Joseph Snowden delivered a statement to human rights organizations and individuals at Sheremetyevo airport at 5pm Moscow time today, Friday 12th July.  The meeting lasted 45 minutes.

Pass the Bill!  —  It's beginning to look as though we're not going to get an immigration reform law this year.  House Republicans are moving in a direction that will probably be unacceptable to the Senate majority and the White House.  Conservative commentators like my friends Bill Kristol …

Why I Think the GOP Will Have Control in 2017  —  My assertion that there's a 70% chance that the GOP controls White House, Senate, and House in 2017 has attracted a lot of pushback.  And it's certainly possible that I'm wrong!  Here's my thinking, for what it's worth:

Iowa Supreme Court: It's OK To Fire A Woman For Being Too Attractive  —  Joseph Diebold is an intern with ThinkProgress.  —  Standing by a December decision, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled Friday that a male dentist who fired a female assistant because she was too attractive and threatened his marriage did not commit sex discrimination.

Jars of urine, feces confiscated at TX capitol as abortion bill voting takes place  —  AUSTIN, TEXAS (DPS) — The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) today received information that individuals planned to use a variety of items or props to disrupt legislative proceedings at the Texas Capitol.

Implosion Of Virginia Governor Shows Why We Need To Pay Elected Officials More  —  Is Gov. Bob McDonnell's (R-Va.) fall from grace really so surprising?  —  Alex Burns of Politico expresses incredulity that McDonnell has apparently tossed away his presidential ambitions by accepting gifts …

Concerning “Libertarian Populism”  —  Like any political tradition associated with the defense of privilege, American conservatism has been the object of many efforts to give it a popularizing makeover.  There was the “Modern Republicanism” of the Eisenhower era, which was a useful device …

Holder Tightens Rules on Getting Reporters' Data  —  WASHINGTON — Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., who has been criticized for the Justice Department's aggressive tactics in secretly obtaining phone logs and e-mails of reporters as part of leak investigations, announced new guidelines …

Phonyism  —  On Thursday the New York Times published a front-page, 1,400-word story on the political ambitions of a 26-year-old man who grew up in Ohio, graduated from Brown, married rich, and moved to New York City.  And then moved to Garrison, New York, in the Hudson River Valley.

9 Harsh Political Realities Of Sharknado  —  1. Sharknados are caused by global warming.  —  “Global warming IS the reason...” says a reporter in the film before being eaten live on camera.  —  2. Sharknados are terrible for small business.  —  Multiple small business establishments were destroyed in the tragic film.

KTVU Reports Asiana Air Pilots Were “Sum Ting Wong” and “Ho Lee Fuk”  —  Bay Area news station KTVU just reported that the pilots of Asiana's disastrous flight 214 were the crack team of “Sum Ting Wong,” “Wi Tu Lo,” “Ho Lee Fuk,” and “Bang Ding Ow.”  —  Despite the names obviously …