Inequality issue can boost Dems  —  A year ago, top Democratic political strategists pointed to one big political stick their candidates could use to beat back a possible Republican landslide in the 2014 midterm elections.  —  The issue: Rising income inequality.

Searching for Hillary Clinton's big idea  —  Here's one thing you won't find in Hillary Clinton's book: a clear reason to run for president again.  —  The “Hard Choices” book tour has had all the trappings of a warm-up for 2016, and even though Clinton insists she hasn't decided yet …

Obama float at Norfolk parade sparks controversy  —  It was the parade float that elicited the loudest cheers Friday at Norfolk's Fourth of July parade.  The crowd lining the streets clapped and laughed as the flatbed truck went by.  —  But one loud voice rose above the rest: “This is not OK,” Glory Kathurima said.

Meet Sean Haugh, the Libertarian pizza guy who may deliver a Senate seat in N.C.  —  Libertarian Sean Haugh is running for Senate in North Carolina.  In a series of homemade campaign videos posted to YouTube, he outlines his positions on abortion, same-sex marriage, the death penalty and more …

Why the White House Ignored All Those Warnings About ISIS  —  Team Obama was told, over and over, that the Iraqi army couldn't stop a terror group that was ready to pounce.  But Washington was a prisoner to its paradox of an Iraq policy.  —  On November 1, 2013, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki visited …

Salmon wants immigrant children quickly returned home  —  U.S. Customs and Border Protection would get the authority to immediately return unaccompanied immigrant children crossing the border to their home countries in Central America under a bill U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon intends to introduce early this week.

Eric Holder's long losing record before the Supreme Court  —  U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.  —  If Eric Holder were a baseball player, he'd have been benched long ago — if not kicked off the team.  His batting average before the Supreme Court is abysmal, losing again and again in his efforts to undermine the Constitution.

Authorities: Military member with concealed carry permit shoots attacker  —  Gresham man injured, charged after firing on group leaving party, prosecutors said … A Gresham man is charged with attempted murder after he fired on a group of people leaving a party Friday night …

The United States' global leadership has eroded  —  The writer is a professor at and past president of Harvard University.  He was treasury secretary from 1999 to 2001 and economic adviser to President Obama from 2009 through 2010.  —  Coaches know that there is nothing more dangerous …

Who Do We Think We Are?  —  WASHINGTON — AMERICA'S infatuation with the World Cup came at the perfect moment, illuminating the principle that you can lose and still advance.  —  Once our nation saw itself as the undefeatable cowboy John Wayne.  Now we bask in the prowess …

It's time for progressives to reclaim the Constitution  —  You cannot talk for very long to a conservative these days without hearing the words “constitutional” and “constitutionalist.”  —  Formulations such as “I am a constitutional conservative” or “I am a constitutionalist” are tea party habits …

AP-GfK Poll: Most Still Align With Dems or GOP  —  Whether it's the Republicans or the Democrats, America's political parties are far from beloved.  Yet most people continue to align with one or the other.  —  Those who claim allegiance to the parties say they are driven by a mix of inertia …