The Virus of Cynicism  —  WE have no clue at this point how far Ebola could spread in the United States — and no reason for panic.  —  But one dimension of the disease's toll is clear.  It's ravaging Americans' already tenuous faith in the competence of our government and its bureaucracies.

Where's the empathy for Ebola's African victims?  —  The Ebola epidemic … (CNN) — The world's response to Ebola is its own sort of tragedy.  —  Two facts make the point clear:  — The United Nations has asked for $1 billion to fight the spread of the virus.

Black Vote Seen as Last Hope for Democrats to Hold Senate  —  WASHINGTON — The confidential memo from a former pollster for President Obama contained a blunt warning for Democrats.  Written this month with an eye toward Election Day, it predicted “crushing Democratic losses across the country” …

Obama's standing with women hurts Senate Dems  —  Female voters powered President Barack Obama's victory over Mitt Romney in 2012, as Democrats leaned heavily on social issues to rally single women and suburban moms to the polls.  —  But with two weeks until Election Day …

The Court won't interrupt Texas voter ID law  —  In a stinging defeat for the Obama administration and a number of civil rights groups in a major test case on voters' rights, a divided Supreme Court told the state of Texas early Saturday morning that it may enforce its strict voter ID law …

Conservative Cardinal Who Clashed With Pope Francis Confirms He Has Been Ousted  —  The head of the Catholic Church's highest court speaks to BuzzFeed News from the Vatican.  —  Cardinal Raymond Burke leaves meeting during Extraordinary Synod on the Family in Vatican City.  —  Franco Origlia / Getty Images

The nasty politicization of Ebola  —  Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, administered a dose of truth to political Washington this week.  —  For this honest service, Collins was pilloried.  —  Dana Milbank writes about political theater in the nation's capital.

There's Only One Way to Beat ISIS: Work with Assad and Iran  —  The Obama administration has pulled together a coalition as ineffectual as it is unwilling.  It's time to join up with the forces, however unsavory, that can do the job.  —  Earlier this week, outside Washington …

Unable to Meet the Deductible or the Doctor  —  Patricia Wanderlich got insurance through the Affordable Care Act this year, and with good reason: She suffered a brain hemorrhage in 2011, spending weeks in a hospital intensive care unit, and has a second, smaller aneurysm that needs monitoring.