The Clinton Way … Photograph by Spencer Platt-Getty Images

Two police officers are shot in Ferguson  —  FERGUSON  • Two police officers were hit by gunfire early Thursday outside the Ferguson police department.  —  The shots were fired as police were confronting protesters who had gathered outside the police station.

Iran letter blowback startles GOP  —  John McCain: “It was kind of a very rapid process.  Everybody was looking forward to getting out of town because of the snowstorm.”  —  Some Republican senators admitted Wednesday they were caught off guard by the backlash to a letter warning Iranian leaders …

Rudy Giuliani says Obama should be more like Bill Cosby, blames Brooklyn McDonald's fight, Ferguson cop shootings on President  —  Just when you thought Rudy Giuliani couldn't get crazier, the former NYC mayor blamed Obama for the brutal beatdown at a Brooklyn McDonalds — and said the president should be more like Bill Cosby.

Sir Terry Pratchett, renowned fantasy author, dies aged 66  —  Fantasy author Sir Terry Pratchett has died aged 66, having had Alzheimer's disease for eight years.  —  “The world has lost one of its brightest, sharpest minds,” said Larry Finlay of his publishing company, Transworld.

Democrats Have No Bench?  Be Serious.  —  Dan Balz of the Washington Post says Democrats have a problem for 2016: “The absence of a strong Democratic bench.”  National Journal's Josh Kraushaar replies, “Spot-on.”  The New York Times repeats the “weak bench” line and quotes Democrats who agree …

Secret Service agents disrupted bomb investigation at White House  —  Two Secret Service agents suspected of driving under the influence and striking a White House security barricade disrupted an active bomb investigation and may have driven over the suspicious package itself …

Ted Cruz Without Applause is the Most Gripping Video You'll See All Day  —  The Texas senator tanks at a presidential forum.  —  If, like many Americans, your job involves watching a lot of speeches by Ted Cruz, you have grown familiar with the Texas senator's applause lines.

Univision host fired for ‘Planet of the Apes’ Michelle Obama remark  —  A popular Univision talk show host has been fired for making derogatory comments about Michelle Obama during a popular television show; the comments were widely circulated on social media.

Kerry mocks Florida's reported ban on ‘climate change’  —  Secretary of State John Kerry mocked Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) and his deputies Thursday amid reports that the state's environmental agency banned employees from mentioning climate change.  —  Though he did not mention Florida by name …

For 20 years I fought the law.  Today the law won  —  The police have been trying to nail an editor for years.  This morning, on Hampstead Heath, they finally got one  —  ell, I nearly made it.  More than 20 years of editing, with all kinds of people wanting to sue me and do me for sedition …

Progressives: We've Never Heard Of This “Progressive” Group Backing Obama's Trade Deal  —  The “Progressive Coalition For American Jobs,” run by former Obama campaign staffers, purports to represent the progressive left on the trade deal that the progressive left hates.  —  Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

Justice Obama  —  So in his turn writing “Tilting at Windmills” in the latest issue of the Washington Monthly, contributing editor (and esteemed friend) Steven Waldman needs just three sentences to toss out a very interesting idea: … Jeffrey Toobin actually devoted a long op-ed back in 2010 …