Speakers at Donald Trump's Convention: Tim Tebow, Peter Thiel, but No Sarah Palin?  —  CLEVELAND — A night highlighting the tragedy in Benghazi, Libya.  An appearance by onetime football star Tim Tebow.  A presentation detailing former President Bill Clinton's sexual misconduct.

What Newt Gingrich Really Thinks of Donald Trump  —  In a private speech recorded in February, the onetime Speaker of the U.S. House, now reportedly on the shortlist to be Trump's running mate, said Trump would lose in a landslide if he didn't evolve to be more like Ronald Reagan than Barry Goldwater.

Fear Factor: Americans scared of their presidential options  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The vast majority of Americans say they are afraid of at least one of the two major candidates — Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump — winning the White House, a remarkable finding that reflects an unsettled nation unhappy with its choice.

Ahead of GOP Convention, Cleveland Officials Affirm Protesters May Carry Guns  —  But water guns, toy guns, knives, aerosol cans, rope, tennis balls are barred  —  CLEVELAND — Cleveland officials said Wednesday that they will uphold the right of protesters at the Republican National Convention …

Trump's Racist Appeal Becomes More Explicit Every Day  —  I can't believe I missed this, but I did: … Josh Marshall: … Trump's explicit race baiting has been so normalized by now that we hardly notice this stuff.  This kind of talk from a major-party candidate for president should be front-page news everywhere.

Trump seeks $10 million from former aide in disclosure case  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is seeking $10 million in damages from a former senior campaign consultant, Sam Nunberg, alleging that Nunberg leaked confidential information to reporters in violation of a nondisclosure agreement.

Trump's ‘law-and-order’ gamble  —  's embrace of “law and order” on the campaign trail is a risk that could pay big dividends, political experts say.  —  Trump, who is on the verge of becoming the Republican presidential nominee next week, has begun to characterize himself as …

APNewsBreak: Sanders has book deal; will reflect on campaign  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Just days after ending his campaign and endorsing Hillary Clinton for president, Sen. Bernie Sanders is preparing to take his message to the printed page.  —  Thomas Dunne Books told The Associated Press …

Disney firefighters were warned to stop feeding alligators  —  PICTURE GALLERY: A 2-year-old boy who was vacationing with his family was dragged by an alligator into the Seven Seas Lagoon at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 14.  —  Orlando Sentinel

‘Gag’ order: FBI confirms special secrecy agreements for agents in Clinton email probe  —  The FBI has confirmed to a senior Republican senator that agents were sworn to secrecy — and subject to lie detector tests — in the Hillary Clinton email probe, an extensive measure one former agent said could have a “chilling effect.”

Couple Refuses To Sit Near Police At Restaurant, Officers Pick Up Their Tab  —  HOMESTEAD (KDKA) — It is a difficult time for the country as nerves between some in the community and police are frayed, but recently, four local officers handled an uncomfortable situation without any confrontation.

The Swinging Days of Newt Gingrich  —  Newt's 2nd wife says he wanted an open marriage.  This 1984 Mother Jones' profile was the first to expose Gingrich's wild side.  —  DAVID OSBORNE NOV. 1, 1984 4:00 AM … The original illustration from the November 1984 issue of Mother Jones.

Chilling photo from fatal crash appears to show man's spirit leaving his body  —  STANTON, KY. - A chilling photo taken at the scene of a fatal motorcycle crash in Kentucky is getting a lot of attention online.  Many people believe the photo shows the motorcycle driver's spirit leaving his body.

Top Dems think Clinton took a hit.  But they aren't particularly nervous.  —  Has the presidential race tightened dramatically in the wake of FBI director James Comey's public comments about Hillary Clinton, in which he recommended against criminal prosecution but was sharply critical of her tenure as Secretary of State?

Gun Deaths In America  —  This interactive graphic is part of our project exploring the more than 33,000 annual gun deaths in America and what it would take to bring that number down.  See our stories on suicides among middle-age men, homicides of young black men and accidental deaths, or explore the menu for more coverage.

Sen. Tim Scott reveals incidents of being targeted by Capitol Police  —  Tim Scott delivered a powerful and deeply personal speech from the Senate floor on Wednesday in which he detailed how, even inside the Capitol building, the relationship between law enforcement and the black community can be strained.

Poor Jeb is right for once: His brand of conservatism is dead — and he's partly to blame  —  Jeb Bush is bummed that the con he's played on Republicans for decades has finally collapsed on itself  —  For those of you who thought “Please clap” was rock bottom for the depths of sadness plumbed …

The Last Word: Rachel Maddow on Trump, Dystopias and Success  —  MSNBC host on relationships, the Republican Party's WTF moment and keeping a cool head  —  The Rachel Maddow Show has been the cornerstone of MSNBC's primetime lineup ever since it debuted in the fall of 2008 …

New librarian of Congress: First African American, first female  —  An administrator so dedicated to bringing the library to the people that she kept everything open during last year's unrest in Baltimore will become the first black American and first female librarian of Congress.