Joseph Curl

Top Dems to Julian Castro: Back Off

Twitter blocks access to tweets lawmakers post — then delete

Anthony Weiner can now rest easy: Twitter is shutting down a tool that allowed a government watchdog group to bring to light tweets that lawmakers posted but then quickly deleted.

IRS official: ‘Lois Lerner was the tip of the iceberg’

The IRS's director of privacy, governmental liaison and disclosure division testified Wednesday that the tax agency set up a special committee with hundreds of lawyers to handle the probe into whether Tea Party groups were targeted, but repeatedly said she had no idea how it operated.

POLL: Voters won’t hold George W., Bill against Jeb, Hillary

While Democratic presidential candidate Martin O'Malley says the presidency isn't a crown to passed between two families, Iowa voters don't seem to care much if the next president has the same name as a former one -- or if he or she consults with Presidents No. 43 or 42.

THANKS OBAMA: HEALTH PREMIUMS TO SOAR

Harry Reid intervened on Nevada proposal to switch to primary

Sen. Harry Reid personally intervened to shut down a move to switch Nevada elections from caucuses to a statewide primary, which political analysts say is a blow to Jeb Bush, who is making the state a key part of his yet-to-be-announced presidential run.

Team Hillary starts lowering expectations: ‘It’s a tough race’

With her poll numbers plummeting and upstart candidates deciding she's not unbeatable after all, Team Hillary is beginning to lower expectations for the once-inevitable Democratic nominee.

Run Warren Run To Close, Close, Close

A MoveOn.org-run organization to encourage Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren to run for the Democratic presidential nomination has finally decided to throw in the towel.

POLL: Hillary Clinton dishonest, untrustworthy

Nearly 6 in 10 think Hillary Clinton is dishonest and untrustworthy, a new poll finds. In just two months, the number of people who say Hillary can't be trusted has risen 8 points to 57 percent, according to a new CNN/ORC poll on the 2016 race. Exactly half agreed that she does not inspire confidence, also up 8 points.

Hillary to kick off campaign June 13 — in NYC?

"Hillary Clinton's official campaign launch will occur Saturday, June 13th, starting with a major speech in New York City and continuing with a nationally webcast organizing meeting in Iowa. Her launch will continue with a swing through all four early primary states," according to a press release Monday.

SCHIEFFER: Media weren’t ‘skeptical enough’ about Obama

In his exit interview after 40 some years as a TV reporter and news commentator, CBS' Bob Schieffer said the media weren't "skeptical enough" of Barack Obama as they greased the skids for his election in 2008.

McCain spanks Paul: ‘Learn the rules of the Senate’

Sen. John McCain, the GOP's top hawk in the Senate, was none too pleased with Sen. Rand Paul's efforts to kill the National Security Agency's phone "metadata" collection program.

JOSEPH CURL: Obama’s EPA Clean Water Act goes after the farmers

Farmers are now the bad guys. President Obama's administration last week claimed dominion over all of America's streams, creeks, rills, ditches, brooks, rivulets, burns, tributaries, criks, wetlands -- perhaps even puddles -- in a sweeping move to assert unilateral federal authority.

Sanders: Women ‘fantasize about being raped by 3 men simultaneously’

Socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders, running for the Democratic presidential nomination, wrote an essay for an alternative newspaper in which he said women fantasize "about being raped by 3 men simultaneously."

Weird C-SPAN phone call: ‘Hi Denny. Remember me from Yorkville?’

A day after J. Dennis Hastert was indicted on charges of "structuring" and lying to federal agents, an odd video clip has emerged showing the former House Speaker taking questions on C-SPAN. The caller, who identified himself as "Bruce" and called in on the independent line, says "Hello, Denny," using the Sepaker's nickname. "Hi, how're you doing," Hastert says.

O’Malley teases with ‘Hail to the Chief’ — on guitar

Martin O'Malley is going to push his youth in his race for the Democratic presidential nomination, and even before he jumps into the race, he's teasing -- with a guitar riff. A new 24-second video popped up on YouTube showing the musically-inclined O'Malley tuning a guitar. Then, at the end of the short clip, he picks out the tune to "Hail To The Chief."

Hastert paid to ‘conceal his prior misconduct’

J. Dennis Hastert, the longest-serving Republican speaker in U.S. House history, was being blackmailed, and he paid millions to keep his secret. That's what federal indictment says, anyway. Hastert has been charged with illegally moving cash and lying to investigators. This is what's known: There is a person -- "Individual A" -- in the indictment (no one knows if that person is a male or a female). Hastert was paying Individual A $3.5 million to cover up "past misconduct."

Democrats join GOP to fight Obama admin’s new rule on streams, creeks

Democrats are giving a big thumbs down to the Obama administration's new regulation to give the federal government dominion over streams, creeks, brooks, rivulets, burns, tributaries, criks, wetlands -- even ditches and really big puddles.

HILLARY REDISCOVERS HER SOUTHERN ACCENT

HONEST OBAMA: My presidency a placeholder until I ‘pass that baton’