GOP earthquake, Paula Deen's comeback: Today's top moments
Defeated Eric Cantor is stepping down as House majority leader
Now that everyone has picked their jaws up off the floor, it's time to answer the question: Who is the guy who took down Eric Cantor in the Virginia primary? His name is Dave Brat, a little-known economics professor at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Va. Brat's political philosophy is pure Tea Party: The Constitution rocks, small government rocks, fiscal responsibility rocks. The real kicker is that Bart had raised a little over $200,000, while Cantor raised $5 million. Yes, we did that math right. Cantor is the second highest-ranking member of GOP leadership and was on track to become the next U.S. House speaker. He announced Wednesday he was stepping down from his post at the end of July. Brat will now face Democrat Jack Trammell. Fun fact about Trammel: He's also a professor at Randolph-Macon College. Check out what their students say about them on ratemyprofessors.com.
Oregon shooter had hundreds of rounds
He was ready to commit mass murder. Fifteen-year-old Jared Michael Padgett arrived at his Oregon high school on the school bus, just like any other day. But he was toting a guitar case and a duffel bag with an AR 15-type rifle, a semiautomatic handgun, nine loaded magazines capable of carrying hundreds of rounds and a large knife. He wore a vest used to carry bullets and a sporting helmet in a camouflage design. Police are still not releasing a motive for the shooting that left two students dead, including the shooter.
Militants seize major cities in Iraq
Things are not looking good in Iraq. In the last two days, a rogue al-Qaeda splinter group seized two of the country's major cities. On Wednesday, militants seized the northern city of Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's hometown. It follows Tuesday's takeover of Mosul, the country's second-largest city. Witnesses said police didn't even try to fight back. The goal of the group is to create an Islamic territory including Iraq and Syria -- they basically want to erase the border. The fall of both cities is a heavy defeat for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and a sign of a reversal in progress since the U.S. left the country in 2011.
Bergdahl in diary: 'I will not lose this mind'
Several pieces of Bergdahl news out today. First, a Washington Post report found Bergdahl received an "uncharacteristic discharge" from the Coast Guard two years before joining the Army. Second, the Post obtained a copy of Bergdahl's journal from a friend that revealed his fragile state of mind before he deployed. "I will not lose this mind, this world I have deep inside," he wrote. Third, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel defended the handling of Bergdahl's exchange for five Taliban prisoners at a House hearing on Wednesday, saying the U.S. did not violate its policy of negotiating with hostage-takers because Bergdahl was not a hostage -- he was a prisoner of war.
Paula Deen to launch new cooking network
Do you hear that? It's the sound of another disgraced celeb making a comeback (or at least attempting one). Deen, who saw her food empire crumble last year after admitting she used a racial slur, says in September she plans to launch "The Paula Deen Network," a subscription-based Internet network. What, no bacon cheeseburger meatloaf? Shame.
Extra Bites
Day in Pictures: Our favorite photo from today's gallery.
So safe: Video shows a Louisiana tour guide jumped into a swamp to feed alligators marshmallows and chicken. Yes, marshmallows. And chicken.
They thought they lost this in 1792. They didn't.
This is a compilation of stories from across Paste BN.
Contributing: Marisol Bello, John Bacon, Jim Michaels, Nanci Hellmich, Susan Davis, Catalina Camia, Paste BN