"The first debate of the 2016 Democratic presidential primary will be defined by two moments: When the topic turned to Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) chief vulnerability, Hillary Clinton jumped at the opportunity to draw a sharp contrast. When the roles were reversed, Sanders threw her a lifeline. Those two exchanges -- the first on gun control and the second on Clinton's use of a private email account as secretary of state -- exemplified not just the different political DNA of each candidate, it also underscored the brewing intensity of a Democratic primary that few thought would be competitive." Take a look at the transcript of the debate, as well as the top clips. And while Hillary Clinton may have won the debate, did Biden lose it? [Amanda Terkel and Sam Stein, HuffPost]
Army Secretary John McHugh said that in order to have "true and pure equality" in the military, women would need to be considered for the draft. [Ryan Grenoble, HuffPost]
"A relatively small number of citizens can grab a member of Congress's attention through social media, says a report released Wednesday. Fewer than 30 posts responding to a lawmaker's Facebook or Twitter communication is enough to cause a congressional office to take heed of the public feedback, according to 80 percent of congressional staffers who took part in a survey by the nonpartisan Congressional Management Foundation." [USA Today]
Warning: The content is graphic. [Foreign Policy]
Applications to the overseas programs jumped by over half from 2013. [WaPo]
The former NBA star and ex-husband to Khloe Kardashian was found unconscious in a brothel. [Ed Mazza, HuffPost]
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WHAT’S BREWING
And The Morning Email goes into mourning. Till next October, Cardinals fans, till next October. [AP]
"I'm over trying to find the 'adorable' way to state my opinion and still be likable!" [HuffPost]
"Tom Catena is the only surgeon for thousands of square miles in Southern Sudan. His hospital, and his life, are constantly under threat. There is no end to the carnage he must treat, and no sign of letting up. Why does he refuse to leave?" [The Atavist Magazine]
In a three-month period of comparison. [Five Thirty Eight]
"Astronomers have spotted a strange mess of objects whirling around a distant star. Scientists who search for extraterrestrial civilizations are scrambling to get a closer look." [The Atlantic]
WHAT'S WORKING
"One year ago, 243 refugees, most of them fleeing Eritrea, were due to set sail across the Mediterranean Sea on a boat from Libya for Europe. That boat never arrived, and no one knows what happened to the men, women and children aboard. The mystery of what happened to the refugee boat and its passengers is the subject of a new series launched at Medium, an online publishing platform, titled 'Ghost Boat.' Bobbie Johnson, a senior editor at Medium, explained in a post introducing the two-month-long series that the hope is to involve readers in the investigation by releasing the data they uncover as the series unfolds." [HuffPost]
ON THE BLOG
Pack your bags for Hawaii and South Africa. [HuffPost]
BEFORE YOU GO
~ Congrats to Marlon James, the first Jamaican winner of the Booker Prize.
~ It's healthier to eat bugs than steak.
~ Meet the "meme queen" of Instagram.
~ That one time Putin tried to control the Internet.
~ Over $100,000 has been raised for the boy with cerebral palsy who Pope Francis famously blessed on his trip to the U.S.
~ Cockroaches may be affecting your sleep.
~ Yoda is apparently the child of Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog.
~ When the president crashes your wedding.
~ A look at the antitrust questions the SABMiller and AB Inbev deal brings.
~ Here's an edited version of Jack Dorsey's firing memo with the corporate jargon cut out.
~ NYC may soon be rid of the pesky taxi TVs.
~ The woman who landed men on the moon and invented the idea of software.
Send tips/quips/quotes/stories/photos/events/scoops to Lauren Weber at lauren.weber@huffingtonpost.com. Follow us on Twitter @LaurenWeberHP. And like what you're reading? Sign up here to get The Morning Email delivered to you.