Sarah Palin displays her pitch-perfect populism  —  The snows that obliterated Washington in the past week interfered with many scheduled meetings, but they did not prevent the delivery of one important political message: Take Sarah Palin seriously.  —  Her lengthy Saturday night keynote address …

Protests in Iran - LIVE  —  Protesters have clashed again with the Iranian security forces amid official celebrations to mark the 31st anniversary of the revolution.  Follow live updates  —  4.29pm:  —  Tehran Bureau has published a transcript of an interview with Hossein Karroubi son of the opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi's son.

Joe Biden update: Iraq one of Obama's ‘great achievements’  —  Who knew?  —  Thank goodness, Vice President Joe Biden went on CNN to chat with Larry King Wednesday night.  So many think things are not going so well for the Democrat administration, as The Ticket chronicled here.

Diaz-Balart won't seek reelection  —  Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) will announce his retirement this afternoon at a press conference at Florida International University, according to two Republican sources familiar with his decision.  —  Diaz-Balart, who has served in the House since 1992 …

Obama ‘Agnostic’ on Deficit Cuts, Won't Prejudge Tax Increases  —  Feb. 11 (Bloomberg) — President Barack Obama said he is “agnostic” about raising taxes on households making less than $250,000 as part of a broad effort to rein in the budget deficit.  —  Obama, in a Feb. 9 Oval Office interview …

Pelosi Makes Her Case: A Majority Is 51 Votes  —  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is pinning the blame on Republicans for a lack of bipartisanship in Congress and plans to bypass them if they continue to oppose efforts to enact near-universal health care.

Elizabeth Edwards Threatens Husband's Ex-Aide With Lawsuit  —  Andrew Young May Be Sued for Allegedly Contributing to Failure of Edwards' Marriage  —  Elizabeth Edwards may be preparing to sue her husband's longtime aide for allegedly contributing to the demise of her marriage.

2 ex-employees say Blackwater billed government for prostitute  —  Two former employees of Blackwater Worldwide have accused the private security contractor of defrauding the government for years with phony billing, including charging for a prostitute, alcohol and spa trips.

Left frets over fate of 'don't ask'  —  Congressional liberals were heartened when Barack Obama pledged to repeal “don't ask, don't tell,” but their initial elation has given way to concerns the repeal will stall in the penalty box of presidential promises: the U.S. Senate.

Food stamps  —  I can't get over the fact that one in eight Americans are on food stamps.  —  Graph credit: The New York Times.

EU Leaders Agree on Greece Support  —  BRUSSELS—Euro-zone countries will provide “determined and coordinated action if needed” to preserve stability in the currency union, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said at a summit of European Union leaders Thursday, but he gave few details …

Obama Takes Several Gambles in Bid to Defuse Nuclear Standoff With Iran  —  WASHINGTON — As President Obama adds economic pressure and military containment to force Iran's leadership to negotiate on its nuclear program, he is taking three big bets on his ability to defuse an increasingly tense confrontation.