Israel urges world to curb criticism of Egypt's Mubarak  —  Jerusalem seeks to convince its allies that it is in the West's interest to maintain the stability of the Egyptian regime.  —  Israel called on the United States and a number of European countries over the weekend to curb their criticism …

Barack Obama braces for Jon Huntsman 2012 bid  —  The White House expects Jon Huntsman, the U.S. Ambassador to China, to resign his post this spring to explore a bid for the Republican presidential nomination, top Democrats said.  —  GOP allies of Huntsman have already begun laying plans …

The Kochs vs. Soros: Free markets vs. state coercion  —  Palm Springs, California -At the front gates of the Rancho Las Palmas resort, a few hundred liberals rallied Sunday against “corporate greed” and polluters.  They chanted for the arrest of billionaires Charles and David Koch …

Americans Believe GOP Should Consider Tea Party Ideas  —  Half of Republicans are Tea Party supporters; 5% are “opponents”  —  PRINCETON, NJ — About 7 in 10 national adults, including 88% of Republicans, say it is important that Republican leaders in Congress take the Tea Party movement's positions …

Al Jazeera English Blacked Out Across Most Of U.S. … WASHINGTON - Canadian television viewers looking for the most thorough and in-depth coverage of the uprising in Egypt have the option of tuning into Al Jazeera English, whose on-the-ground coverage of the turmoil is unmatched by any other outlet.

DCCC picks 19 early GOP House targets  —  The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has pegged its first GOP targets of the 2012 cycle, launching radio and Web ads in the districts of 19 House Republicans this week.  —  Democrats need to pick up 25 House seats to win back the majority in 2012.

House Republicans Plan to Redefine Rape  —  Drugged, Raped, and Pregnant?  Too bad — Republicans are Pushing to Limit Rape and Incest Cases Eligible for Government Abortion Funding  —  Rape is only really rape if it involves force, according to the new House Republican majority as it now moves to change abortion law.

Losses at Afghan Bank Could Be $900 Million  —  KABUL, Afghanistan — Fraud and mismanagement at Afghanistan's largest bank have resulted in potential losses of as much as $900 million — three times previous estimates — heightening concerns that the bank could collapse and trigger …

Professor Cornpone  —  Ethanol lobbyist Newt Gingrich and us—and the future of the GOP  —  The last time these columns were lambasted by a presidential candidate in Iowa, he was Democrat Richard Gephardt and the year was 1988.  The Missouri populist won the state caucuses in part on the rallying cry that …

Recent decisions amount to a dressing down for 9th Circuit  —  Sometimes the Supreme Court simply decides cases and sometimes it seems to have something bigger in mind.  In the past two weeks, it has been in scold mode, and its target has been the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.