Jane Harman to resign from Congress  —  California Rep. Jane Harman (D) will resign from Congress, according to two senior Democratic leadership aides, a surprise announcement that will set off a special election in her 36th district.  —  NBC's Andrea Mitchell, who broke the news of Harman's resignation …

Democratic Leadership Council will fold  —  The Democratic Leadership Council, the iconic centrist organization of the Clinton years, is out of money and could close its doors as soon as next week, a person familiar with the plans said Monday.  —  The DLC, a network of Democratic elected officials …

Betting on News, AOL Is Buying The Huffington Post  —  The Huffington Post, which began in 2005 with a meager $1 million investment and has grown into one of the most heavily visited news Web sites in the country, is being acquired by AOL in a deal that creates an unlikely pairing of two online media giants.

Beck blasts Kristol: ‘Do anything to keep their little fiefdom together’  —  Fox News's Glenn Beck lashed out at Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol on his radio show this morning, accusing Kristol of betraying conservatism and missing the significance of what Beck sees as an alliance between Islamism and socialism.

Ex-Gov. Rendell Splits With Wife After 40 Years Of Marriage  —  Gov. Rendell and his wife, U.S. Appellate udge Marjorie “Midge” Rendell, announced in an e-mail to friends today that they will be “living separately” now that they have left the Governor's Mansion in Harrisburg.

Would Winning The Future Serve The Interests of the US Chamber Of Commerce?  —  At his speech before the US Chamber of Commerce earlier today, Barack Obama tried to affiliate himself with rich businessmen and also touted his commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship:

Obama: Corporate Profits “Have To Be Shared By American Workers”  —  “If we're fighting to reform the tax code and increase exports, the benefits cannot just translate into greater profits and bonuses for those at the top.  They have to be shared by American workers, who need …

Bush 2012  —  John J. Miller has a cover story in the new issue of National Review that's a compelling portrait of the accomplishments of Jeb Bush.  Four years after leaving the Florida governor's mansion, he remains one of the most impressive Republican politicians in the country …

How President Obama plays media like a fiddle  —  In early November, Barack Obama was one sad sack of a president—his agenda repudiated by midterm voters, his political judgment scorned by commentators, his future darkened by a growing belief he might be a one-time president.

Sarah Palin And Gay Rights: Comments Fuel Speculation About Where She Stands  —  ABC News' Michael Falcone reports:  —  Some conservatives who are already upset that this week's Conservative Political Action Conference will include a right-leaning organization that promotes gay rights grew …

Pawlenty: Rescinding Funds To Implement DADT Repeal Is ‘A Reasonable Step’  —  Last month, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty (R) made waves when he suggested that he would reinstate the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy if elected President.  This morning, Pawlenty went a step further …

After Ban, Groups Say Earmarks Aren't So Bad  —  WASHINGTON — Gone for now are the likes of the taxpayer-financed teapot museum, or studies on the mating habits of crabs.  —  But also shelved are a project to help consolidate information about arrests in Brazos County, Tex. …

An ObamaCare Appeal From the States  —  Twenty-one governors representing more than 115 million Americans have written to Kathleen Sebelius asking for more flexibility on health-care reform.  —  Unless you're in favor of a fully nationalized health-care system, the president's health-care reform law is a massive mistake.

Conservative Democrats switch to GOP across the Deep South  —  Defections reflect the Democrats' drubbing in the midterm election and Republicans' consolidation of power in the South.  —  Reporting from Atlanta — For Democrats, Ashley Bell was the kind of comer that a party builds a future on …

The best campaign ad of 2012  —  So it may not actually have been cut yet, but Haley Barbour's rivals will struggle to beat his repurposing of this direct-to-camera endorsement from his 1982 Senate race:  —  I'd like to take a moment to talk with you about our country's future and a very special leader - Haley Barbour.

A License to Shampoo: Jobs Needing State Approval Rise  —  Amid calls for shrinking government, lawmakers across the country are vowing to cut regulations that crimp economic growth.  President Barack Obama recently said it's time to root out laws that “are just plain dumb.”

The CPAC 2011 straw poll  —  Here's the full list of '12 prospects who are listed on CPAC's presidential straw poll this week.a.  Michele Bachmannb.  Haley Barbourc.  Herman Caind.  Chris Christiee.  Mitch Danielsf.  Newt Gingrichg.  Mike Huckabeeh.  Jon Huntsmani.  Gary Johnsonj.  Sarah Palink.

How to Balance the Budget Without Raising Taxes or Cutting Essential Services  —  There's a 19 percent solution to our debt and deficit problems.  —  Sen. Rand Paul's (R-KY) new budget plan cuts $500 billion from the federal budget this year.  Paul proposes cutting defense spending by 6.5 percent, saving $47 billion.

Social Scientist Sees Bias Within  —  SAN ANTONIO — Some of the world's pre-eminent experts on bias discovered an unexpected form of it at their annual meeting.  —  Discrimination is always high on the agenda at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology's conference …

Droughts, Floods and Food  —  We're in the midst of a global food crisis — the second in three years.  World food prices hit a record in January, driven by huge increases in the prices of wheat, corn, sugar and oils.  These soaring prices have had only a modest effect on U.S. inflation …

THE HILL POLL: Voters oppose raising the $14.3T debt ceiling  —  Only 27 percent of likely voters favor raising the nation's $14.3 trillion debt ceiling, while 62 percent oppose it, according to an exclusive poll for The Hill.  —  The poll found solid opposition from Republicans …