House rejects measure that would extend key Patriot Act provisions through December  —  A measure to extend key provisions of the Patriot Act counterterrorism surveillance law through December failed the House Tuesday night, with more than two-dozen Republicans bucking their party to oppose the measure.

Arianna Huffington's ideological transformation  —  Did Arianna Huffington just sell out her fellow progressives?  —  In the literal sense, she undoubtedly has: The sale of Huffington Post to AOL for $315 million (including a large pile of cash going to Huffington herself) …

Obama's Approval Rating on Deficit Sinks to New Low  —  Egypt ranks among issues on which Obama is best rated  —  PRINCETON, NJ — President Barack Obama's approval rating for handling the federal budget deficit has gone from bad to worse in recent months, even as his ratings …

Saudi oil reserves ‘overstated by 40%’  —  US diplomat convinced by Saudi expert that reserves of world's biggest oil exporter have been overstated by nearly 40%  —  The US fears that Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude oil exporter, may not have enough reserves to prevent oil prices escalating …

Plans Near for Freddie and Fannie  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration and House Republicans are settling into a game of chicken over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, with each side daring the other to advance a plan for replacing the two housing finance companies.

Muslim Brotherhood: ‘We are not seeking power’  —  Cairo, Egypt (CNN) — Keeping with the low-profile it has adopted in Egypt's uprising, the Muslim Brotherhood said Wednesday it wants to promote democracy but does not intend to field a candidate for president.

Unbiasing Academia  —  I'm not surprised that John Tierney's new article on Jonathan Haidt has gotten a lot of attention from conservatives; it involves a liberal academic telling them something they already know: that academia discriminates against them. … In blog years, this is an age-old argument.

Chris Matthews Calls Palin ‘A Cuckoo Clock’ and Gingrich ‘A Mortal Enemy to Our Civilization’  —  Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey said Monday that MSNBC's Chris Matthews “seems to be slipping out of touch with reality.”  —  On Tuesday, the “Hardball” host proved Armey's point by calling Sarah Palin …

Obama Seeks $53 Billion Over Six Years to Build High-Speed Rail Networks  —  President Barack Obama will ask Congress next week to approve a six-year, $53 billion program for construction of a national high-speed and intercity rail network, Vice President Joe Biden said.

Former Judge Is on Trial in ‘Cash for Kids’ Scheme  —  SCRANTON, Pa. — A former Pennsylvania judge went on trial in federal court on Tuesday, charged with racketeering, bribery and extortion in what prosecutors say was a $2.8 million scheme to send juvenile delinquents to privately run prisons.

Rick Santorum: Sarah Palin skips CPAC for C-notes  —  Rick Santorum knocked Sarah Palin's decision to skip CPAC, saying on Tuesday that she must have “business opportunities” that are keeping her from the annual conservative conference that is a showcase for potential presidential contenders.

Protest in Egypt Takes a Turn as Workers Go on Strike  —  CAIRO — Protesters demanding the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak appeared on Wednesday to have recaptured the initiative in their battle with his government, demonstrating a new ability to mobilize thousands to take over Cairo's streets beyond …

Barack Obama: “I didn't raise taxes once.”  —  President Barack Obama says he didn't raise taxes once.  —  In an interview on Super Bowl Sunday, Fox News host Bill O'Reilly asked President Barack Obama to react to a Wall Street Journal editorial that accused Obama of being …

Planned Parenthood Video Fuels Abortion Debate  —  Undercover Video Shows Fake Pimp Seeking Abortions for Underage Sex Workers, Getting Advice from Planned Parenthood Employees  —  (CBS) In Washington Tuesday the House began hearings on the controversial subject of abortion.

Rep. Fred Upton On Global Warming: ‘I Do Not Accept That It Is Man-Made’  —  At a public forum today, Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), the new head of the House energy committee, denied that climate change is manmade.  Upton, who received $20,000 from Koch Industries in his most recent campaign …

Christine O'Donnell Will Use Committee To ‘Investigate’ Left-Wing Groups  —  Failed GOP Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell is back, and she's telling supporters she wants her newly formed political action committee ChristinePAC to “investigate and counter attack leftwing groups.”

Brown Hopes to Raise $25 Million for Reelection  —  The current media tour of Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., is about more than hawking a book.  It's a launching point for his goal of raising an eye-popping $25 million for his 2012 reelection bid, more than twice what Massachusetts Democrats have figured he would have on hand.