First Thoughts: Best of times (and worst of times) for Romney  —  NBC's David Gregory talks to TODAY's Matt Lauer about whether fierce attacks on Republican presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney will backfire against his rivals or stop what seems to be Romney's inevitable march to the nomination.

Four Pinocchios for ‘King of Bain’  —  Your Browser DoesNot Support IFrames. … — Voice-over from “King of Bain” video promoted by a pro-Newt Gingrich super PAC, “Winning Our Future.”  —  Newt Gingrich, meet Michael Moore!  —  The 29-minute video “King of Bain” is such an over-the-top assault …

How low can he go?  —  Everyone has probably heard the corny “I once caught a fish this big” joke.  A guy boasts about the size of the fish he reeled in, but when pressed, he gradually reduces the actual size of his catch.  The little comedic routine is about exaggeration.  —  I wonder if Mitt Romney has heard it.

CNN's Loesch champions Marine video  —  CNN political analyst Dana Loesch celebrated the U.S. Marines who appear to have urinated on the bodies of dead Taliban members during her radio show on Thursday.  —  “Now we have a bunch of progressives that are talking smack about our military …

Obama seeks more power to merge agencies, streamline government  —  President Obama asked Congress on Friday for the power to consolidate parts of the federal government, proposing a first step of merging several trade- and commerce-related agencies under a plan that the White House …

U.S. Warns Top Iran Leader Not to Shut Strait of Hormuz  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is relying on a secret channel of communication to warn Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that closing the Strait of Hormuz is a “red line” that would provoke an American response …

Tax dollars backing some “risky” energy projects  —  PLAY CBS NEWS VIDEO  —  WASHINGTON - Solar panel maker Solyndra received a $528 million Energy Department loan in 2009 - and went bankrupt last year.  The government's risky investment strategy didn't stop there, as a CBS News investigation …

Ringing Finally Ended, but There's No Button to Stop Shame  —  They were baying for blood in the usually polite precincts of Avery Fisher Hall.  —  The unmistakably jarring sound of an iPhone marimba ring interrupted the soft and spiritual final measures of Mahler's Symphony No. 9 at the New York Philharmonic on Tuesday night.

Inside the Fed in 2006: A Coming Crisis, and Banter  —  WASHINGTON — As the housing bubble entered its waning hours in 2006, top Federal Reserve officials marveled at the desperate antics of home builders seeking to lure buyers.  —  The officials laughed about the cars that builders …

Chris Christie praises Obama political skills  —  In a wide-ranging interview with Oprah Winfrey, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has kind words for President Barack Obama, calling him “charismatic,” “genuine” and “as good a politician as I've ever seen.”  —  Winfrey, who is a well-known friend …

Court filing claims 17 million young adults would lose coverage without health law  —  Seventeen million young Americans would lose promised access to health insurance if the Supreme Court strikes down President Obama's healthcare reform law, the consumer advocacy group Young Invincibles argues in a legal brief filed Thursday.

Book Depicts Cranky Obama On Baghdad Visit  —  The then-candidate “didn't want to take pictures with any more soldiers.  —  President Obama at a recent Pentagon briefing.  —  (Getty Images / SAUL LOEB)  —  Michael Hastings' new book, The Operators, jabs at what could be a vulnerable spot …

Mercedes apologizes for using Che Guevara image  —  Daimler AG  —  Dieter Zetsche, head of the Mercedes-Benz unit of Daimler AG, revealed the controversial ad during a presentation Tuesday at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.  —  By M. Alex Johnson, msnbc.com