Newt expands South Carolina lead  —  Newt Gingrich heads into South Carolina election day as the clear front runner in the state: he's now polling at 37% to 28% for Mitt Romney, 16% for Rick Santorum, and 14% for Ron Paul.  —  Gingrich's lead has actually increased in the wake of his ex-wife's controversial interview with ABC.

Justices Bar Texas Court's Election Map  —  WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court on Friday ordered new interim maps drawn for Texas' April 3 primary, handing Republicans a partial if possibly short-lived victory in a battle over as many as four House seats.  —  The unsigned decision sends the case …

Florida debate uncertain without Romney commitment  —  Mitt Romney's campaign has not said they are committed to Monday night's Republican debate in Tampa, Fla., leading to speculation the former governor will not be participating.  —  NBC News has not canceled the event but a statement …

Consumer group accuses Hollywood of ‘threatening politicians’  —  Consumer group Public Knowledge on Friday accused the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and its head, former Sen. Chris Dodd, of trying to intimidate lawmakers into supporting a pair of controversial anti-piracy bills.

Blacks Face Bias in Bankruptcy, Study Suggests  —  Blacks are about twice as likely as whites to wind up in the more onerous and costly form of consumer bankruptcy as they try to dig out from their debts, a new study has found.  —  The disparity persisted even when the researchers adjusted for income …

Barack Obama's Middle East Miscalculation  —  In Egypt, we are witnessing the democratic election of a dictatorship  —  A little-noticed event gives a grim insight into what is really happening in the Middle East.  The euphoria of the “Arab Spring,” the instant Twitter-style transition …

Doubts creep in as an awkward Romney tries not to lose GOP nod  —  What's wrong with Mitt Romney?  —  In the early stages of this cycle's Republican nominating process, the former Massachusetts governor seemed confident and sure-footed.  Now he seems awkward and defensive.

No more ‘women and children first’  —  When Western civilization hits the iceberg, will the response be more like that of the crew on the Titanic or that on the Costa Concordia?  —  Text: Next Article »  —  Orange Punch Blog |  Brian Calle's blog |  Political Cartoons |

A statement by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius  —  In August 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services issued an interim final rule that will require most health insurance plans to cover preventive services for women including recommended …

NBC's Chuck Todd Blasts Stephen Colbert: ‘He Is Making A Mockery Of The System’  —  Appearing at a Winthrop University panel Thursday, MSNBC host and NBC White House correspondent Chuck Todd ripped into Stephen Colbert and his not-yet-official run, suggesting that Colbert might …

Our Mr. Brooks Climbs The Romney Family Tree  —  The applause came from deep in the plush leather armchairs gathered by the fireplace in the clubroom of the Premature Fogies Club.  It was warm and sustaining, as was the morning brandy.  People touched the patches on his master's blazer as he walked by.