Fake CNN email used as dirty trick in South Carolina  —  CNN did not send out the email alert.  —  Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @politicalticker  —  It's not clear how many people received the fake email, though at least two members of the South Carolina GOP Executive Committee …

SOPA and PIPA dead ? for now  —  House and Senate leaders abandoned plans to move on SOPA and PIPA on Friday — the surest sign yet that a wave of online protests have killed the controversial anti-piracy legislation for now and maybe forever.  —  SOPA sponsor Lamar Smith …

Breaking News: Supreme Court Decides Texas Redistricting Case, Reverses Lower Court  —  In a unanimous per curiam opinion, the Supreme Court (with Justice Thomas concurring separately in the judgment) has reversed the maps drawn by the three judge court and remanded to draw new maps under new standards.

Taxes at the Top  —  Call me peculiar, but I'm actually enjoying the spectacle of Mitt Romney doing the Dance of the Seven Veils — partly out of voyeurism, of course, but also because it's about time that we had this discussion.  —  The theme of his dance, for those who haven't been paying attention, is taxes — his own taxes.

Romney: I Won't Release My Tax Returns Because 'I Don't Want To Give The Democrats A Nice Little Present'  —  GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney endured a hail of boos during the CNN debate last night when he refused to commit to releasing his 2011 tax returns.

Canada Pledges to Sell Oil to Asia After Obama Rejects Keystone Pipeline  —  President Barack Obama's decision yesterday to reject a permit for TransCanada Corp.'s Keystone XL oil pipeline may prompt Canada to turn to China for oil exports.  —  Prime Minister Stephen Harper …

Singing legend Etta James dies at 73  —  Etta James, here performing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2009, died Friday, January 20, due to complications from leukeimia, said her longtime friend and manager, Lupe De Leon.  The singer was 73.  —  HIDE CAPTION  —  Etta James through the years

Obama Administration Approves Rule That Guarantees Near-Universal Contraceptive Coverage  —  Our guest blogger is Jessica Arons, Director of the Women's Health and Rights Program at American Progress.  —  Today, in a huge victory for women's health, Health and Human Services Secretary …

Why the feds smashed Megaupload  —  The US government dropped a nuclear bomb on “cyberlocker” site Megaupload today, seizing its domain names, grabbing $50 million in assets, and getting New Zealand police to arrest four of the site's key employees, including enigmatic founder Kim Dotcom.

Afghanistan's Soldiers Step Up Killings of Allied Forces  —  KABUL, Afghanistan — American and other coalition forces here are being killed in increasing numbers by the very Afghan soldiers they fight alongside and train, in attacks motivated by deep-seated animosity between the supposedly allied forces …

The GOP's suicide march  —  “Are you better off today than you were $4 trillion ago?”  — former presidential candidate Rick Perry  —  It's the campaign line of the year, and while the author won't be carrying it into the general election, the eventual nominee will.

Love online: 100,000 Grindr users exposed in hack attack  —  The Grindr app, left, and founder Joel Simkhai's profile.  —  A popular “meat-market” smartphone app that spawned a sexual revolution in Australia's gay community has been compromised by a Sydney hacker, potentially exposing …

Obama Sings Soul Tune in Harlem  —  Shortly after taking the stage tonight for a fundraiser at the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem, President Obama broke into song.  —  Obama, standing behind the presidential podium, thanked his hosts and the performers who preceded him, including soul singer Al Green.