Gingrich Threatens to Skip Debates if Audiences Can't Participate  —  Newt Gingrich insists his fans will not be silenced.  —  Mr. Gingrich, a former House speaker, on Tuesday morning threatened not participate in any future debates with audiences that have been instructed to be silent.

CHART: What Romney would pay under his own tax plan  —  Now that Mitt Romney has released his tax returns for 2010, we can have a stab at answering another key question.  What would Romney himself pay in taxes if his tax policies become law?  —  In 2010, Romney enjoyed an income of $21.7 million.

Andrea Mitchell: “Top Romney Advisor” Said “Party Elites” Will Find Alternative If Mitt Loses Florida … Dude!?  —  ANDREA MITCHELL: “I talked to a top Romney adviser tonight who said, 'Look, if Mitt Romney can not win here in Florida then we're going to have to try to reinvent …

In State of the Union, Obama expected to warn that middle class threatened by economic unfairness  —  President Obama will warn the nation Tuesday evening that the decades-old promise of a secure and rising middle class is threatened by economic unfairness as he delivers an election-year State …

The GOP Deserves to Lose  —  That's what happens when you run with losers.  —  Let's just say right now what voters will be saying in November, once Barack Obama has been re-elected: Republicans deserve to lose.  —  It doesn't matter that Mr. Obama can't get the economy out of second gear.

Grassley: Author of legal opinion on recess appointments may have seen her last Senate confirmation  —  Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said Monday evening that he doubts that the Senate will ever confirm again the Obama administration Justice Department official …

Google announces privacy changes across products; users can't opt out  —  View Photo Gallery —  Google announced a new privacy policy and terms of service on Jan. 24.  Here's a look at some of the Google products that will be affected by the policy change.

On a day for team, Thomas left them shorthanded  —  Tim Thomas separated himself from his Bruins' teammates yesterday afternoon when he refused to join them at the White House, a day meant to celebrate their 2011 Stanley Cup championship.  —  The two-time Vezina Trophy winner later …

Hello, I must be going  —  I have some news to share: after three-and-a-half years at the Washington Monthly, I'm moving on.  My last post will be tomorrow and I'll start my new career at MSNBC on Monday morning.  —  Working for the Monthly has been an amazing experience …

The Most Badass Excerpt From Barney Frank's Interview With The NY Times  —  Barney Frank was interviewed about a variety of subjects by the NY Times recently.  Here's how he answered a question about his views on marijuana.  —  Interviewer: You've long argued for the decriminalization of marijuana.

Food containing fetuses targeted under new Oklahoma bill  —  You might think this is a story out of ‘The Onion’ but it is a real story.  —  An Oklahoma lawmaker files a bill to ban the making and selling of food or products that use aborted human fetuses.  —  State Senator Ralph Shortey …

Apple Reports First Quarter Results  —  Highest Quarterly Revenue and Earnings Ever All-Time Record iPhone, iPad and Mac Sales  —  Apple® today announced financial results for its fiscal 2012 first quarter which spanned 14 weeks and ended December 31, 2011.

Why Democrats Think the GOP Race Might Last Until June  —  Game it out for a second.  Look at the calendar.  —  This GOP race could go on for a long time, and Democrats profess to be thrilled about that prospect, about Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich continuing to bloody each other up, aided by Rick Santorum and Ron Paul.

Buffett's Burlington Northern Among Winners From Keystone Denial  —  Warren Buffett's Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC is among U.S. and Canadian railroads that stand to benefit from the Obama administration's decision to reject TransCanada Corp. (TRP)'s Keystone XL oil pipeline permit.

Gov. Christie calls for referendum on issue of legalizing gay marriage  —  BRIDGEWATER — Gov. Chris Christie called today for the Legislature to put on the fall ballot a voter referendum on whether to legalize gay marriage, which Democratic lawmakers have made a top priority.

Boehner: Politics President Obama is running on ‘almost un-American’  —  Washington (CNN) - House Speaker John Boehner Tuesday forcefully denounced the Democrats' campaign theme that they are for the middle class and Republicans are for the wealthy - saying the politics the president is running on are “almost un-American.”

“Self Deportation”: It's a Real Thing, and It Isn't Pretty  —  Mitt Romney unveiled a novel solution for illegal immigration during Tuesday night's GOP debate, saying that he'd rely on “self-deportation” to reduce the number of unauthorized immigrants in the US.  —  Or at least it sounded novel.

Wonkbook: What the State of the Union won't do  —  Tonight, President Obama will answer the question that all of America is obsessed with: Is the state of our union strong?  Weak?  Confused?  Lovelorn?  Obsessed with vampire novels?  All of the above?  —  Here's my guess …

Romney adviser Norm Coleman predicts GOP president won't repeal health law  —  Mitt Romney adviser Norm Coleman, a former senator from Minnesota, predicted the GOP won't repeal the Democrats' healthcare reform law even if a Republican candidate defeats President Obama this November.

Abortion safer than giving birth: study  —  (Reuters Health) - Getting a legal abortion is much safer than giving birth, suggests a new U.S. study published Monday.  —  Researchers found that women were about 14 times more likely to die during or after giving birth to a live baby than to die from complications of an abortion.

Republicans sport ‘1000 days’ button to highlight Senate's budget failure  —  Some congressional Republicans today will wear red buttons Tuesday that read “1000 days” in white lettering as a reminder that today marks 1,000 days since the Senate last passed a budget.