Bobby Jindal speaking truth to GOP power  —  Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal will deliver a forceful denunciation of his party's Washington-centric focus in a speech to the Republican National Committee on Thursday evening, arguing that the GOP is fighting the wrong fight as it seeks to rebuild from losses at the ballot box last November.

Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell Reach Filibuster Reform Deal  —  FOLLOW:  —  Video, Filibuster, Filibuster Reform, Filibuster Reform 2013, Harry Reid Filibuster, Harry Reid Mitch Mcconnell, Harry Reid Mitch Mcconnell Filibuster, Harry Reid Mitch Mcconnell Filibuster Reform, Jeff Merkley Filibuster Reform …

Facebook CEO to Host Christie Fundraiser … Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has gained an ally in the blue-leaning Silicon Valley in his bid for a second term: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.  —  The California tech mogul—who has been measured in his public embrace of politicians …

Feinstein revives assault-weapons ban  —  Bill faces tough going in the Republican-controlled House. … WASHINGTON — California Democrat Dianne Feinstein will begin her fourth full term as a U.S. senator much as she started her Senate career: fighting for a ban on assault weapons.

Democrats launch plan to turn Texas blue  —  National Democrats are taking steps to create a large-scale independent group aimed at turning traditionally conservative Texas into a prime electoral battleground, crafting a new initiative to identify and mobilize progressive voters in the rapidly-changing state …

UPDATED: Virginia Republican State Senator Declines To Back GOP Electoral College Rigging Scheme … In a subcommittee vote Wednesday, Virginia State Sen. and former Republican National Committee Chief Counsel Jill Holtzman Vogel (R) abstained on a key vote on a bill to rig the state's electoral college vote.

In malpractice case, Catholic hospital argues fetuses aren't people  —  Lori Stodghill was 31-years old, seven-months pregnant with twin boys and feeling sick when she arrived at St. Thomas More hospital in Cañon City on New Year's Day 2006.  She was vomiting and short of breath …

Boehner, Ryan gamble on pledge to balance the budget in 10 years  —  Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) pledge to back a Republican budget that balances within 10 years raises the political stakes for his party and sets up another major test of his leadership.  —  Democrats eyeing a takeover …

Democratic Senators Face Gun Owners Roused by Talk of New Laws  —  BECKLEY, W.Va. — Talk of stricter gun control has stirred up a lot of unease here, a place where hunters vie for top prize (a 26-inch LED television) in the Big Buck Photo Contest, and ads for a gun-simulator game ask, “Feel like shooting something today?”

New Mexico Bill Would Criminalize Abortions After Rape As ‘Tampering With Evidence’  —  FOLLOW:  —  Video, Abortion Tampering With Evidence, Cathrynn Brown Abortion Bill, New Mexico Abortion Bill, New Mexico Abortion Evidence, New Mexico Abortion Law, New Mexico Rape Abortion, Politics News

Final election count: Right bloc 61, Center-Left 59 seats  —  After the last vote is counted, officials say Ahmad Tibi's party Raam-Taal drops from five seats to four, while Naftali Bennett's party gains one, Kadima party makes it over the threshold with two mandates.

The “acting alone” fallacy  —  President Obama said this in his 2nd inaugural address: … I object to this move, which seems to have become popular with Democrats in the past couple years, of equating “doing things together” with government.  To suggest that anyone who'd like to see less …

Deficit Reduction Rises on Public's Agenda for Obama's Second Term  —  Public's Policy Priorities: 1994-2013  —  OVERVIEW  —  When Barack Obama took office four years ago, reducing the budget deficit was a middle-tier item on the public's agenda.  Only about half of Americans (53%) …

Lego accused of racism with Star Wars set  —  Lego has been accused of racism by the Turkish community over a Star Wars model that supposedly resembles one of Istanbul's most revered mosques.  —  Austria's Turkish community said the model was based on Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul …

Learning to love grains, potatoes was key to the evolution of dogs  —  You know that dog biscuit shaped like a bone but made mostly of wheat?  Your dog's willingness to eat that treat, instead of going for a bone in your thigh, helps explain how its ancestors evolved from wolves into house pets.