Reid declines to endorse Feinstein's assault-weapons ban  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday declined to voice support for Democratic legislation that would ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips.  —  Reid said he would bring gun-violence legislation …

President Obama's popularity surges to three-year high  —  President Obama is riding a wave of personal popularity into his second term, with his highest favorability ratings since his first year in office, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.  —  Fully 60 percent of Americans …

Israel hits target in Syria border area: sources  —  (Reuters) - Israeli forces attacked a convoy on the Syrian-Lebanese border overnight, a Western diplomat and regional security sources said on Wednesday, as concern has grown in the Jewish state over the fate of Syrian chemical and advanced conventional weapons.

FBI raids West Palm Beach office of doctor tied to U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez  —  The FBI raided the office of a South Florida eye doctor who last year was accused of providing prostitutes to longtime ally Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat.  —  MCAPUTO@MIAMIHERALD.COM

National Income and Product Accounts  —  Gross Domestic Product, 4th quarter and annual 2012 (advance estimate)  —  Real gross domestic product — the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States — decreased at an annual rate of .1 percent …

Outrageous: How the left-wing media lied about Newtown ‘hecklers’  —  National and international media are up in arms today over the story of Neil Heslin, father of slain Sandy Hook student Jesse Lewis, being heckled yesterday during a Connecticut legislative meeting.

Who Are the Gang Of 8 in Senate Immigration Debate?  —  The Senate's so-called “Gang of 8” has gained national attention in the past week by announcing sweeping plans for bipartisan immigration reform.  But who can count themselves as members of Capitol Hill's newest clique?

Obama Urges Speed on Immigration Plan, but Exposes Conflicts  —  LAS VEGAS — Seizing an opening to rewrite the nation's immigration laws, President Obama challenged Congress on Tuesday to act swiftly to put 11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States on a clear path to citizenship.

Fox News Sees Its Worst Ratings Since 2001  —  More ratings woes for FNC since Obama's reelection.  —  January marked Fox News Channel's lowest 25-54 demo delivery for Monday-Sunday Primetime and Sales Prime (M-Su 7p-2a) since August 2001.  —  January was also the worst month ever for FNC's …

Louisiana Will Eliminate Health Benefits For HIV Patients, Poor Children, And First Time Moms This Week  —  Last week, Louisiana's poor and terminally ill residents won a surprising victory when Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) announced that his state would not stop providing hospice care to its Medicaid beneficiaries.

Strict Gun Laws in Chicago Can't Stem Fatal Shots  —  CHICAGO — Not a single gun shop can be found in this city because they are outlawed.  Handguns were banned in Chicago for decades, too, until 2010, when the United States Supreme Court ruled that was going too far, leading city leaders …

Deep spending cuts are likely, lawmakers say, with no deal on sequester in sight  —  Alex Wong/Getty Images - “I think [the cuts are] more likely to happen.  And I'm ashamed of the Congress, I'm ashamed of the president, and I'm ashamed of being in this body, quite frankly,” said Sen. Lindsey O. Graham …

That Cuddly Kitty Is Deadlier Than You Think  —  For all the adorable images of cats that play the piano, flush the toilet, mew melodiously and find their way back home over hundreds of miles, scientists have identified a shocking new truth: cats are far deadlier than anyone realized.

Unions, Hollywood open to bankrolling Obama's advocacy arm  —  Labor unions and Hollywood donors are open to bankrolling Organizing for Action, the outside group that has been formed in support of President Obama's second-term agenda.  —  Traditionally one of the biggest donors to Democrats …

Moving On  —  I was not going to say anything, but rather just fade away.  I suppose though with rumors and reports I should say something.  —  My voicemail and inbox are, as I type, filling up.  I have turned my phone off as the only way to get it to stop ringing.  —  Yes, I can confirm I am leaving CNN.

Exclusive: CIA nominee had detailed knowledge of “enhanced interrogation techniques”  —  (Reuters) - John Brennan, President Barack Obama's nominee to head the CIA, had detailed, contemporaneous knowledge of the use of “enhanced interrogation techniques” on captured terrorism suspects during …

Al Gore Dreams of Electric Jeeps  —  Readers of the former vice president's book might be excused for thinking that all of the evils in the world come from corporations.  —  There have always been two Al Gores.  There is techno-enthusiast Al, who, during his 2000 run for president …

BREAKING: Virginia Senate Committee Overwhelmingly Kills Electoral Vote Rigging Scheme … ProgressVirginia reported Tuesday afternoon that the Virginia Senate's Privileges and Elections Committee killed Sen. Charles “Bill” Carrico Sr.'s electoral college-rigging bill, despite an offer …

Consumer Confidence Survey® … The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® Declines  —  New York, January 29, 2013...The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had declined in December, fell further in January.  The Index now stands at 58.6 (1985=100), down from 66.7 in December.