Hagel's Hearing: Profoundly Depressing  —  Chuck Hagel at his confirmation hearing Thursday before the Senate Armed Services Committee.  —  Watching the Senate Armed Services Committee interact Thursday with former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel—President Obama's candidate to be secretary of defense …

Keeping our users secure  —  As you may have read, there's been a recent uptick in large-scale security attacks aimed at U.S. technology and media companies.  Within the last two weeks, the New York Times and Wall Street Journal have chronicled breaches of their systems …

Scott Brown will not run for US Senate  —  Scott Brown, who surprised the political world with his upset victory in the 2010 special election, announced Friday afternoon that he will not enter the special election to replace John F. Kerry.  —  “I was not at all certain that a third Senate campaign …

Former First Dog Barney Bush Passes Away  —  The Bush family statement, via Reuters:

Ed Koch, three-term mayor who became a symbol of NYC, dead at 88  —  NEW YORK - Former Mayor Ed Koch, the combative, acid-tongued politician who rescued the city from near-financial ruin during a three-term City Hall run in which he embodied New York chutzpah for the rest of the world, died Friday.

Hillary Clinton: ‘I am more optimistic today’  —  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said goodbye to the nation's diplomatic corps and aid workers on her last day on the job, and said she was more upbeat about the fate of the world than she had been at the start of her tenure.

Exclusive: Eric Schmidt Unloads on China in New Book … Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt is brutally clear: China is the most dangerous superpower on Earth.  —  Corporate Intelligence reviewed preliminary galleys of Schmidt's new book, “The New Digital Age,” (Random House) which debuts in April.

Disgraceful: Chris Matthews Smears John McCain as an ‘Angry’ Vietnam Vet Having a ‘Flashback’  —  Liberal anchor Chris Matthews on Friday stooped to the lowest level, smearing John McCain as an “angry” Vietnam veteran who is having a “flashback.”  Resorting to the cheapest of stereotypes …

Keystone pipeline decision to languish until mid-June-US source  —  * No time frame for national interest determination  —  The Obama administration's decision on the Keystone XL oil pipeline will not be made until at least June, a U.S. official said, which would delay the project for months …

Iran's space monkey triumph exposed as a fake … Iran enjoyed rare triumph on Monday — the successful launch of a monkey into space.  —  The regime proclaimed it as proof that Iranian scientists could match their Western counterparts, evidence that international sanctions were ineffectual, and a stepping stone to a manned flight.

APNEWSBREAK: MARINES ISSUE SURVEY ON WOMEN'S ROLE  —  You are here  —  Home » James F. Amos » APNewsBreak: Marines issue survey on women's role  —  SAN DIEGO (AP) — A Marine Corps survey found about 17 percent of male Marine respondents who planned to stay in the service …

The Easy Problem  —  Over here in the department of punditry, we deal with a lot of hard issues, ones on which the evidence is mixed and the options are all bad.  But the immigration issue is a blessed relief.  On immigration, the evidence is overwhelming; the best way forward is clear.

My Valuable, Cheap College Degree  —  MUCH is being written about the preposterously high cost of college.  The median inflation-adjusted household income fell by 7 percent between 2006 and 2011, while the average real tuition at public four-year colleges increased over that period by over 18 percent.

On Iran, Hagel Muddles the Message  —  Dealing with Iran is complicated, but President Obama's policy on the question of whether a nuclear-armed Iran could be successfully “contained” - the way the Soviet Union was during the cold war - is simple.  —  His answer is no.

Pro-Life Groups Blast Revisions to Obama Abortion-HHS Mandate  —  Leading pro-life groups don't have much good to say about the proposed changes the HHS department announced today to the Obamacare mandate that forces religious groups and religiously-run companies to pay for birth control and abortion-causing drugs.

College President Personally Smacked with $50,000 Bill for Violating Constitution  —  There is great news for students from a Georgia jury today, as former Valdosta State University President Ronald Zaccari has been found liable for $50,000 in damages for unjustly kicking one of his students …

A Suspect Should Never Waive His Rights And Tell The Cops, “I Was Trying To Make The Horse Have A Baby.”  —  When it comes to post-arrest statements, the admissions made by a Texas man arrested for having sex with a horse are a good reminder why suspects should take advantage of their right to remain silent.

Church Says Wounded Warrior Project Refused Their Money  —  A Christian church and school in Florida are devastated after they said Wounded Warrior Project refused to accept their fund raising effort because it was “religious in nature.”  —  JOIN TODD'S FAN PAGE FOR MORE CULTURE WAR STORIES.