China joins U.S., Japan, EU in condemning North Korea nuclear test  —  (Reuters) - North Korea conducted its third nuclear test on Tuesday in defiance of existing U.N. resolutions, drawing condemnation from the United States, Japan, Europe and Pyongyang's only major ally, China, which summoned the North Korean ambassador to protest.

Ex-Tea Party Rep. Joe Walsh insists he's not trying to stop paying child support  —  After insisting he wasn't a “deadbeat dad” throughout his failed campaign for re-election, ex-U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh is still dogged by questions about child support.  —  Walsh, a flame-throwing Tea Party Republican …

Nugent: ‘I Will Be Taking On Media Orgy’ After SOTU  —  Outspoken rocker Ted Nugent will attend President Obama's State of the Union Address Tuesday in order to take on the media and “counter the scams and lies of the left,” he explained to talk radio host Mike Broomhead Monday.

Esquire article wrongly claims SEAL who killed Bin Laden is denied healthcare  —  Esquire magazine claims “The Man Who Killed Osama bin Laden ... Is Screwed.”  —  The story details the life of the Navy SEAL after the successful raid to take out the No. 1 terrorist, and it asserts that once …

Millions Improperly Claimed U.S. Phone Subsidies  —  The U.S. government spent about $2.2 billion last year to provide phones to low-income Americans, but a Wall Street Journal review of the program shows that a large number of those who received the phones haven't proved they are eligible to receive them.

Republican senators threaten Chuck Hagel filibuster  —  Some Senate Republicans are prepared to filibuster Chuck Hagel's nomination to become the next secretary of defense, a rare maneuver to block a Cabinet-level nominee that demonstrates the lingering hostility from GOP senators toward a man who used to serve with them.

Wow, Joe Scarborough Doesn't Understand Economics at All  —  A couple of weeks ago, Joe Scarborough invited Paul Krugman onto his MSNBC show.  The meeting of the brilliant but prickly Krugman with the dopey but genial Scarborough held the promise of a cataclysmic matter-touches-antimatter collision …

Watching Obama for Signs of Change  —  WASHINGTON — On Tuesday night, the president will address the nation and Congress on the state of the union.  But many will watch as well for signs of the state of Barack Obama.  —  Inside the White House and out, advisers and associates have noted subtle …

Biden: We're counting on ‘legitimate media’ for successful gun control effort … During a press conference on gun safety in Philadelphia, Vice President Joe Biden said that any reports that suggest that he was trying to take weapons away from gun owners was a “bunch of malarkey.”

Republican Gomez to campaign for US Senate  —  Gabriel E. Gomez, a former US Navy SEAL and private equity ­investor, is set to kick off his campaign for the Republican nomination for US Senate Tuesday,with a press release and Web video, said a senior adviser.

The ‘Die Hard’ Quandary  —  Later this week, the fifth installment of the “Die Hard” movies is scheduled to open in theaters across the country.  “A Good Day to Die Hard” stars, once again, Bruce Willis as John McClane, a too-stubborn-for-his-own-good cop who has to stop a highly trained army …

Push To Gauge Bang For Buck From College Gains Steam  —  U.S. and state officials are intensifying efforts to hold colleges accountable for what happens after graduation, a sign of frustration with sky-high tuition costs and student-loan debt.  —  Sens. Ron Wyden (D., Ore.) and Marco Rubio …

Pentagon Extends Benefits To Same-Sex Couples [UPDATE]  —  Military, Video, Defense Of Marriage Act, Doma, Leon Panetta, Leon Panetta Same Sex Benefits, Military Same Sex Benefits, Pentagon Gay Benefits, Pentagon Same Sex Benefits, Pentagon Same Sex Couples, Same Sex Marriage, Politics News

Sources: White House to issue cybersecurity order Wednesday  —  The White House is poised to release an executive order aimed at thwarting cyberattacks against critical infrastructure on Wednesday, two people familiar with the matter told The Hill.  —  The highly anticipated directive …

Slower Growth of Health Costs Eases U.S. Deficit  —  WASHINGTON — A sharp and surprisingly persistent slowdown in the growth of health care costs is helping to narrow the federal deficit, leaving budget experts trying to figure out whether the trend will last and how much the slower growth …

Cheney backs Obama policy on drone strikes  —  Former Vice President Dick Cheney defended President Obama's policy on armed drone strikes, calling it a “good program” amid growing congressional scrutiny.  —  “I think it's a good program and I don't disagree with the basic policy …