Sarah Palin tries to stay relevant  —  CORRECTION: An earlier version of this post incorrectly reported that Sarah Palin planned to contribute to the Al Jazeera America news network.  —  The Sarah Palin Story is a cautionary tale about what can happen when politics and celebrity meet.

BREAKING: Senate Passes Violence Against Women Act, With No Help From 22 Republican Male Senators  —  The Violence Against Women Act reauthorization passed through the Senate on Tuesday afternoon, by a vote of 78 to 22.  Of those opposing the legislation, all 22 were Republican men.

What President Obama should (and shouldn't) say in the State of the Union  —  If President Obama wants immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship for undocumented workers, he may not want to mention it at all in tonight's State of the Union speech, a new Washington Post poll suggests.

Reid: I Won't Honor Holds On Hagel Nomination  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) told reporters Tuesday that he will not honor any holds placed on the nomination of Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense.  —  He said he intends to hold a vote this week if Hagel is cleared by the Armed Serices Committee.

The GOP's Big Asian-American Problem  —  Still overlooked in the immigration discussion are Asian Americans, who are the fastest growing demographic group in the country—and one of the most diverse.  The bulk of Asian American immigrants (83 percent) come from China, the Philippines, India, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan.

Christopher Dorner in gun battle with authorities, source says  —  Christopher Dorner was engaged in a shootout with federal authorities in the Big Bear area Tuesday, a law enforcement source told The Times.  —  The shooting occurred after Dorner burglarized a home, tied up a couple and stole their car, the source said.

Joe Scarborough Hates Moms, PowerPoint  —  What makes Joe Scarborough such an enjoyable figure is his combination of affability, good intentions, high self-regard, low self-awareness, and total lack of analytical reasoning skills.  He is not remotely dislikable.  He is Ron Burgundy come to life.

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 …

The Shooter Needs Health Insurance: A Response to Stars and Stripes  —  After yesterday's release of “The Shooter”, Esquire's 15,000 word piece by Phil Bronstein on the Navy SEAL who killed Osama bin Laden and his difficult transition back to civilian life, much attention is being correctly focused …

Hearsay Economics  —  Jonathan Chait is boggled by Joe Scarborough's latest rant.  (Dear Jon: I am not “prickly”: I'm aggressive and annoying.  But that's by design, and I only do it when the situation calls for it.)  What's really striking is Scarborough's certainty that we're experiencing …

Fort Hood Hero Says President Obama ‘Betrayed’ Her, Other Victims  —  Three years after the White House arranged a hero's welcome at the State of the Union address for the Fort Hood police sergeant and her partner who stopped the deadly shooting there, Kimberly Munley says President Obama broke …

Obama Presidential Voting Commission To Be Announced  —  Barack Obama , Eric Holder, State of the Union, State of the Union, State of the Union, Barack Obama , Barack Obama , Civil Rights Division, Justice Department, Obama Voting Rights, Obama Address, Obama Voting Commission, Thomas E. Perez …

Lehigh University student sues over grade, seeks $1.3 million  —  Megan Thode isn't the first Lehigh University student who was unhappy with the grade she received in a course.  But she may be the first to sue to get it changed.  —  The C+ that Thode was given scuttled her dream of becoming …

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.

Heart Attack Grill spokesman dies from heart attack  —  The second unofficial spokesman for the Heart Attack Grill in downtown Las Vegas has died from an apparent heart attack.  —  John Alleman suffered a heart attack last week as he waited at the bus stop in front of the restaurant …

Passengers Text on Cruise Conditions  —  A small boat belonging to the Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous patrols near the cruise ship Carnival Triumph in the Gulf of Mexico, Feb. 11, 2013.  —  Passengers on the fire-damaged Carnival cruise ship stranded in the Gulf of Mexico have reported worsening …

Parliamentarian Sullivan joins Google - Frank staffers launch firm - Al Jazeera hires DLA Piper - Elmendorf to host Pelosi  —  PI SCOOP... PARLIAMENTARIAN SULLIVAN JOINS GOOGLE: John Sullivan, who retired as House parliamentarian in March 2012, is joining Google's Washington operation.

Anonymous Issues Communique Announcing Plans to Disrupt 2013 State of the Union Address Over #CISPA  —  Publicity & Creative Direction for Grassroots Activists  —  [WASHINGTON, DC] At approximately 10:22am EST an email address assigned to a Sparrow Project volunteer received a communique …