Marco Rubio Has Learned Nothing  —  Because his party has learned nothing.  —  OK, back up: this morning the papers and the web are full of nuance-sniffing, as people try to find omens in the SOTU and the GOP response.  I don't think I can add anything useful to all that.

Senate to vote Friday on Chuck Hagel  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Wednesday moved to end the Senate debate on whether to confirm Chuck Hagel to become the next secretary of defense.  A vote is set for Friday.  —  The move was necessary, he said, because he could not come …

Obama's incredibly ambitious second-term agenda  —  That was an incredibly ambitious speech.  —  Imagine, for a moment, that President Obama managed to pass every policy he proposed Tuesday night.  Within a couple of years, every 4-year-old would have access to preschool.

Top Republicans Oppose Obama's Call To Raise The Minimum Wage … During his State of the Union address last night, President Obama called for raising the minimum wage to $9 an hour, up from its current $7.25, and indexing it to inflation so that it rises as the economy grows.

Graham to introduce a guns background check bill  —  Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who has cast himself as a vocal opponent to changing the gun laws, wants to change the background check system for gun purchases.  —  But what exactly he wants to do and how it differs from Democratic proposals isn't clear.

Paul Broun: ‘I was the first to call Obama a socialist’  —  Since he jumped into the U.S. Senate race last week, Paul Broun has insisted on presenting a calm, cool and constructive demeanor.  —  After the State of the Union address last night, the on-message Republican congressman …

Republicans predict sequester will happen  —  Top congressional Republicans predicted Wednesday that the sequester will hit at the end of the month - the latest chapter in the series of budget battles that have stymied Washington in the last few years.  —  Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt …

Time Warner in talks to part ways with Time Inc.  —  Exclusive: Meredith is in talks with media giant Time Warner to buy most of its Time Inc. publishing business.  —  Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes  —  FORTUNE — Media giant Time Warner has begun discussions to separate itself from Time Inc. …

Landrieu leads potential foes for reelection  —  When PPP last polled Louisiana in 2010, Bobby Jindal was one of the most popular Governors in the country.  58% of voters approved of the job he was doing to just 34% who disapproved.  Over the last two and a half years though there's …

State of the Union 2013: Bill Shuster apologizes for saying Obama lied  —  House Transportation Chairman Bill Shuster apologized Wednesday for calling President Barack Obama a liar after the State of the Union speech.  —  Shuster (R-Pa.), speaking to POLITICO from Statuary Hall minutes after the speech …

Sen. Paul threatens hold on Brennan over armed drone strikes  —  Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Wednesday threatened to hold John Brennan's nomination for CIA director unless he receives more answers on the administration's drone program.  —  “I have asked Mr. Brennan if he believed that the President …

Buckley Rule — According to Bill, not Karl  —  The Buckley Rule has been much invoked in recent weeks, in this space and elsewhere, and on almost every occasion it has been both misquoted and misapplied.  As one who was present at the formulation, I feel obliged to record the “originalist” intention.

Ron Paul Makes National Radio Debut With Courtside  —  Courtside Entertainment Group announced today that former Congressman and Presidential Candidate Ron Paul will make his national radio and podcast debut March 18, 2013.  Ron Paul 's America will feature one of America's …

Pentagon to Start Awarding Medals for Drone Strikes and Cyberattacks  —  The Defense Department is reportedly inventing a new medal designed to reward soliders who fight battles from the safety of their computer consoles.  The Associated Press says the Pentagon is creating a new ribbon …

The President's Dream State  —  President Obama at last night's State of the Union address  —  By any measure, President Obama's first term was consequential.  In four years, he signed an $800 billion stimulus program into law, laid the foundation for universal health insurance …