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.

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 …

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.

Transcript of Obama's State of the Union speech  —  The following is the full text of President Obama's State of the Union address, given on Feb. 12, 2013:  —  OBAMA:  —  Thank you.  Please, everybody, have a seat.  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, fellow Americans …

Roy Blunt says Republicans have votes to delay Chuck Hagel nomination  —  Sen. Roy Blunt signaled Wednesday that there may be enough votes in the Senate to delay debate on the nomination of Chuck Hagel to lead the Pentagon.  —  Blunt (R-Mo.) said he believed there were 40 votes in the Senate that indicated …

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 …

Graham to Obama: Stop ‘cheerleading’ for gun laws  —  (CNN) - Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham took issue with the president's calls for more gun control in his State of the Union address, saying Wednesday that the country doesn't “need a cheerleader for new gun laws.”

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.

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 …

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 …