Stand and Fight  —  Before I tell you how the NRA and our members are going to Stand And Fight politically and in the courts, let's acknowledge that all over this country, tens of millions of Americans are already preparing to Stand And Fight to protect their families and homes.

Pistorius Charged With Murder in Shooting of Woman  —  The development stunned a nation that had elevated Mr. Pistorius to iconic status as a national sporting hero, an emblem of the ability to overcome acute adversity and a symbol of South Africa's ability to project achievements onto the world stage.

Kentucky Democrats Fear Judd May Drag Down Ticket  —  Actress Ashley Judd's movement toward a Senate run against Minority Leader Mitch McConnell makes Democrats in Washington, D.C., happy.  —  But back in Kentucky, for many Bluegrass State Democrats, a potential Judd run brings a different feeling: heartburn.

Harry Reid sets the stage for Chuck Hagel showdown  —  Senate Republicans see the writing on the wall: Chuck Hagel will get his job at the Pentagon, and John Brennan will soon be headed to Langley.  —  But that doesn't mean they won't drag out the proceedings to extract every possible concession …

CNN Slides Ever Lower  —  There isn't much left of the CNN brand, but there is still a little room to sink deeper-and today, CNN did.  Compare and contrast: CNN's panel is excited about Chris Dorner.  They can understand why lots of people think he is a “superhero.”

Rand Paul puts hold on Brennan nomination  —  Demands answers on drone assassinations in U.S.  —  Sen. Rand Paul will hold up the confirmation of John Brennan until the would-be CIA director sheds light on the extent of the administration's controversial policies on drone use.

Can the Republicans be Saved From Obsolescence?  —  One afternoon last month, I paid a visit to two young Republicans named Bret Jacobson and Ian Spencer, who work in a small office in Arlington, Va., situated above an antique store and adjacent to a Japanese auto shop.

Marco Rubio Still Not a Scientist, Man  —  If there's a single line that encapsulates the mindless anti-government doggerel that characterized Marco Rubio's response to the State of the Union address it was his flip dismissal of any government response to climate change, because “our government can't control the weather.”

Big Bear residents say Dorner bound, gagged them  —  Key events in the manhunt for Christopher Dorner, the fired Los Angeles police officer suspected of killing four people, all times approximate:  —  Source: AP  —  Produced by Anne Godlasky and Cara Richardson

The New New Republic  —  I don't recognize the magazine I used to own.  We were liberal but not narrowly partisan.  —  Like many readers of the New Republic, I didn't at first recognize the most recent issue of the magazine.  The stark white cover was unlike anything the New Republic ran during my 35 years as the owner.

48 Environmental, civil rights, and community leaders engage in historic act of civil disobedience to stop Keystone XL pipeline  —  Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ tarsandsaction/sets/72157632761399084/  —  Contacts:  —  Eddie Scher, Sierra Club, 415-815-7027  —  Maggie Kao, Sierra Club, 202-675-2384

Students Told to Stop ‘USA!’  Chant, Take Off American Flag Bandanas  —  Four California high-school students were reportedly suspended for chanting “U.S.A!  U.S.A!” and wearing American flag bandanas during a basketball game.  While their punishment has since been rescinded …

Day 2 post SOTU focuses on early childhood education  —  President Obama continues his post-State of the Union tour on Thursday by traveling to Decatur, Georgia to talk about quality preschool education for every child in America.  He'll start his time in Decatur off by visiting …

33.5 Million Tune in to Watch President Obama's State of the Union Address  —  On Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013 President Barack Obama delivered the first State of the Union address of his second term in office.  The address was carried live from approximately 9:00 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. on 15 networks and tape delayed on Univision.

Republican Congressman Ridicules His Party For Lame Hashtag  —  Rep. Justin Amash says Republican leadership are wrong to try to blame Obama for the sequester — especially with such a terrible Twitter hashtag.  “I think it's kind of 2008.”  —  WASHINGTON — Rep. Justin Amash has a message …

‘Tehran removing key intel material from Damascus’  —  Intelligence said to include secret agreements, minutes of meetings reports relating to Iran's support of Hezbollah.  —  Sources in the Syrian opposition claim that Iran has already begun transferring its diplomatic and intelligence archives from Syria …

Elizabeth Warren's quiet plan for the Senate  —  When the newest senators lunched together for the first time last November, their biggest star immediately tried to flee.  —  As a flock of reporters approached Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts Democrat turned and engaged fellow freshman Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) in a fake conversation.