Gratifying Signs of Desperation  —  On both sides of the Atlantic, the austerians seem to be freaking out.  And that has to be good news, an indication that they realize, at some level, that they're losing the debate.  —  First up, the sad story of Joe Scarborough, whose response …

White House immigration bill offers path to residency  —  The legislation is being developed as members in both chambers of Congress are drafting their own immigration bills.  —  WASHINGTON — A draft of a White House immigration proposal obtained by USA TODAY would allow illegal immigrants …

Equal Opportunity, Our National Myth  —  President Obama's second Inaugural Address used soaring language to reaffirm America's commitment to the dream of equality of opportunity: “We are true to our creed when a little girl born into the bleakest poverty knows that she has the same chance …

FBI investigating allegations Sen. Menendez patronized prostitutes in Dominican Republic  —  A team of FBI agents has been conducting interviews in recent weeks in the Dominican Republic and the United States, looking into allegations that Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) patronized prostitutes …

Think Hagel's bad?  Just wait until there's a Supreme Court opening  —  The Hagel battle is actually a dry run for the next justice fight — and it's clear that the GOP will filibuster  —  Compare that Russian meteor hit earlier this week to the one that wiped out the dinosaurs.  Got that?

Creating Hipsturbia  —  A yoga studio opened on Main Street that offers lunch-hour vinyasa classes.  Nearby is a bicycle store that sells Dutch-style bikes, and a farm-to-table restaurant that sources its edible nasturtiums from its backyard garden.  —  Across the street is the home-décor shop …

Sens. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul Join Bipartisan Bill To Legalize Hemp  —  While most Republican members of Congress have been lukewarm at best to the prospect of legalizing marijuana, senators introduced a bipartisan measure this week to legalize industrial hemp.

Data mining is new lobbying gold  —  A congressman gets an earful from his neighbor after church about a tax bill.  A senator suddenly finds old high school classmates calling her about an upcoming vote on a small business bill.  —  Those meetings may not be coincidences.

Majority Of House Democrats Call On President Obama To Reject Benefit Cuts To Medicare, Medicaid, And Social Security Benefits  —  Sabrina Singh (Schakoswky), 202-225-2111  —  Andrew Schreiber (Conyers), 202-225-6906  —  Dan Weber and Benjamin Gerdes (Edwards), 202-225-8699

Protesters show support for Christopher Dorner  —  Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Los Angeles Police Department headquarters downtown Saturday afternoon, holding signs of support for Christopher Dorner, the fired police officer suspected of killing four people.

Wal-Mart Executives Sweat Slow February Start in E-Mails  —  Wal-Mart Stores Inc. had the worst sales start to a month in seven years as payroll-tax increases hit shoppers already battling a slow economy, according to internal e-mails obtained by Bloomberg News.