Republicans, Led by Rand Paul, Finally End Filibuster  —  Updated WASHINGTON — A small group of Republicans, led by Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, stalled the Senate on Wednesday by waging a nearly 13-hour old-school, speak-until-you-can-speak-no- more filibuster over the government's use …

Republicans emerge from Obama dinner optimistic about deficit deal  —  Senate Republicans are more optimistic about the prospect of a grand bargain on the deficit after an intimate dinner with President Obama Wednesday evening in downtown Washington.  —  Obama and a dozen Republicans discussed …

‘A Big New Power’  —  Years from now, when the Supreme Court has come to its senses, justices then sitting will look back on the spring of 2013 in bewilderment.  On what basis, they will wonder, did five conservative justices, professed believers in judicial restraint, reach out to grab …

North Korea threatens U.S. with preemptive nuclear strike  —  (Reuters) - North Korea threatened the United States on Thursday with a preemptive nuclear strike, raising the level of rhetoric while the U.N. Security Council considers new sanctions against the reclusive country.

Arkansas Adopts Strictest Abortion Law in the U.S.  —  In the sharpest challenge yet to Roe v. Wade, Arkansas adopted Wednesday what is by far the country's most restrictive ban on abortion, at 12 weeks of pregnancy, around the time that a fetal heartbeat can be detected by abdominal ultrasound.

Michelle Obama and John Kerry to Honor Anti-Semite and 9/11 Fan  —  On Friday March 8, Michelle Obama will join John Kerry at a special ceremony at the State Department to present ten women the Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award.  The award, says the press release …

How the White House silenced gun control groups  —  President Barack Obama's gun control agenda is looking more doomed by the day, but gun control advocates still haven't said a word to complain.  —  That's no accident.  —  The White House knew its post-Newtown effort would require bringing key gun-control groups into the fold.

Al Gore Sued Over Current TV Sale to Al Jazeera (Exclusive)  —  A $5 million lawsuit claims Gore was “adamant” about not selling his network to oil-rich Qataris but had a “change of heart,” then stiffed the man who came up with the idea for the deal.  —  Current TV's $500 million sale …

In U.S., 71% Back Raising Minimum Wage  —  Most Democrats and independents, and half of Republicans, favor increase to $9  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Seven in 10 Americans say they would vote “for” raising the minimum wage to $9 per hour if given the opportunity, while 27% would vote against such a bill.

Alvin Lee Is Going Home: ‘Ten Years After’ Guitarist Dies … Guitarist Alvin Lee, whose incendiary performance with the British band Ten Years After was one of the highlights of the 1969 Woodstock festival, has died. … He was 68.  Lee's website says he “passed away early this morning …

Why we're raising money to support Obama agenda  —  Jim Messina says among the policies that Organizing for Action has pushed support to is Obama's plan to curb gun violence … (CNN) — You can't change Washington from the inside.  President Obama was criticized for stating that simple truth during …

The Professors' Big Stage  —  I just spent the last two days at a great conference convened by M.I.T. and Harvard on “Online Learning and the Future of Residential Education” — a k a “How can colleges charge $50,000 a year if my kid can learn it all free from massive open online courses?”

Big One-Year Jump In Atmospheric CO2 Brings Climate Catastrophe Closer  —  The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere underwent one of its biggest single-year jumps ever in 2012, according to researchers at the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.