Top Items:


2nd deadly blast hits Russian city of Volgograd ahead of 2014 Sochi Olympics — (CNN) — Another deadly blast has struck the southern Russian city of Volgograd, killing at least 14 people and further highlighting Russia's security challenges as it readies to host the Winter Olympics in less than six weeks.
Discussion:
Associated Press, americanthinker.com, The Jawa Report, New Day, Atlas Shrugs, National Review and Scared Monkeys
RELATED:


At Least 14 Killed in Second Volgograd Suicide Bombing
Discussion:
Siberian Times, Sydney Morning Herald, The Long War Journal, Associated Press, Scared Monkeys and TalkLeft

Second Blast Hits Russia, Raising Olympic Fears
Discussion:
RT, The Week, Algemeiner.com, The Other McCain, Gawker, Outside the Beltway, Mediaite, WJLA-TV, Business Insider and Reuters


Yes, There IS Evidence Linking al Qaeda to Benghazi — Libyan militants tell the New York Times that al Qaeda is not behind the 2012 Benghazi attack. Some members of Congress have intelligence that says otherwise. — On Sunday, The New York Times published an investigation …
RELATED:


‘Completely false’: Sources on ground in Benghazi challenge NYT report
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers, The Gateway Pundit, Power Line, Hullabaloo and The Lonely Conservative

The New York Times Whitewashes Benghazi
Discussion:
Power Line, americanthinker.com, BREITBART.COM, Wizbang, Politico, Examiner, Right Wing News, Hot Air, The Mahablog and Michelle Malkin


Cost of Being Mayor? $650 Million, if He's Rich — Michael R. Bloomberg loves tropical fish. So when he was elected mayor, he installed two giant aquariums in City Hall. — The cost to him for having the tanks cleaned out every week for the past 12 years: around $62,400. — The mayor likes to nosh, too.
Discussion:
Post Politics, Politicker and Associated Press


Obama's TV Picks: Anything Edgy, With Hints of Reality — WASHINGTON — War, terrorism, economic struggle, mass shootings — such is life in the Oval Office for President Obama. — Yet in his few quiet moments, this president seeks not to escape to the delicious back-stabbing of the …
Discussion:
Politico, The Verge, Talking Points Memo, New York Magazine and TheBlaze.com


Obama, Clinton Continue Reign as Most Admired — Sixth year in a row for Obama, 12th straight year for Clinton — PRINCETON, NJ — For the sixth consecutive year, Barack Obama ranks as the Most Admired Man among Americans, and Hillary Clinton is again the Most Admired Woman. Both won by comfortable margins.
Discussion:
Joe. My. God., PoliticusUSA, CNN, Talking Points Memo and Reuters

Watch Phil Robertson's Tips On Finding The Perfect Underage Girl To Marry! (Video) — As we've already established, Chris Hansen might enjoy it very much if Phil Robertson “took a seat over there,” based on some comments made at the Sportsmen's Ministry in Georgia in 2009.
Discussion:
Joe. My. God. and The Dish
RELATED:


Same-sex marriage rolls — As the nation enters the 14th year of the 21st century, the fight over same-sex marriage is far from over. — Despite pronouncements from a reality TV star — who said they're going straight to hell — gays and lesbians are instead going straight to the courts, where they have met with some success.
Discussion:
Online NewsHour, SCOTUSblog and CNN
RELATED:

Utah Judge Unexpected as a Hero to Gay People
Discussion:
Dorf on Law and The Agonist

Hey, it's an election year! Here's what 2014 might bring. — Our long wait for a packed election year — okay, it was just a 365-day wait — will be over in less than 48 hours when we ring in 2014 and, with it, 36 gubernatorial races, 35 Senate races and dozens of potentially competitive House contests.
Discussion:
Washington Monthly and The Fix

CNN Poll: Afghanistan war arguably most unpopular in U.S. history — Washington (CNN) - Support for the war in Afghanistan has dipped below 20%, according to a new national poll, making the country's longest military conflict arguably its most unpopular one as well.
Discussion:
Liberaland, Post Politics, Business Insider, Politico, Talking Points Memo and Booman Tribune


The Risky Business of Paternity Leave — When men take time off to care for family members, their long-term earnings suffer—just as women's do. Here's why it's worth it. — As a family sociologist, I've spent several decades studying how and why men might assume responsibility for childcare and housework.


Joe Lieberman Predicts Military Action Against Iran Before The End Of 2014 — The neocons continue to beat the war drums on Iran. — As we've already discussed here, the legislation being pushed by a bipartisan group of Senators could very well draw the United States into a war with Iran …
Discussion:
Liberaland and Fox News


Cuomo pushing to block de Blasio speaker pick Mark-Viverito — Gov. Cuomo, in his first major battle with Bill de Blasio, is engaged in a last-ditch effort to block leftist Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito from becoming council speaker, Democratic insiders have told The Post.
Discussion:
New York Times and Politicker


Republicans to blame for the public's disgust with Congress — As the year ends, Gallup reports that public approval of Congress averaged 14 percent during 2013. This, the polling firm points out, is “the lowest annual average in Gallup's history.” — The pollsters added …


Democrats Turn to Minimum Wage as 2014 Strategy — WASHINGTON — Democratic Party leaders, bruised by months of attacks on the new health care program, have found an issue they believe can lift their fortunes both locally and nationally in 2014: an increase in the minimum wage.
Discussion:
Liberaland, Hot Air, Wonkblog, First Read, Guardian and Balloon Juice


We Don't Know if Obamacare Is Working Well. But We Know It's Working. — Obamacare got off to a lousy start. But things are looking a lot better now. — Nearly a million people signed up for private health plans via healthcare.gov in December, according to statistics the Obama Administration released on Sunday morning.
Discussion:
Politico, Mediaite, Washington Post, National Review, Hot Air, Instapundit, The Moderate Voice, PoliticusUSA and Business Insider