Christie Fires Aide in Bridge Scandal as U.S. Opens Inquiry  —  Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey apologized to the people of New Jersey on Thursday, saying that he was “embarrassed and humiliated” by revelations that one of his top aides and close associates ordered lane closings …

Dennis Rodman apologizes for North Korea outburst, says he'd been drinking  —  Rodman, ex-NBAers play North Korea  —  (CNN) — Former NBA star Dennis Rodman apologized Thursday for his much-criticized outburst about an American citizen imprisoned in North Korea, saying he was stressed …

Swearing toddler removed from home  —  (CNN) — A Nebraska toddler who repeated a slew of profanities in an online video has been taken into child protective custody, Omaha police said Wednesday.  —  While authorities found nothing criminal in the video, officials from the Omaha police's Child Victim Unit …

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow hunkers down on Koch Bros. claim  —  Mark V. Holden is general counsel at Koch Industries Inc., and he has a big file relating to MSNBC.  The progressive cable network tends to make frequent references to Koch Industries and its politically active, free-market major shareholders Charles and David Koch.

Iraqi ambassador slams Obama, praises Bush  —  Ambassador praises Bush's ‘ownership’ of relationship  —  NEWSMAKER INTERVIEW:  —  Iraq's ambassador to Washington says the Obama administration doesn't fully grasp the consequences of failing to more aggressively combat a surging al Qaeda threat inside …

The Poverty Line Was Designed Assuming Every Family Had a Housewife Who Was a ‘Skillful Cook’  —  The official poverty line, as I wrote yesterday, is a dated and crude statistical concept that in many ways fails to capture America's historical success at fighting economic need.

Under Obama, Youth Misery Index Hits All-Time High  —  A Youth Misery Index that measures young Americans' woes has skyrocketed under President Barack Obama and hit an all-time high.  —  The index, released Wednesday, was calculated by adding youth unemployment and average college loan debt figures …

Sen. Durbin to GOP: Put down Ayn Rand books  —  Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) asked Republicans to stop reading Ayn Rand books and help Democrats pass legislation aimed to give struggling Americans a hand.  —  “I say to my conservative friends, put down those Ayn Rand books …

School Wasn't Canceled for Bad Weather in 1882  —  Record-low temperatures caused by the Polar Vortex have forced schools across the country to close this week.  Weather-related school cancellations tend to raise anxieties about whether we're a nation of wimps.

Democrats blame big business for botched rollout  —  Democrats taking heat back home for Obamacare's rocky online rollout say don't blame them — blame Big Business.  —  Facing an onslaught of constituent frustration over problems with online exchanges, several Democrats have started pointing fingers …

Bill targeting environmental regs threatened with veto  —  The White House issued a veto threat Wednesday against House legislation meant to slash environmental red tape and give states more sway over federal facilities.  —  The chamber is poised to vote Thursday on a consolidated package …