An alternate theory of the Christie scandal  —  Rachel Maddow presents a new possibility of what the induced Ft. Lee traffic jam was retribution for if it wasn't over the mayor's gubernatorial endorsement.

Liberal Self-Identification Edges Up to New High in 2013  —  Fifteen-percentage-point conservative advantage ties as smallest to date  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Americans continue to be more likely to identify as conservatives (38%) than as liberals (23%).  But the conservative advantage …

BREAKING: Obama Administration Will Grant Benefits To Married Gay Couples In Utah  —  The Obama administration will grant federal benefits to the roughly 1,000 gay couples in Utah who got married during the brief window recently when it was legal.  —  “I am confirming today that …

The Employment Situation in December  —  As our economy continues to make progress, there's a lot more work to do.  Though December's job growth was less than expected, we continue to focus on the longer-term trend in the economy - 2.2 million private sector jobs added and a 1.2 percentage point decline …

Obama administration to end contract with CGI Federal, company behind HealthCare.gov  —  The Obama administration has decided to jettison CGI Federal, the main IT contractor that was responsible for building the defect-ridden online health insurance marketplace and has been immersed in the work …

Jennifer Granholm To Join Obama Campaign Manager At Priorities USA  —  The former governor and Ready For Hillary surrogate is in talks to co-chair the board of Priorities USA with Jim Messina.  Podesta's replacement.  —  Isaac Brekken / Getty Images  —  WASHINGTON — Jim Messina …

How Millennials Have Already Reshaped Politics  —  Political parties are taking young people's policy preferences into account, but that doesn't mean they're getting everything they want.  —  Almost every week provides more evidence of the political system bending toward the cultural preferences of the massive millennial generation.

300,000 Without Water After Coal Industry Chemical Spill In W. Virginia  —  West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin declares a state of emergency after spill contaminates Elk River, “Only safe use is to flush or put out fire.”  —  A chemical spill into West Virginia's Elk River has led …

The Parties Have Already Devised Their Midterm Messages  —  Democrats and Republicans are ready for November, but it's not clear that either of their story lines will resonate across the spectrum.  —  The gavel has been struck on what has been widely judged to be the least productive session …

Begich misses jobless vote for speech in Hawaii  —  Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) missed a procedural vote on extending unemployment benefits to deliver a speech to a lobby group in Hawaii, The Hill has learned.  —  Begich delivered a keynote speech Wednesday morning to the American Aviation Issues conference …

Congressional Free Lunch?  —  Savannah -  —  Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Savannah, raised eyebrows nationwide with comments about the National School Lunch Program to the Jackson County Republican Party in December.  —  “Why don't you have the kids pay a dime, pay a nickel, to instill in them that there is …

Terrorist Designations of Three Ansar al-Shari'a Organizations and Leaders  —  Media Note  —  Office of the Spokesperson  —  Washington, DC  —  The Department of State has announced the designations of Ansar al-Shari'a in Benghazi, Ansar al-Shari'a in Darnah, and Ansar al-Shari'a …

Reid's Uncompromising Power Play in Senate Rankles Republicans  —  WASHINGTON — With his strong-armed change to the filibuster rule and an iron-fisted control of the Senate floor, Senator Harry Reid has engaged in the greatest consolidation of congressional power since Newt Gingrich ruled the House …