Obama's NSA ‘reforms’ are little more than a PR attempt to mollify public  —  Obama is draping the banner of change over the NSA status quo.  Bulk surveillance that caused such outrage will remain in place  —  In response to political scandal and public outrage, official Washington repeatedly uses the same well-worn tactic.

Pennsylvania Voter ID Law Struck Down as Judge Cites Burden on Citizens  —  In a strongly worded decision, a state judge on Friday struck down Pennsylvania's 2012 law requiring voters to produce a state-approved photo ID at the polls, setting up a potential Supreme Court confrontation …

Chris Christie's Crisis Plunges Republican Party Deeper Into The Wilderness  —  The establishment freaks out as another favorite son falls from grace.  “There are definitely people jumping ship.”  —  Lucas Jackson / Reuters / Reuters  —  In the immediate aftermath of their emphatic defeat in 2012 …

Company Behind West Virginia's Chemical Spill Files For Bankruptcy  —  According to the Charleston Gazette, Freedom Industries filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy today.  —  On January 10, a tank owned by Freedom spilled 7,500 gallons of 4-Methylcyclohexane Methanol (MCHM) …

Hillary?  Really?  —  This week's Time magazine splashes the question on its cover: “Can Anyone Stop Hillary?”  The Weekly Standard is happy to provide our friends at Time with an answer to their query: Yes.  Hillary Clinton can be stopped.  How?  Let us count the ways.

50 Ways to Celebrate Michelle Obama's Birthday  —  First Lady Michelle Obama turns 50 today, and although the big White House celebration planned by President Obama isn't until Saturday, that doesn't mean you have to wait to celebrate.  —  If your invite to Saturday's dance party in Washington went missing …

Club for Growth pans Lankford, Cole for Coburn seat  —  Oklahoma Republican Reps. Tom Cole and James Lankford could have difficulty picking up conservative support, if they try to replace retiring Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.).  —  Coburn's retirement is likely to set off a GOP primary scramble …

Andreessen Horowitz raising $1.5 billion for new fund  —  Andreessen Horowitz is raising its fourth fund in six years.  —  FORTUNE — Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz is in the process of raising around $1.5 billion for its fourth fund, Fortune has learned.

Iraq's Maliki says he has asked for weapons from U.S., will also seek training for troops  —  BAGHDAD — Iraq has asked the United States for new arms to beat back the dramatic resurgence of al-Qaeda-linked militants in a western province and would like U.S. troops to train its counter­terrorism forces …

Judicial Giant Quietly Retired Under Investigation For Travel Expenses  —  When federal appellate court judge Boyce F. Martin Jr. announced his retirement in July, he was praised as “one of the giants of the Kentucky judiciary.”  —  But what was unknown publicly until Friday was that Martin left …

2 students shot in Philadelphia high school gym; suspect nabbed  —  (CNN) — A student pulled a handgun Friday afternoon inside a Philadelphia high school gymnasium, firing and hitting two students, police said.  —  The injured boy and girl, each 15, were transported in stable condition …

The Inequality Problem  —  Suddenly the whole world is talking about income inequality.  But, as this debate goes on, it is beginning to look as though the thing is being misconceived.  The income inequality debate is confusing matters more than clarifying them, and it is leading us off in unhelpful directions.