Why the Post passed on Ezra Klein  —  The Washington Post would do anything for Ezra Klein.  Well, almost anything.  —  For nearly five years, the Post has steered a bounty of financial resources to its star economics columnist and blogger.  It has allowed him to have a contributor deal with MSNBC …

Former Va. Gov. McDonnell and wife charged in gifts case  —  View Photo Gallery — McDonnell's time in office comes to a close: Gov. Robert F. McDonnell was supposed to be in the thick of the race to succeed him.  Instead, the Republican found himself relegated to the role of passive observer …

THE JACKBOOT OF ANDREW CUOMO … The conservative capacity for driving nails into their own palms may well be limitless.  The latest dictator to place these stout yeopersons under the heel of his nicely cobbled boots is Andrew Cuomo, prince regent of New York.

The GQ Cover Story: Katy Perry  —  Not very long ago, she was strumming a guitar on the street and getting paid in avocados.  Today she's the most cartoonishly ubiquitous pop star on Earth.  Katy Perry gives Amy Wallace an earful about aliens (real), her world-famous body (real), her …

AMC movie theater calls “federal agents” to arrest a Google Glass user  —  A long time Gadgeteer reader contacted me today through Google Hangouts to tell me that he had a story that he thought I'd be interested in reading.  He then forwarded me a long email with a story from a very good friend of his.

Ken Cuccinelli: Chris Christie should quit RGA gig  —  Former Virginia GOP gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli said Tuesday that it “makes sense” for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to step down from his role as chairman of the Republican Governors Association.

Florida Man Claims Self-Defense After Hopping A Fence To Shoot, Kill 21-Year-Old In A Hoodie  —  On Thursday, an Orlando man shot and killed a 21-year-old who was fleeing his yard.  He didn't appear to be stealing anything, according to witness accounts.  He didn't appear to be threatening anybody.

Wendy Davis: “empowerment” and the poor little woman; “struggle” and the man  —  There's a lot in the Wendy Davis story besides Davis and her constructed and false “narrative.”  Here is one of Davis' most recent official statements on the matter, a little masterpiece of accusing the accusers:

Garage Magazine Editor-In-Chief Dasha Zhukova Sits On A ‘Black Woman’ Chair In Shocking Editorial (PHOTO)  —  How's this for a happy MLK Day?  —  The online magazine Buro 247 has published a story about Dasha Zhukova, the Russian editor-in-chief of Garage magazine, which shows …

How Bad Does the GOP Need Chris Christie?  Really Bad.  —  Without the scandal-engulfed New Jersey governor, Republicans don't have a candidate who could even come close to the votes needed to win the presidency in 2016.  —  Well, well, well, today is an interesting day: it's Chris Christie's re-inauguration day.

Florida House candidate Joshua Black calls for hanging of President Obama  —  ST. PETERSBURG — As Americans honored the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, a Republican candidate for Florida House District 68 said President Barack Obama should be hanged for war crimes.

Obamacare in Red and Blue America: Two Charts Tell the Story  —  Everybody knows that red state officials aren't enthusiastic about Obamacare.  Some of them are even trying to undermine it.  But are they succeeding?  Are they actually holding back the law?

NASA Finds 2013 Sustained Long-Term Climate Warming Trend  —  NASA scientists say 2013 tied with 2009 and 2006 for the seventh warmest year since 1880, continuing a long-term trend of rising global temperatures.  —  With the exception of 1998, the 10 warmest years in the 134-year record …

Shooting reported at Purdue University  —  (CNN) — A suspect was in custody after a reported shooting on the campus of Purdue University, a spokeswoman for the Indiana school said Tuesday afternoon.  —  The shooting was reported around noon ET at an electrical engineering building …

First on CNN: GOP urges candidates to stand ground on abortion  —  Washington (CNN) - A faction of conservatives will introduce a resolution at this week's meeting of the Republican National Committee urging GOP candidates to speak up about abortion and respond forcefully against Democratic efforts …

Rep. Gohmert drops health coverage, blames Obamacare  —  Rep. Louie Gohmert of Tyler, criticizing the Affordable Care Act in 2012, has pointed to a jump in the cost of his policy.  —  WASHINGTON — Lots of conservative lawmakers hate Obamacare.  Rep. Louie Gohmert is putting his money where his mouth is.

Roanoke College poll shows Warner with commanding lead in Senate race  —  The first poll out after GOP heavy hitter Ed Gillespie formally announced he will challenge Sen Mark Warner's bid for re-election gives Warner a nearly 30 percentage point lead.  —  The Roanoke College poll …

Rob Ford: New video shows mayor rambling, slurring his words  —  Mayor Rob Ford is seen speaking incoherently in a new video apparently taken at a Rexdale restaurant early Tuesday morning. … A video titled “New video of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford drunk, swearing in Jamaican Patois?” surfaced on YouTube January 21, 2014.

Federal Appeals Court Says Jurors Can't Be Excluded Because They Are Gay  —  The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issues broad ruling providing “heightened scrutiny” protection for sexual orientation discrimination claims.  —  Members of the public cast shadows as they line up in front …

Tim Scott responds to NAACP insult: Reminds ‘me and others of what not to do’  —  Tuesday, South Carolina Republican Sen. Tim Scott slammed the NAACP chapter president who called him a ventriloquist's dummy for the tea party.  —  According to Scott, North Carolina NAACP President …

Bill Gates Backs Marijuana Legalization In His State  —  “An experiment” in Washington state.  —  Tobias Schwarz / Reuters  —  Bill Gates voted “yes” on the 2012 referendum that legalized marijuana in his home state, he told BuzzFeed in an interview Tuesday.