Some Republicans See Racism As a Factor in Immigration Stalemate  —  “I hate to say this, because these are my people — but I hate to say it, but it's racial,” says a Republican congressman.  —  Jason Reed / Reuters  —  WASHINGTON — For more than a year House Republican leaders have insisted …

MSNBC Fires Employee Responsible for Cheerios Tweet  —  “The tweet was outrageous and unacceptable,” says MSNBC president Phil Griffin.  —  MSNBC has fired the employee who sent out a controversial Tweet involving a Cheerios commercial that features a biracial family.

CNN Exclusive: President Obama says he's not recalibrating ambitions  —  Waukesha, Wisconsin (CNN) — Once, Barack Obama spoke of what he wanted for his presidency in terms of healing a nation divided.  “This was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow, and our planet began to heal,” he said.

Sandra Fluke may seek Henry Waxman House seat  —  Sandra Fluke, who became an instant celebrity when she was denied the opportunity to testify at an all-male hearing on Obamacare's contraception requirements, is “strongly considering” a bid for Rep. Henry Waxman's congressional seat …

Fox News once again most and least trusted name in news  —  PPP's 5th annual poll about trust in TV news continues to find what it does every year: Fox News is both the most trusted and least trusted name in news.  —  35% of Americans say they trust Fox News more than any other TV news outlet …

U.S. Is Seeking Death Penalty in Boston Case  —  WASHINGTON — The Justice Department said Thursday that it would seek the death penalty against Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev, the man accused of killing and maiming people with homemade bombs at the Boston Marathon finish line last year.

Why I Was Wrong About Chris Christie  —  He wasn't so smart or post-partisan, and may pay the price as a presidential hopeful.  —  A year ago, I wrote: “The smartest move in politics today is to move against Washington and the two major parties.  And the smartest man in politics may be Chris Christie.”

Jed Udall, son of Sen. Mark Udall, arrested on heroin, vehicular-trespassing charges  —  Sheriff: Udall, 26, broke into cars in Eldorado Springs  —  Jed Udall, the 26-year-old son of Colorado Sen. Mark Udall, was arrested Wednesday after Boulder County sheriff's deputies say he broke …

Maher Wants His Show to Decide a House Race  —  Bill Maher makes little effort to hide his own contempt for many politicians, most of them Republicans.  Now, he wants to take it to the next level: finding one he might be able to help oust from office.  —  On his weekly HBO talk show …

Facebook Turns 10: The Mark Zuckerberg Interview  —  Mark Zuckerberg doesn't usually observe sentimental anniversaries.  This year he's confronted by three of them.  On Feb. 4, Facebook (FB), the company he co-founded in a Harvard University dorm, turns 10 years old.  The prodigy himself turns 30 in May.

Lunches seized from kids in debt at Salt Lake City elementary  —  Education » School officials cite unpaid balances on students' meal accounts.  —  | The Salt Lake Tribune  —  Up to 40 kids at Uintah Elementary in Salt Lake City picked up their lunches Tuesday …

More Uninsured Planning to Get Insurance From Exchanges  —  Fifty-six percent plan to use an exchange, first time above majority  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Fifty-six percent of uninsured Americans who plan to get health insurance say they will do so through a government health insurance exchange.

The Inside Story Of The Charlatan Who Duped The Nation's Top Conservatives  —  On New Year's Eve, I learned FEMA's “Dirty Little Secret.”  —  It was the title of a fascinating email, one that had somehow dodged my spam filter.  The message was suffused with breathless concern …

‘U’ Students Want Crime Alerts To Avoid Using Racial Descriptions  —  MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - School officials at the University of Minnesota are working with black student and facility organizations after they wrote a letter to the school's president about the racial descriptions given in crime alerts.