GOV. CHRISTIE'S NJ STATE POLICE BODYGUARD BUSTED FOR THEFT Report by Mark Lagerkvist  —  A state police bodyguard to Chris Christie is facing criminal charges in Pennsylvania — despite his attempt to use his ties with the New Jersey governor to avoid arrest.

Kerry Tells Senators That Obama Syria Policy Is Collapsing  —  Two prominent Republican senators say that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told them — along with 13 other members of a bipartisan congressional delegation — that President Barack Obama's administration is in need of a new …

TRANSCRIPT: Bill O'Reilly interviews President Obama  —  BILL O'REILLY, HOST: Mr. President, thank you for doing this.  —  BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Great to be with you.  —  O'REILLY: Really appreciate it.  —  I want to get some things on the record.

The Middle Class Is Steadily Eroding.  Just Ask the Business World.  —  In Manhattan, the upscale clothing retailer Barneys will replace the bankrupt discounter Loehmann's, whose Chelsea store closes in a few weeks.  Across the country, Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants are struggling …

Study: Abortion rate at lowest point since 1973  —  The abortion rate in the United States dropped to its lowest point since the Supreme Court legalized the procedure in all 50 states, according to a study suggesting that new, long-acting contraceptive methods are having a significant impact in reducing unwanted pregnancies.

Not waiting for Clinton, Md. Gov. O'Malley prepares for possible presidential bid  —  Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is moving ahead with preparations for a possible presidential bid and said in an interview that if he's going to lay the groundwork for a national campaign …

Delusions of Failure  —  The Republican response to the State of the Union was delivered by Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Republican representative from Washington — and it was remarkable for its lack of content.  A bit of uplifting personal biography, a check list of good things her party wants …

HealthCare.gov can't handle appeals of enrollment errors  —  Tens of thousands of people who discovered that HealthCare.gov made mistakes as they were signing up for a health plan are confronting a new roadblock: The government cannot yet fix the errors.  —  Roughly 22,000 Americans …

Coca Cola ad on Super Bowl — American's brand?  Hm.  —  I'm watching the Super Bowl, looks like good defense (Seattle) is trouncing good offense (Denver) when a Coca Cola commercial came on and it started rather patriotically with the words of “America the Beautiful.”

Senate Democrats break from Obama  —  President Barack Obama is counting on Senate Democrats to help approve his legislative agenda during his final years in office.  And though they are his staunchest allies on most economic issues, many Democratic senators are breaking with him on key issues in very public ways.

Officials: Mich. inmate on loose  —  (CNN) — A man convicted in the murders of four people is the subject of a multistate manhunt after escaping a Michigan prison, and police believe that his latest crime is kidnapping.  —  Authorities said Monday that Michael David Elliot, 40 …

Building a Better Battery  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The next breakthrough smartphone, or maybe the one after that, might not have a traditional battery as its sole source of power.  Instead, it could pull energy from the air or power itself through television, cellular or Wi-Fi signals.

In Conversation: Lorne Michaels … TWEET THIS QUOTE