Russian Officials Fire Back at Olympic Critics  —  One Sochi Defender Claims Only 103 Registered Complaints; ‘Surveillance Video’ in Hotel Rooms  —  SOCHI, Russia—Rooms without doorknobs, locks or heat, dysfunctional toilets, surprise early-morning fire alarms and a Welcome Wagon of stray dogs …

New Bogus GOP Obamacare Attack Debuts In 2014 Political Ad (VIDEO)  —  Despite the consistent refutation of their claim that the Congressional Budget Office said Obamacare would cost the country 2 million jobs — even from within their own party — Republicans are now putting the attack in congressional ads.

O'Reilly reporter confronts Pelosi  —  A reporter from Bill O'Reilly's television program attended House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's weekly press conference to confront her about why she won't sit for an interview with the Fox News anchor.  —  “Bill O'Reilly has a quick question for you …

Taliban Fighters Claim To Have Captured U.S. Military Dog  —  The Taliban this week released a video that may well be the first of its kind — one that shows a dog they claim to be a U.S. military service dog, still wearing its gear, and that they say was captured after a lengthy firefight with American troops.

Cantor takes mission impossible  —  House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) is taking the lead on crafting the GOP's Obama-Care replacement proposal.  —  The extraordinarily tough task faces many obstacles and is complicated by election-year politics and an unruly GOP conference.

Texas candidate keeping distance from Christie  —  ASBURY, N.J. — Not even a trip to the Lone Star State is allowing New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to get away from the George Washington Bridge scandal.  —  Christie, as chairman of the Republican Governors Association …

Senate fails to advance unemployment bill  —  Washington (CNN) - A Democratic proposal to continue long term unemployment benefits failed Thursday to get the 60 votes needed to clear a procedural hurdle in the Senate despite support from some Republicans.  —  It was defeated 58 to 40.

Jails Enroll Inmates in Obamacare to Pass Hospital Costs to U.S.  —  Being arrested in Chicago for, say, drug possession or assault gets you sent to the Cook County Jail to be fingerprinted, photographed and X-rayed.  You'll also get help applying for health insurance.

The Koch Brothers Left a Confidential Document at Their Last Donor Conference—Read It Here  —  A list of one-on-one meetings between VIP donors and the Kochs and their operatives offers a revealing look into their mighty political machine.  —  Charles Koch: Bo Rader/ZUMA; David Koch: Sonia Moskowitz/ZUMA

‘F**k the EU,’ frustrated Nuland says to Pyatt, in alleged leaked phone call (UPDATED)  —  In a conversation leaked online and posted to YouTube on Feb. 4, voices closely resembling those of U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland discuss loosely …

Paul Ryan Is the Odds-On Favorite to Win the Republican Nomination in 2016  —  There's been a lot of blathering about who the front-runner for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination is, and so far I've resisted taking part.  But I guess I'm kind of curious: Is there much of a case to be made for anyone other than Paul Ryan?

Controversy Surrounds Lunch Menu at Concord High School  —  Administrators at a Northern California private school are facing tough questions and offering a big apology after a menu controversy.  —  Students at Carondelet High School for Girls in Concord wanted to come up with ways …

New evidence undercuts White House claims about IRS motivation.  —  House committees are still digging into the IRS political targeting scandal, and based on a hearing Wednesday there's more to learn.  The day produced more evidence blowing apart President Obama's claims that there was …

At Executive Mansion, McAuliffe puts out the welcome mat  —  RICHMOND — Gov. Terry McAuliffe has added a potent weapon to his bipartisan charm offensive: better booze.  —  Desperately in need of Republican friends to get his agenda through a divided General Assembly, McAuliffe (D) …

Democrats Aim to Make 2014 More Like 2012 and 2008  —  WASHINGTON — The Democrats' plan to hold onto their narrow Senate majority goes by the name “Bannock Street project.”  It runs through 10 states, includes a $60 million investment, and requires more than 4,000 paid staffers.