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 …

Obama official: ‘F—k the EU’  —  President Obama's top diplomat to Europe has been caught on tape saying “F—k the EU.”  —  The conversation between Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and U.S. Ambassador to the Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt was anonymously leaked on YouTube.

Are People Already Tired of Hillary?  —  Kevin Drum highlights a potential problem for Hillary Clinton: … Is there any evidence that voters “get tired” of politicians?  I don't want to get into the whole literature on what governs presidential elections, but the simple answer …

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.

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.

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.

AOL Chairman Slashes 401K Benefits, Blames Two Women Who Gave Birth To Sick Babies  —  AOL Chairman and CEO Tim Armstrong blamed the babies of two employees for increasing the company's benefit costs on Thursday, explaining in a conference call that AOL had to pay millions out in medical bills and alter its entire benefits package.

CNN Poll: Is Bush still to blame for economy?  —  Washington (CNN) - Although nearly two-thirds of Americans still give the nation's economy a thumbs down, the percentage who rate the current economic conditions as good now stands at its highest level in six years, according to a new national poll.

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 …

Biden: LaGuardia like a ‘third world country’  —  (CNN) - LaGuardia airport is notorious for older crowded terminals and other constraints that contribute to horrid flight delays.  And Vice President Joe Biden doesn't appear to be a big fan.  —  “If I blindfolded someone and took …

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 …

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 …

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?

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.

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.