Yahoo webcam images from millions of users intercepted by GCHQ  —  • Optic Nerve program collected Yahoo webcam images in bulk  —  • 1.8m users targeted by UK agency in six-month period alone  —  • Yahoo: ‘A whole new level of violation of our users’ privacy'

Brewer's Foolish Veto  —  In addition to the federal government, 18 states have such statutes and about a dozen other states interpret their state constitutions as extending the same protections, according to the letter.  The statutes, the scholars write, “say that before government can burden …

Bradley A. Smith: Connecting the Dots in the IRS Scandal  —  The ‘smoking gun’ in the targeting of conservative groups has been hiding in plain sight.  —  The mainstream press has justified its lack of coverage over the Internal Revenue Service targeting of conservative groups because there's been no …

Cruz won't promise to stay out of primaries  —  Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Thursday didn't rule out involvement in GOP primaries this year against incumbent Republican senators.  —  Cruz said he had made no “ironclad promise” to stay out of the primaries.  —  “What I have said is that I'm likely …

GWB Scandal: Release of previously redacted messages reveals new information  —  The private messages that linked Governor Christie's office to lane closures at the George Washington Bridge also contain jokes about causing “traffic problems” at the home of a New Jersey rabbi associated …

Clinton: Voters under ‘assault’  —  Washington (CNN) - The Democratic Party is showcasing former President Bill Clinton to help launch a new program to expand voters' access to polls.  —  An announcement Thursday by the Democratic National Committee comes as the party committee kicks off …

Generic Ballot Model Shows Senate Control at Tipping Point  —  Look for more partisan conflict and polarization in new Senate  —  Crystal Ball Senior Columnist Alan Abramowitz's discussion of his Senate elections model not only confirms how close we expect the 2014 Senate campaign will be …

Paula Deen Compares Her Struggles to ‘That Black’ Openly Gay NFL Prospect Michael Sam  —  The celebrity chef also expressed a newfound “empathy” for other controversial public figures such as “Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson  —  Paula Deen's $100 million empire crumbled last year …

The Mammoth Cometh  —  The first time Ben Novak saw a passenger pigeon, he fell to his knees and remained in that position, speechless, for 20 minutes.  He was 16.  At 13, Novak vowed to devote his life to resurrecting extinct animals.  At 14, he saw a photograph of a passenger pigeon in an Audubon Society book and “fell in love.”

Mississippi Scraps Discriminatory ‘Religious Freedom’ Provisions Following Backlash In Arizona  —  On January 31, the Mississippi Senate unanimously passed SB 2681, a bill that adds “In God We Trust” to the state seal.  It also contained language just like that in Arizona's freshly-vetoed bill …

Most Americans disappointed in Obama's presidency, poll says  —  Shares -  —  Amid continued pessimism about the economy and direction of the country, 59 percent of Americans say they are disappointed in Mr. Obama's presidency (including 37 percent who are very disappointed); 40 percent are satisfied.

Ukraine leader warns Russia after armed men seize government HQ in Crimea  —  (Reuters) - Armed men seized the regional government headquarters and parliament in Ukraine's Crimea on Thursday and raised the Russian flag, alarming Kiev's new rulers, who urged Moscow not to abuse its navy base rights …

Judge: Final order requiring Ky. to recognize same-sex marriages expected Thursday  —  LOUISVILLE — A federal judge said Wednesday afternoon that he would issue a final order within 24 hours requiring Kentucky to immediately recognize same-sex marriages performed outside the state.

New F.D.A. Nutrition Labels Would Make ‘Serving Sizes’ Reflect Actual Servings  —  WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration for the first time in two decades will propose major changes to nutrition labels on food packages, putting calorie counts in large type and adjusting portion sizes to reflect how much Americans actually eat.

Was Bush Really a Champion of Democracy?  —  For five years now, it's happened again and again.  A dictatorship somewhere wobbles, protesters crowd the streets, and the Obama administration strikes a careful tone, urging respect for human rights while trying to safeguard various American interests.

Republicans flip-flop on ‘judicial activism’  —  There was a time not too long ago when Republicans decried “activist judges.”  Now they're lamenting that judges are not being activist enough.  —  “Unfortunately, the courts have been reluctant to exercise their constitutionally conferred power …

Bill Clinton's rescue ride  —  Springtime is coming, baseball teams have reassembled for training, Robert Redford is back on cable playing Roy Hobbs in “The Natural” and Bill Clinton has begun his ride to rescue Democrats in the 2014 midterm elections.  —  In politics, the trick …

Keith Olbermann Says He Hasn't Watched MSNBC Since 2009  —  Former MSNBC host and current ESPN sportscaster Keith Olbermann says he hasn't tuned into his old cable news channel since 2009 — more than a year before he left the network in 2011.  —  TPM reached out to Olbermann on Thursday …