Putin's Ukraine Gambit  —  Henry Kissinger once pointed out that since Peter the Great, Russia had been expanding at the rate of one Belgium per year.  All undone, of course, by the collapse of the Soviet Union, which Russian president Vladimir Putin called “the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the [20th] century.”

An Unhappy 5th Birthday For The Tea Party … Five years after the Republican Party birthed the tea party movement, mother and child have never been more at odds.  —  The tension between “establishment” Republicans and tea party activists was on full display today at a 5th Anniversary event in Washington.

GOP blocks veterans bill  —  Senate Republicans stopped Democrats from advancing a bill that would have expanded healthcare and education programs for veterans.  —  In a 56-41 vote Thursday, the motion to waive a budget point of order against the bill failed, as Democrats fell short …

COURT: SCHOOL CAN BAN US FLAG SHIRTS FOR SAFETY  —  You are here  —  Home » General news » Court: School can ban US flag shirts for safety  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Officials at a Northern California high school acted appropriately when they ordered students wearing American flag T-shirts …

Now on your restaurant bill: Obamacare fee  —  Several restaurants in a Florida chain are asking customers to help foot the bill for Obamacare.  —  Diners at eight Gator's Dockside casual eateries are finding a 1% Affordable Care Act surcharge on their tabs, which comes to 15 cents on a typical $15 lunch tab.

Obama unveils 'My Brother's Keeper,' opens up about his dad, drugs and race  —  (CNN) - The President has a message for young minority men who grew up like he did.  —  “No excuses.  Government, and private sector, and philanthropy, and all the faith communities, we all have a responsibility to help provide you the tools you need.

Obama and Biden show us their moves  —  President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are running again.  But this time, not for office.  —  Demanding jobs aside, the two jogged around the White House in their ties to highlight the need to keep in shape.

Federal Budget Deficit Falls to Smallest Level Since 2008  —  The Treasury Department reported Thursday that the federal government's deficit was $680 billion in the last fiscal year, $409 billion less than in 2012, largely because of increased revenue.  —  WASHINGTON — Closing the books …

Dem senators push IRS to cap political activity  —  A group of Democratic senators urged the Obama administration on Thursday to cap the amount of political activity that tax-exempt 501(c)(4) groups can engage in at 5 to 15 percent.  —  The 15 senators, in public comments on a proposed regulation change …

Where Time Comes From  —  The time that ends up on your smartphone—and that synchronizes GPS, military operations, financial transactions, and internet communications—originates in a set of atomic clocks on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Observatory.  Dr. Demetrios Matsakis, Chief Scientist for USNO's Time Services, gives a tour.

The GOP Already Has a 2016 Front-Runner... for Vice President  —  As defense and foreign policy return to the fore and with a Hillary candidacy looming, the first term New Hampshire senator is looking more and more like the GOP's best veep choice to sure up the ticket in 2016.

Walt Disney World Postpones Local Support for Boy Scouts of America  —  Scouts for Equality, the national campaign to end discrimination within the Boy Scouts of America, praised Walt Disney World's decision to end its local support of the Boy Scouts of America's Central Florida Council.

De Blasio starts his war on charter schools  —  The de Blasio administration is blocking the opening or expansion of three Success Academy charter schools run by Eva Moskowitz.  —  The charter schools received approval last year from former Mayor Mike Bloomberg to operate rent-free in existing city buildings starting in the fall.

Outgoing NSA chief Keith Alexander signals openness to surveillance reform  —  Alexander says NSA could accept a change where agency would only be allowed to collect phone data related to terrorism  —  The outgoing director of the National Security Agency suggested on Thursday …

Business and the Minimum Wage  —  Much of the discussion about the Democratic proposal to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour by 2016 has rightly focused on the workers who will clearly benefit from the move.  But what about businesses?  How would higher wages affect them?

Harlem church sign warns: Obama has released ‘the homo demons’  —  A church sign in New York City's Harlem is warning black women to be on the lookout for a “white homo” trying to steal their man.  —  “Obama has released the homo demons on the black man.  Look out black woman.

After government shutdown, dozens of lawmakers gave to charity  —  From the very outset of the 16-day government shutdown last fall, members of congress recognized its potential for political damage.  So many of them, seeking to contain the possible fallout, pledged to give …

Tea Party Nation: Brewer's Veto Imposed ‘Slavery,’ Mandatory Penis Cakes For ‘Homosexual Weddings’  —  Judson Phillips, president of Tea Party Nation, is a little upset about Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's decision last night to veto a bill that would have expanded the ability of business owners …