Exclusive: Russia threatened countries ahead of UN vote on Ukraine - envoys  —  (Reuters) - Russia threatened several Eastern European and Central Asian states with retaliation if they voted in favor of a United Nations General Assembly resolution this week declaring invalid Crimea's referendum …

The Christie Way?  —  I'm a little confused by this.  Generally speaking when you throw someone under the bus and you want them to play along, you add as much padding to the process as possible.  That doesn't appear to be the Chris Chrisitie way.  The main fallperson turns out to be former deputy chief of staff Bridget Kelly.

Maryland set to replace troubled health exchange with Connecticut's system  —  Maryland officials are set to replace the state's online health-insurance exchange with technology from Connecticut's insurance marketplace, according to two people familiar with the decision …

GCHQ and NSA Targeted Private German Companies  —  Documents show that Britain's GCHQ intelligence service infiltrated German Internet firms and America's NSA obtained a court order to spy on Germany and collected information about the chancellor in a special database.

Putin Calls Obama to Discuss Ukraine, White House Says  —  RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia called President Obama on Friday to discuss a proposal by Mr. Obama for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis in Ukraine, and the two leaders agreed that diplomats …

Newly Released Clinton-Era Papers Show Damage Control During Scandal  —  As the White House was enveloped in the Monica Lewinsky scandal in January 1998, aides offered advice to President Bill Clinton's speechwriting team on how to use the State of the Union address that month to rebuild public confidence in the president.

FBI pushed elder Tsarnaev to be informer, lawyers assert  —  Lawyers for accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev asserted Friday that his older brother and alleged accomplice had been encouraged by the FBI to be an informant and to report on the Chechen and Muslim community, according to court records.

FiveThirtyEight Apologizes On Behalf Of Controversial Climate Science Writer  —  NEW YORK — Two prominent climate scientists say Roger Pielke Jr., a controversial writer at Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight site, sent emails threatening possible legal action in response to their criticism of his findings for the data-driven news site.

Why Democrats Must Embrace Obamacare  —  Defending the Affordable Care Act in his memorable nominating speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, Bill Clinton did as he often advises his party's elected officials: Don't run away from the argument; confront it directly instead.

Two Council Members Caught on Video Refusing to Stand and Recite the Pledge of Allegiance  —  Editor's Note: This story has been updated with comments from Hampden Mayor Carol Duprey, who introduced the idea of council saying the pledge, as well Lisa Carter, president of Hampden Association of Landowners.

RNC Statement for EBONY  —  Dear Ms. Barnett:  —  Over the years, the writers and editors at EBONY have done great work in promoting civil rights and diligently covering issues of race and politics in America.  That's why I was shocked to learn that one of your senior editors, Jamilah Lemieux …

Senate Democrats struggle to define a message that can save their majority  —  Democrats are going into the 2014 midterm elections with their control of the Senate greatly imperiled and with the prospect of an Obama presidency completely hobbled in its final two years.

Middleburg Heights man killed by deputies described as sovereign citizen, filed lawsuits against government  —  Evan MacDonald, Northeast Ohio Media Group By Evan MacDonald, Northeast Ohio Media Group  —  MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio — The man killed during a gunfight with sheriff's deputies …