Scalia Lands at Top of Sarcasm Index of Justices.  Shocking.  —  WASHINGTON — Justice Antonin Scalia has a sharp tongue and a cutting writing style.  His signature mode is sarcasm.  —  It was on display last week when a lawyer made the mistake of saying that Justice Scalia was right — but only “in a literal sense.”

France Was Attacked by Islamic Fundamentalism  —  Paris — “To misname things is to add to the world's unhappiness.”  Whether or not Albert Camus really did utter these words, they are an astonishingly apt description of the situation in which the French government now finds itself.

Obama plays Robin Hood  —  The White House wants President Obama to play the part of Robin Hood at Tuesday's State of the Union address.  —  Obama hopes to use the big speech to remove a blemish of his presidency: an economic recovery that has left wage growth behind.  —  Free community college.

‘American Sniper’ Complaints Grow in Hollywood: Should Clint Eastwood Be Celebrating a ‘Killer’?  (Exclusive)  —  In the wake of Oscar nominations, Academy members begin buzzing over recent criticism of the film's subject, Chris Kyle  —  Even as “American Sniper” breaks January box-office records …

McConnell's cunning Keystone game  —  Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) strategy for defeating Democrats in the final two years of the Obama administration is clear: divide and conquer.  —  Last week, the Senate majority leader got 10 Democrats to vote with the GOP for a motion to continue debate …

Ready for Hillary, Emily's List in Talks to Join Social Media Forces … With Hillary Clinton's not-yet-official presidential campaign revving up, the shadow campaigns are winding down.  And as part of that, the outside Democratic groups that support her are discussing how to merge their efforts to help Clinton.

The Search for a Slogan  —  What Hillary, Jeb, Rand and the rest could learn from the history of campaign catchphrases.  —  With the dawn of the new year, the campaigns for president are moving into high gear, at least in private.  Strategies are being fine-tuned, consultants and staff are being hired, donors are choosing sides.

MLK was ‘divisive,’ DHS secretary recalls  —  Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson said on Monday that Martin Luther King Jr. was “divisive” in his time, as he sought to remind the public what the famous civil rights leader really stood for.  —  “Almost every American alive knows …

U.S.-built Ebola treatment centers in Liberia are nearly empty as outbreak fades  —  TUBMANBURG, Liberia — Near the hillside shelter where dozens of men and women died of Ebola, a row of green U.S. military tents sit atop a vast expanse of imported gravel.  The generators hum …

Here's what Cuba really needs, Mr. Obama  —  BY ROSA MARÍA PAYÁ ACEVEDO December 19, 2014 … I am writing to you because I assume that goodwill inspired your decision to change U.S. policy toward my country.  —  I appeal to this goodwill, notwithstanding your decision …

Gay Marriage Case Offers G.O.P. Political Cover  —  WASHINGTON — The news Friday that the Supreme Court will rule on same-sex marriage brought elation from gays and lesbians who are hopeful the justices will grant them the constitutional protections they have long sought.

Hating Good Government  —  It's now official: 2014 was the warmest year on record.  You might expect this to be a politically important milestone.  After all, climate change deniers have long used the blip of 1998 — an unusually hot year, mainly due to an upwelling of warm water in the Pacific …

NYC may yank terrorism report to appease mosque ‘spying’ critics  —  Zale Thompson, a man who heeded online calls by ISIS for jihad, attacked two NYPD officers with a hatchet in October.  —  In top-secret talks to settle federal lawsuits against the NYPD for monitoring mosques …

Who would Americans like to see on the campaign trail in 2016?  —  Shares -  —  The list of potential candidates for the presidency in 2016 is immense.  The list of declared contenders, though, is nonexistent.  —  If the latest CBS News poll is any indication, Americans would like to see a number …

Half global wealth held by the 1%  —  Oxfam warns of widening inequality gap, days ahead of Davos economic summit in Switzerland  —  Larry Elliott, economics editor, and Ed Pilkington  —  Billionaires and politicians gathering in Switzerland this week will come under pressure …

Send to Kindle Follow @@ryanlellis  —  On Saturday night the White House leaked the major tax hike details of the president's upcoming budget.  The common theme is higher taxes on savings and investment, totaling $320 billion over the next ten years.  —  “Democrats are demanding, yet again, tax increases on America.