GOP clown car runs into ditch  —  Simon says the Republican Party's clown car has become a clown van.  —  DES MOINES — The Republican Party's clown car has become a clown van.  —  With nearly two dozen possible presidential candidates, the GOP is having a seriousness deficit.

Obama administration to propose new wilderness protections in Arctic refuge — Alaska Republicans declare war  —  The Obama administration will propose setting aside the 1.5 million-acre coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) as wilderness, the White House announced Sunday …

De Blasio, Obama and a Flawed Vision of Liberalism  —  MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO recently got some good news in his standoff with the Police Department.  In the first major poll conducted after the high-profile murder of two patrolmen, 69 percent of New Yorkers said they objected to police officers' turning …

Scott Walker takes Iowa by storm  —  DES MOINES, Iowa — Scott Walker's stock is soaring after a triumphant return to Iowa.  —  The Wisconsin Republican governor delivered a pitch-perfect speech to a room packed with influential Hawkeye State conservatives on Saturday …

Jewish outrage as ship named after SS war criminal arrives in Europe  —  As Holocaust day nears, anger erupts at arrival in Rotterdam of the Pieter Schelte, the world's largest vessel  —  Leaders of Jewish communities and Holocaust memorial groups in Britain and the Netherlands have reacted …

Ben Carson pulls crowd to its feet  —  DES MOINES, Iowa — Former neurosurgeon Ben Carson (R) delivered a rousing speech to the conservative faithful, earning the first standing ovation of the day at the Iowa Freedom Summit and showing why he's generating buzz with conservative activists.

Greece election: Exit polls signal big Syriza win  —  Exit polls suggest a historic victory for the anti-austerity Syriza party in Greece's general election.  —  The polls indicate that Syriza took between 36% and 38% of the total vote, with the ruling New Democracy party a distant second with 26%-28%.

Pope's visit to stoke climate fight  —  Pope Francis's visit to the United States this fall will give him an important stage to push for climate change policies, in a year when global warming is shaping up to be a central issue both for the Vatican and Washington.

Senators: More US special ops troops may be needed in Yemen  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Two influential senators are calling on President Barack Obama to send more U.S. ground troops to hotspots around the Middle East.  —  The suggestion by Republican John McCain and Democrat Dianne Feinstein …

Brazil finds coffee protein with morphine effect  —  14 hrs ago  —  Brasília (AFP) - Brazilian scientists have discovered a protein in coffee that has effects similar to pain reliever morphine, researchers at the state University of Brasilia (UnB) and state-owned Brazilian Agricultural …

‘This Week’ Transcript: White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough  —  Below is the rush transcript for “This Week” on January 25, 2015.  It may contain errors and will be updated.  —  Below is the full transcript of the “This Week” interview with White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough.