Top Items:
Mark Halperin / Bloomberg Politics:
Why Mitt Romney Thinks He Can Win (and Jeb Bush Can't) — The data is in. For Mitt Romney, it is time to decide. — According to people familiar with the thinking of the two-time presidential candidate, Romney has now gathered all the information he needs to reach a conclusion about whether to run a third time.
Discussion:
Business Insider, Althouse and Political Wire
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Mike Allen / Politico:
Rand Paul ‘secret tape’ dings Jeb, Hillary on dynasty — A fake phone call between Bush and Hillary Clinton is aimed at social media. — Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), the 2016 field's most prolific adopter of social media, has posted what aides wryly call a “secret tape” of a fake phone call between Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton.
Discussion:
No More Mister Nice Blog, Bloomberg Business, Fox News, The Daily Caller and Mediaite
Lucy McCalmont / Politico:
Reports: Mitt Romney to announce decision on 2016 — Mitt Romney plans to provide an “update” on his intentions about a third bid for the White House, according to multiple reports Friday morning. — Supporters of the 2012 Republican presidential nominee received an email late Thursday …
Discussion:
Political Wire and Joe. My. God.
Dana Blanton / Fox News:
Fox News Poll: Romney remains top of GOP field, Clinton leads Democrats — Shown above: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (left) and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (right). (AP) — Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton remain …
Discussion:
Political Wire
CNN:
Romney to tell supporters his 2016 plans Friday — Washington (CNN)Former Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney has made a decision on whether to go forward with a third presidential bid and will tell to supporters which way he is going in a Friday morning call, a source familiar with Romney's plans tells CNN.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo
Lauren French / Politico:
President Obama: Mitt Romney cares about poverty? 'That's great ... Let's do something about it.'
President Obama: Mitt Romney cares about poverty? 'That's great ... Let's do something about it.'
Discussion:
Bloomberg Business
The Texas Tribune:
Rep to Staff: Ask Muslim Visitors to Pledge Allegiance … *Editor's note: This story has been updated throughout. — Freshman state Rep. Molly White, R-Belton, is not in Austin today to celebrate Texas Muslim Capitol Day. But she left instructions for the staff in her Capitol office …
Discussion:
Mediaite, The Gateway Pundit, Molly White, Gawker, Jezebel, The Times of Israel, Politico, Talking Points Memo, The Huffington Post, US News and New York Magazine
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George E. Condon Jr / National Journal:
Yes, President Obama's Budget Is a Big Deal — White House finally embraces power of the oft-mocked, ‘dead on arrival’ document — Even before he submits his budget, President Obama is hearing loud and clear from Republicans that it is already “dead on arrival.”
Discussion:
Washington Post
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Justin Sink / The Hill:
White House defends decision to ditch college tax proposal
White House defends decision to ditch college tax proposal
Discussion:
Weekly Standard
TMZ.com:
Suge Knight — Arrested for Murder in Hit and Run (UPDATE) — ARRESTED FOR MURDER — In Hit and Run — EXCLUSIVE — 4:15 AM PT — Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... after interviewing Suge Knight, cops have formally arrested him on murder charges, and his bail has been set at $2 million.
Discussion:
Associated Press, CBS Los Angeles, KTLA, Yahoo Movies, Gawker, Mediaite, Jezebel, KOIN-TV and Hinterland Gazette
Erik Wemple / Washington Post:
Justice Department's IG report disputes Attkisson's computer-intrusion allegations — Many of the allegations made by former CBS News reporter Sharyl Attkisson regarding alleged computer intrusions by the U.S. government are disputed in a report by the Justice Department's inspector general.
Discussion:
The Hill
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New York Times:
Netanyahu Is Talking to Leading Democrats to Little Effect So Far — WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has been reaching out to leading Capitol Hill Democrats to try to ease criticism over his coming address to Congress, but has made little progress.
Discussion:
The Times of Israel, Washington Post, Talking Points Memo and Prairie Weather
Ahiza Garcia / Talking Points Memo:
WATCH: Cop Pepper-Sprays Teacher Who Was Talking On A Cell Phone — A Seattle teacher is suing the city after a police officer allegedly pepper-sprayed him while he was walking by and talking to his mother on the phone, KOMO reported on Thursday. — Teacher and activist Jesse Hagopian …
Discussion:
Mediaite and The Stranger …
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Lindsay Cohen / KOMO News:
Seattle teacher suing city after being pepper sprayed at MLK rally
Seattle teacher suing city after being pepper sprayed at MLK rally
Discussion:
Common Dreams and Addicting Info
Rmchatelain / CBS New York:
Commissioner Bratton Unveils Plans For New High-Tech Anti-Terror Police Unit — NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Police Commissioner Bill Bratton announced Thursday that the NYPD is establishing a new anti-terror strike force. — The unit of 350 cops will be specially trained in high-tech weaponry …
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, Gothamist and Hit & Run
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Tracy Walsh / Talking Points Memo:
NYPD Plans To Equip New ‘Anti-Terror’ Unit With Rifles And Machine Guns
NYPD Plans To Equip New ‘Anti-Terror’ Unit With Rifles And Machine Guns
Discussion:
Capital New York, CBS New York and Hullabaloo
Jonathan Allen / Bloomberg Business:
Hillary Clinton Faces Scrutiny for Use of Private Jets — Don't Miss Out — (Bloomberg) — Hillary Clinton took more than 200 privately chartered flights at taxpayer expense during her eight years in the U.S. Senate, sometimes using the jets of corporations and major campaign donors as she racked up $225,756 in flight costs.
Discussion:
Hot Air, Weekly Standard and Politico
New York Times:
No Case for Killing the Medical Device Tax — In seeking to dismantle the Affordable Care Act piece by piece, congressional Republicans have placed a high priority on repealing a tax on medical devices that would raise some $29 billion over the next 10 years to help ensure that health reform will not increase the deficit.
Discussion:
John Hawkins' Right Wing News
Byron York / Washington Examiner:
Public opinion left out of picture in Obama immigration drive — Gallup recently asked adults around the country a very simple question about immigration: Are you satisfied, or dissatisfied, with the level of immigration into the United States today? Are too many immigrants coming? Too few?
Discussion:
John Hawkins' Right Wing News
Cameron Joseph / The Hill:
Buzz builds around Walker — The Beltway is abuzz over Scott Walker. — The Wisconsin governor is the talk of Washington Republicans following his much-heralded speech in Iowa last weekend during the state's first 2016 candidate cattle call. — Walker's strong showing in the Hawkeye State …
Discussion:
Bloomberg Business, Hot Air and BuzzFeed
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Jamelle Bouie / Slate:
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's divisive message for winning the White House.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's divisive message for winning the White House.
Discussion:
The Federalist, BREITBART.COM, Hot Air and The Atlantic Online
Joseph R. Biden Jr / New York Times:
Joe Biden: A Plan for Central America — AS we were reminded last summer when thousands of unaccompanied children showed up on our southwestern border, the security and prosperity of Central America are inextricably linked with our own. — The economies of El Salvador …
Discussion:
Politico
Washington Times:
Exclusive: Secret tapes undermine Hillary Clinton on Libyan war — Joint Chiefs, key lawmaker held own talks with Moammar Gadhafi regime
Discussion:
Israpundit, Gretawire, Fox News and TheBlaze.com
Betsy McCaughey / New York Post:
A grim warning cry on soaring US debt — President Obama's self-congratulatory State of the Union message last week made it sound like our nation's problems are behind us. But on Tuesday the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office set the record straight with a blistering warning.
Discussion:
Politico
A.B. Stoddard / The Hill:
GOP is back at the edge — When it comes to the Republican Party's immigration divide, the more things stay the same, the more they stay the same. — The 2016 campaign has begun, and Jeb Bush, a pro-reform candidate, is believed to have raised the most money.
Janet Hook / Wall Street Journal:
Rand Paul Wins Support in Cruz, Perry Backyard — Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) is stealing political support from his rivals' backyard. — Texas GOP Chairman Steve Munisteri is set to announce Friday that he is resigning his party post in early March and joining Mr. Paul's team of advisers for a possible 2016 presidential campaign.
Discussion:
Politico