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:
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:
Bloomberg Business, The Daily Caller and Mediaite
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
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
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
Jennifer Jacobs / Des Moines Register:
Iowa's David Kochel goes all in for Jeb Bush
Iowa's David Kochel goes all in for Jeb Bush
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, OnPolitics, Politico, Bloomberg Business and Washington Post
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, Gawker, The Times of Israel, Jezebel, Politico, Talking Points Memo, US News and New York Magazine
RELATED:
John Amato / Latest from Crooks and Liars:
Anti-Muslim Protesters Shout Islamophobic Insults At Muslims In Texas Capitol — Texas Muslim Capitol Day is a good thing and has been going on since 2003. Its function is to have Muslims in the community meet lawmakers and learn about the political process.
Discussion:
Raw Story
Molly White / Facebook:
Today is Texas Muslim Capital Day in Austin. The House is in recess until Monday.
Today is Texas Muslim Capital Day in Austin. The House is in recess until Monday.
Discussion:
ABC News, Mediaite, The Huffington Post and Talking Points Memo
splcenter.org:
American Family Association repudiates chief spokesman's racist and anti-LGBT statements before hosting Israel trip for RNC members — In a letter to SPLC officials, the American Family Association (AFA) has disavowed a series of racist and bigoted statements made by its chief spokesman in recent years.
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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
RELATED:
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:
Addicting Info
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, Prairie Weather and Talking Points Memo
Lauren McGaughy / Texas Politics:
Bill would allow Texas teachers to use deadly force against students — AUSTIN - Teachers would be able to use deadly force against students, and would be safe from prosecution, under legislation filed last week in the state House. — The Teacher's Protection Act by Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Van …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo and Addicting Info
RELATED:
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
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:
CBS Los Angeles, Gawker, KTLA, Mediaite, Jezebel, Yahoo Movies, KOIN-TV and Hinterland Gazette
Justin Sink / The Hill:
White House defends decision to ditch college tax proposal — The White House said Wednesday it believes that President Obama's unpopular proposal to tax college savings accounts makes sense as part of a broader education plan. — The decision to jettison the proposal …
Discussion:
Weekly Standard
RELATED:
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
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
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
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.
Barbara Starr / CNN:
Officials: Detainee swapped for Bergdahl suspected of militant activities — Qataris open up about Bergdahl deal 04:01 — Washington (CNN) The U.S. military and intelligence community now suspect that one of the five Taliban detainees released from Guantanamo Bay in return for Sgt Bowe Bergdahl …
Discussion:
Townhall.com, RedState, Weekly Standard, The Gateway Pundit, Hot Air and American Spectator
Reuters:
Canada spy agency given more powers to disrupt terror attacks: media — (Reuters) - Canada's main spy agency will get new powers aimed at disrupting potential terror attacks under security legislation to be unveiled on Friday, Canadian media said on Thursday.
Discussion:
TalkLeft