Obama Immigration Policy Halted by Federal Judge in Texas  —  A federal judge in Texas has ordered a halt, at least temporarily, to President Obama's executive actions on immigration, siding with Texas and 25 other states that filed a lawsuit opposing the initiatives.

Poll: Blame for DHS shutdown would fall to GOP  —  Jennifer Agiesta, CNN Director of Polling  —  Boehner tells the Senate to pass DHS funding 00:27  —  Washington (CNN)Republicans in Congress would shoulder the blame for a shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security if they are unable …

Fear, Inc. 2.0: As Anti-Muslim Incidents Continue, Report Exposes Funders, Pundits of Islamophobia … As a federal inquiry begins in the killing of three Muslim students in North Carolina and an Islamic center in Houston, Texas, was intentionally set on fire Friday, we look at a new report …

Marie Harf explains  —  Marie Harf trotted out the “root causes” school of thought last night to explain how ISIS will ultimately be defeated.  “We cannot win this war by killing them,” according to Harf.  “We cannot kill our way out of this war.  We need in the medium to longer term …

Russian researchers expose breakthrough U.S. spying program  —  (Reuters) - The U.S. National Security Agency has figured out how to hide spying software deep within hard drives made by Western Digital, Seagate, Toshiba and other top manufacturers, giving the agency the means to eavesdrop …

10 hours of fear and loathing in Paris  —  One month after the terrorist attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, NRG's correspondent, wearing a tzitzit and a kippa, took what proved to be an intimidating walk across the French capital.  “What is he doing here Mommy?

Transgender Woman Reportedly Murdered By Her Father  —  Kevin Golec, 52, allegedly stabbed his 22-year-old transgender daughter Bri Golec to death on Feb. 13, in Akron, Ohio.  In his 911 call, Kevin claimed his daughter, who he refers to using male pronouns and the name “Brian,” was murdered by a cult.

Egypt Unites Against ISIS  —  The Libyan branch of ISIS massacred 21 Egyptian Christians over the weekend.  A knife-wielding executioner frog-marched the bound and blind-folded captives to a beach in front of a camera and said, “safety for you crusaders is something you can only wish for,” and cut off their heads.

Dems will splinter on trade deals  —  Senate Democrats have maintained a united front as a minority in the new Congress — so far.  —  No Democrats crossed party lines on the Homeland Security funding bill vote.  Last week's vote on the Keystone XL pipeline saw some defections.

In Jersey, A Flintlock Pistol Can Get You A 10-Year Jail Sentence  —  Where is there any justice in locking up a 72-year-old man for up to 10 years for having an antique flintlock pistol?  I'm sure in the Garden State authorities can find frivolous reasons, but there really isn't any justification for such a prosecutorial overreach.

Anger of Suspect in Danish Killings Is Seen as Only Loosely Tied to Islam  —  COPENHAGEN — When Aydin Soei, a sociologist in Denmark, met members of an inner-city gang in 2008, one teenage tough stood out as more intelligent than his peers, and more mercurial.

Emanuel closing in on majority he needs to avoid runoff, Tribune poll finds  —  Mayor Rahm Emanuel is closing in on the majority he needs to win re-election and avoid a runoff, but nearly 1 in 5 Chicago voters remain undecided a week before Election Day, a new Chicago Tribune poll found.

Ex-Gov. Ted Strickland is raising money for a U.S. Senate bid  —  Former Gov. Ted Strickland has started raising money for a 2016 U.S. Senate bid.  —  Katie Hough, who said she is helping Strickland with campaign contributions, confirmed to The Vindicator that the former governor …

50 Million Down The Tubes: How 17 Conservative PACs Are Spending Their Money  —  The late, great Eric Hoffer once said that, “Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.”  —  Some people have started to wonder whether that's happened …

TIME FOR A WOMAN IN THE OVAL OFFICE?  NEW JERSEYANS AGREE COUNTRY IS READY  —  With all signs pointing to a second presidential campaign by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, 80 percent of New Jersey voters say Americans are ready for a woman in the Oval Office, according to a new Rutgers-Eagleton Poll.

Islamic State expands despite U.S.-led air campaign  —  WASHINGTON - Since exploding onto the world stage as a conquering force in Iraq a year ago, the Islamic State has expanded its reach across the Middle East despite a U.S.-led bombing campaign that has killed thousands of militants and destroyed tons of their equipment.

Gov. Walker, eyeing a 2016 bid, picks new fight in Wisconsin: Universities  —  MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Scott Walker has cited his experience battling unions here four years ago as proof that voters appreciate a political leader willing to “go big and go bold.”

President Rand Paul?  Wall Street on high alert  —  His ‘audit the Fed’ push makes him dangerous in the eyes of finance execs.  —  Rand Paul traveled to Des Moines, Iowa, recently and delivered a sure-fire applause line.  “Anybody here want to audit the Fed?” the Kentucky senator asked.

Politician Answers Entire Interview with Emojis  —  Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop recently did an interview with BuzzFeed.  The catch?  Her answers were entirely in emojis.  —  Yes, on everything from personal details about herself to Australia's relationship with other nations …