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 …

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 …

The Islamophobia Fear Factory And The Billionaires Who Pay For It  —  With Islamophobia at the front and center of the news day after day, the Center for American Progress updated their 2011 report outlining who buys the Islamophobes and promotes them in order to understand how to tamp it down.

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 …

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.”

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.

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?

Pioneer Press apologizes for calling President Obama an ‘assclown’  —  This morning, the Pioneer Press created some waves by calling President Obama an “assclown.”  —  The off-color remark came in the context of the PiPress's “Loop Ten” feature, which is a slideshow that serves …

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.

STATUS: FEDERAL OFFICES ARE CLOSED - EMERGENCY AND TELEWORK-READY EMPLOYEES MUST FOLLOW THEIR AGENCY'S POLICIES  —  FEDERAL OFFICES in the Washington, DC area are CLOSED.  Emergency and telework-ready employees required to work must follow their agency's policies, including written telework agreements.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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.