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 …

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 …

Why does ISIS keep making enemies?  —  Story highlights  —  Peter Bergen is CNN's national security analyst, a vice president at the New America Foundation and the author of “Manhunt: The Ten-Year Search for bin Laden — From 9/11 to Abbottabad.”  —  (CNN)Whenever ISIS carries out a new atrocity …

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 …

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.

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.”

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 …

U.S. Intensifies Effort to Blunt ISIS' Message  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is revamping its effort to counter the Islamic State's propaganda machine, acknowledging that the terrorist group has been far more effective in attracting new recruits, financing and global notoriety …

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.