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 …

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.

Islamic State militants ‘burn to death 45 in Iraq’  —  Jihadist militants from Islamic State (IS) have burned to death 45 people in the western Iraqi town of al-Baghdadi, the local police chief says.  —  Exactly who these people were and why they were killed is not clear …

State Dept. Spox on ISIS: “We CANNOT win this war by killing them”  —  State Department Spokesperson Marie Harf told Chris Matthews tonight that we cannot win this war with ISIS by killing them.  She said we have to get to the root cause of why people are attracted to Jihad — you know like poverty, jobs, etc...

Hillary Clinton, One on One, Curried Elizabeth Warren's Favor  —  Hillary Rodham Clinton held a private, one-on-one meeting with Senator Elizabeth Warren in December at Mrs. Clinton's Washington home, a move by the Democrats' leading contender in 2016 to cultivate the increasingly influential senator …

Debbie Wasserman Schultz considering 2016 Senate bid  —  Democratic insiders say the Florida rep. and DNC chair would seek Marco Rubio's seat.  —  Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the Democratic National Committee chair, is strongly considering a bid for U.S. Senate …

The most surprising gay marriage poll we've seen in a while  —  Everyone wants to know whether Jeb Bush can survive his support for Common Core and comprehensive immigration reform in today's Republican Party.  —  One deal-breaker that might surprise people, though: His opposition to gay marriage.

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 …

Oklahoma Lawmakers Vote Overwhelmingly To Ban Advanced Placement U.S. History  —  Students protest proposed changes to U.S. history curriculum in Colorado  —  An Oklahoma legislative committee overwhelmingly voted to ban Advanced Placement U.S. History class, persuaded by the argument …

Among the Hillary Haters  —  Can a new, professionalized generation of scandalmongers uncover more dirt on the Clintons—without triggering a backlash?  —  “I don't hate the Clintons,” says R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr., the founder and longtime editor of The American Spectator and the father of ... let's call it “Clinton disdain.”

Vandals set fire at Florida church, write ‘Allahu Akbar’  —  Melbourne police investigate possible hate crime  —  Author: Daniel Dahm, Managing Editor of ClickOrlando.com, ddahm@clickorlando.com … A possible hate crime is under investigation after a fire was set at a Central Florida church and “Allahu Akbar” was written nearby.

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.

John Oliver targets cigarettes on ‘Last Week Tonight’; Philip Morris reacts  —  John Oliver, host of HBO's “Last Week Tonight,” turned his attention to the tobacco industry in Sunday night's episode, and it wasn't pretty for main target Philip Morris International.

Joe Biden takes ‘being Biden’ to new heights (or depths)  —  We've been here so many times with Joe Biden, the world's most powerful close talker, that it hardly seems worth commenting on.  But we couldn't help noticing this photo from Tuesday's swearing-in ceremony of Ashton Carter, the new Secretary of Defense.

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 …

Republican mocks DC snow day: ‘Wimps.’  —  The Republican chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee mocked the federal government for closing Tuesday due to snow.  —  “Wimps,” wrote Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah.)  “Snowing in DC and they close the government.

Axelrod: No “Major Scandal” In Six Years Proves Obama Administration's Ethics  —  “I'm proud of the fact that basically you have had an administration in this place for six years in which there hasn't been a major scandal.  And I think that says a lot about the ethical strictures of this administration.”

Harry Reid's Down, But Never Out  —  The battered Senate minority leader is stronger than he may appear for 2016.  —  All other things being equal, Harry Reid cannot win re-election.  He is physically and politically battered.  He has added more baggage since the miracle of 2010 than has passed through Dulles.