Breaking stalemate, Senate votes 98-2 to debate ‘clean’ DHS bill  —  The stalemate over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was broken Wednesday as the Senate voted 98-2 to proceed to legislation that would prevent a partial government shutdown.

Kerry Blasts Netanyahu: He's ‘Wrong’ On Iran Deal Like He Was On Iraq War  —  Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's opposition to a potential nuclear deal with Iran, calling it as wrongheaded as the prime minister's backing of the Iraq War.

Trump says he is serious about 2016 bid, is hiring staff and delaying TV gig  —  Real estate mogul Donald J. Trump, who has long toyed with presidential ambitions, said Wednesday he is serious about pursuing a run for the White House — moving ahead with a spate of political hires and delaying his television commitments for 2016.

Why Has Fox News Stopped Defending Bill O'Reilly?  —  Over the past week, Fox News has aggressively rebutted accusations that its star host Bill O'Reilly lied about his whereabouts during the Falklands War in 1982.  But after a new report challenged O'Reilly's recent claim that he was present …

Foreign governments gave millions to foundation while Clinton was at State Dept.  —  The Clinton Foundation accepted millions of dollars from seven foreign governments during Hillary Rodham Clinton's tenure as secretary of state, including one donation that violated its ethics agreement …

Boehner reminds members of dress code: ‘You know who you are’  —  Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) halted floor proceedings Wednesday to remind members of chamber decorum.  —  During the final vote series of the day, Boehner reiterated the rules for proper behavior on the House floor.

Three Brooklyn Residents Charged with Attempt and Conspiracy to Provide Material Support to ISIL … Earlier today, a criminal complaint was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn charging Abdurasul Hasanovich Juraboev, Akhror Saidakhmetov, and Abror Habibov with attempt and conspiracy …

The return of Todd Akin?  —  Todd Akin is considering a primary challenge to Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) in 2016.  —  “I have not ruled anything out,” the former congressman and 2012 GOP Senate nominee told The Hill in a phone interview on Wednesday.  —  “I think there is a high level …

Scott Walker Flap Shows How Political Media Actively Loathe Christianity  —  If the constant media haranguing of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker over his religion tells us anything, it's that the political media absolutely loathe what they perceive as authentic Christianity.

Richard Dawkins: Children need to be ‘protected’ from religion  —  ‘You have to write off those people’ who put the Bible ahead of science, author says … Joe Humphreys spoke to both Richard Dawkins and Lawrence M. Krauss in Trinity College where they were speaking about the Origins Project.

Bowser: Legal pot possession to take effect at midnight in the District  —  Flanked by members of the D.C. Council and the city's top lawyer, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser announced on live television Wednesday afternoon that marijuana possession will become legal in the District at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.

‘Mein Kampf’: A historical tool, or Hitler's voice from beyond the grave?  —  MUNICH — Old copies of the offending tome are kept in a secure “poison cabinet,” a literary danger zone in the dark recesses of the vast Bavarian State Library.  A team of experts vets every request to see one …

Anti-gay crusader had 250-page FBI file  —  Fred Phelps, founder of he staunchly anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church, had a long and contentious relationship with the FBI, according to the late pastor's newly released 250-page bureau file.  —  Phelps, who died in March 2014 at age 84 …

In Mayoral Runoff, Rahm Emanuel's Corrupt Governance Has Finally Caught Up With Him  —  On Tuesday, Chicagoans voted themselves a reprieve.  With 45.4 percent of the vote, Mayor Rahm Emanuel ended the first round of his first reelection bid almost five points below what he needed to avoid …

Lytro Cuts Jobs, Raises $50 Million in Shift Toward Virtual Reality and Video (Exclusive)  —  Workers at Lytro got a mixed bag of news on Wednesday, with the photography startup telling employees both that it has raised a further $50 million, but also that it intends to cut a significant chunk of its workforce.

Condom vending machines introduced to prisons in California  —  A controversial new law has been introduced in California requiring all prisons in the state to install condom vending machines.  —  The new legislation stipulates that within the next five years California must start distributing condoms …

Obama: ‘Consequences’ for ICE Officials Who Don't Follow Executive Amnesty  —  President Obama warned workers at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement: implement executive amnesty, or else.  He made the comments in a town hall event on immigration on MSNBC.

I am Under “Investigation”  —  As some of you will already know, I am one of 7 US academics being investigated by US Representative Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) who is the ranking member of the House of Representatives Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.

HP in Talks to Buy Aruba Networks for Wi-Fi Infrastructure  —  Don't Miss Out —  (Bloomberg) — Hewlett-Packard Co. is in talks to acquire Aruba Networks Inc., a maker of wireless-network infrastructure used by hotels, universities and shopping malls, people with knowledge of the matter said.

The “Plucking Model” of Recessions and Recoveries  —  European GDP first estimates for Q4 2014 were published on February 13.  They reveal that some countries that were severely hit by the crisis are now growing at a rate near or even higher than 2% yoy (Estonia 2.6%, Latvia 1.9%, Spain 2.0%, the UK 2.7%).

Exclusive: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Says Constitution Trumps ‘Compassion’ for Undocumented Immigrants … Texas Gov. Greg Abbott told ABC News the Constitution trumps “compassion” for undocumented immigrants.  —  In an exclusive interview with ABC News and Fusion inside the ornate governor's mansion …

FCC Chair Refuses to Testify before Congress ahead of Net Neutrality Vote  —  Two prominent House committee chairs are “deeply disappointed” in Federal Communications Commission chairman Tom Wheeler for refusing to testify before Congress as “the future of the Internet is at stake.”