The GOP's First Big 2016 Test: Fitting Candidates on the Debate Stage  —  From 23 debates in 2012 to as many as 17 candidates in 2016.  —  The Republican Party has a whole new debate problem in 2016.  —  After suffering through a seemingly endless and unwieldy stream of 23 debates in the 2012 cycle …

How Mike Huckabee Became the New Sarah Palin  —  In late January a once-dominant figure in Republican politics suddenly began hinting at a presidential run and got a lot of negative feedback.  It had to make Mitt Romney feel better.  —  Yes, 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin pointedly refused …

ISIS claims responsibility for Texas shooting, threatens more attacks  —  Story highlights  —  (CNN)ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack outside a Prophet Mohammed cartoon contest in Texas — and warned of more attacks to come.  —  In a broadcast on its official radio channel Tuesday …

Lindsey Graham: Everything That Starts With ‘Al-’ In Middle East Is Bad  —  Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is not a linguist.  —  “Everything that starts with ‘Al’ in the Middle East is bad news,” Graham said at a dinner in Boston on Monday with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, according to investigative journalist Uri Blau.

The Dangerous Myths Surrounding Charlie Hebdo  —  Two recent events—the spectacle of Garry Trudeau, the Doonesbury creator, attacking a group of murdered cartoonists for offending his sensibilities, and the protest organized by a group of bien-pensant writers against the PEN American Center …

Louie Gohmert Sounds The Alarm About Possible Military Takeover Of Texas  —  Tea party darling Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) on Tuesday demanded that the U.S. military alter a planned training exercise that some conspiracy theorists believe is cover for a possible takeover of the Lone Star state.

Mayor de Blasio Is Irked by a Subway Delay  —  The email, blunt and to the point, popped into City Hall aides' inboxes at 12:17 p.m., and the subject line said it all: “2 problems today.”  —  Mayor Bill de Blasio, it seemed, was not pleased.  —  In a stern, bullet-pointed missive on Monday …

For Top 25 Hedge Fund Managers, a Difficult 2014 Still Paid Well  —  For investors in hedge funds, like big pension funds, 2014 was not a lucrative year.  But for those who managed their money, the pay was spectacular.  —  The top 25 hedge fund managers reaped $11.62 billion in compensation in 2014 …

Freddie Gray arrest documents drawn up for wrong people  —  Unlimited Access.  Try it Today!  Your First 10 Days Always $0.99

Bloomberg: on Bobby Jindal's watch, Louisiana's tattered finances the consequence of two key factors  —  This combination made from file photos shows Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, left, and Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson.  This is name-dropping season for the 2016 presidential hopefuls …

Online activists raised $60K for Tamir Rice's family — so where did all that money go?  —  Shaun King was furious.  —  The author and life coach turned activist has been one of the most prominent online voices in recent months, as protests of police impunity that began in Ferguson, Mo. …

DEA agents jail student 5 days with no food, water; get slap on wrist  —  Federal agents responsible for leaving a 23-year-old UC San Diego engineering student in a holding cell for five days without food or water received only reprimands or short suspensions from the Drug Enforcement Administration, according to the Justice Department.

Couple found guilty of having sex on Bradenton Beach  —  MANATEE — After only 15 minutes of deliberation, a jury Monday found a couple guilty of having sex on Bradenton Beach.  —  The convictions carry maximum prison sentences of 15 years.  —  Jose Caballero, 40, and Elissa Alvarez, 20 …

Sources: Grayson's girlfriend wants his House seat  —  Grayson's girlfriend, Dena Minning, has reached out to at least one Democratic-leaning group and clearly expressed her interest in running for his House seat if he runs for Senate.  —  As Florida Rep. Alan Grayson mulls a Senate campaign …

Group's prom picture with guns and a Confederate flag causes controversy … PARKER, Colo. — A prom picture is stirring up controversy in Parker.  —  Chaparral High School hosted prom in Denver on Saturday, but it's a picture of students posing with guns and the Confederate flag that is grabbing the town's attention.

FAIL: Only 18 Percent of 8th-Graders Proficient in US History  —  Results of the “Nation's Report Card” released this week by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) show that only 18 percent of 8th-graders are “proficient” or above in U.S. history, and only 23 percent are proficient in civics.

Harry Reid Plans To Block Trade Deal Until The Senate Deals With Surveillance Reform, Highway Funding  —  WASHINGTON — Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is putting the brakes on a Senate effort to push through a controversial trade deal, saying that Democrats will block the measure until …