Appeals Court Rules NSA Phone Program Not Authorized by Patriot Act  —  ACLU lawsuit argued the data collection should be stopped because it violates Americans' privacy rights  —  A federal appeals court ruled Thursday the National Security Agency's controversial collection of millions …

The Cavaliers Should Have Thought A Little Harder About This Promo  —  During last night's playoff game against the Chicago Bulls, the Cleveland Cavaliers showed the video below, which was removed from the team's Vimeo page this morning, on the in-arena jumbotron.

Release Detail  —  What Trouble?  Clinton Has Early Lock On Iowa Caucus, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Sanders, Biden Are Only Dems Over 3%  —  Sample and Methodology detail  —  With 60 percent of the vote among Iowa likely Democratic Caucus participants, former Secretary …

Sources: Baltimore police investigation doesn't support some of prosecution's charges  —  Baltimore (CNN)The Baltimore police investigation into the death of Freddie Gray doesn't support some of the charges, including the most serious, filed by the Baltimore City State's Attorney …

The Price of Nice Nails  —  Manicurists are routinely underpaid and exploited, and endure ethnic bias and other abuse, The New York Times has found.  —  The women begin to arrive just before 8 a.m., every day and without fail, until there are thickets of young Asian and Hispanic women …

Stephen Colbert funds $800,000 in grants for South Carolina public school teachers  —  Stephen Colbert spoke to S.C. Supt.  Molly Spearman at Alexander Elementary School to announce he, along with ScanSource and Share Fair Nation, would fund all 1,000 classroom projects South Carolina teachers asked for on DonorsChoose.org.

It's Time to Change the Iowa Straw Poll  —  Much has changed since 1979 and sometimes cherished traditions—like the Iowa GOP Straw Poll—must change too.  What is supposed to be a fun opportunity for Iowans and presidential candidates has turned into a high-stress and expensive endeavor.

McDonald's was there for me when no one else was  —  Before stardom, James Franco was just a fast-food employee eating fries straight from the hopper.  —  McDonald's sales have slumped.  Maybe the public wants healthier food.  Maybe there's too much competition.  Maybe people aren't into the chipotle barbecue snack wrap.

THIS WEEK'S COVER: INSIDE QUENTIN TARANTINO'S BLOODY, BRUTAL NEW WESTERN THE HATEFUL EIGHT  —  Somebody's dying today—you can hear it in Samuel L. Jackson's voice.  On a soundstage in Hollywood this April, the actor who plays Major Marquis Warren in Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight …

Piers Morgan Causes Mika Brzezinski To Roll Off ‘Morning Joe’ Set (VIDEO)  —  Former CNN personality Piers Morgan's opinions led to an Irish exit from co-host Mika Brzezinski on the set of MSNBC's “Morning Joe” on Thursday morning.  —  The moment came during a segment about paid paternity leave …

Bush leads, Rubio up, Christie down in new WMUR poll  —  Tightly packed field continues with 9 months to go  —  Nine months is an eternity in politics, particularly in late-deciding New Hampshire.  And so not surprisingly, the Republican presidential primary field remains crowded with no true frontrunner …

Dorian Johnson, figure in Michael Brown case, arrested in St. Louis  —  ST. LOUIS  • Dorian Johnson, the man who was with Michael Brown when Brown was fatally shot by a Ferguson police officer last summer, has been arrested on suspicion of drug charges and resisting arrest, a St. Louis police source said Wednesday.

Woman claims Verizon Wireless gave her a heart attack  —  Angela Hawkins called Verizon Wireless last year to straighten out a problem with her bill.  —  The grandmother of four hoped to talk to a helpful customer service representative.  —  Instead, according to a lawsuit …

Nick Kristof is not Smarter than an 8th Grader  —  This is a post by Eugene Stern, originally posted on his blog sensemadehere.wordpress.com.  —  About a week ago, Nick Kristof published this op-ed in the New York Times.  Entitled Are You Smarter than an 8th Grader, the piece discusses …

Heh: Carly Fiorina answers Seth Meyers question about domain snafu by buying SethMeyers.org  —  Carly Fiorina, who just jumped into the race for the presidency Monday, has spent the week coolly sitting for interviews and cleverly parrying jabs from reporters and critics.

CIA's Ex-No. 2 Says ISIS ‘Learned From Snowden’  —  The former deputy director of the CIA says in a new book that the NSA contractor's disclosures allowed the forerunners of the terrorist group to evade electronic surveillance.  —  Edward Snowden's leaks about U.S. intelligence operations “played a role in the rise of ISIS.”

How Britain's Election Has Stumped the Betting Markets  —  British voters are heading to the polls Thursday, and it looks as if it's going to be a nail-biter.  Political prediction markets suggest that it's basically a 50-50 bet as to whether the Conservative prime minister, David Cameron …

Chris Christie faces another blow  —  His “biggest” achievement, state pension reform, is likely to be dismantled by New Jersey courts.  —  Chris Christie's signature achievement as New Jersey governor may be going up in smoke.  —  The potential presidential candidate has said his …