How the ‘ick factor’ could doom Hillary — and her party  —  Another day, another three Hillary stories — all of which continue the ongoing tarnishment of the Clinton brand.  —  Tarnishment (n): The dilution of the quality of a trademark due to its association with a similar but inferior or more questionable version.

In Beaumont, Ted Cruz Spars a Bit … BEAUMONT — Presidential hopeful Ted Cruz hit some of his main stump points while meeting with local leaders here Tuesday afternoon — promising to defend the Constitution, step back from the Obama administration's foreign policy and promote economic growth.

Hillary Clinton's State Department Staff Kept Tight Rein on Records  —  Aides scrutinized, sometimes blocked release of documents requested under public-records law  —  WASHINGTON—When Hillary Clinton was secretary of state, her staff scrutinized politically sensitive documents requested …

The protected, connected liberal media elite  —  On Dec. 23, 2012, former NBC anchor David Gregory hosted an interview with National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre on “Meet the Press.”  —  As expected, the interview was hostile, with Gregory repeatedly badgering LaPierre …

Iowa Democrats: Flawed Hillary Clinton Our Only Hope  —  A Bloomberg Politics/Purple Strategies focus group finds Democrats resolved over their presidential frontrunner.  —  t writerknowles  —  Iowa Democrats see Hillary Clinton as a presidential candidate who, despite her flaws …

The Problem of Underinsurance and How Rising Deductibles Will Make It Worse  —  Findings from the Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance Survey, 2014  —  31 million people in the United States were underinsured in 2014  —  11% of privately insured adults had a deductible of $3K or more in 2014, up from 1% in 2003

Obama Says Climate Change Threatens Military Readiness, Security  —  Climate change threatens global security and the readiness of U.S. armed forces, President Barack Obama will tell graduates of the Coast Guard Academy.  —  Thousands of miles of roads, railways and energy facilities …

Record-High 60% of Americans Support Same-Sex Marriage  —  Story Highlights  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sixty percent of Americans now support same-sex marriage, as the Supreme Court prepares to rule on its constitutionality next month.  This is up from 55% last year and is the highest Gallup …

Alan Grayson called cops on wife for allegedly using his credit card  —  Florida Rep. Alan Grayson recently called his estranged wife a “gold digger,” but a review of the potential Senate candidate's soap-opera divorce case shows he unsuccessfully tried to have her criminally charged for far less …

Source: Aaron Hernandez a lookout in prison fight  —  Rise and fall of Aaron Hernandez 13 photos  —  Former NFL football player Aaron Hernandez attends his murder trial in Fall River, Massachusetts, on Thursday, January 29.  The state accused Hernandez of orchestrating the shooting death …

Iran's supreme leader: Foreigners can't interview our scientists  —  Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that he would not tolerate “unreasonable demands” from world powers during nuclear negotiations, making clear that he would not allow inspectors to interview the country's scientists.

CBO director: ObamaCare funds were assumed to be for all states  —  The man who led the Congressional Budget Office when ObamaCare was being constructed said Tuesday it was the “common understanding” at the time that subsidies would be available in all states — a crucial question in a looming Supreme Court case.

EXCLUSIVE: Grindr Screenshots Reveal Antigay Pastor Is A Top Who Likes To Cuddle  —  Until 2 p.m. on Monday, the ‘Our Church Staff’ section of St. John's Lutheran Church and School's website described Reverend Matthew Makela as an associate pastor who enjoys, “family, music, home improvement, gardening and landscaping, and sports.”

Federal Judge Says DC Gun Carry Law is Unconstitutional  —  A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction saying the District of Columbia's new concealed carry law is unconstitutional.  —  The order, issued Monday by Judge Frederick J. Scullin, was the second decision in less …

Minimum wage: L.A. City Council approves increase to $15 by 2020  —  The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday backed a plan to raise the city's minimum wage to $15 per hour, joining a trend sweeping cities across the country as elected leaders seek to boost stagnating pay for workers on the lowest rungs of the socio-economic ladder.