Nikki Haley: Donald Trump has contributed to ‘irresponsible talk’  —  South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley defended her response to Tuesday's State of the Union, confirming to TODAY's Matt Lauer she was referring to Donald Trump as one of the “angriest voices” she mentioned.

Iran's Propaganda Victory in One Illegal Image  —  Here it is:  —  This photograph violates international law.  Article 13 of the Geneva Convention (III), governing the treatment of prisoners of war, requires Iran to protect prisoners against “insults and public curiosity.”

Al Jazeera America shutting down  —  Al Jazeera, which made a massive investment in covering the United States less than three years ago, is slamming the brakes on its American operation.  —  Al Jazeera America, a cable news channel that debuted in August 2013, is shutting down.

Iowa Poll: Cruz holds 3-point lead as Trump attacks  —  Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz remains the top pick among likely caucusgoers in the latest Iowa Poll.  Political reporter Jennifer Jacobs and political columnist Kathie Obradovich provide analysis.

Rancher: 'I didn't know anything' about Bundy entering property, destroying fence  —  “They didn't have my permission to do anything.”  - rancher Tim Puckett, referring to Ammon Bundy's group.  —  BURNS — Tim Puckett, the rancher whose cattle graze private rangeland adjoining …

Pelosi: I'm Not for Abortion on Demand  —  House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi sees the recent Republican attempt to defund Planned Parenthood as an “insult to the intelligence and judgment of women.”  —  Asked if she had watched any of the undercover sting videos of Planned Parenthood …

The Note: When Chelsea Attacks  —  Hillary Clinton this morning defended her daughter's attacks against her Democratic challenger Bernie Sanders' single-payer health care plan, despite criticism the remark was inaccurate.  “You know, I adore my daughter and I know what she was saying,” …

Upset Republican donors: Have we wasted our money?  —  Major GOP donors and fundraisers are wondering whether they're wasting their money on super-PACs.  —  They say they're not ready to abandon the super-PACs, but they're starting to look for ways to make them more effective during …

Employees caught doing hair in Waffle House kitchen  —  FORREST CITY, Ark. — A couple of Forrest City Waffle House customers said they got more than expected with their meals early Friday morning.  —  “He was just coughing.  Cough.  Cough.  Making noises like that,” Antonio Robinson said.

This is what makes Republicans and Democrats so different  —  MSNBC asked Benjy Sarlin, its reporter on the Republican race, and Alex Seitz-Wald, its reporter on the Democratic race, to flip jobs for a week and write up what they learned.  Their conversation is worth reading in full, but something Sarlin wrote caught my eye:

Remarks of President Barack Obama - State of the Union Address As Delivered  —  The White House is once again making the full text of the State of the Union widely available online.  The text, as prepared for delivery, is also available on Medium and Facebook notes, continuing efforts …

White House pledges ‘audacious’ executive action in 2016  —  President Obama will roll out a bold set of executive actions during his final year in office, his top adviser said Wednesday.  —  “We'll do audacious executive action throughout the course of the rest of the year, I am confident of that …

Lawrence Phillips found dead in prison at age 40  —  Lawrence Phillips, the former football star facing murder charges, was found dead early Wednesday at Kern Valley State Prison, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokeswoman Terry Thornton told USA TODAY Sports.

L Train Service Between Brooklyn & Manhattan May Be Shut Down For Years  —  Governor Cuomo's announcement last week that 30 subway stations would be completely closed for months at a time in order to properly “revamp” them was greeted with groans by riders.  But a disruption of epic proportions …