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.

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.

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.

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 …

President Obama's 2016 State of the Union Address  —  The White House is once again making the full text of the State of the Union available online ahead of the speech, as prepared for delivery, continuing efforts to meet people where they are and make the speech as accessible as possible.

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:

Self-appointed ‘judge’ arrives in Burns to ask local residents to charge government officials with crimes  —  Occupiers of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge lead members of the media on a tour of some federal buildings.  The protestors believe some government officails have acted in violation …

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,” …

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.

Graphic: Two Oklahoma women arrested for horrific child abuse  —  MUSKOGEE, Okla. - Two Oklahoma women are accused of abusing a 5-year-old over the course of several months.  —  Rachel Stevens, 28, and Kayla Jones, 25, are charged with felony child abuse by injury and child neglect …