Top Items:
Tony Leys / Des Moines Register:
Iowa Poll: Clinton slides, leads Sanders by 2 points — Hillary Clinton has lost most of her lead over Bernie Sanders in the race to win Iowa's Democratic presidential caucuses, a new Iowa Poll shows. — Clinton, who has been the favorite all along, now leads Sanders by just 2 percentage points …
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NBC News:
Why Tonight's Republican Debate Could Get Ugly — First Read is a morning briefing from Meet the Press and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter. — Six storylines to watch at tonight's GOP debate — Tonight's debate — in North Charleston …
Discussion:
Washington Post, Politico, New York Times, Fox News and Political Wire
Katie Glueck / Politico:
How Ted Cruz wins debates — Wolf Blitzer didn't think Ted Cruz had sufficiently answered his question. Neither did Hugh Hewitt. Or Maria Bartiromo. Or Dana Bash. So each moderator at the last two Republican debates pressed Cruz further. — “Yes or no?” Blitzer demanded.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, Trail Blazers Blog, Hot Air and The Week
Kevin Cirilli / Bloomberg Business:
Donald Trump Says His Political Movement Is Bigger Than Reagan's — In an interview on Bloomberg's “With All Due Respect,” the Republican front-runner had measured criticism of rival Ted Cruz. — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump told Bloomberg's With All Due Respect …
Discussion:
RedState, The Hill, Politico, Talking Points Memo, American Spectator, CNN, Rush Limbaugh, The Daily Caller, Washington Post, The Gateway Pundit, Bloomberg View, VICE, The Texas Tribune, Christian Science Monitor, New York Times, Hot Air, Raw Story, AMERICAblog NewsAMERICAblog …, No More Mister Nice Blog, ABC News, Daily Kos, Mediaite, Business Insider, PoliticusUSA, Hullabaloo, The Week and Prairie Weather
Brent Budowksy / The Hill:
Brent Budowsky: Why Clinton feels the burn — There is joy in the hearts of the army of small donors supporting Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) for president as a growing number of polls show increasing numbers of voters feeling the Bern in Iowa, New Hampshire and nationally.
Discussion:
Bloomberg.com and Politico
Marlow Stern / The Daily Beast:
Bill Maher: We Must Stop ‘Evil’ Ted Cruz Before It's Too Late
Bill Maher: We Must Stop ‘Evil’ Ted Cruz Before It's Too Late
Discussion:
Mediaite, Washington Post, ThinkProgress, Raw Story and The Daily Caller
The Nation:
Bernie Sanders for President
Bernie Sanders for President
Discussion:
New York Times, CNNMoney, Vox, Salon, Politico, Washington Post, Talking Points Memo, The Week and Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Peter Wehner / New York Times:
Why I Will Never Vote for Donald Trump
Why I Will Never Vote for Donald Trump
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice and EPIC JOURNEY
Lindsey Ellefson / Mediaite:
Limbaugh Unloads on Nikki Haley: GOP Wants to Drive Out All the Conservatives
Limbaugh Unloads on Nikki Haley: GOP Wants to Drive Out All the Conservatives
Discussion:
Steyn Online, The Resurgent, BuzzFeed, Hot Air, Politico, ABC News, USA Today and Breitbart
Catherine Shoard / Guardian:
Alan Rickman, giant of British screen and stage, dies at 69 — Much-loved star of stage, TV and films including Harry Potter and Die Hard - and owner of one of the most singular voices in acting - has died in London — Alan Rickman, one of the best-loved and most warmly admired British actors …
Discussion:
CNN, Pharyngula, New York Times, Mediaite, WISH-TV, Hollywood Life, Shakesville, Mashable, Fusion, USA Today, WDTN-TV, NPR, The Week, Gothamist, The Verge, neo-neocon, CBS 4, WCDC-TV and Althouse
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BBC:
Alan Rickman, Harry Potter and Die Hard actor, dies aged 69 — Actor Alan Rickman, known for films including Harry Potter, Die Hard and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, has died at the age of 69, his family has said. — The star had been suffering from cancer, a statement said.
Tampa Bay Times:
Marco Rubio seeks to dismiss court challenge to his eligibility to be president — Donald Trump in Pensacola on Wednesday night continued to question Canadian-born Ted Cruz's eligibility to be president, wondering if Cruz were to win the nomination and a court ruled against him, “What do you do?
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, The Bob and Chez Show and Daily Kos
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Sean Sullivan / Washington Post:
His rivals are saying the same thing in different ways: Marco Rubio is weak
His rivals are saying the same thing in different ways: Marco Rubio is weak
Discussion:
BuzzFeed, Washington Monthly, The Federalist, NBC News, Business Insider, Real Clear Politics, Daily Kos and Rasmussen Reports
Sarah Ferris / The Hill:
Planned Parenthood sues over undercover abortion videos — Planned Parenthood on Thursday filed a long-awaited federal lawsuit against the anti-abortion activists who have targeted the group with undercover videos for the last year. — The formal complaint marks the first time that Planned Parenthood …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Talking Points Memo, Washington Post, RedState, The Daily Caller, Mashable and The Week
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Kyle Cheney / Politico:
Carson campaign in turmoil as finance chair quits — Ben Carson's national finance chairman Dean Parker resigned Thursday amid questions about his use of campaign funds and criticism from Carson allies and donors. — Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, appointed Parker, a tech industry entrepreneur …
Ethan Chiel / Fusion:
A bunch of kids performed a Donald Trump theme song and, oh my god, just watch — On Wednesday night a group called the Freedom Kids performed for a Donald Trump rally in Pensacola, Florida. Here's a video of their performance, uploaded to YouTube by a FOX affiliate in Phoenix: — A sample lyric:
Discussion:
Mother Jones, VICE, BuzzFeed, Mashable and Gizmodo
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Andrew Kaczynski / BuzzFeed:
Huckabee: “More Readiness On My Part” To Support Trump Than Others If I Lose
Huckabee: “More Readiness On My Part” To Support Trump Than Others If I Lose
Discussion:
Hot Air
Mark Hensch / The Hill:
Allen West: Sailors should have fought Iran — Former Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) is criticizing the 10 American sailors detained by the Iranian military, saying they should have resisted arrest. — “The result of two U.S. Navy vessels being boarded and seized by an enemy …
Discussion:
Shark Tank
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Susan Page / USA Today:
Paul Ryan: Obama's State of the Union ‘degrades the presidency’ — WASHINGTON — In a scathing response to President Obama's State of the Union Address, House Speaker Paul Ryan told USA TODAY on Wednesday that the speech's political tone toward Donald Trump and the Republican presidential field “degrades the presidency.”
Discussion:
Washington Post, Daily Kos, Talking Points Memo, Associated Press and New York Times
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Cristina Marcos / The Hill:
Speaker Ryan closes Iran vote swiftly to punish tardiness
Speaker Ryan closes Iran vote swiftly to punish tardiness
Discussion:
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Washington Post, The Bob and Chez Show and addictinginfo.org
Primates 2016:
Statement from Primates 2016 — Today the Primates agreed how they would walk together in the grace and love of Christ. This agreement acknowledges the significant distance that remains but confirms their unanimous commitment to walk together. — The Primates regret that it appears …
Discussion:
Episcopal News Service, New York Times, NPR, National Review, Washington Post and Religion News Service
cbp.gov:
CBP Detects Over One Ton of Marijuana at the Pharr International Bridge — PHARR, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility intercepted 2,493 pounds of alleged marijuana that was concealed within a commercial shipment of fresh carrots.
Sarah Fisher / Truth Revolt:
Iraqi Refugee Planned to Bomb Texas Malls — “I am against America.”
Discussion:
Pamela Geller, Associated Press and John Hawkins' Right Wing News
Jeffrey Sparshott / Wall Street Journal:
U.S. Chamber Chief Warns of ‘Politically Stupid’ Voices in White House Race — The head of the nation's biggest business lobby inveighed against presidential candidates singling out immigrants, ethnic or religious groups, highlighting divisions among supporters of the Republican establishment …
Discussion:
The Last Refuge
BBC:
Jakarta attacks: Bombs and gunfire rock Indonesian capital — A series of explosions has rocked the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, with gun battles on the streets. — The blasts were centred around Thamrin Street, a major shopping and business district close to foreign embassies and the United Nations offices.
Discussion:
The Liberty Zone, New York Times, CNBC, ATTN, The Daily Caller, ThinkProgress, Truth Revolt, Al Jazeera English and Washington Times
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Ivar / Spectator:
It's not only Germany that covers up mass sex attacks by migrant men... Sweden's record is shameful … It took days for police to acknowledge the extent of the mass attacks on women celebrating New Year's Eve in Cologne. The Germans were lucky; in Sweden, similar attacks have been taking place …
Discussion:
National Review
Associated Press:
Maine Governor Calls Failed Impeachment Effort ‘Foolishness’ — Critics of Maine Gov. Paul LePage failed to muster support for a vote Thursday on an independent investigation that could have led to impeachment for alleged abuse of power. — LePage responded by calling the impeachment effort “nonsense” and “foolishness.”
Julie Verhage / Bloomberg Business:
Here's What Morgan Stanley Is Telling Its Wealthiest Clients About Uber — No financials, but a number of risk factors. — Wealthy clients of Morgan Stanley and Bank of America just got dibs on shares of the unlisted Uber Technologies, but that doesn't mean they're getting a chance …
Discussion:
Business Insider