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.

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 …

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 …

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?

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 …

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 …

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:

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 …

Islamic State claims Jakarta attack, targets Indonesia for first time  —  Islamic State said it was behind an attack by suicide bombers and gunmen in the heart of Jakarta on Thursday, the first time the radical group has targeted the world's most populous Muslim nation.

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 …

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.”

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.

Iraqi Refugee Planned to Bomb Texas Malls  —  “I am against America.”

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 …

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.”