Bill Maher: We Must Stop ‘Evil’ Ted Cruz Before It's Too Late  —  The host of HBO's Real Time, which returns Friday, on why he's scared of Cruz, and the ‘underage hookers’ scandal that could sink Hillary Clinton's campaign.  —  For the past month and change, there's been a void …

Trump More Than Doubles National Lead in NBC/WSJ Poll  —  CHARLESTON, S.C. — Donald Trump has more than doubled his national lead in the Republican presidential race ahead of Thursday night's GOP debate here, according to the results from a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.

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 …

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:

Hillary Clinton's national lead is slipping faster in 2016 than it did in 2008  —  In 2008, Hillary Clinton saddled up for the Kentucky Derby on a thoroughbred that was a sure thing.  Her campaign was the finest colt in Kentucky, at odds that barely made it worth betting on her.

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 …

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 …

Cruz slams New York Times ‘hit’ on undisclosed bank loans  —  NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C.—Ted Cruz on Thursday pushed back on a report indicating that he improperly disclosed loans he took out from big banks during his Senate race in 2012, dismissing the issue as “a paperwork error” …

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 …

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 …

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.

From Tesla, a New Car Smell That Vegans Can Get Behind  —  For the eco-conscious car buyer, Tesla's luxury electric vehicles, with their neck-snapping acceleration, are proof that performance doesn't have to be sacrificed at the altar of saving the environment.  —  But for some discerning consumers, there is a nagging problem.

Bush Brings Up Black-On-Black Crime When Asked About Police Shootings  —  When asked about the federal government's role in addressing tension between the police and minority communities during a meeting with the Des Moines Register editorial board on Wednesday, Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush brought up black-on-black shooting rates.

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.”

Wisconsin Senator Calls Nikki Haley An Immigrant (She's Not)  —  “And Governor Haley is an immigrant.  She has powerful stories of being an immigrant,” said Sen. Ron Johnson of Nikki Haley, who was born in South Carolina.  —  youtube.com  —  Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson inaccurately described South Carolina …