Hillary Clinton Embraces Obama Legacy, as Bernie Sanders Aims for Democrats' Hearts  —  The Democrats' final debate before 2016 voting starts brought clarity to the choice ahead for Democratic primary voters, in a battle that's pitting the party's head against its heart.

Obama's Republican Foreign Policy Critics Don't Understand How the World Works  —  They seem to think that “hitting them hard” is the only way to get people to do things.  —  Wherever your stance on the political spectrum, there's no point listening to Republicans rail against President Obama's policies.

GOP to blame for civility's breakdown  —  If you ask me, President Obama is being way too hard on himself.  —  “It's one of the few regrets of my presidency, that the rancor and suspicion between the parties has gotten worse instead of better,” the president said during his final State of the Union address last week.

Restoring the middle  —  Ok, enough.  —  Ok, enough with the anger.  —  No one can govern with anger as their motivation.  It leads, as history has shown all too often, to profoundly unfortunate results.  It is also antithetical to the American dream.  —  This is not a nation built on anger.

Why Clinton brought up Flint's water crisis  —  Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton didn't want to leave Sunday night's Democratic presidential debate without addressing one topic that didn't come up until she mentioned it: Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's handling of a contaminated water crisis in Flint, Michigan.

Fox host scorches Cruz over ‘carpet bombing’ ISIS rhetoric: It proves you have ‘no military experience’  —  DON'T MISS STORIES.  FOLLOW RAW STORY!  —  Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz has defended his plan to “carpet bomb” civilian areas occupied by ISIS in the face of critics …

Bill Clinton's pardon of fugitive Marc Rich continues to pay big  —  Fifteen years ago this month, on Jan. 20, 2001, his last day in office, Bill Clinton issued a pardon for international fugitive Marc Rich.  It would become perhaps the most condemned official act of Clinton's political career.

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U of L law professor: ‘Veered to partisan agenda’  —  In a recent commentary, one of my colleagues attempted to portray the law school's decision to embrace “social justice” and “compassion” as benign, and having nothing to do with a “liberal agenda.”  He viewed these concepts as essential in a modern society.

California man believed part of Oregon standoff crashes van on icy road  —  Darrow Burke, 57, crashed this white Ford van early Sunday near Hines.  The Oregon State Police said he was wearing his seatbelt and was uninjured, although he was cited for driving without a license.  (Oregon State Police)

Walmart Cancels Plans for Two DC Stores Due to Minimum Wage Concerns  —  DC officials are furious as Walmart has reneged on a promise to build stores in lower-income areas of the city.  Walmart announced last week that they will be shuttering 269 stores throughout the country.

Rubio Says He Bought A Gun On Christmas Eve To Help Defend America Against ISIS  —  Presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) said that he bought a gun on Christmas Eve and will use it to protect his family — and America — against ISIS.  —  “I'm a strong supporter of the second amendment.

Militant Says Foster Children Were Pulled From His Home  —  A militant leader on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge told OPB his involvement in the occupation has resulted in the loss of his four foster children.  —  Robert “LaVoy” Finicum and his wife Jeanette were foster care parents for troubled boys.

STATE OF THE UNION  —  THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT.  THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.  —  JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Back to back.  Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are both here just hours before they face off at the debate.