Des Moines Register, partners cancel release of Iowa Poll over respondent concerns  —  The Des Moines Register, CNN and Selzer & Co. have made the decision to not release the final installment of the CNN/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll as planned this evening.

Sanders and Steyer closing gap on Biden as SC 2020 presidential primary nears  —  COLUMBIA — Joe Biden's hold atop South Carolina Democratic presidential primary polls has never wavered over nearly a year.  —  But the former vice president's lead continues to slide with the South's first primary just under a month away.

Trump's Ugly Media Obsessions: ‘Fat’ Meghan McCain, ‘Bitch’ Katy Tur & More  —  EXCERPT  —  In this selection from their new book, “Sinking in the Swamp,” Daily Beast reporters Lachlan Markay and Asawin Suebsaeng lay bare Trump's petty, relentless rants about the media.

‘How do you fall for the Bernie Sanders scam?’  Martin O'Malley on the Democrats and Iowa  —  In 2016, the Maryland governor ran for president.  Now he's taking the battle to Trump - and hoping his party won't veer too far left  —  Four years ago, in Iowa, Martin O'Malley withdrew …

NBC/WSJ poll: Country remains divided over Trump's impeachment trial  —  Majorities of Americans believe the president abused his power and obstructed Congress but split over whether it was enough to remove him.  —  WASHINGTON — Majorities of American voters believe that President Donald Trump abused …

‘A massive historical story’: Trump's impending acquittal could have profound ramifications for future presidents  —  The evidence of President Trump's actions to pressure Ukraine was never in serious dispute.  After a systematic presentation of the facts of the case, even some Senate Republicans concluded that what he did was wrong.

Billings legislator insists Constitution says it's OK to shoot socialists  —  HELENA — A Billings Republican legislator said Saturday he believes the U.S. Constitution calls for the shooting or jailing of those who identify as socialists.  —  State Rep. Rodney Garcia …

A U.S. Plane Crashed in Afghanistan.  Why So Many Believed a CIA Chief Was On It.  —  The wreckage of a U.S. military plane that crashed and burned in a snowy mountainous region in Afghanistan on Monday was still fresh when Iranian state TV ran a story claiming a top CIA officer was among the dead.

Ernst says Trump's focus on Bidens in Ukraine could influence Iowa caucuses  —  Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said on CNN's “State of the Union” Sunday that President Trump's Senate impeachment trial has helped bring to light information about Joe and Hunter Biden's activities in Ukraine …

NOAA emails reveal internal alarm over Trump's claims about Hurricane Dorian  —  Senior National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials privately slammed an unsigned NOAA statement contradicting forecasters and backing President Trump's claims that Hurricane Dorian was threatening Alabama …

Alexander: Even If It Weren't An Election Year, I'd ‘Probably’ Still Vote Against Witnesses  —  Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) insists that even if the Senate impeachment trial wasn't happening during an election year, he would still vote against additional witnesses or document subpoenas.

As New Coronavirus Spread, China's Old Habits Delayed Fight  —  At critical turning points, Chinese authorities put secrecy and order ahead of openly confronting the growing crisis and risking public alarm or political embarrassment.  —  WUHAN, China — A mysterious illness had stricken seven patients …

Raytheon engineer arrested for taking US missile defense secrets to China  —  Because China  —  Even small changes in China have global effects.  —  When Wei Sun, a 48-year-old engineer at Raytheon Missile Systems, left for an overseas trip last year, he told the company he planned to bring …

The Worst Day for Democracy Since the Civil War  —  The Republican party is escalating its war on democracy as it aims to rule America, or ruin it.  —  BEAST INSIDE  —  Jan. 31, 2020, was the worst day for democracy in America since April 12, 1861, when South Carolina forces opened fire on Fort Sumter.