FROM THE BLOGS:

The historic report on recent CIA abuses that you're not allowed to see
The Atlantic's Conor Friedersdorf argues argues that at least some, if not all of the Senate Intelligence Committee's 6,000-page report on detention and interrogation techniques used by the CIA should be released to the public.

Poll: Hillary Clinton 'easily the most popular' political figure
Huffinton Post's Ariel Edwards-Levy looks into polls showing Clinton with a handy lead in popularity among politicians on both sides of the aisle.

Hot new conservative rallying cry: 'Support my campaign to thwart Karl Rove?'
Erika Johnsen of Hot Air delves into the ways Karl Rove's Super PAC might backfire in its goal of electing more "establishment" candidates.

Anti-evolution Missouri bill requires college students to learn about destiny
Mother Jones' Dana Liebelson is skeptical of a recently announced bill that would require equal teaching time for intelligent design, destiny, and evolution.

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:

Clinton brings warning to House Democrats about 2014 campaign
The Hill's Russell Berman reports on President Clinton urging House Democrats to implement health care reform correctly in 2014.

Carney defends Obama's decision to overrule Cabinet members on Syria
The Hill's Justin Sink reports on why President Obama decided to not arm rebel forces in Syria. 

FROM THE BLOGS:

Enough with stories about who's fat
Howard Kurtz writes for CNN about the problematic media trend of focusing more on a public figure's weight than their actual policies.

The pro-life advantage
Slate's William Saletan describes the political advantage of anti-abortion-rights groups nationwide, and what the opposition must do to mobilize its own base.

The second-term curse
Right Turn's Jennifer Rubin says President Obama's mistakes are just now catching up to him.

They all look the same!
Marin Cogan of The New Republic shares her trouble with telling members of Congress apart, and tricks she's learned along the way to make sorting through the faces a little easier.

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:

Catholic Bishops oppose revisions to contraception mandate
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops remains opposed to the contraception mandate required by the Obama administration, The Hill's Sam Baker reports.

CIA nominee defends drones
Current counterterrorism chief John Brennan explained the pros of the administration's use of drones, The Hill's Carlo Muñoz reports.

FROM THE BLOGS:

Dems to offer spending cuts
The Plum Line's Greg Sargent reports that Democrats are planning to offer a sequester deal that includes "a mix" of additional revenues and spending cuts.

Guantánamo Bay will remain open
Kelly Vlahos of The American Conservative notes that the Obama administration announced last week that it is "shuttering" the office in charge of closing Guantánamo Bay.

Gun control could cost GOP women vote
Women who, historically, don't vote in midterm elections will likely come out in 2014 because of the issue of gun control, Evan McCmorris-Santoro of TPM explains.

Bloomberg seeks another soda ban
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) is now seeking a ban on syrofoam cups, Andrew Johnson of The Corner writes. 

OTHER NEWS SOURCES

Rep. Braley after Iowa Senate seat
Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) launched a bid for retiring Sen. Tom Harkin's seat (D-Iowa), The Hill's Cameron Joseph reports.

First lady to attend funeral of Chicago teen
First lady Michelle Obama will attend the funeral of a Chicago teen who performed at the 2013 presidential inauguration, The Hill's Daniel Strauss reports.

FROM THE BLOGS:

Assassination rocks Tunisia
Commentary's Michael Rubin worries the so-called Arab Spring may not being going according to plan, using Tunisia as a recent example.  

Republicans hit Obama, Jack Lew for violating the law on Medicare 
The Weekly Standard's Jeffrey Anderson argues that the Obama administration broke the law by not outlining changes to increase Medicare's solvency.

Postal cuts are austerity on steroids
The Nation's John Nichols opines on why cutting funding for the United States Postal Service is a bad idea

Tim Geithner now a "distinguished fellow" at CFR
Slate's Matthew Yglesias offers his take on the former Treasury Secretary's next career move.

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:

Obama to nominate REI chief executive Jewell for Interior Secretary
The Hill's Daniel Strauss and Ben Geman report on President Obama's latest cabinet appointee.  

Dems propose bill decriminalizing pot 
The Hill's Pete Kasperowicz reports on the Democrats' latest plan to deregulate the purchase and consumption of marijuana.  

FROM THE BLOGS

How not to fix immigration
The American Conservative's W. James Antle argues that with immigration legislation looming, the proposed fix might not work as well as what America already has going.

Main Street Partnership dropping 'Republican'... not Republicans
Evan McMorris-Santoro of TPM details how a popular group dedicated to supporting moderate Republicans is dropping the party from its title, but will not fund campaigns for Democrats.

The Super Bowl's journalism malfunction
Steve Coll of The New Yorker explains how CBS's handing of the Super Bowl casts a shadow on the world of journalism.

Exposed: The dark-money ATM of the conservative movement
Mother Jones's Andy Kroll delves into the world of Donors Trust, a little-known organization helping to funnel massive amounts of money to further a conservative agenda.

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:

Obama asks for sequester delay
The president called on Congress today to pass a smaller package of spending cuts and tax changes to delay sequester, The Hill's Amie Parnes and Erik Wasson report.

Cantor calls for bipartisanship to help Americans make their lives 'work again'
In a speech focused on families, Majority Leader Eric Cantor outlined policy prescriptions aimed at bettering American lives, The Hill's Molly Hooper reports.

FROM THE BLOGS:

Drones targeting Americans abroad raises questions
Hot Air's Ed Morrissey highlights an Obama administration memo arguing the legal case for drone strikes on Americans.

Obama will never please the 'Skeeters'
CNN contributor LZ Granderson says President Obama should stop trying to appease his critics with photographic evidence.

Fixing US foreign relations
Right Turn's Jennifer Rubin writes an open letter to Secretary of State John Kerry: "Republicans are rooting for you."

GOP Senators obstruct CFPB
Pat Garofalo of Think Progress notes that 43 senators signed a letter vowing opposition to any new nominee to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 

OTHER NEWS SOURCES

White House playing defense
The Hill's Amie Parnes reports on White House press secretary Jay Carney's defense of the targeting of Americans with drone strikes as "fully consistent" with the Constitution.

Pentagon extends benefits to same-sex couples
The Pentagon will announce later this week that military same-sex spouses will receive some additional benefits. The Hill's Justin Sink reports.

FROM THE BLOGS:

Cut spending. Start here.
David Boaz of Cato offers up some suggestions for places to cut federal spending.

The next Romney
Aaron Blake of The Fix examines potential future political aspirations for other members of the Romney family.

Online advertising's racism mess
Salon's Andrew Leonard looks into the tricky development of Google's ad algorithms and their potentially racist results.

Traditional families — who also happen to be gay
David Rosenberg examines for Slate one photographer's quest to change people's perceptions of traditional marriage through photos of everyday gay couples and their families.

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:

White House offers no date for delayed budget
Despite having a Monday deadline, the president's budget won't likely be released for weeks, The Hill's Erik Wasson reports.

McConnell not ruling out Hagel filibuster, says opposition to nominee "intensifying"
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and his colleagues are keeping the threat of filibustering Defense nominee Chuck Hagel on the the table, The Hill's Jeremy Herb reports.

FROM THE BLOGS:

With Scott Brown out, Massachusetts Republicans are getting desperate
New York Magazine's Margaret Hartmann says Republicans are trying to cast a broader net for the Republican nominee for Massachusetts Senator after Scott Brown bowed out.

In defense of political anger
The Atlantic's Ta-Nehisi Coates discusses how former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) helped his cause by not engaging in back and forth during his confirmation hearing.

Is it time to get rid of the EPA?
The Daily Caller's Henry Miller argues the EPA has been an ineffective and burdening government agency.

Thank God for American Crossroads and the Conservative Victory Project
Red State's Erick Erickson celebrates Karl Rove's decision to change what type of primary candidates his super PACs support.

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:

Ryan hits Obama for blowing past deadline for 2014 budget
The 2012 Vice-Presidential nominee criticizes the President for not submitting his budget to Congress on time, The Hill's Erik Wasson reports.

Kerry begins State Department tenure with pledge to fill Clinton's 'big heels'
The Hill's Julian Pecquet reports on Secretary of State John Kerry's address to State Department employees to mark the beginning of his new role in government.

FROM THE BLOGS:

The Senate-hearing circus is in session

Matthew Duss recaps yesterday's tumultuous confirmation hearing for former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) in The American Prospect. 

Is it getting better? Homophobia rocks super bowl
The Nation's Dave Zirin discusses the comments made about members of the LGBT community by certain San Francisco 49ers players.



Fleeing Harry Reid's Senate
Jennifer Rubin writes in The Washington Post why she believes more Democratic senators will retire and join the private sector.



Obama administration retreating on HHS contraception mandate?
Hot Air's Ed Morrissey on the Obama administration's decision to exclude certain religiously affiliated organizations from the HHS contraception mandate.



OTHER NEWS SOURCES:

Economy adds 157,000 jobs, unemployment ticks up to 7.9 percent
The Hill's Vicki Needham reports on the January jobs report numbers.



Steven Chu stepping down as Obama's energy secretary
The Hill's Ben Geman reports on why the Noble Prize-winning scientist decided to not stay for a second term in the Obama administration.