Abbreviated pundit roundup: Marriage equality in Alabama

Same-sex marriages have begin in Alabama, and this editorial sums up the situation: Get out of the doorway. We had hoped the day would end without such an admonition. The federal judicial system has spoken in Alabama, a U.S. District Court judge ruling that marriage must be available…

Jeb Bush seeks money, talks education at home in Florida capitol

By Bill Cotterell TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Reuters) – Republican Jeb Bush plans a high-profile visit to the Florida capital on Tuesday to raise money and showcase the education reforms that he started as the state's former governor, burnishing key credentials as he eyes a presidential bid. With a $1,000-per-…

Ukraine parliament agrees to dismissal of top prosecutor

Ukraine’s parliament voted on Tuesday to approve a presidential proposal to dismiss the General Prosecutor, criticized by deputies and activists for failing to roll out reforms and bring justice for those killed in last year’s “Euromaidan” revolution. Vitaliy Yarema was appointed last June after the toppling of Moscow-backed president …

Climate Scientist Wins $50,000 In Libel Lawsuit Against Conservative Newspaper

Don’t read the comments, unless you’re trying to prove defamation of character in Canada . CREDIT: Shutterstock A prominent Canadian climatologist won his libel lawsuit against The National Post on Friday, after a judge decided that the newspaper had published several articles that were both inaccurate and defamatory to…

Abbreviated pundit roundup: Vaccines, Obamacare, net neutrality and more

We begin today’s roundup with Ryan Cooper at The Week who analyzes what may happen if the Supreme Court rules to gut the Affordable Care Act: What happens if the Obama administration loses? Millions may lose their insurance — of those, many thousands may die of preventable medical conditions. But…

US Steps Up Aid to Iraq to Fight Islamic State – Newsweek

NewsweekUS Steps Up Aid to Iraq to Fight Islamic StateNewsweekIraqi Kurdish regional President Masoud Barzani (R) meets with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, U.S. Army General Martin Dempsey in Arbil, north of Baghdad, November 15, 2014. Dempsey was visiting Iraq for the first time since President Barack Obama …Lawmakers Urge Britain …

No 10 rejects ‘bit player’ claim over Ukraine crisis – BBC News

BBC NewsNo 10 rejects 'bit player' claim over Ukraine crisisBBC NewsDowning Street has rejected claims by a former senior army officer that the UK has become "irrelevant" in attempts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. Sir Richard Shirreff, until last year a top Nato commander in Europe, suggested the …

Obama’s national security strategy – Version 2.0

By Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House is slated to release President Barack Obama's national security strategy on Friday, giving a broad outline for how he views his foreign policy priorities for the rest of his time in office. The release of the document, followed by a speech …

UK tribunal says intelligence-sharing with U.S. was unlawful

By Estelle Shirbon LONDON (Reuters) – A British tribunal ruled on Friday that some aspects of intelligence-sharing between security agencies in Britain and the United States were unlawful until December 2014, in a ground-breaking case brought by civil liberties groups. The Investigatory Powers Tribunal ruled that Britain's GCHQ had …

Cartoon: Your rights

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Let’s Repeal Obamacare: 56th Time’s The Charm

Today, with a perfectly straight face, the House of Representatives voted for the 56th time to repeal the Affordable Care Act, with a vote of 239-186. And this time is different! This time, the Senate is controlled by Republicans, who might also vote to repeal it! But it’s okay at…

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Has A Ted Cruz Problem – NPR

NPRSenate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Has A Ted Cruz ProblemNPRA bill funding the Department of Homeland Security failed in the Senate Tuesday because it would block the president's executive action on deportations. The question now is, what will Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell try next? The department runs …Senate …

Ex-NFL star consoled alleged victim’s girlfriend -witness

(Recasts with testimony of victim’s girlfriend) By Daniel Lovering FALL RIVER, Mass., Feb 3 (Reuters) – Former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez consoled the girlfriend of his alleged victim at the Massachusetts home where he lived with her sister, telling her he had “been through this death thing before,” the …