Runaway Wisconsin Democrats Cheered By Protesters

The state's 14 Democratic senators fled in an attempt to stall a vote on the Republican governor's plan to end collective bargaining rights for public workers. One of the lawmakers said they were prepared to be away for weeks. Demonstrators camped out at the Capitol called the tactic "brilliant."

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/02/18/133864165/runaway-wisconsin-democrats-cheered-by-protesters?ft=1&f=1014

Kyrsten Sinema Brendan Steinhauser Jake Sullivan MARK SANFORD

Where the Leaders Are

Peggy Noonan, Wall Street Journal
There were two big speeches this week, and I mean big as in "Modern political history will remember this." Together they signal something significant and promising. Oh, that's a stuffy way to put it. I mean: The governors are rising and are starting to lead. What a relief. It’s like seeing the posse come over the hill.The first speech was from Mitch Daniels, the Indiana governor who is the answer to the question, “What if Calvin Coolidge talked?”

Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2011/02/18/where_the_leaders_are_250734.html

Jim DeMint Frank Luntz Jeff Flake Huma Abedin

Troops Shoot At Protesters After Funeral In Bahrain

Government troops in Bahrain opened fire Friday on anti-government protesters after the funeral for one of the protesters killed earlier this week. Steve Inskeep talks with NPR's Peter Kenyon, who is in the capital, Manama. Kenyon was in the area as the gunfire broke out.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/02/18/133868789/troops-shoot-at-protesters-after-funeral-in-bahrain?ft=1&f=1004

PATRICK RUFFINI ERIC ODOM JOHN KASICH BILL O’REILLY

In Win For Obama, House Kills Jet Fighter Engine

In a notable reversal from last year, the House has voted to kill an expensive alternative jet fighter engine. It's a win for President Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and a loss for the House speaker and others, whose districts would lose jobs. Half of Republicans who have been calling for deep spending cuts voted to retain the engine. But freshmen elected on a mandate to cut spending put their money where their mouth is and voted to kill it. Not to worry right away, though ? while the vote shows where the House is headed, the funding bill that it's attached to is ultimately going nowhere.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/02/17/133847158/In-Win-For-Obama-House-Kills-Jet-Fighter-Engine?ft=1&f=1014

Huma Abedin Justin Amash Nick Ayers Jeremy Bash

V.S. Ramachandran's Tales Of The 'Tell-Tale Brain'

Neurologist V.S. Ramachandran, a pioneer in the field of visual perception, explains how his simple experiments in behavioral neurology have changed the lives of patients suffering from a variety of neurological symptoms in The Tell-Tale Brain.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/02/14/133026897/v-s-ramachandrans-tales-of-the-tell-tale-brain?ft=1&f=1007

Justin Amash Nick Ayers Jeremy Bash George P. Bush

Florida Targets Big Cuts In Education

Federal stimulus money is running out and that leaves education in a hole. Florida Gov. Rick Scott says it was wrong for the state to accept the funds in the first place, and he's not going to try to replace them in the budget. That immediately cuts more than $2 billion from schools.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/02/18/133860415/Florida-Targets-Big-Cuts-In-Education?ft=1&f=1014

Tom Perriello Hannah Pingree Jared Polis Ben Rhodes

Pa. Employees Fired In Wake Of Abortion Scandal

Pennsylvania's new governor, Tom Corbett, has dismissed several workers and ordered sweeping changes to the way two state agencies regulate clinics that provide abortions. Corbett says workers failed for years to spot horrid conditions at a clinic where multiple infants and women died.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/02/16/133806324/pa-employees-fired-in-wake-of-abortion-scandal?ft=1&f=1003

Nikki Haley Jaime Herrera Ellie Boldman Hill Sarah Huckabee