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The Bullpen

Dana Liebelson

The problem with outsourcing the military

Edward Morrissey

Obama's boneheaded health-care fight with Catholics

Daniel Larison

The brewing proxy war in Syria

Robert Shrum

Nominating Mitt Malaprop

Paul Brandus

Obama's 5 biggest mistakes

The military's new mule-like robot, LS3, can carry up to 400 pounds over 20 miles without refueling.

Robo-mule: The military's rugged new wilderness beast

February 9, 2012, at 5:52 PM

Thanks to a sure-footed mechanical pack animal, U.S. troops could soon shed their bulky backpacks as they trek through treacherous terrain

A new Los Angeles law forbids Frisbee-throwing on the beach during the prime summer months. Volleyballs? No problem.

Good day, bad day: February 9, 2012

February 9, 2012, at 4:19 PM

Oppressed Chinese workers find supporters, while L.A. frisbee fans get no love — and more winners and losers of today's news cycle

The Obama-friendly super PAC Priorities USA Action has already received $2 million from DreamWorks' Jeffrey Katzenberg, and will likely garner millions more from wealthy Democrats.

The 'disturbing' rise of super PACs: By the numbers

February 9, 2012, at 12:50 PM

A small number of super-wealthy Americans are pumping a lot of lightly regulated money into the political system. Here's how it breaks down

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An election season dominated by heated social debates could favor Rick Santorum over Mitt Romney.

Will the culture war shape the 2012 race?

February 9, 2012, at 11:06 AM

As the economy improves, unemployment is again being overshadowed by birth control, abortion, and gay marriage with inevitable consequences for the campaign

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"If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham's H&M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him!" Roland Martin tweeted on Sunday, leading CNN to suspend him.

Did CNN's Roland Martin deserve a suspension for 'homophobic' tweeting?

February 9, 2012, at 10:34 AM

CNN yanks an in-house political analyst off the air, but some argue that the punishment doesn't fit the tweet

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Mitt Romney won the Colorado and Minnesota caucuses in 2008, but was trounced by Rick Santorum in those same contests this week.

The Romney revolt: Has the GOP base turned on him?

February 9, 2012, at 10:19 AM

This week, Mitt lost states he won four years ago, signalling to some that he has "failed to close the deal with conservatives"

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After his trio of victories on Tuesday, Rick Santorum's campaign quickly raised nearly $1 million.

4 ways Rick Santorum can hang onto his momentum

February 9, 2012, at 9:37 AM

The Pennsylvania conservative shocked the political world Tuesday by proving he could beat Mitt Romney. And beat him. And beat him. Can Santorum keep it up?

After losing three GOP presidential contests to Rick Santorum this week, Mitt Romney has his work cut out for him; but his biggest obstacle may be the unpopular proposals of House Republicans.

Are House Republicans Mitt Romney's 'biggest liability'?

February 9, 2012, at 7:15 AM

Mitt will eventually need to move toward the political center to attract independent voters. But the GOP-controlled House is pulling him to the right

Dana Liebelson: The problem with outsourcing the military

February 8, 2012, at 6:25 PM

U.S. defense contracting is a mess of lax oversight, poor accountability, thin competition, conflicts of interest, and sometimes, grave misconduct

Jimmy Fallon and First Lady Michelle Obama play tug of war during a TV appearance in which Mrs. Obama promoted her "Let's Move" fitness initiative.

Michelle Obama's 'charming' media assault: A video roundup

February 8, 2012, at 4:28 PM

Watch the normally restrained first lady hula hoop with Jimmy Fallon, do pushups with Ellen DeGeneres, and more...

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Spoon-fed babies may be more likely to become obese than those who eat with their fingers, a new study finds.

Good day, bad day: February 8, 2012

February 8, 2012, at 3:18 PM

While New York City maids get some extra protection, spoon-feeding mothers get some serious scolding — and more winners and losers of today's news cycle

Students of Miramonte Elementary School in Los Angeles hold signs during a march: Two teachers at the school have been charged with sexual abuse and the entire staff replaced.

An L.A. school's sex-abuse scandal: The extreme fallout

February 8, 2012, at 1:32 PM

The entire staff at a low-income, heavily Latino grade school is replaced so investigators can dig into deeply unsettling accusations

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Many pundits assume that President Obama's contraceptive mandate will hurt him in November, though others argue that the issue hurts Mitt Romney, too.

Obama's birth control mandate: 4 ways it helps his campaign

February 8, 2012, at 11:24 AM

The Right is accusing the president of trampling religious liberty. But Democratic voters may not see it that way

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People celebrate in San Francisco Tuesday after a gay-marriage ban is overturned, although the federal appellate ruling may be too narrow to have an effect on any state other than California.

Is the Prop 8 ruling merely 'a limited win' for gay marriage?

February 8, 2012, at 10:23 AM

A federal appeals court strikes down California's gay-marriage ban — but the ruling is so narrow, it might not have much effect outside the Sunshine State

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