TIME’s political team will begin liveblogging President Obama’s State of the Union address at 8:45pm tonight.
Doing Bunker Duty at the State of the Union
Since the nuclear era, one Cabinet member has been designated to hide and lead the nation in the event that America’s most powerful politicians are all wiped out during the State of the Union address. UPDATE
“Slow down. Slow down. How about a little foreplay?”
— Speaker John Boehner on whether or not the House could support an agreement that includes a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants now living in the United States, according to ABC News.
Was bin Laden’s Killer “Screwed” by the U.S. Government?
The unnamed SEAL who claims to have killed bin Laden has been kicking up a lot of dust over his claim that the government has tossed him overboard.
Is Iran a Bigger Threat than North Korea?
Why Obama is containing Pyongyang’s nuclear program, but threatening war to keep Iran from getting the bomb
49%
— Percentage of Americans who favor killing U.S. citizens suspected of terrorist activities, according to a CBS poll released today.
Morning Must Reads
In the news: nuclear North Korea, busy Democratic Senators, a Fox immigration poll, safe commercial jets, and the State of the Union.
John Brennan’s Second, Secret Senate Hearing
On Tuesday afternoon, John Brennan will enter Hart Senate Office Building 219, one of the most secure rooms in Washington.
State of the Union: Why Is Apple CEO Tim Cook Sitting Next to Michelle Obama?
Apple is a symbol of American innovation, but it does most of its business, employs most of its workers, and keeps much of its money overseas.
In Tuesday’s State of the Union, a Return to First Principles for Obama
Before the economic collapse, President Obama focused on how the middle class could thrive in an increasingly outsourced and automated world. It’s a message he’ll return to tonight.
A Sequester By Any Other Name . . . Would Probably Make More Sense
A poll out from The Hill this morning shows that about two-thirds of voters don’t know what the word means. Part of the problem is that “sequester” and its definition aren’t obvious bedfellows.
The Man Who Killed Osama Bin Laden Steps into the Limelight. Kind Of.
Esquire magazine has released a profile of the SEAL who claims to have fired the shots that killed Osama bin Laden.
Cardinal Dolan Reacts to the Pope’s Resignation
Pope Benedict XVI stepped down today in an announcement that surprised the Catholic world. There is no modern precedent for a papal resignation–the last pope to resign was Gregory XII in 1415. Pope “B16,” as he is affectionately …