Matt Connolly

The economy added 252,000 jobs in December, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' new jobs report, capping off what Bloomberg called the "best year for the labor market since 1999." But it wasn't all good news. Despite the growing job numbers…

It hasn't: The U.S. uninsured rate has dropped to its lowest point since the start of the 2008 recession as more people sign up under Obamacare's coverage mandate. Less than 13% of Americans are uninsured, according to a Gallup poll, down from a…

Much of the Middle East is facing its worst winter weather in a decade, making life hell for the many refugees who fled Syria amid war and chaos to live in neighboring countries like Lebanon and Jordan. There are about 1.1 million registered Syrians…

When you're interviewing a prominent Muslim American human rights lawyer in the wake of a terror attack, plenty of great questions spring to mind. "Do you support ISIS?" is not one of them.  Yet that's what CNN's Don Lemon asked Arsalan Iftikhar, an…

Paypal co-founder and Silicon Valley superinvestor Peter Thiel and his firm Founders Fund are pouring millions into a marijuana firm, suggesting that some of the nations shrewdest investors and businessmen  are seriously banking on continued…

The news: Republicans in Congress voted in favor of a new method of budget prediction that could have huge ramifications on future legislation, potentially making Republican initiatives seem cheaper than they actually are. The Congressional Budget…

There are more jails and prisons in the U.S. than there are colleges. America's prison system, truly the "school of hard knocks," incarcerates its citizens at a much higher rate than any other country in the world. There are 707 adults imprisoned…

The news: Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell was sentenced to two years in prison Tuesday, following his September conviction on 11 counts of corruption. The sentence was actually much shorter than what prosecutors sought and many expected,…

Prescribing antibiotics are a great idea in theory. How can fewer germs be a bad thing? In practice, though, their overuse can invite medical disaster. That's according to a new study commissioned by the British government, which predicts that by…

If your Game of Thrones withdrawal has reached a fever pitch, HBO has a twist for you — and no, it's not a new character death. Starting Jan. 23, the show is bringing Season 4's last two episodes ("The Watchers on the Wall" and "The Children") to…

A record number of rhinos were killed last year in South Africa, a death toll that has scientists worried about the future of the species. Government estimates show that 1,020 rhinos had been killed for their horns through mid-November, according to…

Most world record-holders would love for you to see a video of their accomplishments. Kenneth Brandon presents his with a warning: "Obviously don't watch the whole thing." That's because Brandon's record is solving history's largest Rubik's Cube,…

A truly great teacher is priceless. But a truly successful teacher, it turns out, is worth $8 million a year. That's how much Korean math teacher Cha Kil-yong makes, according to theWashington Post. He's part of a group of highly paid teaching…

One year ago, Colorado made U.S. history by becoming the first state to legalize marijuana. Despite predictions that Colorado would become the haven of bleary-eyed layabouts and toke-crazy criminals, the state has shown that legal weed benefits…

Monarch butterflies are some of the best-known visitors to gardens across the country — although if we don't take drastic steps, these iconic insects may soon stop fluttering by. While exact numbers are hard to come by (how would you like to count…

After months of legal wrangling, Florida will finally start handing out same-sex marriage licenses on Tuesday, but some of its counties are reacting in the pettiest way possible. Duval, Clay and Baker counties, which include the city of Jacksonville…

Maryland's death row is now empty. Gov. Martin O'Malley commuted the sentences of the last four inmates in line for execution, giving them life in prison instead. The action ties a ribbon on the state's 2013 decision to abolish the death…

It's a millennial's worst nightmare: Everyone's making fun of something you tweeted years ago.  For Ohio State University quarterback Cardale Jones, set to start in Thursday's NCAA playoff game against the University of Alabama, that tweet just…

The news: For the first time since a massive housing and credit crisis took down the U.S. economy in 2008, destroying millions of jobs and tanking the stock market, Americans are finally starting to have a more positive outlook on the nation's…