POLITICAL HOT TOPICS: Tuesday, January 24, 2012

The CNN Washington Bureau’s morning speed read of the top stories making news from around the country and the world. Click the headlines for more.

WASHINGTON/POLITICAL:

CNN: Romney attacks Gingrich in GOP debate
In a spirited Republican presidential debate, surging conservative Newt Gingrich came under attack Monday night over his record as U.S. House speaker in the 1990s, alleged lobbying after getting out of government and his past stance on health care reform.

CNN: GOP angst: Gingrich's rise could be their downfall
Newt Gingrich might have led Republicans to their first House majority in 40 years in the 1990s, but the prospect of the former House Speaker becoming their presidential nominee is producing significant GOP angst.

CNN: Where the money is: A campaign spending primer
The following is a primer on campaign finance terms relevant to the Supreme Court's 2010 "Citizens United" ruling that loosened spending restrictions in federal elections, which will have an impact this election year.

Washington Post: Mitt Romney’s tax returns shed some light on his investment wealth
Mitt Romney offered a partial snapshot of his vast personal fortune late Monday, disclosing income of $21.7 million in 2010 and $20.9 million last year — virtually all of it profits, dividends or interest from investments.

NATIONAL:

CNN: Judge allows pardoned Mississippi murderers to remain free - for now
A Mississippi court ruled Monday that there will be no change in conditions set for the four convicted murderers pardoned earlier this month by then-Gov. Haley Barbour, at least until a hearing February 3.

CNN: Justices rule against police, say GPS surveillance requires search warrant
Police erred by not obtaining an extended search warrant before attaching a tracking device to a drug suspect's car, the Supreme Court said in a unanimous ruling Monday.

CNN: Hinckley hearing focuses on whether he has interest in books on assassination
A Secret Service agent who secretly was watching presidential assailant John Hinckley Jr. in a Williamsburg, Virginia bookstore said he got "goose bumps" when he realized Hinckley briefly had looked at a shelf of history books that included some dealing with presidential assassination.

CNN: Paterno funeral set for Wednesday
Legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno will be buried Wednesday in a private family service, with a public memorial service to follow the next day, his family said Monday.

INTERNATIONAL:

CNN: Sanctions take toll on ordinary Iranians
Many in the West would like to see Iran punished for its nuclear ambitions. Tehran's residents would like those people to take a glimpse into their lives.

CNN: Egypt's new parliament holds first post-Mubarak session
Egypt's military rulers said they handed legislative powers to the country's lower house of parliament on Monday - the first day the parliament convened since former President Hosni Mubarak's ouster last year.

CNN: Head of Arab League observers in Syria rejects criticism
The head of Arab League observers in Syria rejected criticism Monday that his team had failed to stop killing in the country, where thousands of people have died in clashes between government protesters and opposition forces demanding the end of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

CNN: Clashes break out in former Gadhafi stronghold; 5 killed
Five people were killed and 20 wounded when clashes broke out between pro- and anti- Gadhafi forces in the Libyan city of Bani Walid, one of the last strongholds of those loyal to the late leader, a government official said Monday.

BUSINESS:

CNN Money: Romney vs. Gingrich on the economy
Newt Gingrich is the latest Republican candidate to challenge the conventional wisdom that Mitt Romney is destined to capture his party's nomination.

CNN Money: Stocks drift lower amid investor jitters
U.S. stocks closed the day flat, after drifting above and below the break even line Monday. Investors grew jittery amid uncertainty surrounding Greek debt talks.

CNN Money: Facebook to Google: 'Don't be evil'
Facebook, Twitter and MySpace have a message for Google: "Don't be evil."

In Case You Missed It…
CNN's Brian Todd reports on Newt Gingrich's favorite "radical," Saul Alinsky. He compares him to President Obama.