Short on funds and support, Sen. Rand Paul announced Wednesday the suspension of his 2016 presidential campaign, one that sought to expand the libertarian brand of conservatism championed by his father, Ron Paul, reports the Washington Post.

• Politico: Gallup: Red States Now Outnumber Blue States
• The Hill: Post-Iowa Poll: Trump Up By 24 Points In NH
• Politico: Trump’s New Spin: I’m A Rookie
• The Hill: Ryan Quotes Braveheart: ‘Unite The Clans’
• Breitbart: 10,000 Migrants to Be Housed in Berlin’s Luxury Hotels While Local Homeless Go Without Shelter

During the Iowa caucuses Monday night, contender Ben Carson says he was the victim of the very underhanded campaign tricks he has long sought to eliminate in politics, reports The Hill.

• Newsmax: Trump Defeated Himself in Iowa
• HuffPo: Jeb Spends $2,800 Per Iowa Vote
• Breitbart:  Ted Cruz National Political Director: We Can Replicate Iowa Victory in New Hampshire
• Politico: Sanders Adviser Was Convicted of Union Embezzling
• Reuters: US Budget Plan Includes Over $13 Billion for New Submarine

In the latest Quinnipac poll, first-time Iowa GOP caucusgoers have contributed to a 7-point lead by Donald Trump over Ted Cruz, and first-time Democratic caucusgoers boosted Bernie Sanders, with the Vermont senator holding a 3-point lead over Hillary Clinton, 49 to 46 percent, reports The Hill.

• AP: Iran: $100B in Assets ‘Fully Released’ Under Nuclear Deal
• Politico: GOP Braces For a Post-Iowa Collision
• WashTimes: Obama’s Eye-Opening Order to Pentagon: Make Combat Weapons Safer, Not More Lethal
• The Hill: George Soros Gives $6 Million to Pro-Clinton Super-PAC
• AP: Egyptian Christian Students Stand Trial For Insulting Islam