Here's a quick look at what's making political headlines right now:
Newt Gingrich wins South Carolina: Newt Gingrich beat Mitt Romney in the South Carolina primaries, racking up 40 percent of the vote to Romney's 28 percent and signaling that Republican voters have no clear front runner to watch. Rick Santorum came in third with 17 percent of the vote, and Ron Paul was fourth with 13 percent.
Stephen Colbert rocks South Carolina (but comes in last in the primary): Comedy Central pundit and presidential candidate Stephen Colbert urged people to vote for Herman Cain in the South Carolina primary during a Friday rally that he called his "Rock Me Like a Herman Cain: South Cain-Olina Primary Rally." Why the unusual pairing? South Carolina does not allow write-in candidates, and Cain, who dropped out of the race in November, was already on the ballot.
"Mr. Colbert could not get on the ballot. I could not get off the ballot. That's how this came about." Cain explained earlier in the week.
The duo placed fifth with one percent of the vote. Check out Colbert's speech at the rally:
More than 200,000 votes already cast in Florida: Thanks to the state's early voting system, more than 200,000 people have already turned in their ballots even though Florida's Republican primary isn't until January 31. Nearly half a million absentee ballots have been requested. Pollsters are expecting a tight race, and analysts say that the early voting may give Mitt Romney a boost after his loss in South Carolina.
Santorum says pregnant rape victims should "make the best out of a bad situation": Last week, when CNN's Piers Morgan asked Rick Santorum about his stance on abortion, the candidate explained that "It's not a matter of religious values." If his own daughter was a victim of rape, he told Morgan "To love her and to support her and get her through this very difficult time, I've always, you know, I believe and I think the right approach is to accept this horribly created -- in the sense of rape -- but nevertheless a gift in a very broken way, the gift of human life, and accept what God has given to you.... We have horrible things happen. I can't think of anything more horrible. But, nevertheless, we have to make the best out of a bad situation."
The tax rate update: Mitt Romeny is set to release his tax returns on Tuesday, ahead of the President's State of the Union speech. Meanwhile, Forbes took a look at Newt Gingrinch's tax returns and determined that he's been paying less in taxes by using a "payroll ploy" that the IRS frowns upon.
Also on Shine:
Huntsman, Perry drop out; Gingrich courts Palin; Romney's off-shore money
Should you talk to your young kids about politics?
Marriage and the economy: How are couples coping
