The Midday Brief: Jan. 18, 2012

Your afternoon reading:

• "Online protests on Wednesday quickly cut into Congressional support for anti-Web piracy measures as lawmakers abandoned and rethought their backing for legislation that pitted new media interests against some of the most powerful old-line commercial interests in Washington." — Web Protests Piracy Bills, and Senators Change Course, The New York Times

• "House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, fought back on Wednesday against widespread Internet protests of his proposed Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA, saying websites like Wikipedia have spread misinformation about the bill. 'I don't see how the opponents can justify the continuation of illegal websites and the continued theft of American inventions and products, and that's what they are doing,' Smith said in an interview. 'It's disappointing that they're promoting fear instead of facts. Either they haven't read the bill or maybe they have a hidden agenda.'" — Rep. Lamar Smith defends SOPA after Wikipedia protests

• "Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz opposes The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), or H.R.3261, introduced by U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas. … 'We can all agree that stealing intellectual property online or elsewhere is wrong, but SOPA and Protect IP bills are the wrong solutions to stop it,' said Cruz." — Cruz opposes SOPA, Texas Politics

• "Erick Erickson, the founder of RedState.com, the website that hosted the event where Perry announced his presidential bid in August, penned an entry today calling Perry a potential 'kingmaker' in the South Carolina primary if he drops out before the weekend. … Earlier in the day, radio host Laura Ingraham urged the Texas governor to leave the race in order to boost another social conservative over front-runner Mitt Romney. 'It’s time for Rick Perry to drop out of the race — he is only helping Romney by splitting the vote,' Ingraham tweeted." — Conservatives Call on Rick Perry to Exit Race, ABC News

• "Gov. Rick Perry added his voice Wednesday to the clamor of criticism surrounding the Obama administration’s decision to reject a new oil pipeline from Canada to Texas. 'This is nothing more than this president giving his political base a victory at the expense of America,' Perry told supporters during a campaign stop at the Southern Thymes Cafe." — Perry blasts Obama rejection of Canadian pipeline

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "Mark Norwood, who is charged with the 1986 murder of Christine Morton, appeared for the first time in court today." — Norwood Lawyer Says His Client Is Innocent

• "We collected about $3.7 million — a 99 percent increase over 2010 — and finished the year a couple hundred thousand dollars ahead of plan. Fingers crossed: 2012 should be better than break-even." — T-Squared: Our 2011 Fundraising