SOTU Scoop

By Tracey Webb Follow @WebbWriterguru

Get your daily scoop of what State of the Union is watching today, October 23, 2013

1. Obamacare's troubles. The federal website to register millions of Americans for the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, is dominating headlines. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta interviewed Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius about the website's troubles and warnings that there could be problems. "We moved forward because millions of people have been waiting for health care insurance," Sebelius said.

2. Obama didn't know? Sebelius also told Gupta President Barack Obama was not aware of any significant problems until a "couple days" after the federal health website had been launched.

3. Not quite on the same page. Cracks are emerging among Democrats over the rollout over the key part of Obamacare. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, says the deadline to sign up for health care exchanges should be extended. "I ... fear that people that have tried and failed to enroll online may become frustrated and not return to the website at a later date," Shaheen wrote in a letter to Obama. But House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi disagreed. "I think we should fix what we have, move forward with the deadline we have," Pelosi said. The Affordable Care Act currently requires enrollment by March 31, 2014.

4. Not all Tea Party favorites are popular. Texas Republicans are sticking by their man Sen. Ted Cruz, but Sen. Mike Lee can't say the same in Utah. Lee was a leader in the push to defund Obamacare that led to the 16-day partial government shutdown. Prominent Utah Republicans are criticizing Lee's non-compromising approach. "Business leaders that I talk to, many of whom supported him, would never support his re-election and in fact will work against him, myself included," Utah native and 2012 Romney campaign national finance chairman Spencer Zwick told the Washington Post.

5. Poll favors legalizing pot. A majority of Americans in one survey think marijuana use should be legal. According to a new Gallup poll, 58 percent think pot should be legalized, while 39 percent do not. Only 12 percent thought pot should be legal when Gallup first asked the question in 1969.