Democrats Set to Offer Loans for Carmakers  —  WASHINGTON — Faced with staggering new unemployment figures, Democratic Congressional leaders said on Friday that they were ready to provide a short-term rescue plan for American automakers, and that they expected to hold a vote on the legislation in a special session next week.

Kennedy Is Said to Cast Her Eye on Senate Seat  —  Caroline Kennedy, a daughter of America's most storied political family who for many years fiercely guarded her privacy, is considering whether to pursue the Senate seat expected to be vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton early next year, a family member said Friday.

Video: O'Reilly and Megyn Kelly yell at each other over atheism; Update: Atheist sign stolen from Capitol; Update: Sign found  —  Surprise fireworks as FNC's most combative anchor tries to explain the First Amendment to its most combative commentator.  Good luck, Megyn!

Obama Pledges Massive Public Works Project  —  WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama committed Saturday to the largest public works building program since the creation of the interstate highway system a half century ago as he seeks to put together a plan to resuscitate the reeling economy.

The Real Bill Ayers  —  IN the recently concluded presidential race, I was unwillingly thrust upon the stage and asked to play a role in a profoundly dishonest drama.  I refused, and here's why.  —  Unable to challenge the content of Barack Obama's campaign, his opponents invented a narrative …

Contractors Indicted After Probe Into Shooting That Killed 17 Iraqi Civilians  —  5 Face Trial Over Incident That Killed 17 Civilians, Sources Say  —  Five Blackwater Worldwide Security guards have been charged in a September 2007 shooting that left 17 Iraqi civilians dead and raised questions …

Public support grows, according to the new NEWSWEEK Poll.  —  When voters in California, Florida and Arizona approved measures banning same-sex marriage last month, opponents lamented that the country appeared to be turning increasingly intolerant toward gay and lesbian rights.

ANALYSIS / Hebron settler riots were out and out pogroms  —  An innocent Palestinian family, numbering close to 20 people.  All of  —  them women and children, save for three men.  Surrounding them are a few dozen masked Jews seeking to lynch them.  A pogrom.  This isn't a play on words or a double meaning.

Huckabee and Palin top early 2012 list  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — Barack Obama is still more than six weeks from White House, and the next Iowa caucuses are more than three years away — so naturally, it's time to start talking 2012, as a new national poll suggests that Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee top …

Interior Dept. overturns regulation, clearing the way for concealed, loaded firearms into national parks.»  —  Today, the Department of Interior overturned a Reagan-era regulation, permitting loaded firearms at 388 of 391 national park sites.  The decision allows guns in parks in …

Supreme Court case: Can terror suspect in US be held indefinitely?  —  Justices agreed Friday to hear the appeal of terror suspect al-Marri, held without charge for more than five years.  —  WASHINGTON -  —  The US Supreme Court has agreed to take up the case of Ali Saleh al-Marri …

UNC libraries to forgo Christmas trees  —  CHAPEL HILL For as long as anyone can remember, Christmas trees adorned with lights and ornaments have greeted holiday season visitors to UNC Chapel Hill's two main libraries.  —  Not this year.  —  The trees, which have stood in the lobby areas …

Cheney Personally Thanked Chris Wallace For Defending Bush; Promises Him ‘Special Exit Interview’ As Reward  —  Last Monday, at a screening of Ron Howard's new film “Frost/Nixon,” Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace vociferously defended President Bush against criticism by Howard that Bush …

Jonathan Favreau  —  As he prepares to take office, President-elect Barack Obama is relying on a small team of advisers who will lead his transition operation and help choose the members of his administration.  Following is part of a series of profiles of potential members of the administration.