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!

The recounting is done (with one exception)  —  The last of the ballots were stored away in Wright County late this morning.  So, except for 133 missing ballots from Minneapolis, the recounting from the U.S. Senate race is over.  —  By Curt Brown cbrown@startribune.com Except for 133 missing ballots …

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

House will return to five-day work week in 2009  —  House Democratic leaders have decided to lengthen the congressional workweek next year as they try to implement President-elect Obama's agenda and clear a backlog of priorities no longer subject to the veto of President Bush.

Obama goes upscale in Hawaii for holiday  —  President-elect will return to home state with family and friends  —  President-elect Barack Obama, returning to his home state of Hawaii for the holidays, plans a beachside vacation at one of Oahu's most exclusive properties, according to an islander involved in the planning.

Ted Kennedy gives up his seat on Senate Judiciary Committee  —  Sen. Ted Kennedy announced that he is stepping down from his position on the Judiciary Committee, according to a statement released from his office, reports Sarah Abruzzese.  —  “As Chairman of the Senate Health, Education …