Obama On Rick Warren Pick: We Have To Be Able To Agree To Disagree  —  Obama, at his presser today, defends the decision to choose Rick Warren to deliver the invocation as his inauguration with a restatement of his commitment to gay rights and, more broadly, to the principles of unity that have been a hallmark of his rise to power:

AP source: Rep. Hilda Solis is Obama's labor pick  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — A labor official says Rep. Hilda Solis of California will be nominated as labor secretary by President-elect Barack Obama.  —  The Democratic congresswoman was just elected to her fifth term representing heavily Hispanic portions …

Brett Favre Beats Lizard People  —  Yesterday, the Franken campaign challenged this ballot, claiming that “Brett Favre” was an identifying mark:  —  The Canvassing Board rejected the challenge and awarded the vote to Coleman.  —  Today, just moments ago, the infamous Lizard People ballot came up for the Canvassing Board's review!

Sources: John Holdren to be Nominated as Obama's Science Adviser  —  Strong indications are that President-elect Barack Obama has picked physicist John Holdren to be the president's science adviser.  —  A top adviser to the Obama campaign and international expert on energy and climate …

The Torture Report  —  Most Americans have long known that the horrors of Abu Ghraib were not the work of a few low-ranking sociopaths.  All but President Bush's most unquestioning supporters recognized the chain of unprincipled decisions that led to the abuse, torture and death in prisons run …

Bush Weighs ‘Orderly’ Bankruptcy for Automakers  —  WASHINGTON — The White House said on Thursday that an “orderly” bankruptcy was one option being considered to try to rescue General Motors and Chrysler, which are seeking billions of dollars to avoid a shutdown.

Kennedy is listening to wrong folks  —  Who says Camelot kid Caroline Kennedy isn't ready to be a big-time politician representing New York in the U. S. Senate?  —  She doesn't even have the job yet, and she's already acting like a seasoned insider.  —  In her first visit to Buffalo …

Another Change You Won't See From Obama  —  From the time Sen. Barack Obama announced his candidacy, I wrote and wrote about his record on criminal justice issues, particularly with respect to our drug laws.  I didn't like what I learned and said so repeatedly.

Gay man backed for Navy secretary  —  Foes cite 'Don't ask, don't tell'  —  Some top retired military leaders and some Democrats in Congress are backing William White, chief operating officer of the Intrepid Museum Foundation, to be the next secretary of the Navy - a move that would put …

First Read: Obama names intel czar  —  From NBC's Jim Miklaszewski  —  Sources involved in President-elect Obama's transition confirm that former Admiral Dennis Blair has been selected as the new Director of National Intelligence.  —  A 34-year Navy veteran, Blair was commander …

New Rule Protects Health-Care Workers' ‘Right of Conscience’  —  The Bush administration today issued a sweeping new regulation that protects a broad range of health-care workers — from doctors to janitors — who refuse to participate in providing services that they believe violate their personal, moral or religious beliefs.

Former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk emerges as front-runner for Obama Cabinet post  —  tgillman@dallasnews.com  —  WASHINGTON - Ron Kirk emerged late Wednesday as the front-runner for an Obama Cabinet post handling international trade, thrusting the pro-trade former Dallas mayor …

President Bush Addresses the American Enterprise Institute  —  Washington, D.C.  —  In Focus: Health Care  —  In Focus: Economy  —  MR. DeMUTH: Mr. President, what's on your mind this morning?  —  THE PRESIDENT: First, thanking you for being the leader that you've been, and thanking AEI for generating good thought.

Todd NBC's chief White House correspondent  —  Will retain political director title in addition to new duties  —  WASHINGTON - NBC News announced today that Political Director Chuck Todd has been named chief White House correspondent.  Joining him on the beat will be Savannah Guthrie, who has been named White House correspondent.

Frigid Storm Closes California Freeways, Drops Snow in Malibu  —  LOS ANGELES — Snow snarled major mountain highways and even dusted Malibu on Wednesday as a cold storm hit parts of California.  One person was killed by a wind-related helicopter crash, and an overflowing river …

Iraqi shoe-thrower ‘apologises’  —  The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at US President George W Bush has apologised to Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki, the prime minister's office says.  —  Local TV reporter Muntader al-Zaidi wrote a letter to Mr Maliki asking for forgiveness over his “ugly act” …

Conservative Leader Paul Weyrich Dies; First to Lead Heritage  —  Paul M. Weyrich, chairman and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation and first president of The Heritage Foundation, died this morning around 1 a.m. He was 66 years old.  Weyrich was a good friend to many of us at Heritage, a true leader and a man of unbending principle.

Katrina's Hidden Race War … The way Donnell Herrington tells it, there was no warning.  One second he was trudging through the heat.  The next he was lying prostrate on the pavement, his life spilling out of a hole in his throat, his body racked with pain, his vision blurred and distorted.

Meditations on Torture  —  I wrote a post earlier this week about the likability of George W. Bush that came in for some criticism.  Some readers seem to conclude that my assertion of Bush being likable was, in some sense, an exoneration of Bush's decisions and actions as president.

The economic Civil War  —  The South's attempt to kill the North's auto industry is the latest battle in an ongoing conflict.  It's time for a Third Reconstruction to put an end to it.  —  It is just as well that Barack Obama is emulating Abraham Lincoln by traveling to his inauguration in Washington by train.