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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

Blagojevich Wants Campaign Funds to Pay Lawyer  —  SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois plans to ask that he be permitted to use campaign funds to defend himself against federal corruption charges, a lawyer who represents the head of the embattled governor's campaign fund said Thursday.

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 …

Plot to kill Musharraf unearthed  —  LAHORE: In a sensational development, authorities have claimed busting a clandestine terror network set up by jailed killer of Daniel Pearl inside the Hyderabad Jail and the Sindh government has suspended senior police and jail officials after a large number …

Emanuel's deeper involvement in pressing for Jarrett Senate appointment  —  My Sun-Times colleagues Natasha Korecki and Fran Spielman in a story in the Thusday paper report Rahm Emanuel's involvement in pushing Gov. Blagojevich to appoint Valerie Jarrett to replace President elect Barack Obama was deeper than previously known.

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!

Todd NBC's chief White House correspondent  —  Will retain political director title in addition to new duties  —  NBC News political director Chuck Todd will add the White House beat and Meet the Press Contributing Editor responsibilities to his list of duties.

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 …

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.

With economy in shambles, Congress gets a raise  —  A crumbling economy, more than 2 million constituents who have lost their jobs this year, and congressional demands of CEOs to work for free did not convince lawmakers to freeze their own pay.  —  Instead, they will get a $4,700 pay increase …