A Democrat's view from the House: Senate bill isn't health reform  —  Editor's note: Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, a Democrat, represents the 28th Congressional District of New York.  Slaughter is the first woman to chair the House Rules Committee and the only microbiologist in Congress.

Winning ugly, but winning  —  On Dec. 24, in an early morning vote, the United States Senate passed health-care reform.  It was the first time the body had been in session on Christmas Eve since 1963.  That's fitting, as it's arguably the most important piece of legislation the body has passed since 1963.

McCain, GOP secretly courting another Dem to switch  —  Republicans are stepping up their efforts to persuade more House Democrats to switch parties and are zeroing in on a second-term Pennsylvanian who acknowledged the efforts but said he has “no plans” to do so.

Census Bureau: Texas Gains the Most in Population  —  Texas gained more people than any other state between July 1, 2008, and July 1, 2009 (478,000), followed by California (381,000), North Carolina (134,000), Georgia (131,000) and Florida (114,000), according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates

CNN Poll: More Americans think Democratic policies better than Republican  —  Washington (CNN) - Despite the bruising battle over their health care reform proposals, congressional Democrats have maintained an advantage over their Republican counterparts on one key measure, according to a new national poll.

MSNBC Cancels ‘Dr. Nancy’  —  Breaking: TVNewser has learned MSNBC has canceled “Dr. Nancy” the NoonET health/medical show hosted by Dr. Nancy Snynderman.  —  The cancellation of “Dr. Nancy” is yet another daytime programming move by MSNBC, which has fallen to 4th and, on some days, 5th place in the daytime ratings.

Kerry Floats Plan to Visit Tehran  —  White House Wouldn't Oppose Trip, First by Top U.S. Official in 30 Years, to Chagrin of Iran's Opposition  —  WASHINGTON — Sen. John Kerry has suggested becoming the first high-level U.S. emissary to make a public visit to Tehran since the 1979 Islamic revolution …

Is Obama Growing Weary Of The GOP's ‘Filibuster Everything’ MO?  —  There's growing sentiment on the left—most recently evinced by SEIU President Andy Stern and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman—that the Senate's quiet acceptance of the filibuster—and therefore a 60 vote threshold for most legislation …

Jane Hamsher, Grover Norquist Call for Rahm Emanuel's Resignation  —  Today, Grover Norquist and I are calling for an investigation into Rahm Emanuel's activities at Freddie Mac, and the White House's blocking of an Inspector General who would look into it.  The letter follows:

Newsmaker: Obama on Health Reform Politics, Copenhagen Climate Outcome  —  JIM LEHRER: Mr. President, welcome.  —  PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Thank you so much for having me.  —  JIM LEHRER: So you are completely satisfied with the health-reform bill that the Senate's about to pass?

Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins Split  —  One of Hollywood's most enduring relationships has ended - Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins have broken up after more than two decades together, PEOPLE has learned exclusively.  —  “Actress Susan Sarandon and her partner of 23 years …

Banks Bundled Bad Debt, Bet Against It and Won  —  In late October 2007, as the financial markets were starting to come unglued, a Goldman Sachs trader, Jonathan M. Egol, received very good news.  At 37, he was named a managing director at the firm.  —  Mr. Egol, a Princeton graduate …

Crapo: GOP unlikely to be able to repeal health bill  —  Republicans are unlikely to repeal the health reform legislation before Congress if they take control of the House and Senate, a GOP senator conceded Wednesday.  —  Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) said Republicans are unlikely to be able …

Gates proposes $2 billion in funds to aid unstable countries  —  Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has proposed a major overhaul of the way the Pentagon and State Department do nation-building, seeking to end friction between the bureaucracies by putting them jointly in charge of three huge …