Introducing: Your New Congressional Apportionment!  —  It's official: Here are the states gaining and losing seats (and thus electoral votes) in 2011.  I've put states entirely controlled by Republicans in bold and states entirely controlled by Democrats in italics, although in some of these states …

WHITE HOUSE EXTENDS WELL-DESERVED PRAISE TO JON STEWART.... It's too soon to say for sure whether Republican obstructionism will kill the Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.  The supermajority appears to be coming together, and Senate Democrats are keeping the pressure on …

Conservative bloggers agree: Haley Barbour is toast  —  I noted here yesterday that the real problem with Haley Barbour's comments about the Citizens Councils is that they show an unwillingness to avoid urinating on the third rail of race.  Today several conservative bloggers came …

Graham: GOP to blame for ‘capitulation ... of dramatic proportions’ in lame-duck  —  Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) lashed out at fellow Republicans Tuesday for a “capitulation ... of dramatic proportions” to Democrats and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in the lame-duck Congress.

Specter issues parting blow to Roberts, Alito  —  (CNN) - Sen. Arlen Specter, the outgoing Pennsylvania Republican-turned-Democrat, directed a parting blow Tuesday to members of the Supreme Court's conservative bloc.  —  In his final speech on the Senate floor, Specter …

FCC passes first net neutrality rules  —  update: 3:23 p.m. with statement of support from President Obama, plans for Congressional hearings from House Republicans.  —  The Federal Communications Commission voted Tuesday to approve its first ever Internet access regulation …

Why Apple Removed a WikiLeaks App From Its Store  —  Apple on Tuesday confirmed that it had removed from its online store an iPhone and iPad app that let users view the content on the WikiLeaks site and follow the WikiLeaks Twitter account.  —  Trudy Muller, an Apple spokeswoman …

That snow is what global warming looks like  —  Unusually cold winters may make you think scientists have got it all wrong.  But the data reveal a chilling truth  —  There were two silent calls, followed by a message left on my voicemail.  She had a soft, gentle voice and a mid-Wales accent.

WikiLeaks' Assange fires back at The Guardian to competitor  —  WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange slammed the New York Times in October for the paper's critical front-page profile of him.  —  That's presumably one of the reasons that the Times — which received hundreds of thousands …

Hysterics Over DADT Repeal Are An Insult To The Military  —  Originally posted at David Horowitz's Newsreal:  —  There have been a lot of different responses to the news that Don't Ask Don't Tell has been repealed.  President Obama is planning to sign the bill this week.

Thanks for the Tax Cut!  —  THERE is a God!  It passed!  The Bush tax cuts have been extended two years for the upper bracketeers, of which I am a proud member, thank you very much.  I'm the last person in the world I'd want to be beside, but I am beside myself!  This is a life changer, I tell you.

Afghan sex practices concern U.S., British forces  —  A document released by WikiLeaks described efforts by high-ranking Afghan officials to quash reports of police officers and other Afghans arrested for “purchasing a service from a child.”  —  The leaked diplomatic cable quoted former Minister …

Manchin Admits Mistake and Apologizes  —  Senator Manchin Apologizes For Skipping Votes  —  U.S. Senator Joe Manchin apologized to his constituents Tuesday for missing two key votes over the weekend.  —  Manchin has caught heat from friends and foes alike for failing to be on the Senate floor Saturday …

Harry Potter actress was beaten and branded a prostitute by her brother after dating man ‘who was not a Muslim’  —  A Harry Potter actress fled her home after her father and brother threatened to kill her for going out with a Hindu man, a court heard yesterday.

A SENATOR SCORNED.... Quick quiz — only one Republican senator has sided with Democrats on DADT repeal, the tax deal, New START cloture, and the DREAM Act in the lame-duck session.  Who was it?  —  The obvious guesses would likely be Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), Susan Collins (R-Maine), or Scott Brown (R-Mass.).