TRENDING: CNN 2012 Poll: Obama and Palin going in different directions?  —  Washington (CNN) - As the start of the next presidential campaign nears, a new national poll suggests that President Barack Obama's tax-cut compromise with congressional Republicans did not hurt his standing among Democrats …

MAYBE CHRISTIE CAN SEND A POSTCARD.... Following up on an item from yesterday, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) and his lieutenant governor were told Sunday about the blizzard barreling down on the Garden State.  Soon after, they left town at the same time, with Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (R) …

The merger of journalists and government officials  —  The video of the CNN debate I did last night about WikiLeaks with former Bush Homeland Security Adviser (and CNN contributor) Fran Townsend and CNN anchor Jessica Yellin is posted below.  The way it proceeded was quite instructive …

Indiana Grandmother, a Muslim Convert, Being Investigated for Possible Terror Link  —  Kathie Smith brandishes a gun in video starring her and her husband, Salahudin Ibn Jafar, that is being investigated by terrorism task force.  —  A 46-year-old Indiana grandmother is under investigation …

Just 21% Want FCC to Regulate Internet, Most Fear Regulation Would Promote Political Agenda  —  American voters believe free market competition will protect Internet users more than government regulation and fear that regulation will be used to push a political agenda.

Obama weighs in on Michael Vick, and other cultural issues  —  HONOLULU - President Obama doesn't seem to shy away from the divisive social and cultural topics that Americans are debating in their living rooms, gyms and workplaces.  —  He has spoken out about the responsibility of fathers …

Obama and Income Inequality: No New Brazils!  —  We're going to be hearing a lot about income inequality over the next few years.  It may be an abstract concept, but it gets hits like Sarah Palin and attracts grant money like Cory Booker.  Tim Noah's series on the subject was (rightly) so popular he got a book contract out of it.

Iraq Wants the U.S. Out  —  Prime Minister, in Interview, Says Troops Must Leave Next Year as Planned  —  BAGHDAD—Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ruled out the presence of any U.S. troops in Iraq after the end of 2011, saying his new government and the country's security forces were capable …

How WikiLeaks Just Set Back Democracy in Zimbabwe  —  Last year, early on Christmas Eve morning, representatives from the U.S., United Kingdom, Netherlands, and the European Union arrived for a meeting with Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.  Appointed prime minister earlier …

Lawmakers Finance Pet Projects Without Earmarks  —  WASHINGTON — No one was more critical than Representative Mark Steven Kirk when President Obama and the Democratic majority in the Congress sought passage last year of a $787 billion spending bill intended to stimulate the economy.

GAO Sees Problems in Government's Financial Management  —  Like what you see?  Click here to sign up for Accounting Today's daily newsletter to get the latest news and behind the scenes commentary you won't find anywhere else.  —  “Even though significant progress has been made since …

National Film Registry Adds 25 Films  —  National Film Registry Chooses 25 Films for 2010 Additions  —  It's official.  When, in hundreds of years, the future of humanity scours the U.S. Library of Congress for clues as to how primitively we lived back in the early 21st century …

Economic Optimism?  Yes, I'll Take That Bet  —  Five years ago, Matthew R. Simmons and I bet $5,000.  It was a wager about the future of energy supplies — a Malthusian pessimist versus a Cornucopian optimist — and now the day of reckoning is nigh: Jan. 1, 2011.

A PUBLISHING MYSTERY.... I don't mind admitting when I'm wrong.  Last year, for example, I predicted that George W. Bush's post-presidency memoir would be a flop.  Just the opposite is true — “Decision Points” has sat atop the Times Best Sellers list for the last six weeks, and yesterday …

Concision and the Public Intellectual  —  A friend of mine sent me the video below as an expansion on our conversation around cable news.  It's a discussion from the 1980s about why Noam Chomsky had never been on Nightline.  I dislike many of the sweeping generalizations which Chomsky makes at the end.

Rep. Rangel creates legal defense fund  —  Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) has created a legal defense fund to help pay attorneys' fees following a lengthy ethics investigation that ended with his censure on the House floor.  —  The 20-term lawmaker has been given permission by the House ethics committee …

Social Security reform is the answer to Obama's problems - and the nation's  —  The main achievements of the lame-duck session of Congress were reminders of what might have been.  President Obama gave something to get something.  To secure a second stimulus, he accepted Republican economic methods.

Health plans for high-risk patients attracting fewer, costing more than expected  —  An early feature of the new health-care law that allows people who are already sick to get insurance to cover their medical costs isn't attracting as many customers as expected.

Daniels says debt could wreck America  —  Also explains “truce” comment … Mark Mellinger: “Many have said you [would] have a lot going against you if you were running for president.  And some obstacles you just can't help.  One is that you're short.”  —  Mitch Daniels: “I don't dispute it.

Denis Dutton dies; author, philosopher, brother to L.A. booksellers  —  Denis Dutton, the author, academic and philosopher who saw the Web as a place where intelligent ideas could flourish, has died in New Zealand at the age of 66, according to New Zealand news sources.

Tests of ‘Roe’ more frequent since justices upheld late-term abortion ban in '07  —  LINCOLN, NEB. - Mike Flood, the 35-year-old speaker of Nebraska's legislature, had a problem: He wanted to stop the state's well-known abortion provider from offering late-term abortions.