GOP debate: Newt Gingrich beats back immigration critique  —  Ascendant Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich delivered an unapologetic defense of his views on immigration Tuesday night, declaring in a foreign policy debate that the GOP should not adopt a platform on immigration that …

TRENDING: Romney names possible running mate  —  (CNN) - GOP presidential front-runner Mitt Romney on Monday dropped a name for a possible running mate should he secure his party's nomination.  —  “There are probably 15 names of people, including (New Hampshire Sen.) Kelly Ayotte,” Romney said in an interview on Fox News.

It Figures... UC Davis Students AGREED to Be Pepper Sprayed Before Incident (Video) ...Update: UC Davis Pepper Spray Massacre Victims Giggled & Smiled Describing Torture  —  For the record...  The UC Davis students who were holding the illegal protest on campus last weekend were warned …

Live Blog: CNN Republican National Security Debate  —  Washington, D.C. (CNN) - The CNN Political Ticker is live blogging the CNN Republican National Security Debate in Washington, D.C. Check here for live updates throughout the event and be sure to follow @PoliticalTicker, @CNNPolitics and use #CNNDebate.

Climategate 2.0 emails - They're real and they're spectacular!  —  UPDATE: 8:20 AM PST These emails have not been verified yet, and this story was posted by one of my moderating staff while I was asleep.  Until such time they are verified, tread lightly because without knowing what is behind …

Weary, blistered Wall Street protesters reach DC  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Drenched, blistered and weary, a few dozen Occupy Wall Street protesters arrived Tuesday in the nation's capital after a two-week, 240-mile march from Zuccotti Park in lower Manhattan.  —  The marchers, many wearing hooded ponchos …

Bachmann Mocked Amid Talk-Show Yuks  —  The drummer for the house band on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” apologized sort of for his decision to play “Lyin' Ass Bitch” when Rep. Michele Bachmann appeared on the talk show Monday night.  —  “The performance was a tongue-in-cheek and spur of the moment decision.

Despite Threat of Cuts, Pentagon Officials Made No Contingency Plans  —  WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has painted such an apocalyptic vision of America's national security under $500 billion in automatic defense budget cuts that Pentagon officials said Tuesday they were pushing …

CNN LIVE EVENT/SPECIAL  —  Full Transcript of CNN NATIONAL SECURITY DEBATE, 20:00-22:00  —  THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT.  THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.  —  WOLF BLITZER, DEBATE MODERATOR AND CNN LEAD POLITICAL ANCHOR: Live from Washington, DC, for the Republican National Security Debate.

Gov. John Kitzhaber stops executions in Oregon, calls system ‘compromised and inequitable’  —  SALEM — Gov. John Kitzhaber announced today he will not allow the execution of Gary Haugen — or any death row inmate — to take place while he is in office.  —  The death penalty is morally wrong and unjustly administered, Kitzhaber said.

Demonstrators Plan to Occupy Retailers on Black Friday  —  Some demonstrators are planning to occupy retailers on Black Friday to protest “the business that are in the pockets of Wall Street.”  —  Organizers are encouraging consumers to either occupy or boycott retailers that are publicly traded …

Al-Qaeda targets dwindle as group shrinks  —  Here's a look at individuals deemed the most wanted terrorists in al-Qaeda..  —  The leadership ranks of the main al-Qaeda terrorist network, once expansive enough to supervise the plot for Sept. 11, 2001, have been reduced to just two figures whose demise …