Topline Results of Nov. 29-Dec. 6, 2011, CNN/TIME/ORC Poll  —  FLORIDA  —  BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH 446 REGISTERED REPUBLICANS WHO ARE LIKELY TO VOTE IN THE FLORIDA REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY — SAMPLING ERROR: +/- 4.5 PERCENTAGE PTS.  —  1. If the Republican presidential primary were held today …

A Statement by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius  —  Plan B One-Step is an emergency contraceptive, sometimes referred to as the “morning after pill.”  Plan B One-Step is currently labeled over the counter to women ages 17 years and older, but is sold behind the pharmacy counter.

Ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich sentenced to 14 years  —  Disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was sentenced Wednesday to 14 years in prison after he made a final plea for leniency, acknowledging his guilt and saying, “I am unbelievably sorry.”  —  “I believe he did, in fact, accept [responsibility] …

Harry Morgan, Colonel Potter on ‘M*A*S*H,’ Dies at 96  —  Harry Morgan, the prolific character actor best known for playing the acerbic but kindly Colonel Potter in the long-running television series “M*A*S*H,” died Wednesday morning at his home in Los Angeles.  He was 96.

Documents: ATF used “Fast and Furious” to make the case for gun regulations  —  Documents obtained by CBS News show that the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) discussed using their covert operation “Fast and Furious” to argue for controversial new rules about gun sales.

Sidwell Friends School, Sasha and Malia Obama's School, Opts For Asian, including Japanese Food On Pearl Harbor Day  —  Sidwell Friends School's website shows the menu for Wednesday December 7th, 2011, the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day, as an Asian food day.

Nasa's Voyager 1 in ‘cosmic purgatory’ on verge of entering Milky Way  —  Nasa's Voyager 1 has entered a new region of space between the Solar System and interstellar space in what Nasa has described as a ‘cosmic purgatory’.  —  Nasa's Voyager 1 spacecraft

Israel rift roils Democratic ranks  —  Two of the Democratic Party's core institutions are challenging a bipartisan consensus on Israel and Palestine that has dominated American foreign policy for more than a decade.  —  The Center for American Progress, the party's key hub of ideas and strategy …

Lawmakers Blast Administration For Calling Fort Hood Massacre ‘Workplace Violence’  —  Sen. Susan Collins on Wednesday blasted the Defense Department for classifying the Fort Hood massacre as workplace violence and suggested political correctness is being placed above the security of the nation's Armed Forces at home.

Transcript of our interview with Mitt Romney  —  MARK TAPSCOTT: From the very beginning of this race you've drawn support from about 25 percent of Republican voters and there's been a succession of “not Romney” shooting stars, if you will, who shot up and then down.

Rick Perry TV ad hits President Obama ‘war on religion’  —  Rick Perry's latest spot in his Iowa ad buy rotation is another faith-based appeal, but one that has one of the most audible dog-whistles so far this cycle about President Obama.  —  In the spot, “Strong,” Perry says …

Obama's Kansas speech: some suspect facts  —  “I mean, understand, it's not as if we haven't tried this theory.  Remember in those years, in 2001 and 2003, Congress passed two of the most expensive tax cuts for the wealthy in history.  And what did they get us?  The slowest job growth in half a century.”

Jon Huntsman dials back squishiness on climate change  —  POLITICO's James Hohmann reports:

Death penalty dropped against Mumia Abu-Jamal  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Prosecutors announced Wednesday that they will no longer pursue the death penalty against former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal, meaning he will spend the rest of his life in prison for gunning down a white police officer nearly 30 years ago.

Why a Gingrich vs. Obama Matchup Would Be Good For the Country  —  I sincerely hope Newt Gingrich wins the Republican nomination for president: It could bring a healthy candor to our politics and end up boosting the fortunes of liberalism as well.  Now, I realize the former Speaker may not be able …

Crystal Cox, Oregon Blogger, Isn't a Journalist, Concludes U.S. Court—Imposes $2.5 Million Judgement on Her  —  ​A U.S. District Court judge in Portland has drawn a line in the sand between “journalist” and “blogger.”  And for Crystal Cox, a woman on the latter end of that comparison, the distinction has cost her $2.5 million.

1. Occupy Wall Street Protests Spread  —  On Sept. 17, a couple hundred protesters demonstrating against the excesses of corporate execs and the pervasive influence of high finance in U.S. politics set up camp in Lower Manhattan's Zuccotti Park and refused to leave.

The right's problems with children's entertainment  —  You've likely heard about Fox News targeting the Muppets, but it's worth appreciating the extent to which this ties into a larger pattern. … Bolling actually went after Muppets twice, first accusing the movie of trying to …

Limbaugh Declares Fox News and National Review to Be Un-Conservative  —  The talk-radio host takes right-wing heretic-hunting to its logical conclusion … Has there ever been a less conservative sentiment uttered than the one above?  —  Yet its creator, Rush Limbaugh …

Why Newt's surge is for real  —  Washington is waking up to a prospect that a week ago seemed far-fetched.

Obama unveils new border rules  —  President Barack Obama joined Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper Wednesday to announce the details of two new initiatives designed to improve safety and streamline trade and commerce between the United States and its largest trading partner.

President Obama won't go to Hawaii while payroll tax is in limbo  —  President Obama is not vacationing in Hawaii with his wife and children while the extension of the payroll tax holiday remains in limbo, and has warned GOP congressional leaders to stay in town as well.

Chuck Grassley: Lanny Breuer must go  —  The top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, demanded the resignation of Lanny Breuer, a senior Justice Department official, for what he said was Breuer's “lack of judgment” and for misleading Congress.

Obama threatens veto of payroll tax linked to pipeline measure  —  (CNN) - President Barack Obama said Wednesday that he will veto any attempt by Republicans to link approval of a major oil pipeline from Canada or other unrelated measures with the payroll tax cut extension issue currently before Congress.

Republicans stands solidly against Richard Cordray  —  Senate Republicans on Wednesday showed no signs of backing down from their threatened filibuster of President Barack Obama's nominee to head a new financial watchdog agency, even as Democrats framed the fight as a stark choice between Wall Street and Main Street.