In Memoriam: Christopher Hitchens, 1949-2011  —  Christopher Hitchens—the incomparable critic, masterful rhetorician, fiery wit, and fearless bon vivant—died today at the age of 62.  Hitchens was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in the spring of 2010, just after the publication of his memoir …

Gingrich Parries With Challengers in Final Debate Before Iowa Caucuses  —  SIOUX CITY, Iowa — The Republican presidential candidates began delivering their closing arguments at the final debate of the year here on Thursday night, with the rivals trying to whittle away at the credibility of Newt Gingrich …

The Ron Paul Newsletters  —  Yesterday, during a discussion on Ron Paul with Sean Hannity on the latter's radio show, Hannity brought up with me the impossible-to-get around subject of the infamous Ron Paul Newsletters.  —  As Hannity quite correctly pointed out, with the other GOP candidates having received …

Congressional leaders reach spending deal to avoid government shutdown  —  Congressional negotiators signed off Thursday evening on a $1 trillion spending agreement for federal agencies, just 28 hours before a deadline that would have led to a government shutdown.

GOP wins light bulb fight  —  The shutdown-averting budget bill will block federal light bulb efficiency standards, giving a win to House Republicans fighting the so-called ban on incandescent light bulbs.  —  GOP and Democratic sources tell POLITICO the final omnibus bill includes …

GOP debate: Gingrich's electability at issue  —  Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's (R-Ga.) electability against President Obama and authenticity as a conservative were in focus at the top of Thursday's Republican presidential debate in Iowa, the last such skirmish before the state's Jan. 3 caucuses.

Frustration with Congress Could Hurt Republican Incumbents  —  GOP Base Critical of Party's Washington Leadership  —  OVERVIEW  —  Public discontent with Congress has reached record levels, and the implications for incumbents in next year's elections could be stark.

We ♥ Huntsman  —  ...Or at least his daughters.  Mary Anne, Liddy, and Abby may not be able to save Jon Huntsman's presidential campaign, but their Funny or Die-style videos, planking photos, and @Jon2012girls Twitter (what's a Mormon girl have to do to land a date with Tagg Romney …

Saviour of 2,000 Afghans who saved a baby's life executed by the Taliban  — Dr Karen Woo was with nine others in the Kuran Wa Munja district of Badakhshan when they were killed  —  A British doctor shot dead by the Taliban was part of a humanitarian mission that had helped 2,000 Afghans, an inquest heard yesterday.

Exclusive: Iran hijacked US drone, says Iranian engineer  —  In an exclusive interview, an engineer working to unlock the secrets of the captured RQ-170 Sentinel says they exploited a known vulnerability and tricked the US drone into landing in Iran.  —  ISTANBUL, TURKEY

POTUS on the GOP: 'Anything that Obama's for, we're against'  —  In an interview with ABC News' Barbara Walters, President Obama accused Republicans of grinding the government to a halt over personal animosity toward him — as well as an inability to compromise.

Newt Gingrich: Gay People Choose To Be Gay Like Priests Choose Celibacy  —  Newt Gingrich told the Des Moines Register's editorial board this morning that gay people have a “significant range of choice within a genetic pattern” and can choose to be straight just like someone can “choose to be celibate.”

Exclusive: ‘White Only’ Pool Sign Owner Explains  —  A female landlord, Jamie Hein, had a sign that read, “Public Swimming Pool, White Only” hanging on a gate at her house and her private pool.  (Photo credit: Ohio Civil Rights Commission)  —  An Ohio landlord accused of discriminating …

Romney Ku Klux Klan Report Backfires on Media  —  Don't just repeat it.  Report it.  —  That's the lesson this week for MSNBC and for The Washington Post, both of which apologized for repeating a liberal blog's claim that Mitt Romney had uttered a phrase on the campaign stump that was used in the past by the Ku Klux Klan.

Tea Party leader arrested with gun at NY airport  —  A major leader in the Tea Party movement was arrested at New York's LaGuardia Airport on Thursday after he tried to check in for a flight while carrying a gun.  —  Prosecutors charged Mark Meckler, the co-founder of Tea Party Patriots …

EXCLUSIVE: Former Bush Attorneys General Call Gingrich Position on Courts ‘Dangerous’  —  Two former attorneys general under President George W. Bush have found a few things to like in Newt Gingrich's position paper on reining in the authority of the federal courts, but other parts, they say, are downright disturbing.

Newt in the loot?  —  Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson has discussed directing $20 million to an outside group backing Newt Gingrich's presidential campaign, multiple sources told POLITICO — but Adelson denies he's made that promise.  —  After leaving Congress, Gingrich cultivated a network …