The trouble with my uncle, Rick Santorum  —  If you want another big-government politician who supports the status quo to run our country, you should vote for my uncle, Rick Santorum.  America is based on a strong belief in individual liberty.  My uncle's interventionist policies …

Live Blogging the Iowa Caucuses  —  Welcome to FiveThirtyEight's live blog of the Iowa caucuses.  —  The real action will not get underway until 8 p.m. New York time, when caucuses convene around the state — and it is likely to be at least another hour or so after that before we start seeing the first results.

Campaign manager says Bachmann may drop out  —  WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Michele Bachmann's campaign manager says it's hard to tell whether she will continue her campaign after a bleak showing in the Iowa caucuses.  —  Asked if he could say with certainty whether she would go forward …

Release deal for Taliban leaders at Guantánamo  —  US agrees in principle to releasing top officials from Afghanistan insurgent group in exchange for starting process of negotiations  —  The US has agreed in principle to release high-ranking Taliban officials from Guantánamo Bay …

God Tells Robertson that ‘Radical’ Obama will Bring Down America  —  Last year, Robertson claimed God told him that America's future will be bleak because of debt and divisions, and today on The 700 Club said that God again communicated to him that financial problems and partisan politics are going to bring America into decline.

“We have nearly reached the Rubicon when the ‘not Romney’ crowd is pining for Jon Huntsman”  —  So says Erick Erickson.  Is he right? … Can he atone for that flipping of the bird before next Tuesday?  Ninety-five percent of you will say “NO” in the comments, but let's …

3 In-Laws of Afghan Girl, 15, Are Held in Her Torture  —  KABUL, Afghanistan — The Afghan girl's nails had been pulled out, her skin on her ear and nose had been twisted with pliers, and she had been kept in a dark, filthy basement bathroom without proper food or water for five months …

Obama talks to Iowa supporters on caucus night  —  (CNN) - President Barack Obama addressed via video conference several Democratic caucus sites in Iowa Tuesday, four years after winning the state's contest in a surprise victory that fueled his campaign on a path to the nomination.

New York City Police Arrest Suspect in String of Firebomb Attacks  —  Police arrested a suspect Tuesday in connection with the firebombing of an Islamic cultural center and four other New York City area sites.  —  The suspect confessed to five incidents in total, including the attack …

The Wisconsin Democratic Party chairman declines to update us on the number of Recall Walker signatures gathered.  —  Hmmm. … Why not tell us the numbers?  Why did they previously announce the number they had for Walker but clam up about Kleefisch?  Could they be reserving the option to say they failed to get enough signatures?

Carter's Advice to Obama: Don't Alienate Voters  —  Former President Jimmy Carter has some advice for Barack Obama as he gears up for the 2012 election: Don't alienate voters with controversial positions.  —  The Georgia Democrat told The Associated Press on Tuesday that just about everything …

Bad-Faith Journalism  —  PolitiFact tacks right, further illustrating why its approach is wrong.  —  It's not as eagerly awaited as Time's “Man of the Year” was back when people paid attention to Time, but PolitiFact's “Lie of the Year” nonetheless manages to generate a lot of chatter, aimed as it is at those who chatter for a living.

Iran warns U.S. carrier not to return to Persian Gulf  —  Handout/Reuters - Iranian naval ships take part in a naval parade on the last day of the Velayat-90 war game in the Sea of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.  Iran's army chief has warned an American aircraft carrier not to return to the Persian Gulf.

Meteor shower to kick off 2012  —  If you snooze you'll lose Wednesday morning, when a little known but active meteor shower will start 2012 for people stalwart enough to brave the chilly hours before dawn.  —  The Quadrantids, named for a now-extinct constellation, will be visible …

Krugman's response to Alex  —  You'll read it here, see also various (mostly weak) responses in the comments to Alex's original post.  Most of you, including Krugman, are missing Alex's point.  The issue is not that Krugman changed his mind (I've done that plenty, Alex too).

Muslims clash with China police who destroyed mosque  —  Hundreds of Muslims fought with armed police who demolished a mosque in north China, local police and a human rights group said on Monday, with several people injured in the “riot”.  —  The violence between local Muslims …

Santorum: States Should Have The Right To Outlaw Birth Control  —  Rick Santorum reiterated his belief that states should have the right to outlaw contraception during an interview with ABC News yesterday, saying, “The state has a right to do that, I have never questioned that the state has a right to do that.

Three-judge federal panel says W.Va. Congressional redistricting is not constitutional.  —  CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia lawmakers must redraw the state's three congressional districts by Jan. 17 or a federal court will do it for them, a three-judge federal panel said Tuesday.

Probe reveals feds pressuring agents to rush immigrant visas - even if fraud is feared  —  One-quarter of the USCIS officers surveyed said they have pressured to approve questionable cases.  —  Alejandro Mayorkas heads the agency.  —  Higher-ups within U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services …

RNC: Five states to lose half their delegates  —  The five states that bucked national Republican Party rules by moving up their primary or caucus dates have been penalized with the loss of half their delegates to the August nominating convention in Tampa, Fla. — and there is no chance they're getting them back.

Observations From 20 Years of Iowa Life  —  Thoughts from a university professor on the Iowa hamlets that will shape the contours of the GOP contest  —  IOWA CITY — On January 3, Iowans will trudge through snow, sleet, sludge, ice, gale-force blizzards — whatever it takes …

US Closes 2011 With Record $15.22 Trillion In Debt, Officially At 100.3% Debt/GDP, $14 Billion From Breaching Debt Ceiling  —  While not news to Zero Hedge readers who knew about the final debt settlement of US debt about 10 days ahead of schedule, it is now official: according to the US Treasury …