Officials Say F.B.I. Knew of Petraeus Affair in the Summer  —  WASHINGTON — High-level officials at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Justice Department were notified in the late summer that F.B.I. agents had uncovered what appeared to be an extramarital affair involving the director …

The GOP's media cocoon  —  A long-simmering generational battle in the conservative movement is boiling over after last week's shellacking, with younger operatives and ideologues going public with calls that Republicans break free from a political-media cocoon that has become intellectually suffocating and self defeating.

Grover Norquist: Obama reelected by characterizing Romney as ‘a poopy-head’  —  Grover Norquist, the man who to many represents the GOP's hard line stance against raising taxes, said Monday that the results of the recent election and the looming fiscal cliff are no reason for the GOP to compromise on a deficit deal.

Elmo Voice Kevin Clash Denies Sex w/ Underage Boy — Takes Leave of Absence from Sesame Street  —  Takes Leave of Absence from Sesame Street  —  EXCLUSIVE  —  Kevin Clash — the man known as the voice of Elmo — has taken a leave of absence from Sesame Street in the wake of allegations …

Outrage Builds As Arizona Continues To Count Votes  —  Nearly a third of votes cast in Arizona remained uncounted the day after the election.  Most of them were probably cast by Latinos, organized and newly registered by multiple civil rights groups in the state to combat candidates …

MSNBC, Its Ratings Rising, Gains Ground on Fox News  —  On Tuesday night, with a minute to go until the polls closed in the battleground state of Virginia, the MSNBC hosts Rachel Maddow and Chris Matthews received word through their earpieces that the state was too close to call …

GOP's Red America forced to rethink what it knows about the country  —  HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. — She arrived early to take apart the campaign office piece by piece, just as she felt so many other things about her life were being dismantled.  Beth Cox wore a Mitt Romney T-shirt …

Why Obama is surely facing a second term riddled with scandal and upheaval  —  Now that the last election of his political career is behind him, President Barack Obama can concentrate on braking to avoid the fiscal cliff, re-staffing much of his administration and pausing to reflect on his long-term governing agenda.

In 59 Philadelphia voting divisions, Mitt Romney got zero votes  —  It's one thing for a Democratic presidential candidate to dominate a Democratic city like Philadelphia, but check out this head-spinning figure: In 59 voting divisions in the city, Mitt Romney received not one vote.  Zero.  Zilch.

No Meat on Mondays in Los Angeles  —  (CNSNews.com) - The Los Angeles City Council is urging all residents to observe “meatless Mondays” from now on.  —  A resolution adopted on Oct. 24 reads: “Be it resolved, that the Council of the City of Los Angeles hereby declares all Mondays …

Romney campaign's lasting mark  —  With the election over, supporters of Mitt Romney have to pack up their campaign signs and paraphernalia and get on with their lives.  —  But what if you can't get rid of that stuff?  Literally.  —  Eric Hartsburg caught some attention in the weeks leading …