WH ‘Absolutely’ Willing To Go Off ‘Fiscal Cliff’  —  President Obama's lead negotiator in the “fiscal cliff” talks said the administration is “absolutely” willing to allow the package of deep automatic spending cuts and across-the-board tax hikes to take effect Jan. 1, unless Republicans drop …

Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck dead at age 91  —  Arts critic  —  Dave Brubeck, a jazz musician who attained pop-star acclaim with recordings such as “Take Five” and “Blue Rondo a la Turk,” died Wednesday morning at Norwalk Hospital, in Norwalk, Conn., said his longtime manager-producer-conductor Russell Gloyd.

Louie Gohmert Casts Lone Vote To Keep ‘Lunatic’ In Federal Code … REACT:  —  FOLLOW:  —  Video, Flat Tax, Louie Gohmert, Gohmert Lunatic, Louie Gohmert Flat Tax, Louie Gohmert Lunatic, Louie Gohmert Tea Party, Politics News  —  WASHINGTON — The House voted on Wednesday to strike the word …

Rubio: I Don't ‘Pass Judgment’ On The ‘Sin’ Of Homosexuality (Except When I Do)  —  Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), who has called for the Republican Party to be more inclusive of minorities, said Wednesday that while his faith teaches homosexuality is a sin, he does not judge sinners.

Wall Street Bank Cuts 11,000 Jobs After Paying Ousted Executives $14 Million  —  Citigroup announced on Wednesday that it will cut 11,000 jobs, or 4 percent of its workforce, in an effort to trim expenses.  —  The moves comes one month after Citigroup paid out nearly $14 million to two former executives …

Syria loads chemical weapons into bombs; military awaits Assad's order  —  So far, intelligence sources say, bombs loaded with the components of sarin haven't yet been loaded onto planes.  NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports.  —  The Syrian military is prepared to use chemical weapons …

The Lesbian Past of Bill de Blasio's Wife  —  Bill de Blasio and Chirlane McCray.  (Photo: Getty)  —  Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, an all-but-officially announced mayoral hopeful, has prominently featured his wife Chirlane McCray in his campaign literature and on his web site.

Conservative group launches campaign to ‘depose’ Boehner from speakership  —  The backlash against Speaker of the House John Boehner's removal of several conservative members of Congress from committees continued Wednesday, with one conservative group calling for Republicans to “depose” Boehner from his speakership.

Vote: Worst Political Prediction of 2012  —  We have narrowed down our list of the best & worst political predictions this year and would like your help in making the final call.  —  Here are our three final candidates for the Worst Political Prediction of 2012

Train Wreck: The New York Post's Subway Cover  —  “It all happened so fast.”  —  That's what R. Umar Abbasi, a freelance photographer for The New York Post, said of the fatal subway incident on Monday that he caught with his camera.  One man threw another into harm's way, causing him to be run over by an oncoming train.

The Blue-State Suicide Pact  —  Click for full photo gallery: The Fiscal Cliff: States Whose Citizens Stand To Lose The Most  —  With their enthusiastic backing of President Obama and the Democratic Party on Election Day, the bluest parts of America may have embraced a program utterly at odds with their economic self-interest.

‘2016’ Oscar Snub Has Filmmakers Claiming Political Bias  —  Gerald Molen, who produced the Academy Award-winning 'Schindler's List,' said the box-office success of the anti-Obama documentary proves the film was a hit: “The action confirms my opinion that the bias against anything …

TSA: State Sen. Donne Trotter tried to bring handgun, bullets through O'Hare security  —  Illinois State Senator Donne Trotter is charged with felony after allegedly trying to bring a handgun and bullets through security at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

Dr. Coburn Releases “Safety at Any Price” Report on Questionable Grant Spending at Department of Homeland Security  —  (WASHINGTON, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) today released an oversight report, “Safety at Any Price: Assessing the Impact of Homeland Security Spending in U.S. Cities.”

Abortion For Military Rape Victims Amendment Passes Senate … REACT:  —  FOLLOW:  —  John McCain, Video, Jeanne Shaheen, National Defense Authorization Act, Todd Akin, Buck Mckeon, Federal Abortion Coverage, Military Abortion, Military Rape, Military Rape Abortion, Military Sexual Assault …

Romney can retire later  —  The nation is heading toward the “fiscal cliff,” but have no fear: Mitt Romney is coming to the rescue — of Marriott International Inc.  —  In his first public comments since election night, the defeated Republican presidential nominee issued a statement Monday announcing his next step.