A third option changes the negotiation  —  The conventional wisdom on the fiscal cliff is that there are two options: (1) an Obama-Boehner deal; or (2) no deal, in which case there is no legislation before the end of the year and we “go off the fiscal cliff.”

For immediate release  —  Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in October suggests that economic activity and employment have continued to expand at a moderate pace in recent months, apart from weather-related disruptions.  Although the unemployment rate …

Do We Really Have to Condemn the Union Protestor Who Punched Fox News Comedian Steven Crowder?  —  Good, serious progressives are supposed to condemn violence as a political tactic, because it's wrong and in many cases counterproductive.  But do we really need to condemn the union protestor …

Barbara Walters' 2012 “Most Fascinating People”  —  Barbara tells “GMA” how she came up with this year's list.  —  Transcript for Barbara Walters' 2012 “Most Fascinating People”  —  Her husband wants her to.  But she's not sure.  Another person a lot of people talk about for running in 2016 …

The Republican Bait-and-Switch  —  Michigan Governor Rick Snyder opens the Detroit Regional Chamber 2012 Mackinac Policy Conference.  —  One striking thing about Governor Rick Snyder's successful push for a right-to-work law in Michigan—and Scott Walker's similar push against public employee unions …

GOV'T ARRESTS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SENATE INTERN  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez employed as an unpaid intern in his Senate office an illegal immigrant who was a registered sex offender, now under arrest by immigration authorities, The Associated Press has learned.

The Political Advantages of Not Caring  —  Near the end of a column on the Michigan “right-to-work” coup, Jonathan Chait offers an important insight on why Republicans are willing and able to pull these sort of stunts: … It's kind of important to understand that this total hostility to the labor movement …

Lie of the Year: the Romney campaign's ad on Jeeps made in China  —  It was a lie told in the critical state of Ohio in the final days of a close campaign — that Jeep was moving its U.S. production to China.  It originated with a conservative blogger, who twisted an accurate news story into a falsehood.

Rep. Jim Moran's Son Guilty of Beating Up His Girlfriend in Columbia Heights  —  Update, 4:30 p.m.: Rep. Moran says his son's incident was an accident, and Patrick Moran's girlfriend blames her injuries on a broken high heel.  —  Patrick Moran, the son of Democratic Virginia Rep. Jim Moran, is having a bad year.

Lindsey Graham Compares Marriage Equality Debate To The Civil War  —  Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) waffled on his same-sex marriage stance Tuesday night, telling CNN's Piers Morgan he thinks states should have the right to decide marriage rights.  —  This is a departure from Graham's longstanding commitment …

Time and Punishment: Mandatory Sentences Face Growing Skepticism  —  TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Stephanie George and Judge Roger Vinson had quite different opinions about the lockbox seized by the police from her home in Pensacola.  She insisted she had no idea that a former boyfriend had hidden it in her attic.

The Hispanic Challenge and Opportunity for Republicans  —  Resurgent Republic and the Hispanic Leadership Network jointly surveyed Hispanics who voted in the 2012 Presidential election in four critical states: Florida, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico.  The results make clear the size …

Sarah Palin's Son Headed for Divorce Court  —  Son Headed for  —  DIVORCE COURT  —  EXCLUSIVE  —  Sarah Palin's oldest son has pulled the trigger on his marriage by filing for divorce ... TMZ has learned.  —  Track Palin and his wife, Britta, jointly filed divorce docs in an Alaskan court.

Powerful committee seats rewarded to Dems who survived tough races  —  Politics played a powerful role in Senate Democrats' committee assignments, announced on Wednesday, with many of the Sens.-elect who survived tough races given plum spots in powerful committees as a reward.

Better Controls for Managing Your Content  —  We believe that the better you understand who can see the things you share, the better your experience on Facebook can be.  —  Today's updates include Privacy Shortcuts, an easier-to-use Activity Log, and a new Request and Removal tool for managing multiple photos you're tagged in.