Narrower Tax Deal Floated as Lawmakers Sit With Obama  —  WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders prepared for what was looming as a make-or-break White House meeting on the fiscal crisis Friday afternoon as top aides said they were exploring a scaled-back proposal that would prevent tax increases on household income of $400,000 or below.

‘Come together’ breaks Washington apart  —  Twitter has been rather amused by Starbucks' plan to solve the fiscal cliff by scrawling “come together” on every peppermint mocha and salted caramel latte sold in the Beltway.  —  This will not bring people together.  (EVA HAMBACH/AFP/Getty Images)

Optimism for ‘fiscal cliff’ agreement grows ahead of White House meeting  —  Senators are growing more optimistic of a deal to avoid part of the fiscal cliff as Senate Republican Mitch McConnell (Ky.) works with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and President Obama to craft a last-minute deal.

Obama to demand up-or-down vote on fiscal cliff proposal  —  A last-minute deal at Friday's White House meeting to avert the fiscal cliff appears highly unlikely, according to senior officials on both sides, with President Barack Obama expected to renew his demands for a plan to raise taxes on families who earn more than $250,000.