memeorandum: Outside, secret money likely to flow in 2013 (Tarini Parti/Politico)

11:10 AM ET, January 6, 2013

Top Items:

Republican Congressman Insults Nancy Pelosi's Appearance: 'There's No Facelift With John Boehner' — An outspoken Republican congressman castigated House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi's looks during a radio interview Friday. — Speaking with guest host Larry O'Connor on the Dennis Miller Show …

Discussion: The Democratic Daily, The Political Carnival, The Moderate Voice and msnbc.com

John Podhoretz / New York Post:

Conservatives gone wild — Mindless slaps at the speaker — The most passionately anti-Obama Republican politicians and activists consider themselves the truest and purest of conservatives, and often unleash their scorn and fury on others who also call themselves conservative but differ on strategy and tactics.

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, The Hill and The Reality-Based Community

Philip Rucker / Washington Post:

White House weighs broad gun-control agenda in wake of Newtown shootings — The White House is weighing a far broader and more comprehensive approach to curbing the nation's gun violence than simply reinstating an expired ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition …

Discussion: Right Wing News, Weasel Zippers, Washington Examiner, Chicago Boyz, Daily Kos and The Hill

Gregory Wallace / CNN:
Don't call it gun control, says Democrats' point person on the issue

Discussion: Weasel Zippers

Annie Lowrey / New York Times:

G.O.P. Begins Soul-Searching After Tax Vote — Everett Wilkinson, a Tea Party leader, top left, says pressure will continue. Newt Gingrich, top right, has softened his views on same-sex marriage. Pat McCrory, bottom left, the new governor of North Carolina, emphasizes pragmatism.

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, Prairie Weather and Althouse

Sam Baker / The Hill:

McConnell: Tax issue ‘finished completely,’ focus now on spending — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Sunday said Republicans will demand steep spending cuts during the next round of budget negotiations. — McConnell, in an interview with ABC's “This Week,” …

Discussion: ABCNEWS and Politico

Politico:

Obama to pick Chuck Hagel for Pentagon — President Barack Obama has settled on Chuck Hagel, a Republican and former U.S. senator from Nebraska, to succeed Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, with an announcement expected Monday, Democratic officials tell POLITICO.

Discussion: The Fix

William Kristol / Weekly Standard:
Hagel: War for Oil

Discussion: MichaelMoore.com, Hullabaloo, Associated Press, Guardian, The Huffington Post and Daily Kos

Los Angeles Times:
Obama likely to nominate Chuck Hagel for Defense secretary

Discussion: The Spectacle Blog and The Back Channel

Reed Abelson / New York Times:

Health Insurers Raise Some Rates by Double Digits — Health insurance companies across the country are seeking and winning double-digit increases in premiums for some customers, even though one of the biggest objectives of the Obama administration's health care law was to stem the rapid rise in insurance costs for consumers.

Kyle Balluck / The Hill:

Obama to draw on public support in new round of economic battles — President Obama intends to take a confrontational approach with Republicans in future economic battles by using the same campaign-style events the White House saw as effective in the “fiscal-cliff” fight.

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit

Tarini Parti / Politico:

Outside, secret money likely to flow in 2013 — McAuliffe (left), Christie (center) and Cuccinelli. Races in Va. and N.J. may be expensive. AP Photos — Close — Get ready for what could very well be the most expensive gubernatorial elections ever.

Pam Belluck / New York Times:

Pregnancy Centers Gain Influence in Anti-Abortion Arena — WACO, Tex. — With free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, along with diapers, parenting classes and even temporary housing, pregnancy centers are playing an increasingly influential role in the anti-abortion movement.

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog and JustOneMinute

Wall Street Journal:

Have We Lost the War on Drugs? — After more than four decades of a failed experiment, the human cost has become too high. It is time to consider the decriminalization of drug use and the drug market. — President Richard Nixon declared a “war on drugs” in 1971.