Exclusive: Hagel says critics distort his views on Israel, Iran  —  Chuck Hagel said Monday an accurate assessment of his record will demonstrate “unequivocal, total support for Israel” and endorsement of tough international economic sanctions against Iran.  —  Critics have “completely distorted” …

Be Ready To Mint That Coin  —  Should President Obama be willing to print a $1 trillion platinum coin if Republicans try to force America into default?  Yes, absolutely.  He will, after all, be faced with a choice between two alternatives: one that's silly but benign, the other that's equally silly but both vile and disastrous.

Fast-Food Worker Hours Cut, New Health Care Law Blamed  —  A fast-food chain is slashing employee hours so franchise owners don't have to pay health benefits.  Around 100 local Wendy's workers have learned their hours are being cut.  A spokesperson says a new health care law is to blame.

'Don't ask, don't tell' dischargees to receive full back pay from DOD  —  In a landmark settlement, the Pentagon has agreed to give full back pay to U.S. service members who were discharged due to their sexual orientation under the military's “Don't ask, don't tell” policy.

Hillary Clinton back at work - with a football helmet  —  Hillary Clinton went back to work as secretary of state this morning and was greeted by colleagues showing off their sense of humor.  —  First off, we got the official State Department photo of her hosting the weekly meeting of assistant secretaries of state.

John Brennan, “Arabist”  —  By the standards of the Obama administration, John Brennan, its nominee for CIA director, will not be noteworthy for lack of warm feelings towards the State of Israel.  In a normal administration, though, he would stand out for this reason.

Just 8% Now Say They Are Tea Party Members  —  Views of the Tea Party movement are at their lowest point ever, with voters for the first time evenly divided when asked to match the views of the average Tea Party member against those of the average member of Congress.

Watchdog to Set Loan Rules  —  The federal government's consumer watchdog plans to unveil new home-lending rules, potentially reshaping the U.S. mortgage market by ushering in more standardization and preventing a return of the exotic loans that powered the housing bubble.

Obama Viewed as Fiscal Cliff Victor; Legislation Gets Lukewarm Reception  —  OVERVIEW  —  Barack Obama is viewed as the clear political winner in the fiscal cliff negotiations, but the legislation itself gets only a lukewarm reception from the public: As many disapprove as approve …

Politico Lays Off Staffers Amid Restructuring … REACT:  —  FOLLOW:  —  Jim VandeHei, John Harris, Dave Catanese, Jay Westcott, Jess Kamen, Politico, Politico Cult, Politico Cutbacks, Politico Layoffs, Calderone: The Backstory, Media News  —  Editor-in-chief John Harris and executive editor Jim VandeHei

Hugo Chavez Hit By Cuba's Surgical Strike  —  Americas: Venezuela's Hugo Chavez is dying of cancer in Havana, in a live demonstration of Cuba's vaunted socialized medical care.  He went there instead of Brazil because he wanted to make a political statement.  What irony.

Mexican Restaurant In South Carolina Under Fire For Racist ‘How To Catch An Illegal Immigrant’ T-Shirt  —  A Mexican restaurant in Columbia, South Carolina is being criticized for its racist T-shirts showing a wooden trap using tacos as bait with the caption “HOW TO CATCH AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT”.

State Rep. DebraLee Hovey to Gabby Giffords: Stay Out  —  State Rep. DebraLee Hovey, who represents Newtown and Monroe, posted this on her public FB page.  From Florida.  (Note: Hovey removed the post from her public Facebook page on Sunday afternoon).  —  Giffords visited local officials …

New Jersey Senate President: Christie May Have ‘Prayed’ For Sandy To Come  —  TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) — New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said Monday that Gov. Chris Christie might have “prayed” for Superstorm Sandy, because it has provided cover for what Sweeney …

After Pinpointing Gun Owners, Paper Is a Target  —  WHITE PLAINS — Local newspapers across the country look for stories that will bring them national attention, but The Journal News, a daily nestled in a wooded office park in a suburb north of New York, may have gotten more than it bargained for.

Rick Perry for president?  Legislative session gives him chance to burnish credentials  —  The legislative session that opens Tuesday will give Gov. Rick Perry a chance to burnish his credentials if he chooses to make another run for president in 2016.  —  But some are hard-pressed to imagine …

Hagel the Kyoto-Slayer  —  So far most of the critical discussion about Chuck Hagel for SecDef is that he said mean things about homosexuals, or is hostile to Israel, if not in fact anti-Semitic.  So far I'm curious that people on the Left in particular are forgetting Hagel's key role …