Giffords and Kelly: Fighting gun violence  —  Our new campaign will launch a national dialogue and raise funds to counter influence of the gun lobby.  —  STORY HIGHLIGHTS  — The children of Sandy Hook deserve our efforts to stop gun violence.  —  In response to a horrific series …

Hagel and the Jews  —  A friend and admirer of Senator Hagel called the other day to ask whether we'd ever met the nominee to be secretary of defense.  We expressed our regrets that we hadn't.  Our friend wanted us to know that Mr. Hagel does not dislike the Jews.

Obama's CIA nominee to face tough questions about ‘enhanced interrogation’  —  President Obama's pick to head the CIA could face a rough road to confirmation in the Senate due to his involvement in the “enhanced interrogation” techniques of the George W. Bush administration.

Public Lukewarm on Cliff Deal, But Obama Bests Boehner  —  Americans give a lukewarm response to last week's agreement to avoid the fiscal cliff, albeit with higher marks for the deal to President Obama than to House Speaker John Boehner.  —  More people in this ABC News/Washington Post poll approve …

My Successor?  Mayor Ponders Dream Choices  —  It has been a bedrock assumption of this year's race for New York City mayor: Michael R. Bloomberg and the muscular political operation that guided him to three electoral victories will coalesce around his favored candidate, Christine C. Quinn, the City Council speaker.

Piers Morgan vs. Alex Jones  —  (CNN) — The man who wants Piers Morgan deported for advocating gun control faced off with the CNN host on Morgan's show Monday night, denouncing Morgan as “a hatchet man of the New World Order” and warning of a new American revolution.

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.

Most in U.S. Say Politics in Washington Cause Serious Harm  —  Slight majority optimistic that things will improve over next 10 years  —  PRINCETON, NJ — More than three-quarters of Americans (77%) say the way politics works in Washington these days is causing serious harm to the United States …

'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.

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 …

Dem lawmakers say courts should resolve debt-limit standoff  —  Democratic lawmakers are urging President Obama to force Republicans to take him to court over the controversial issue of raising the debt ceiling.  —  They believe the Supreme Court will have to ultimately resolve the battle …

Score begins weekly editions for 2013—NRCC tweaks Dems on $1 trillion coin—McDonald taps McCleary for NYC mayoral campaign—Frank angles for Mass. Senate appointment—Corbett approval rating stays l  —  (eschultheis@politico.com; Twitter: @emilyrs) and (jhohmann@politico.com; Twitter: @jameshohmann)

McChrystal backs gun restrictions  —  Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal backed banning assault weapons on Tuesday, saying guns like the M4 and M16 belong in the hands of soldiers, not on the streets.  —  “I spent a career carrying typically either a M16 and later, a M4 carbine,” McChrystal said on MSNBC's “Morning Joe.”