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 …

Republicans getting weak-kneed about debt ceiling fight  —  House Speaker John Boehner spoke at length with the Wall Street Journal's Stephen Moore about the coming confrontation over the debt ceiling, the sequester, and the spending cuts Republicans will try to achieve.

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.

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.

‘Deport Piers Morgan’ Creator Flips Out On Morgan's Show: 1776 Will Commence Again If Guns Taken Away  —  Tonight Piers Morgan sat down with the creator of a White House petition to get him deported from the United States.  Alex Jones was fired up throughout the entire interview …

Obama's Second Term: More (and More Presidential) Polarization  —  By Francis Wilkinson 2013-01-07T18:23:23Z  —  President Barack Obama's anticipated nomination of Chuck Hagel as defense secretary shows how the polarization of Obama's second term might differ from that of his first.

Widow of Medgar Evers to deliver invocation at Obama inauguration  —  President Obama has picked Myrlie Evers-Williams, widow of slain civil rights icon Medgar Evers, to deliver the invocation at his public swearing-in later this month.  It is believed to be the first time a woman …

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.

Why Hagel Was Picked  —  Americans don't particularly like government, but they do want government to subsidize their health care.  They believe that health care spending improves their lives more than any other public good.  In a Quinnipiac poll, typical of many others …

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 …

Rescued by a Bailout, A.I.G. May Sue Its Savior  —  Fresh from paying back a $182 billion bailout, the American International Group has been running a nationwide advertising campaign with the tagline “Thank you America.”  —  Behind the scenes, the restored insurance company is weighing whether …

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.

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.”

Barney Frank disagrees with gubernatorial aide's criticism of him as potential interim senator  —  Former Representative Barney Frank had a succinct rejoinder today to Doug Rubin, the top political adviser to Governor Deval Patrick who said over the weekend that there were “better options” for interim US senator.