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 …

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.

‘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 …

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.

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.

N.J. Democrats accuse Christie of using Sandy to ignore state's economic troubles  —  TRENTON — On the eve of Gov. Chris Christie's State of the State address, Senate Democratic leaders accused him of using Hurricane Sandy to gloss over the state's pre-existing economic troubles.

As Senate Candidate, Hagel Opposed Abortion Even In Cases Of Rape Because It Was “Rare”  —  “I don't think those two exceptions are relevant.”  —  Source: csmonitor.com  —  While former Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel has taken intense heat for past opposition to gay rights …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Congress somewhere below cockroaches, traffic jams, and Nickelback in Americans' esteem  —  Our newest national poll finds that Congress only has a 9% favorability rating with 85% of voters viewing it in a negative light.  We've seen poll after poll after poll over the last year talking …

Unemployment Climbs in Euro Zone  —  PARIS — Unemployment in the euro zone rose to a new record in November, according to data released Tuesday that also showed that the troubles in the 17-nation currency zone are straining its strongest member, Germany.  —  The euro zone jobless rate rose …

Majority disapprove of Boehner's handling of ‘cliff’ talks, poll finds  —  Fifty-one percent disapproved of Boehner's efforts in budget talks, with 52 percent approving of Obama's stance.  —  A slim majority of Americans disapprove of Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) handling of budget negotiations …

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.

Obama's failure to nominate women for two top Cabinet posts questioned  —  President Obama brought his top Pentagon and Central Intelligence Agency chiefs together Monday with their potential replacements, and some critics noticed one thing that stood out: Each of them was a white man.

Holy Grail of Voters  —  Although independent voters have stolen the spotlight, people who describe themselves as moderates could be even more important.  —  After covering eight presidential and seven midterm election campaigns, I still manage to learn new things or come to view things differently.