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 …

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.”

Bill Kristol's big plans start with Hagel nomination  —  In the weeks since Election Day — as Mitt Romney faded into obscurity, John Boehner lost control of the House GOP and tea partiers turned on one another — Bill Kristol has been busy charting the future of the Republican Party.

Energy Department, EPA nominations may be on tap  —  Now that President Obama has proposed new national security Cabinet members, the White House may be able to move to the Energy Department and Environmental Protection Agency.  —  Obama's energy team is going to be remade just like his national security …

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 …

Teachers Irate as Bloomberg Likens Union to the N.R.A.  —  Of all the polarizing things Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has said and done over the years, from banning large sugary drinks to supporting congestion pricing, few have generated the sort of viral backlash that has unexpectedly mounted after his weekly radio show on Friday.