MIT president orders review of Aaron Swartz episode  —  The president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced Sunday that he has ordered a top-to-bottom review of the university's actions in a computer hacking case that led to the federal prosecution of renowed programmer …

Lies on Gun Background Checks Are a Focus Both Sides Agree On  —  WASHINGTON — Nearly 80,000 Americans were denied guns in 2010, according to Justice Department data, because they lied or provided inaccurate information about their criminal histories on background-check forms.

Double trouble: House GOP eyes default, shutdown  —  House Republicans are seriously entertaining dramatic steps, including default or shutting down the government, to force President Barack Obama to finally cut spending by the end of March.  —  The idea of allowing the country to default …

Journal News gun permit map used by burglars to target White Plains home?  —  A White Plains residence pinpointed on a controversial handgun permit database was burglarized Saturday, and the burglars' target was the homeowner's gun safe.  —  At least two burglars broke into a home on Davis Avenue …

‘Game Change’ scores at the Golden Globes  —  HBO's “Game Change,” based on the 2008 campaign book by journalists Mark Halperin and John Heilemann, took home three Golden Globes at Sunday's ceremony, including in the category of best television miniseries or television movie.

Americans' Dissatisfaction With Gun Laws Spikes to 38%  —  Close to four in 10 say gun laws should be stricter, up from 25% in 2012  —  PRINCETON, NJ — In the aftermath of the Newtown, Conn., school shootings, and as Vice President Joe Biden leads a federal task force that will recommend ways …

Bill Clinton fibs about gun control  —  At a speech before the Conusmer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on January 9, Bill Clinton stated: “Half of all mass killings in the United States have occurred since the assault weapon ban expired in 2005, half in the history of the country.”

Maryland Gov. O'Malley to push for tougher gun-control rules  —  Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley will seek to institute some of the nation's strictest gun-licensing requirements, ban assault weapons and restrict visitor access to schools in one of the most expansive government responses sought …

American 99 Percenters Support Iran's Positions in Future Talks with G5+1  —  TEHRAN (FNA)- A large number of American peace and antiwar activists titled ‘99ers’ signed a petition in support of Iran's right to use peaceful nuclear technology and the country's positions in the upcoming talks with the Group 5+1 …

House to Take Up Storm Relief Bill Amid Battle Over Spending  —  WASHINGTON — The House will move ahead this week with a multibillion-dollar package to provide aid to victims of Hurricane Sandy, but the legislation is already caught in an escalating debate over spending and deficits …

Conservatives Declare War On New Miss America Mallory Hagan Over Gun Comments  —  Still reeling from losing the election and being ostracized from the majority of public opinion, conservatives are striking out at the newly crowned Miss America.  —  On Saturday's pageant broadcast, Mallory Hagan …

Powell: GOP has ‘a dark vein of intolerance’  —  While continuing to identify as a Republican, former Secretary of State Colin Powell on Sunday criticized the GOP for a series of racist attacks against President Barack Obama.  —  “There's also a dark vein of intolerance in some parts of the party …

In California, It's U.S. vs. State Over Marijuana  —  STOCKTON, Calif. — Matthew R. Davies graduated from college with a master's degree in business and a taste for enterprise, working in real estate, restaurants and mobile home parks before seizing on what he saw as uncharted territory …

By George  —  End This Depression Now!  —  How bad have things gotten?  How did we get stuck in what now can only be called a depression?  And, most of all, how do we free ourselves?  A call-to-arms from Paul Krugman.  — Buy the book »  —  Some links to stuff I've written bearing on macroeconomic policy.

Like President Obama, Rahm Emanuel pivots on gun control  —  Rahm Emanuel, who put the brakes on gun control in the Obama White House, is now pushing for broad changes to firearm policies in Chicago.  —  Like President Obama, the Chicago mayor has long embraced gun-control policies …