Obama's 23 Planned Executive Actions On Guns  —  Here is a list provided by the White House of the 23 executive actions President Obama plans to take to reduce gun violence in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., massacre:

State Dept: Americans taken during attack on Algerian gas field  —  (CNN) — Islamists angry over Algiers' support for the French offensive in Mali attacked an Algerian gas field, caused casualties and seized more than 40 Western hostages, North African media outlets reported Wednesday.

Whole Foods CEO says Obama healthcare law is ‘more like fascism’  —  The CEO of Whole Foods Market said President Obama's healthcare law is more like “fascism” than “socialism,” a parallel he drew in 2009, to some backlash.  —  John Mackey made the remark in an interview Wednesday with NPR.

Bob Schieffer Likens Obama ‘Taking on the Gun Lobby’ to Hunt for Bin Laden, ‘Defeating the Nazis’  —  Bob Schieffer somehow topped Chris Matthews during CBS News's special coverage of President Obama's gun control press conference on Wednesday, as he became the worst caricature of a foaming …

These Are The People The Wall Street Journal Thinks We Should Have Sympathy For?  —  The Wall Street Journal had an article providing a fairly thorough breakdown of the new tax policies that will now be in effect due to the “fiscal cliff” agreement reached by congress.  The article itself wasn't too bad, really.

Obama, Congress and spending cuts  —  Poll Questions

NEWS FLASH  —  HOUSE PASSES $50 BILLION IN SANDY AID OVER GOP OPPOSITION |  Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen's (R-NJ) amendment to complete the Hurricane Sandy recovery and resiliency package just passed the House by a 228-192 vote.  It adds $33.7 billion to the underlying $17 billion aid bill sponsored by Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY).

Why debt limit must be used to force a balanced budget  —  This Monday, President Obama again asserted that the country would “default” if Congress did not raise the debt limit.  “The full and faith and credit of the United States is not a bargaining chip,” he said at a press conference.

FOX Still Shunned at Obama Press Conferences  —  The favorite news outlet of conservatives ranks just ninth in presser questions in Obama's first term, getting to ask questions at only half the rate of the Big 3 broadcast networks  —  During Barack Obama's news conference on Monday the president called on seven reporters.

Kathryn Bigelow addresses ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ torture criticism  —  ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ director Kathryn Bigelow answers criticism of the film's depiction of torture, which she says does not equal endorsement of the tactics.  —  Kathryn Bigelow.  —  For a long time, measuring more years …

Statement by Gov. Perry on President Obama's Executive Actions  —  Gov. Rick Perry released the following statement regarding President Obama's executive actions:  —  “The Vice President's committee was appointed in response to the tragedy at Newtown, but very few of his recommendations have anything to do with what happened there.

Pennsylvania House Republicans Introduce Bill To Rig The 2016 Presidential Election … Earlier this week, Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus endorsed a Republican plan to rig the next presidential election to make it nearly impossible for the Democratic candidate to win the White House …

Reagan Only Supported Gun Control Because He Was Senile, Prominent Gun Advocate Suggests  —  As he unveiled his comprehensive package of gun safety regulations on Wednesday afternoon, President Obama urged Americans to stand up to irrational opponents of restrictions on military-style weapons …

New TIME/CNN Poll: Obama's Job Approval Jumps, Public Favors Stricter Gun Laws  —  Vice President Joe Biden, left, listens as President Barack Obama announces that Biden will lead an administration-wide effort to curb gun violence in response to the Connecticut school shooting …