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.

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.

Manti Te'o's Dead Girlfriend, The Most Heartbreaking And Inspirational Story Of The College Football Season, Is A Hoax  —  Notre Dame's Manti Te'o, the stories said, played this season under a terrible burden.  A Mormon linebacker who led his Catholic school's football program back to glory …

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.

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.

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 …

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).

Don't blame me for election law, Rick Scott tells black lawmakers  —  TALLAHASSEE — Facing a highly critical group of black legislators, Gov. Rick Scott largely defended his record Tuesday but distanced himself from a controversial election law that led to fewer early-voting days and long lines.

Obama, Congress and spending cuts  —  Poll Questions

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 …

Deepening Crisis for the Dreamliner  —  TOKYO — The two largest Japanese airlines said Wednesday that they would ground their fleets of Boeing 787 aircraft after one operated by All Nippon Airways made an emergency landing in western Japan, heightening concerns about the safety of the U.S. manufacturer's latest plane.

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 …

Scott in a very bad position  —  PPP's first Florida poll of 2013 finds Rick Scott's approval numbers on the decline and Democrats warming up to Charlie Crist, setting the stage for Florida to possibly elect its first Democratic Governor in 20 years next fall.

Obama Asks Doctors to Help Deal With Guns  —  According to a background briefer provided by the White House, President Barack Obama is asking doctors to help deal with guns.  Here's the relevant passage: