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:

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.

Takes One to Tango  —  President Standoffish doesn't want to be seen as a stiff.  —  “Most people who know me know I'm a pretty friendly guy,” he protested at his White House press conference on Monday.  “And I like a good party.”  —  Maybe.  But the president always seems to be dancing alone.

Dennis Kucinich: It's “Almost Silly” To Think I'd Be The Token Liberal On Fox  —  The Ohio “liberal lion” is heading to Fox.  —  Image by Mark Duncan / AP  —  Dennis Kucinich's unlikely next act will be as a paid Fox News contributor, but he says it's “almost silly” to think that he'll be a kind of token.

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.

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.

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.

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 turns to ‘team player’ McDonough as chief of staff  —  President Barack Obama plans to name Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough as his next chief of staff, a Democratic source briefed on the plans tells POLITICO.  McDonough would replace Jack Lew, whom Obama nominated to be his new Treasury secretary.

Egyptian court sentences Christian family to 15 years for converting from Islam  —  Critics fear Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi's regime is taking the nation further toward Islamic extremism.  (AP)AP  —  Egyptian Christian women grieve before a mass funeral for victims of sectarian clashes.

Mark Levin: Obama's Executive Orders ‘Un-American,’ ‘Fascistic’  —  Conservative radio host Mark Levin tore into President Barack Obama on Wednesday after the president signed several executive orders aimed at curbing gun violence.  Levin told Fox News Channel host Neil Cavuto …

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.

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 …