Boehner full of regret over ‘fiscal-cliff’ moves  —  Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) is sharing his regrets about his “fiscal-cliff” strategy, less than a month after the House bitterly swallowed a last-minute deal hatched in the Senate.  —  In a private speech to the Ripon Society on Tuesday …

Sarah Palin Parts Ways With FOX News  —  After a three-year run as a paid contributor to the nation's highest-rated cable news channel, Sarah Palin and FOX News have cut ties, according to a source close to the former Alaska governor.  —  “It's my understanding that Gov. Palin was offered a contract by FOX …

AP NEWSBREAK: HARKIN WON'T SEEK 6TH SENATE TERM  —  You are here  —  Home » United States Congress » AP NewsBreak: Harkin won't seek 6th Senate term  —  CUMMING, Iowa (AP) — U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin will not seek re-election in 2014, the Iowa Democrat said Saturday.

Starting Today, It's Illegal to Unlock Your Cellphone  —  You likely have a cellphone that you bought from a carrier, like AT&T, Verizon or Sprint, and that phone only works on that carrier's cellular and data network — unless you “unlock” it.  —  That is a software process that allows …

Five Races in Which the Gun Debate Matters  —  In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn., the politics of gun control turned upside down — or so the proponents of increased firearms regulations would like to believe.  The reality, however …

Statement by Chairman Pearce on recess appointment ruling  —  Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit issued a decision finding that the Jan. 4, 2012 recess appointments of three members to the National Labor Relations Board were invalid.  In response, Chairman Mark Gaston Pearce issued the following statement:

What Nate Silver Gets Wrong  —  Can Nate Silver do no wrong?  Between elections and baseball statistics, Silver has become America's secular god of predictions.  And now he has a best-seller, “The Signal and the Noise,” in which he discusses the challenges and science of prediction …

Michigan legislators weigh changes to Electoral College rules  —  Some Republicans want to replace current winner-take-all vote with proportional system  —  Lansing — Michigan is one of five states debating changes to how its Electoral College votes are counted as part of a Republican push …

Who had the worst week in Washington?  Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.).  —  Wednesday didn't start out badly for Sen. Ronald H. Johnson.  —  Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin who was elected in 2010, drew national headlines — and praise from conservatives — for pushing Secretary …

Obama Shakes Up White House as He Names Chief of Staff  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama plans to shake up his White House staff on Friday, installing a new team largely made up of familiar faces moved to different positions as he gears up for an intense push on sweeping legislation early in his second term.

Clinton Added Teeth To CRA, Obama Turned Them Into Fangs  —  Despite new evidence the Community Reinvestment Act led to riskier lending and played a key role in the subprime mortgage crisis, the Obama administration is broadening the anti-redlining regulation's authority and scope, spooking bankers.

Cold Wave Cut Murders in New York City Significantly  —  It's an old saw that murders spike during hot summers, when city dwellers flee their apartments for the streets and tempers soar along with the mercury.  Less, however, has been said about the effect of extreme cold spells on mankind's capacity for violence.

Rubio shows opposition to immigration reform is an inch deep  —  I've certainly been pleasantly surprised by the popularity of Sen. Marco Rubio's immigration policy among tough conservatives.  From Grover Norquist to Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) to Sean Hannity, Rubio has gotten favorable …