Chuck Hagel, GOP Senators Butt Heads at Defense Secretary Confirmation Hearing  —  Facing a rocky confirmation process, Chuck Hagel today defended his record before his former Senate colleagues, including an openly impatient Sen. John McCain.  —  “I'm on the record on many issues …

Dominican prostitute: Sen. Bob Menendez ‘likes the youngest and newest girls’  —  In a little-noticed email published online Wednesday by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a young Dominican woman wrote nine months ago that she slept with 59-year-old New Jersey Democratic …

Geraldo contemplating run for Senate  —  Television personality and radio host Geraldo Rivera announced Thursday he's “truly contemplating” a run for Senate in New Jersey.  —  “I mention this only briefly, fasten your seatbelt,” Rivera said on his radio show.

Waitress Who Posted No-Tip Receipt From “Pastor” Customer Fired From Job  —  Earlier this week, we posted a story about a restaurant customer who not only chose to deny the waitress a tip, but also wrote “I Give God 10% Why do you Get 18?” on the receipt.  Now we've learned that the server who posted the receipt online has been fired.

Carney: ‘Ridiculous’ to criticize defunct White House jobs council  —  White House press secretary Jay Carney on Thursday called Republican criticism of the decision to shut down the president's jobs council “ridiculous” in a defensive exchange with reporters.

Tough questions follow Al Gore book tour  —  If you thought Al Gore was a media darling, you haven't seen his latest book tour.  Although Gore has been selective in which outlets he appears on to promote his new book, “The Future,” they haven't treated the former vice president with kid gloves.

At Hill hearing, Wayne LaPierre tries to manhandle facts and logic  —  Wayne LaPierre, the National Rifle Association's chief executive, arrived for his hearing on Capitol Hill in the organization's trademark fashion: violently.  —  When he and his colleagues stepped off the elevator …

Some Unions Grow Wary of Health Law They Backed  —  Labor unions enthusiastically backed the Obama administration's health-care overhaul when it was up for debate.  Now that the law is rolling out, some are turning sour.  —  Union leaders say many of the law's requirements will drive …

Globe reporter Glen Johnson joins Kerry's staff  —  Boston.com politics editor Glen Johnson is resigning to take a post as a senior State Department adviser, working for John F. Kerry.  —  Johnson, 50, a 27-year journalism veteran who has covered five presidential elections, said his focus would be on strategic communications.

Idaho senator compares health exchange to Holocaust  —  BOISE - As the debate over Idaho Gov. Butch Otter's proposed state health insurance exchange heats up, a North Idaho senator has sent out a mass email and posted a message on Twitter comparing the role of insurance companies to …

NRA president: Harry Reid ‘under incredible pressure’  —  Washington (CNN) - National Rifle Association President David Keene signaled Thursday that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat who has enjoyed the powerful gun lobby's support in the past, could prove pivotal in the heated debate over gun control.

Worth Reading  —  Here's a really meaty and interesting essay in the new and relaunched TNR about gun ownership and what gun owners want.  What Gun Owners Really Want by Walter Kirn.  —  There's a lot there.  But one point resonated with me because it's a flip side of something I was trying …

Tawana Brawley served with court order to pay man she accused of rape in 1987  —  Rape-hoax $lap  —  Infamous hoaxster Tawana Brawley — whose outrageous rape lie 25 years ago inflamed racial tensions nationwide — yesterday was finally slapped with a court order to settle a hefty defamation case against her.

How Conservatives Sabotage Their Own Cultural Criticism  —  A case study in which National Review contributors discuss the merits of rap.  —  Flickr/Slippy Slappy  —  Every so often, conservatives lament that the music, books, movies, television shows, and video games that shape social norms …

EXCLUSIVE: NFL legend Dan Marino had a love child with CBS employee in 2005  —  PAGE SIX EXCLUSIVE  —  Dan Marino is famous for his touchdowns — but the Hall of Famer's scoring off the field is downright shocking.  —  The married gridiron great — a pregame analyst for CBS since 2003 …

Majority Says the Federal Government Threatens Their Personal Rights  —  Views of Congress: Problem Lies with Members, Not the System  —  OVERVIEW  —  As Barack Obama begins his second term in office, trust in the federal government remains mired near a historic low, while frustration with government remains high.

In forthcoming book, Cuccinelli echoes Romney's ‘47 percent’  —  RICHMOND — Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's new book doesn't hit stores until Feb. 12, but a few pages of it have trickled out to The Washington Post.  —  The Republican gubernatorial candidate wrote the book …

The White House's curious silence about Obama's claim of skeet shooting  —  President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy using the skeet range at Camp David.  —  The New Republic: “Have you ever fired a gun?”  —  President Obama: “Yes, in fact, up at Camp David, we do skeet shooting all the time.”