Facebook Releases Data, Including All National Security Requests  —  Over the last week, in press statements as well as Mark's post last Friday, we've repeatedly called for governments worldwide to be willing to provide more details about programs aimed at keeping the public safe.

Moderate Rohani looks on road to winning Iran presidential vote  —  (Reuters) - Moderate cleric Hassan Rohani took a solid lead over conservative rivals on Saturday in preliminary vote counting in Iran's presidential election in what could be the makings of a surprise victory over favored hardliners.

Senators skip classified briefing on NSA snooping to catch flights home  —  A recent briefing by senior intelligence officials on surveillance programs failed to attract even half of the Senate, showing the lack of enthusiasm in Congress for learning about classified security programs.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry signs ‘Merry Christmas bill’ into law  —  Schools will now be able to display religious symbols as long as at least one secular or other religion's symbol is also displayed.  At the signing ceremony high-school cheerleaders wore t-shirts that read ‘I cheer for Christ.’

Kraft: Putin stole Bowl ring  —  New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft revealed the real story behind a 2005 meeting with Vladimir Putin, during which the Russian president pocketed his Super Bowl ring, worth more than $25,000.  Kraft, at the time, claimed the diamond-encrusted bauble was a gift …

Heavy Pressure Led to Decision by Obama on Syrian Arms  —  WASHINGTON — For two years, President Obama has resisted being drawn deeper into the civil war in Syria.  It was a miserable problem, he told aides, and not one he thought he could solve.  At most, it could be managed.

Judge: Obama sex assault comments ‘unlawful command influence’ … Two defendants in military sexual assault cases cannot be punitively discharged, if found guilty, because of “unlawful command influence” derived from comments made by President Barack Obama, a judge ruled in a Hawaii military court this week.

FBI knew earlier of Boston bombing suspect  —  Deceased Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev came to the attention of the FBI on at least two occasions prior to a Russian government warning in March 2011 that said he appeared to be radicalizing, FBI Director Robert Mueller said in Congressional testimony this week.

Faith and Freedom Coalition Conference: Most Bizarre Statements  —  ‘Immigrants are more fertile,’ said former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush speaking at the conference.  —  Speakers at the Faith and Freedom Coalition's annual “Road To Majority” conference Friday sought to spur social conservatives …

Obamacare, Public Opinion, and Conservative Self-Delusion  —  One of the more important conservative beliefs about Obamacare, running right alongside the certainty that the law is a disaster that will fail in every respect, is the belief that Americans share their antipathy to the law.

The Romney video that never was-starring Donald Trump  —  (CNN) - Real-estate mogul Donald Trump said Friday night that Mitt Romney's team asked him to appear in a “commercial” for the campaign last year-but it never saw the light of day.  —  The video, he said, was supposed to run during …