Nelson Mandela, anti-apartheid icon and father of modern South Africa, dies  —  Revolutionary and politician Nelson Mandela  —  (CNN) — Nelson Mandela, the revered statesman who emerged from prison after 27 years to lead South Africa out of decades of apartheid, has died, South African President Jacob Zuma announced late Thursday.

GOP men told how to talk to women  —  The National Republican Congressional Committee wants to make sure there are no Todd Akin-style gaffes next year, so it's meeting with top aides of sitting Republicans to teach them what to say — or not to say — on the trail, especially when their boss is running against a woman.

President Clinton Doodled Male Genitalia (We Think) and It Was Glorious  —  The image above comes from the hacker Guccifer, who reportedly got access to the Clinton Library and allegedly obtained unreleased doodles.  Guccifer famously broke into George W. Bush's emails and revealed that the former preisdent paints dogs.

Stolen cobalt-60 found in Mexico; curious thieves likely doomed  —  MEXICO CITY — The day after a load of stolen radioactive material was found in a field, Mexican authorities had formed a perimeter around the area and were measuring for contamination as they planned the recovery process Thursday, according to Mexican news reports.

Obama Approval Down Most Among Hispanics in Past Year  —  Hispanics' approval has fallen from 75% in December 2012 to 52% in November  —  PRINCETON, NJ — President Barack Obama's job approval rating averaged 41% in November, down 12 percentage points from 53% last December, his high-water mark since his first year in office.

President Obama acknowledges having lived with his uncle  —  President Obama acknowledged on Thursday that he lived with his Kenyan uncle for a brief period in the 1980s while preparing to attend Harvard Law School, contradicting a statement more than a year ago that the White House had no record of the two ever meeting.

Polis melts down on House floor  —  Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) on Wednesday night lost his cool on the House floor over the issue of immigration, after the presiding officer warned another Democrat not to refer to people sitting in the House gallery.  —  Democrats were calling for House passage …

Cruz refers to controversial law as advice to conservative group  —  Washington (CNN) - Republican Sen. Ted Cruz's advice for a conservative group facing criticism and hardship: “Stand your ground.”  —  The choice of words appeared to be a reference to a string of negative press …

A Roll of the Dice  —  President Obama is back selling his health-care law with the manic intensity of a late-night-infomercial pitchman who knows that if he doesn't move the product, it could be discontinued.  —  Here's Obama aiming his comments at young people this Wednesday: “The product is good.

Opinion: Hospitals close as GOP balks at Obamacare  —  Editor's note: Sally Kohn is a progressive activist, columnist and television commentator.  Follow her on Twitter at @sallykohn.  —  (CNN) — The Obamacare website is open for business.  But the Charlton Memorial Hospital in Folkston, Georgia, is closed.

Unarmed Man Is Charged With Wounding Bystanders Shot by Police Near Times Square  —  An unarmed, emotionally disturbed man shot at by the police as he was lurching around traffic near Times Square in September has been charged with assault, on the theory that he was responsible …

Obamacare Is Costing Democrats the White Women They'll Need at the Ballot Box  —  Polls show that when it comes to the troubled health care law, Democrats should be most concerned about one of their key constituencies.  —  A woman votes at the Park Slope Branch Public Library in the Brooklyn borough of New York November 5, 2013.

Jameis Winston not charged  —  TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Nearly one year after Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston was accused of rape by a female FSU student, the state attorney has decided not to charge the Heisman Trophy favorite.  —  Thursday's decision clears the way for him to finish the season with the No. 1 Seminoles.

On Smarm  —  Last month, Isaac Fitzgerald, the newly hired editor of BuzzFeed's newly created books section, made a remarkable but not entirely surprising announcement: He was not interested in publishing negative book reviews.  In place of “the scathing takedown rip,” Fitzgerald said …

De Blasio Names Bratton as New York Police Commissioner  —  Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio on Thursday morning named William J. Bratton to lead the New York Police Department.  —  The move will return Mr. Bratton to the helm of the nation's largest force at a time of historically low crime rates …

LePage sees upside for global warming in Maine with opening of Northeast Passage  —  AUGUSTA, Maine — Speaking to a conference assembled to discuss the transportation trends of the future, Gov. Paul LePage said Thursday that global climate change could have an upside for Maine.

ABC brass nixed Barbara Walters' pick of Edward Snowden as year's most fascinating person  —  Michael Bolton's happy to be backup at charity gala; Will Ferrell keeps Ron Burgundy at a distance  —  Barbara Walters wanted Edward Snowden to be at the top of her list of 10 most fascinating people of 2013.

No, There Won't Be a Doctor Shortage  —  IN just over a decade the United States will need 130,000 more doctors than medical schools are producing.  So says the Association of American Medical Colleges, which warns of a doctor shortage that will drive up wait times, shorten office visits …

Wendy's Employee — SERVES MARIJUANA BURGER ... Gets Arrested, Fired  —  SERVES MARIJUANA BURGER  —  ... Gets Arrested, Fired  —  EXCLUSIVE  —  Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “burger joint” — TMZ has learned, a Wendy's employee was arrested last month in Georgia …