Year of living dismally  —  Heading into an election year, Democrats and Republicans are trying to figure out how to salvage their brands after a bruising 2013.  —  The political year has seen a succession of angry standoffs, starting with the fiscal cliff fight last New Year and ending …

Worries about Hillary Clinton  —  Hillary Clinton may be the overwhelming front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, but she's going to have to deal with some knotty problems sooner or later.  She can't ignore forever either her party or the media's entreaties to talk on important subjects.

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, congressional Democrats to commemorate Mandela in South Africa  —  (CNN) - More than 20 members of the U.S. House, mostly Democrats, and Republican Sen. Ted Cruz will travel to South Africa to honor and commemorate former South African president and anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela.

Merrill Newman said he was comfortable during detention in North Korean hotel room  —  SANTA CRUZ — A relaxed Merrill Newman walked outside his Santa Cruz home on Sunday morning and was immediately greeted by a neighbor with a giant hug.  —  The neighbor told Newman how she “just knew” …

Gillibrand sees assault vote slip away  —  Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) is headed back to the drawing board with her controversial proposal to take sexual assault cases outside the chain of command.  —  Gillibrand had been assured a vote on her plan during work on the Defense authorization bill.

ATF uses rogue tactics in storefront stings across nation  —  By John Diedrich and Raquel Rutledge of the Journal Sentinel  —  Aaron Key wasn't sure he wanted a tattoo on his neck.  Especially one of a giant squid smoking a joint.  —  But the guys running Squid's Smoke Shop in Portland …

Sen. Rand Paul on scrapping ObamaCare, saving Detroit; ‘Pik’ Botha on Nelson Mandela's life and legacy  —  Special Guests: Sen. Rand Paul, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, ‘Pik’ Botha  —  This is a rush transcript from “Fox News Sunday,” December 8, 2013.  This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

An effective eye drug is available for $50.  But many doctors choose a $2,000 alternative.  —  The two drugs have been declared equivalently miraculous.  Tested side by side in six major trials, both prevent blindness in a common old-age affliction.  Biologically, they are cousins.

Whose sarin?  —  Barack Obama did not tell the whole story this autumn when he tried to make the case that Bashar al-Assad was responsible for the chemical weapons attack near Damascus on 21 August.  In some instances, he omitted important intelligence, and in others he presented assumptions as facts.

Christmas lights cause furor in Rome after rainbow colors used for anti-homophobia message  —  Mile-long rainbow-flag themed Christmas lights that were planned as an anti-homophobic message following the suicide of a gay teen are causing a divide in Rome.  —  The lights were chosen …

Democrats react to Rand Paul visit, Detroit ‘freedom zones’ proposal  —  DETROIT, MI — Democrats responded in a variety of ways to U.S. Sen. Rand Paul's Friday visit to Detroit.  —  The Kentucky Republican was in town helping the GOP effort to start reaching out to minorities in Michigan …