Capitol Leaders Agree to a Deal on the Budget  —  WASHINGTON — House and Senate budget negotiators reached agreement Tuesday on a budget deal that would raise military and domestic spending over the next two years, shifting the pain of across-the-board cuts to other programs over the coming decade …

Pope Francis, The Choice  —  With a focus on compassion, the leader of the Catholic Church has become a new voice of conscience.  Managing Editor Nancy Gibbs explains why Francis is TIME's choice for Person of the Year 2013  —  Once there was a boy so meek and modest, he was awarded a Most Humble badge.

Cruz Says He Walked Out of Mandela Service When Raul Castro Spoke  —  Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, walked out of former South African President Nelson Mandela's memorial service Tuesday when Cuban President Raul Castro gave a speech, a spokeswoman for Cruz said.  —  “Sen. Cruz very much hopes …

Poll: Health Law Hurts President Politically  —  Disapproval Rate Obama's Job Performance Rises to All-Time High of 54%, Even as Americans Upbeat on Economy … The federal health-care law is becoming a heavier political burden for President Barack Obama and his party …

I'm running for Senate against liberal John Cornyn  —  You are in a foxhole fighting to save our constitutional Republic...  ...and the last thing you need is a Republican bayonet in your back.  —  But that's what liberal John Cornyn has been doing to you every day.  —  And we have less than 90 days to stop him.

Tea party threat again hangs over Republicans' efforts to take Senate  —  More than half of Senate Republicans facing reelection next year face potentially viable tea party challenges — a historically large threat to the GOP establishment that could, once again, kill the party's chances of taking back control of the chamber.

The Damage of a Handshake  —  American presidents should avoid shaking the hand of dictators, especially those that have American blood on theirs.  One example of many: Raul Castro was Minister of Defense in 1996 when Cuban Air Force Mig's, cold-bloodedly and over international airspace destroyed …

Oh, Bam!  President's approval rating plummets to 38 per cent overall, just 34 per cent on health care and 40 per cent on Iran  — Obama's support among young voters has disappeared, with 49 per cent now saying they disapprove of his job performance  — Hispanics' historic preference …

Another potential boost for Obamacare  —  Opponents of the Affordable Care Act tend to suggest expanded coverage resulting from the law's Medicaid expansion somehow doesn't really count as success.  But the law's goal is to expand coverage, and the Medicaid expansion is one of the tools it utilizes to accomplish that.

NSA uses Google cookies to pinpoint targets for hacking  —  The National Security Agency is secretly piggybacking on the tools that enable Internet advertisers to track consumers, using “cookies” and location data to pinpoint targets for government hacking and to bolster surveillance.

Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Announces Arrest of Revenge Porn Website Operator  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today announced the arrest of the alleged owner and operator of a revenge porn website who facilitated the posting of more than 10,000 sexually explicit photos …

Cantor's Pediatric Research Bill Has Democrats Fuming  —  While the House ties up some legislative loose ends this week before adjourning for the year, there is one suspension bill the public — and House Republicans — might be surprised to find many Democrats opposing …

Kerry gets his way on Iran  —  Secretary of State John Kerry and the Obama administration appear to have won a fight with Congress over new Iran sanctions — at least for now.  —  As Kerry readied to give testimony on Tuesday to the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the administration's …