Boehner gives immigration backers hope  —  Both sides in the immigration debate are watching Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) closely after Thursday evening's emphatic House vote in favor of a bipartisan budget deal.  —  The calculus is clear in the minds of immigration-reform advocates.

Administration takes steps to ensure Americans signing up through the Marketplace have coverage and access to the care they need on January 1  —  Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced additional steps to help ensure consumers …

Insisting Jesus Was White Is Bad History and Bad Theology  —  Fox News television host Megyn Kelly told viewers on her December 11 broadcast that Jesus and Santa are both white men.  —  “Just because it makes you feel uncomfortable doesn't mean it has to change,” Kelly said.  “Jesus was a white man, too.

The Biggest Losers  —  The pundit consensus seems to be that Republicans lost in the just-concluded budget deal.  Overall spending will be a bit higher than the level mandated by the sequester, the straitjacket imposed back in 2011.  Meanwhile, Democrats avoided making any concessions on Social Security or Medicare.

EXCLUSIVE — PALIN: READ MY LIPSTICK: NO NEW TAXES  —  No one can argue with the fact that Paul Ryan's compromise budget bill raises taxes and increases spending.  Show me one Republican who got elected on that platform.  Spare America the Orwellian word games.

Huckabee, Looking to 2016 Race, Speaks of ‘a Real Opportunity for Me’  —  LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas has not been among the Republicans frequently named as a potential 2016 presidential candidate, but he would like that to change.

Ex-FBI agent who disappeared in Iran was on rogue mission for CIA  —  An American man who disappeared in Iran more than six years ago had been working for the CIA in what U.S. intelligence officials describe as a rogue operation that led to a major shake-up in the spy agency.

Chinese Naval Vessel Tries to Force U.S. Warship to Stop in International Waters  —  A Chinese naval vessel tried to force a U.S. guided missile warship to stop in international waters recently, causing a tense military standoff in the latest case of Chinese maritime harassment, according to defense officials.

Even by North Korean standards, this announcement of Jang Song Thaek's execution is intense  —  North Korean state media are known for hyperbole, but even so, the official announcement of the execution of Jang Song Thaek is a step beyond.  The state-run Korean Central News Agency released …

Report: Less Than 15 Percent of Obamacare ‘Enrollees’ Are Actually Covered  —  This week's Obamacare headlines have been dominated by HHS' announcement that 365,000 Americans have selected a plan through Obamacare's federal and state exchanges — well short of the administration's projected goal of 800,000 enrollees by December 1st.

Karl Rove: Obamacare rap crosses line  —  Karl Rove is not happy with a new rap parody of Snoop Dogg's “Drop It like It's Hot” that promotes Obamacare, saying it “crosses the line.”  —  In the video, which directs viewers to Covered California-led efforts TellAFriendGetCovered.com and promotes #GetCovered …

Lie of the Year: ‘If you like your health care plan, you can keep it’  —  It was a catchy political pitch and a chance to calm nerves about his dramatic and complicated plan to bring historic change to America's health insurance system.  —  “If you like your health care plan, you can keep it …

Americans Won't Be Easily Reassured About the Economy  —  Some political analysts suggest the encouraging economic numbers released last week are a sign that the economy is improving enough to diminish the anti-incumbent mood that has seemed likely to become a dominant factor in the 2014 midterm elections.

Delaware Is On The Verge Of Raising Its Minimum Wage  —  CREDIT: Wisconsin Jobs Now flickr account  —  An increase in Delaware's minimum wage to $8.25 an hour from the current federal floor of $7.25 “appears headed on a fast track for approval,” Delaware Online reports …

Republicans More Optimistic than Democrats about Midterms  —  But Less GOP Optimism than in 2010  —  Less than a year out from the 2014 midterm elections, Republicans are more optimistic than Democrats about their party's electoral prospects.  But the “expectations gap” …

A.G. Schneiderman Secures Agreement Requiring Reinstatement Of Domino's Workers  —  Washington Heights Domino's Store Agrees To Reinstate 25 Workers  —  Schneiderman: We Will Take Swift Action to Protect Jobs Of Workers And Guard Against Potential Retaliation