In budget deal, a secret reward for Dems  —  The two-year budget deal approved by the House has hidden political benefits for Senate Democrats, Republicans charge.  —  Because it sets a top-line budget number for 2015, Democrats won't have to write and pass a budget resolution in the midterm election year.

NSA speaks out on Snowden, spying  —  The NSA gives unprecedented access to the agency's HQ and, for the first time, explains what it does and what it says it doesn't do: spy on Americans  —  The following is a script from “Inside the NSA” which aired on Dec. 15, 2013.  John Miller is the correspondent.

Why Inequality Matters  —  Rising inequality isn't a new concern.  Oliver Stone's movie “Wall Street,” with its portrayal of a rising plutocracy insisting that greed is good, was released in 1987.  But politicians, intimidated by cries of “class warfare,” have shied away from making …

Peter O'Toole, Star of ‘Lawrence of Arabia,’ Is Dead at 81  —  Peter O'Toole, an Irish bookmaker's son with a hell-raising streak whose performance in the 1962 epic film “Lawrence of Arabia” earned him overnight fame and established him as one of his generation's most charismatic actors, died on Saturday in London.

G.O.P. Firebrands Tone Down Their Message and Run Again  —  LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. — “My name is Congressman Bob Dold!” said the fleece-clad man making his way through a popular restaurant here.  —  Well, not exactly.  His name is Bob Dold, but he isn't a current member of Congress.

North Carolina Legislator: Obamacare Worse Than Terrorists, Stalin, Hitler Combined  —  A 2008 Bob Rucho for North Carolina Senate re-election ad  —  North Carolina State Senator Bob Rucho (R) tweeted Sunday that he believes the Affordable Care Act ranks as worse than the worst atrocities of the past century.

Tom Laughlin, star of ‘Billy Jack’ films, dies at age 82  —  Actors Tom Laughlin and Delores Taylor starred in the 1971 movie “Billy Jack.”  (File photo)  —  Tom Laughlin, the maverick actor and filmmaker best known for the “Billy Jack” films, has died.  He was 82.

Joan Fontaine, Who Won an Oscar for Hitchcock's ‘Suspicion,’ Dies at 96  —  Joan Fontaine, the patrician blond actress who rose to stardom as a haunted second wife in the Alfred Hitchcock film “Rebecca” in 1940 and won an Academy Award for her portrayal of a terrified newlywed in Hitchcock's …

What happened to Lady Gaga?  —  It's already known as ARTFLOP.  —  On Nov. 6, amid the kind of hype not seen since Michael Jackson floated a statue of himself down the Thames River, Lady Gaga released her third studio album, “ARTPOP.”  —  And not since Jackson has such a globally famous …

Huge poll win for Chilean left  —  Left-wing candidate Michelle Bachelet has been elected Chilean president for a second time by a wide margin.  —  With almost all the votes counted, Ms Bachelet had 62% against 38% for Evelyn Matthei, a former minister from the governing centre-right coalition.

Podesta: Climate game changer  —  Environmental groups believe John Podesta will be a force for change on climate issues at the White House.  —  The groups argue that for most of Obama's years in office, an administration that took power at the height of the recession has prioritized helping the economy over other goals.