Obama's reboot: Can Podesta save him?  —  Barack Obama's at the lowest point of his presidency.  Can John Podesta save him?  —  When President Barack Obama's chief of staff, Denis McDonough, approached John Podesta a few weeks ago about taking over the high-aggravation job of White House counselor …

Watch The Moment Mitt Romney Realizes He Is Going To Lose The Election  —  Netflix is out with a trailer for its new Mitt Romney documentary — “MITT” — which provides a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look into some of the most important moments of his failed campaign for president.

What the Duck?  —  How in the world did a family of squirrel-eating, Bible-thumping, catchphrase-spouting duck hunters become the biggest TV stars in America?  And what will they do now that they have 14 million fervent disciples?  Our Drew Magary toured the Louisiana backwater with Phil Robertson and the Duck Dynasty gang to find out

This is the ad every Democrat should be scared of in 2014  —  Ending Spending, a conservative outside group dedicated to, well, ending (government)spending, is running an ad in New Hampshire that will be replicated endlessly by Republican candidates and groups in the 2014 midterm election.

Obenshain to concede Virginia attorney general's race on Wednesday in Richmond  —  State Sen. Mark D. Obenshain(R) will concede the race for Virginia attorney general to Democrat Mark R. Herring on Wednesday, according to two people familiar with the decision.

For immediate release  —  Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in October indicates that economic activity is expanding at a moderate pace.  Labor market conditions have shown further improvement; the unemployment rate has declined but remains elevated.

How John McCain Turned His Clichés Into Meaning  —  When I walk into John McCain's office a week before Thanksgiving, he is not at all happy — and seems to be enjoying it quite a bit.  —  He is sampling none of the usual flavors of upset we tend to associate with the Arizona senator …

Larry Klayman in huge CNN smackdown  —  Conservative legal activist Larry Klayman got into an argument on CNN with host Don Lemon and legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin when he was brought on to discuss his victory this week in a lawsuit challenging NSA surveillance, resulting in Lemon cutting …

NSA shouldn't keep phone database, review board recommends  —  The White House will release later Wednesday the report of a surveillance review board that has recommended modifying the National Security Agency counterterrorism program that collects virtually all Americans' phone records.

Senate Dems block amendment to restore veteran benefits by closing illegal immigrant welfare loophole  —  Senate Republicans were unable to stop military pension cuts when Senate Democrats blocked a vote on an amendment to prevent the cuts by closing a welfare loophole for illegal immigrants Tuesday night.

Jay Leno in Demand: CNN's Jeff Zucker Among Suitors  —  The late-night host will be without a TV job in February, with the architect of the “Tonight Show” debacle joining Tribune, “American Idol's” Core Media and even ex-NBC chief Jeff Gaspin among those courting him.  —  How in demand is Jay Leno?

Reid Wants 8 More Years as Senate Leader  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sounds like a man who intends to stay in his office into the next decade.  —  “I don't want to do it more than eight more years,” the Nevada Democrat said of serving as his party's leader in the Senate during a Wednesday interview with CQ Roll Call.

Health Insurers Voluntarily Extend Deadline for Premium Payment  —  New AHIP Infographic: 5 Steps to Ensuring Coverage Begins on January 1, 2014  —  Washington, D.C. - To provide greater peace of mind for consumers purchasing coverage through the new federal and state marketplaces …

The Conservative Media Arms Race Coming To An Internet Near You  —  Last week, with two high-profile acquisitions, a conservative media company catapulted itself from successful but largely below-the-radar company to a player with a portfolio that could make it the next news empire on the right.

Barbara Walters on Obama: ‘We Thought He Was Going To Be The Next Messiah’  —  Yes, she really said it.  —  On CNN's Piers Morgan Live Tuesday, in a brief discussion about President Obama, Barbara Walters actually said, “We thought that he was going to be - I shouldn't say this at Christmastime …

Birther tea party rep. refuses to stand near Obama photo, moves away U.S. flag  —  A tea party-back Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri this week asked that a flag be moved because she did not want to stand near a photo of President Barack Obama during a press conference.

Saudi Arabia Will Go It Alone  —  London — Saudi Arabia has been friends with our Western partners for decades; for some, like the United Kingdom where I serve as ambassador, for almost a century.  These are strategic alliances that benefit us both.  Recently, these relationships have been tested …

Appointees Who Resigned in Wake of Bridge Controversy Retain Attorneys  —  Two appointees of Gov. Chris Christie's who recently resigned amid a controversy over lane closures at the George Washington Bridge have retained private attorneys, according to correspondence from their attorneys viewed by The Wall Street Journal.

Americans' Belief in God, Miracles and Heaven Declines  —  Belief in Darwin's theory of evolution rises  —  A new Harris Poll finds that while a strong majority (74%) of U.S. adults do believe in God, this belief is in decline when compared to previous years as just over four in five (82%) …

U.S. pessimism sets in over Iran nuclear talks  —  Gloom over U.S.-Iran talks stems from a growing realization of what each side much give up.  —  WASHINGTON — Three weeks after President Obama hailed a landmark deal to suspend most of Iran's nuclear program for the next six months …

Arrest, strip-search of Indian diplomat in New York triggers uproar  —  (CNN) — The arrest and detention of an Indian consular official in New York on visa fraud charges has created a diplomatic uproar, with punitive steps taken against State Department officials in New Delhi.

Hack List No. 4: David Brooks  —  Our annual list is here!  This time, we channeled each hack's unique voice — and let them “write” their own entries  —  It seems a pleasant life to be a Columnist.  He writes a few hundred words once, or at most twice a week.

Ryan won't run for White House in 2016, his GOP colleagues say  —  Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has a choice to make.  —  The Republican Budget Committee chairman is the most popular conservative in the House, and over the coming year, he will have to decide whether to seek a more powerful committee gavel …