Justine Sacco, Fired After Tweet on AIDS in Africa, Issues Apology  —  The communications director fired over a tweet evoking AIDS and race that was sent as she was headed to Africa has now apologized, saying she is “ashamed” for her insensitivity to the millions of people living with the virus.

AL SHARPTON'S CHICAGO TOWN HALL ERUPTS INTO REVOLT AGAINST MACHINE POLITICS  —  On Thursday, a town hall meeting hosted by Al Sharpton and the National Action Network to address gun violence exploded into a revolt against “Chicago Machine” politics, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and the aldermen in City Hall …

DC staff irked as NBC News eyes cuts  —  David Gregory, host of NBC's 'Meet the Press Inset: NBC News boss Deborah Turness  —  NBC News boss Deborah Turness is spending the last few days of the year eyeing cuts — moves that could include axing some senior on-air talent, The Post has learned.

Democratic senator: Obama's lack of congressional friendships hurts policy efforts  —  (CNN) - The President's failure to build friendships with lawmakers has damaged his chances of finding bipartisan support for legislation, a senator from his own party said Sunday.

Rand Paul walks tightrope to expand GOP's appeal  —  Rand Paul cracks jokes about smoking pot.  He says the GOP needs to bring minorities and “people with ponytails” into the fold.  The Kentucky senator doesn't back gay marriage, but he's not out beating the drums against it, either.

Michelle Nunn, Jason Carter hope to rechart the course of Georgia politics  —  MACON, Ga. — The two major parties here don't agree on many things.  One of them is that it is only a matter of time before Georgia goes from being a Republican stronghold to a state that is up for grabs.

Obamacare outreach hits the clubs  —  For Obamacare outreach, a Zumba class may work better than a gay bar.  —  Washington's new health insurance exchange dispatched a signup envoy to one of the city's gay clubs one recent night to get out the word about Obamacare.

Pol sent staff video of ‘oral sex’  —  Move over, Vito “Gropez” — yet another Albany politician has been accused of outlandish sexual harassment by young female staffers.  —  Married-with-children Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak, 62, tormented three workers with lewd antics such as sending …

Everyone Knows Obama's 2013 Was Bad, The Tough Question Is Why  —  WASHINGTON — The end of the year brings with it one of journalism's lazier crutches — the annual list of winners and losers.  —  Whatever value there is in judging a politician's standings in late December, it's limited.

Ideas From a Manger  —  PAUSE for a moment, in the last leg of your holiday shopping, to glance at one of the manger scenes you pass along the way.  Cast your eyes across the shepherds and animals, the infant and the kings.  Then try to see the scene this way: not just as a pious set-piece …

Obama and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year  —  When Barack Obama sings “Auld Lang Syne” on New Year's Eve, he will have reason to think back, with a deep sense of nostalgia and not a small amount of regret, on the last time he sang the song.  —  If he gets a lump in his throat …

Schock, Gabbard talk Congressional Future Caucus  —  In an effort to bring members of Congress younger than 40 together on important issues, Republican Rep. Aaron Schock and Democratic Rep.Tulsi Gabbard are pushing the Congressional Future Caucus, formed by the pair to try to address issues that young voters and members care about.

Mixed Messages Add Anxiety as Deadline Nears in Health Act  —  WASHINGTON — For most Americans, Monday is the deadline to sign up for health insurance that takes effect on Jan. 1.  It was supposed to be a turning point in the troubled history of the new health care law …