Edward Snowden, after months of NSA revelations, says his mission's accomplished  —  MOSCOW — The familiar voice on the hotel room phone did not waste words.  —  “What time does your clock say, exactly?” he asked.  —  He checked the reply against his watch and described a place to meet.

Judge denies Utah AG's request to halt same-sex marriages  —  Court » Utah AG's Office files third request for a stay.  —  | The Salt Lake Tribune  —  A federal judge in Utah — who last week issued a controversial ruling allowing same-sex marriages — on Monday denied the state's request for a stay.

Civil rights leaders call for Obama to withdraw Georgia judicial nominees  —  Civil rights leaders and members of the Georgia congressional delegation on Monday called on President Obama to withdraw his nominees for federal courts in the state over concerns about their views and lack of diversity.

Pelosi: Obamacare fallout will be reversed, won't hurt Democrats  —  (CNN) - The top Democrat in the House predicted that any political fallout from the new healthcare law will be reversed within months.  —  “By the time we get into the spring, I think the Affordable Care Act will either …

Upstart Groups Challenge Rove for G.O.P. Cash  —  A quiet but intense struggle over money and influence is roiling the Republican Party just as the 2014 election season is getting underway.  —  At least a dozen “super PACs” are setting up to back individual Republican candidates …

The Battle Within the Democratic Party  —  Things are not going well for Democrats.  Riding high just weeks ago after Republicans shut down the government, the party now finds itself in a swoon: President Obama's ratings have hit an all-time low.  The implementation of healthcare reform remains a mess.

Chicago sandwich shop fires all its staff in an EMAIL just days before Christmas  — Director of operations Doug Besant said in the email the restaurant will likely close for a month as they reconcept the business into a burger joint  —  A Chicago sandwich shop has fired all its employees over email just days before Christmas.

Kicked out of high school for ‘public lewdness’ after reporting rape  —  TOMBALL, Texas—When Rachel Bradshaw-Bean claimed she had been raped in the band room of her high school in Texas, school officials sprang into action—and kicked her out of school.  —  “I felt like a criminal,” …

Inequality: Government Is a Perp, Not a Bystander  —  In his speech on inequality earlier this month President Obama proclaimed that the government could not be a bystander in the effort to reduce inequality, which he described as the defining moral issue of our time.

Is Obama Backing Away From Obamacare?  —  The latest announcement from the White House on Thursday, December 19, seems to indicate that even President Obama is backing away from Obamacare.  —  At the very least, he is bobbing and weaving like an exhausted prize fighter trying to avoid a knockout punch.