MSNBC Panel Was Mocking Republicans, Not Mitt Romney's Black Grandchild  —  Melissa Harris-Perry is apologizing for something that she didn't do wrong.  A photo of the Romney family with a black baby on Mitt's knee was the subject of a panel discussion on Perry's MSNBC show.  But no one was slighting the baby.

What your favorite drink says about your politics, in one chart  —  Former Mississippi governor and uber-Republican Haley Barbour loves bourbon.  Franklin Roosevelt mixed martinis.  And, as it turns out, those two partisans have something in common with their base voters …

Utah Asks Supreme Court to Block Same-Sex Unions  —  Utah is asking the Supreme Court to stop same-sex marriages in the state, at least temporarily.  —  In papers filed Tuesday with Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the state asked her to overturn court decisions to let the marriages go forward.

JOEL BENENSON'S NEW YEAR'S WISH — TOMORROW'S EMBRACE BETWEEN BILL CLINTON, NYC'S INCOMING MAYOR could be big help to Hillary '16 — THREE CLASSIC COLUMNS by retiring Clyde Haberman  —  HAPPY '14 EVE from breezy, heavenly Waikiki Beach, where we enjoyed a Longboard Island Lager last night at Chip Smith's oceanfront table.

Pope's sharp words make a wealthy donor hesitate  —  Cardinal Timothy Dolan on the wealthy and capitalism  —  CNBC's Michelle Caruso-Cabrera talks to Cardinal Timothy Dolan about concerns following the pope's recent comments.  —  Pope Francis' critical comments about the wealthy and capitalism …

Apple Denies Working with NSA on iPhone Backdoor  —  Apple just responded to newly released documents claiming that the U.S. National Security Agency has a method for gaining backdoor access to its iPhone.  It says it has never worked with the agency, and is unaware of the alleged program targeting the iPhone known as DROPOUTJEEP.

Kim Jong-un's Lonely Ski Lift Ride at Dream Resort  —  After pushing for his dream ski resort, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un finally rode the lift at Masik Pass Ski Resort, which only took one year to build from scratch.  Sanctions didn't stop him from that ride.

GOP retaliation over filibuster rule change could jam Senate in 2014  —  CONGRESS SENATE HARRY REID PENNAVE NUCLEAR OPTION  —  Senate Republicans still smarting from a Democratic rules change that diminished their power to block President Obama's appointees are vowing retribution …

Judge Orders ‘Compassionate Release’ Of Jailed Former Civil Rights Lawyer  —  NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -A federal judge in Manhattan ordered a “compassionate release” Tuesday from prison for a dying former civil rights lawyer.  —  The U.S. government requested the release earlier …

Animal-Rights Activists Bully Dying Italian Girl  —  How one terminally ill student's Facebook post triggered a wave of hate mail and death threats from European animal-rights activists.  —  When 25-year-old veterinary student Caterina Simonsen posted an update on a Facebook page supporting …

On Christmas, Republicans Quietly Declare War on Themselves  —  The holidays are a great time in politics.  Every year it's the same: the minute the last bits of wrapping paper have been cleared away, and Grandpa has passed his last puff of holiday gas, you can always retreat to the inside pages …

Wow this is doge  —  This Dog Was About To Die.  You Won't Believe What Happened Next.  —  Go  —  Google Play Music All Access subscribers now getting Glass Explorer invitations  —  When 51-year-old Japanese kindergarten teacher Atsuko Sato started seeing strange pictures …

Melvin misattributes quotes about class warfare to Lincoln  —  PHOENIX — Republican gubernatorial hopeful Al Melvin is using quotes from Abe Lincoln in his running fight with President Obama and his policies.  —  The problem: The 16th president never said the things about class warfare Melvin is quoting.

Former First Lady Barbara Bush Hospitalized  —  Former first lady Barbara Bush was hospitalized today for early signs of pneumonia, a Houston hospital said.  —  Houston Methodist Hospital spokesman George Kovacik said she was admitted today, and said a statement from the family was expectedsoon.

The dead can vote in NYC  —  Death doesn't necessarily disqualify you from voting in New York City.  —  Investigators posing as dead voters were allowed to cast ballots for this year's primary and general elections, thanks to antiquated Board of Election registration records and lax oversight by poll workers, authorities said.

Dyson Dismisses Phil Robertson's Biracial Grandson: Abner Louima's Sodomizer Had Mixed Race Kin Too  —  Fresh on the heels of one MSNBC host's program coming under fire after a panel mocked Mitt Romney's adopted biracial grandson for being “not like the other” members of his family …