Obama sets off on scorched-earth rampage  —  ANALYSIS/OPINION: … President Obama, fresh off a shellacking in the 2014 midterm elections — in which he made himself a centerpiece, much to the chagrin of embattled Democrats — is about to embark on a scorched-earth rampage that will change the face of America forever.

Obamacare's Subscriber Rolls Include Unpublicized Dental Plans  —  The Obama administration included as many as 400,000 dental plans in a number it reported for enrollments under the Affordable Care Act, an unpublicized detail that helped surpass a goal for 7 million sign-ups.

On paper  —  Republican leader left a trail  —  Nevada Assembly speaker-designate Ira Hansen would be one of the most controversial speakers in Nevada history.  —  In a surprise, he was named by the new Republican majority on Nov. 7 as their candidate for speaker.

Entertainment Icon Mike Nichols Has Died at Age 83  —  Mike Nichols, the entertainment icon and husband of ABC News Anchor Diane Sawyer, died suddenly Wednesday at the age of 83.  —  Nichols' death was announced in a statement by ABC News President James Goldston.

White House hits TV networks for skipping immigration address  —  The White House is exasperated with the major broadcast networks - ABC, CBS and NBC — for skipping out on President Barack Obama's Thursday primetime address on his executive actions on immigration.

Jim Webb launches 2016 committee  —  Former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb became the first well-known Democrat to launch an exploratory committee to run for president on Wednesday night, saying the nation is at a “serious crossroads.”  —  “I have decided to launch an Exploratory Committee …

The Solid South Will Rise Again  —  Democrats have abandoned Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, who is in a tough runoff election.  (Tough is the mild way of putting it.  Polls show her down by double digits to her Republican opponent.)  —  Not only has the Democratic Party pulled …

Americans of All Stripes Agree: The System Is Stacked Against Them  —  At last, we have an important question upon which a majority of Americans—regardless of race, political persuasion or walk of life—agree.  —  Are the country's economic and political systems stacked against people like you?

Appropriations panel: Defunding immigration order ‘impossible’  —  It would be “impossible” to defund President Obama's executive actions on immigration through a government spending bill, the House Appropriations Committee said Thursday.  —  In a statement released by House Appropriations …

No One Wanted to Talk About Bill Cosby's Alleged Crimes Because He Made White America Feel Good About Race  —  This spring, I taught a graduate seminar on magazine feature writing.  One of the assignments was Robert Huber's 2006 Philadelphia Magazine story, “Dr. Huxtable & Mr. Hyde,” …

Republicans Plotting Extreme Measures To Sabotage Obama's Immigration Action  —  To the consternation of congressional Republicans, President Obama will make a prime time announcement on Thursday that he will take executive action to fill the void left by Congress on immigration reform.

Chris Christie Is Back  —  Credit: Tobias Hutzler for The New York Times  —  “If I fix this, you have to start the story with it,” Chris Christie told me, yanking the string of the venetian blind in the diner window.  We were eating a late lunch at a place called Howley's …

Majority Say Not Gov't Duty to Provide Healthcare for All  —  Story Highlights  —  PRINCETON, N.J. — For the third consecutive year, a majority of Americans (52%) agree with the position that it is not the federal government's responsibility to ensure that all Americans have healthcare coverage.

Hispanic Voters Are Important for Republicans, but Not Indispensable  —  President Obama's plan to defer deportation and grant work permits for up to five million undocumented migrants is having two utterly predictable results: outrage from congressional Republicans, and speculation about how the politics will play in 2016.

At Long Last, Immigration Action  —  President Obama says he will speak to the nation on Thursday night about making major changes to immigration policy, including shielding several million unauthorized immigrants from deportation.  He intends to do this under executive authority, because he has given up waiting for Congress to act.

EXCLUSIVE: Rand Paul sounds off to Salon on race, 2016, Hillary and Republicans  —  GOP senator tells Salon about his potential White House bid, the GOP establishment and race in America  —  With an eye on a potential 2016 bid for the White House, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul continues to test whether …

He found the Jonathan Gruber videos — and no media outlet would call him back  —  The man who changed the ObamaCare debate was at a gas station when I reached him, and he wasn't dying to talk.  —  “I really want to stay out of the limelight,” said Rich Weinstein, a Philadelphia investment adviser.

Obama Is About to Commit an Act of Constitutional Infamy  —  The president will present his case on behalf of his forthcoming executive order on amnesty tomorrow at 8 p.m. I certainly hope President Obama addresses the arguments against his action that were repeatedly and passionately made by ... President Obama.

STRENGTHENING OUR PRIVACY PRACTICES  —  Our business depends on the trust of the millions of riders and drivers who use Uber.  The trip history of our riders is important information and we understand that we must treat it carefully and with respect, protecting it from unauthorized access.