Rolling Stone whiffs in reporting on alleged rape  —  For the sake of Rolling Stone's reputation, Sabrina Rubin Erdely had better be the country's greatest judge of character.  On Nov. 19, the magazine published Erdely's story about a ghastly alleged gang rape at the stately Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at the University of Virginia.

How the White House torpedoed Harry Reid's tax deal  —  The White House worked closely with liberal House Democrats last week to torpedo a tax deal that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-­Nev.) was negotiating with Republicans.  —  The unusual move to kill a Reid­-backed proposal …

U.S. Partisanship Shifts to GOP After Midterms  —  Story Highlights  —  PRINCETON, N.J. — Since the Republican Party's strong showing on Election Day last month, Americans' political allegiances have shifted toward the GOP.  Prior to the elections, 43% of Americans identified as Democrats …

Meet the likely next Defense Secretary  —  Washington (CNN) — Ashton Carter, the former second-in-command at the Pentagon appears to be the top choice to replace outgoing Secretary Chuck Hagel.  —  Barring any last minute complications, Ash Carter will be President Barack Obama's choice …

Truth trumps hype in Ferguson  —  There are times when symbolic gestures pack a powerful punch.  Fifty-nine years ago yesterday, Rosa Parks refused to give her bus seat to a white passenger.  Parks' action became an important symbol for the Civil Rights movement and an inspiration to those fighting to end segregation in America.

McConnell ‘Perplexed’ by Obama's Reaction to Midterm ‘Butt Kicking’  —  Video: McConnell on His Relationship With Obama  —  Sen. Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) on Tuesday said President Barack Obama has lurched to the left since suffering a “butt-kicking” during November's midterm elections …

A long list of sex acts just got banned in UK porn  —  Pornography produced in the UK was quietly censored today through an amendment to the 2003 Communications Act, and the measures appear to take aim at female pleasure.  —  The Audiovisual Media Services Regulations 2014 requires that video-on-demand …

The Cycle of Republican Radicalization  —  Yesterday, the Washington Post reported on a Quinnipiac poll from a week ago showing a striking change in public opinion on immigration.  The question was whether undocumented immigrants should be deported or should be able to get on a path to citizenship.

Inhofe's Grand Climate Conspiracy Theory: It's All About Barbra Streisand  —  That's what the GOP senator who'll be taking control of the environment committee told me several years ago.  —  The recent news on the front page of the New York Times was stark.

Soap Opera Producer Is Now an Ambassador and John McCain Isn't Happy … The Senate confirmed a producer of the soap opera “The Bold and The Beautiful” today to serve as ambassador to Hungary, and Sen. John McCain is not happy about it.  —  Prior to the vote, McCain, R-Ariz. …

Stephen Hawking warns artificial intelligence could end mankind  —  Prof Stephen Hawking, one of Britain's pre-eminent scientists, has said that efforts to create thinking machines pose a threat to our very existence.  —  He told the BBC:"The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race."

Hooks ISD Board Member in trouble over racial Facebook post  —  It's a very un-Christmas like Facebook post.  —  An image of a Klu Klux Klan member standing with hands folded.  The words, “I'm dreaming of a white Christmas” emblazoned on the image.  —  What may be even more disturbing …

Glenn Beck loses bid to dismiss Saudi's libel suit  —  A federal judge has rejected a bid by conservative commentator Glenn Beck to toss out a libel lawsuit filed by a Saudi student Beck repeatedly accused of funding the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.  —  In a ruling Tuesday …

N.Y. Post corrects Obama-Chuck Todd item  —  The New York Post has corrected a report that wrongly quoted President Barack Obama badmouthing NBC's Chuck Todd.  —  The Post's initial report, published Saturday, quoted Obama as calling the “Meet the Press” moderator “sad” while on a visit to a Washington, D.C., bookstore.

The Divorce Surge Is Over, but the Myth Lives On  —  Divorce rates increased in the 1970s and 1980s, but in the last 20 years they have dropped.  —  Years of marriage →  —  Replay  —  When Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin “consciously uncoupled” this year, ABC News …

Four Members of Congress Put Their Hands Up in Solidarity With Ferguson Protesters, None Voted to Limit Police Militarization  —  Michael Brown was shot and killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, in August.  Protests over the shooting yielded a militarized response from police.

Sheriff Defends Stopping Black Man For Walking With Hands In His Pockets  —  A black Michigan man who was stopped by a sheriff's deputy after walking with his hands in his pockets said he believes he was the victim of racial discrimination.  —  The local sheriff says the deputy acted appropriately …