Hollywood Cowardice: George Clooney Explains Why Sony Stood Alone In North Korean Cyberterror Attack  —  EXCLUSIVE: As it begins to dawn on everyone in Hollywood the reality that Sony Pictures was the victim of a cyberterrorist act perpetrated by a hostile foreign nation on American soil …

GOP goes on K Street hiring spree  —  Lobbyists can come home again.  —  As Republicans take control of Congress, they are bringing in veteran influence peddlers to help them run the show.  Nearly a dozen veteran K Streeters have been named as top staffers to GOP leaders or on key committees …

Obama's heavy lift on Cuba  —  The White House strategy to defeat the anti-Castro bloc in Congress involves a coordinated push to sell President Barack Obama's new Cuba policy to big business, human rights groups, lawmakers and Cubans themselves.  —  Obama and senior officials across multiple agencies …

NEBRASKA AND OKLAHOMA SUE COLORADO OVER MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION  —  Supporters erupt in cheers at the passage of Amendment 64.  Supporters of Amendment 64, the campaign to regulate marijuana like alcohol, gather at Casselman's in Denver on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012.  Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post (THE DENVER POST |

Dog shoots man: Accidental shooting injures man  —  SHERIDAN — The Johnson County Sheriff's Office has released its findings on the shooting of a man Monday on Murphy Gulch Road.  —  Sheriff Steve Kozisek said Richard L. Fipps, 46, of Sheridan had driven to Murphy Gulch Road with two employees to move a vehicle that had become stuck.

A Model Senator  —  “In any election,” Tom Coburn often says, “you should vote for the candidate who will give up the most if they win.”  All things being equal, we should prefer politicians who have accomplished something in their lives beyond government work—and who are willing to sacrifice it …

The Unidentified Queen of Torture  —  For the past eight months, there has been a furious battle raging behind closed doors at the White House, the C.I.A., and in Congress.  The question has been whether the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence would be allowed to use pseudonyms as a means …

SEE IT: NYPD plainclothes officer delivers body blows to youth as he's being cuffed, Internal Affairs investigating  —  'I can't believe he just did that after everything that's happened' a witness says as the boy is punched repeatedly while three NYPD officers try to subdue and cuff him in an incident caught on video.

Future uncertain, Romney sits atop GOP polls  —  It can be hard to take the idea of a Mitt Romney 2016 presidential run seriously.  After all, this is the man who said of losing general election candidates, “They become a loser for life.”  At least in presidential terms, he had that mostly right.

Carly Fiorina Hiring for Presidential Campaign  —  Despite her improving political skills, the California businesswoman would be an underdog in a likely all-male GOP field.  —  Carly Fiorina is laying the groundwork for what one ally says is an “imminent” presidential campaign—one that could launch as early as next month.

Rep. Blake Farenthold Joked Online About Drinking And Hitting On Women  —  WASHINGTON — Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas), who is being sued by a former employee for sexual harassment, wrote posts about alcohol and female travelers on an online forum geared toward frequent fliers.

IRS: Budget cuts could delay refunds  —  Budget cuts backed by congressional Republicans could delay tax refunds in 2015, IRS Commissioner John Koskinen told reporters on Thursday.  —  “Everybody's return will get processed,” Koskinen said at a news conference.

Sexist Comment by Austin Police Officer: Isolated Incident or Part of Broader Culture?  —  Update (2:19 p.m.): Officer Andrew Petrowski officially retired from the Austin Police Department on Friday, Dec. 12 after learning KUT would air his comments this week.

US backed talks between jihadi clerics and Isis in effort to save hostage's life  —  Exclusive: Talks with leadership of Isis to secure release of Abdul-Rahman (Peter) Kassig ran for several weeks with knowledge of FBI  —  Revealed: the secret talks to save Isis hostage Peter Kassig - video

For U.S. businesses and tourists, opportunities abound in Cuba  —  In the wake of President Obama's historic decision to mend diplomatic ties with Cuba, U.S. businesses and potential tourists scrambled to figure out what new opportunities will be available on the island and to position themselves at the head of the line.