Sony exec fires back at President Obama  —  Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton, denying that the studio had “caved” by scrapping next week's opening of “The Interview,” fired back Friday after President Obama said the studio had “made a mistake.”  —  “The president, the press …

Castro's Hipster Apologists Want to Keep Cuba ‘Authentically’ Poor  —  The thawing of diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba has elicited a lot of patronizing, asinine fretting about the imminent “Americanization” of Cuba.  —  Alan Gross was in a cheery mood, having survived a grim five-year stint in a Cuban prison.

Some witnesses lied to Michael Brown grand jury, McCulloch says.  So why have them testify?  —  Certain witnesses who spoke before the grand jury investigating the Aug. 9 shooting of Michael Brown told obvious lies under oath, St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch said Friday.

How One Man Is Terrorizing Neighbors With a Hostile Holiday Decoration Display  —  Homeowners on Fairley Road in Ross Township, Pennsylvania, say their neighbor Bill Ansell is terrorizing them year round with his hostile anti-Christmas spirit.  —  “Any opportunity he has to make our life a hardship …

In Case You Missed It, Obama Made History Today: Calls Only on Female Reporters … Mark this down as a historic day in White House history.  —  President Obama has just become the first president to field questions from only female reporters at a White House press conference.

Obama labor board comes down hard on McDonald's  —  In a significant victory for fast-food demonstrators, the Obama administration filed 13 legal complaints on Friday against McDonald's USA, LLC, alleging 78 instances in which it violated federal labor law by punishing workers for taking part in fast food protests.

Rand Paul Battles Marco Rubio Over Cuba Policy  —  The libertarian-hawk fight begins.  —  Kentucky Senator Rand Paul took his time responding to this week's Cuba policy thaw.  Florida Senator Marco Rubio, the son of immigrants who fled the pre-Castro regime, called a press conference …

After turbulent year, Obama aims for quiet Hawaii getaway  —  KAILUA, Hawaii (AP) — A tumultuous year all but behind him, President Barack Obama set off for his annual winter getaway in Hawaii hoping for one thing: Quiet.  —  Air Force One touched down late in the evening at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam …

How bad would an IRS shutdown be?  —  The IRS chief's warning on Thursday that drastic budget cuts may force a shutdown for perhaps days is his latest bid to illustrate the impact of starving the tax agency.  —  But how bad would it really be?  —  Story Continued Below

Family finds creepy surprise after Craigslist buy  —  A Midlands family says a couch they bought just about a month ago has infested their home with bed bugs.  —  They have a warning about where they bought that couch.  —  They bought it on craigslist, and with roughly 5,000 pieces …

A Vermont Senator Asks, Why Not a Socialist President?  —  AMES, Iowa — Senator Bernard Sanders, an independent from Vermont who calls himself a socialist, was riding in the back seat of a rented blue minivan this week when his aide abruptly announced they were being pulled over by the Iowa State Police for speeding.