CNN/ORC Poll: Bush surges to 2016 GOP frontrunner  —  Washington (CNN) — Jeb Bush is the clear Republican presidential frontrunner, surging to the front of the potential GOP pack following his announcement that he's “actively exploring” a bid, a new CNN/ORC poll found.

Indonesian official says missing AirAsia jet is believed to be at the bottom of the sea … BEIJING — Search officials in Indonesia said Monday morning that they believe a vanished AirAsia commercial jet with 162 people on board is at the bottom of the sea.

Chris Rock & Wife Malaak Compton-Rock Split  —  Chris Rock and his wife are divorcing after nearly 20 years together.  —  “After much contemplation and 19 years of marriage, Chris and I have decided to go our separate ways,” Malaak Compton-Rock, a philanthropist and founder of the nonprofit styleWorks, said in a statement Sunday.

Obama marks Afghanistan milestone  —  President Barack Obama on Sunday praised the official end of the 13-year U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan, offering his remarks to coincide with a handover ceremony there.  —  “On this day,” Obama said in a statement, “we give thanks to our troops …

Is the Most Powerful Conservative in America Losing His Edge?  —  Erick Erickson built his career on stoking populist rage.  But now the man who steers the Tea Party says conservative anger has grown toxic and self-defeating.  —  Photos by Audra Melton

The Obama Recovery  —  Suppose that for some reason you decided to start hitting yourself in the head, repeatedly, with a baseball bat.  You'd feel pretty bad.  Correspondingly, you'd probably feel a lot better if and when you finally stopped.  What would that improvement in your condition tell you?

Indecent proposition from New London chief was ‘chilling’ says victim  —  NEW LONDON - Speaking publicly for the first time, Janelle Westfall said state laws failed her after New London's former police chief made her a proposition: If she posed nude for him, the underage alcohol charges against her would be dropped.

America's 20 Craziest Politicians  —  How do you feel about facts?  Do you hate them?  Are they super annoying, like science?  Are you frightened of communists, Muslims, and vaginas?  Good news!  This month, America is inaugurating a new class of elected representatives …

10 senators who could lose reelection in 2016  —  Senate Republicans will have to work hard to retain their recently won majority as they face a tough 2016 electoral map.  —  They have 24 seats up compared to Democrats' 10, including seven in states President Obama carried twice.

The Tragedy of the American Military  —  The American public and its political leadership will do anything for the military except take it seriously.  The result is a chickenhawk nation in which careless spending and strategic folly combine to lure America into endless wars it can't win.

Charles Koch's views on criminal justice system just may surprise you  —  ›  —  ‹  —  Of all the contentious history between Koch Industries and the U.S. government, the Corpus Christi, Texas, case from 1995 is the one that Charles Koch remembers most vividly.

Pope Francis's edict on climate change will anger deniers and US churches  —  Pontiff hopes to inspire action at next year's UN meeting in Paris in December after visits to Philippines and New York  —  He has been called the “superman pope”, and it would be hard to deny that Pope Francis has had a good December.

Woman shoots up Hixson neighborhood … Jennifer Clouse was standing in her yard Friday in her quiet Hixson neighborhood when she saw a woman quickly drive past her house holding a gun out of the window as if it were a cigarette.  —  “She was just casually holding a gun, and wearing a baseball hat …

Allen West: Obama Wants Blacks ‘Vomiting Dissension’ To Create Myth Of Modern-day Racism  —  Former Republican Rep. Allen West declared on Sunday that President Barack Obama was responsible for creating a myth of modern-day racism by prompting a “vomiting” of dissension from black Americans.

Giuliani urges de Blasio to apologize for police remarks  —  Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani on Sunday rebuked police officers who have turned their backs on Mayor Bill de Blasio but urged his Democratic successor to apologize for remarks that infuriated the police amid searing tension among the department and communities of color.