Black Friday creeps into Thursday

The nation's shoppers on Thursday put down the turkey to take advantage of Thanksgiving deals.

Gerrymandering partisan lock: Shape of things to come

Poisonous lizards are coming to Washington, and they're hailing disproportionately from Maryland, North Carolina and Texas.

Cure for gridlock? One-party rule

The bitter partisan gridlock facing Congress really isn't a problem in Tennessee. Or California. Or North Dakota. The same voters who re-elected the Republican House and Democratic Senate also swept in one-party rule in a whopping 45 state legislatures, up from 41 in 2010, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Fracking industry keeps eye on Obama

The drilling process that has brought U.S. energy independence within reach faces renewed scrutiny from the Obama administration and an uncertain future in many states.

Tea party vows to stay for long haul, takes no blame for GOP losses

Tea party leaders say they refuse to be the scapegoats for the drubbing Republicans took on Election Day, claiming it was the party establishment — not their insurgent movement — that cost the party seats in the House and Senate and returned President Obama to the White House.

Socialism may be waning, but not for young Russians

Two decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the ideas of Marx and Lenin are making a comeback in Russia with a wave of young leftists whose potential for mass appeal seems to have rattled the Kremlin.

Emboldened gay-marriage supporters now want more

Bolstered by their recent wins at the ballot box, gay-marriage activists say they are looking to build on their newfound momentum at the ballot box and in the courtroom.

Hopefuls eye shot at House seat after Jesse Jackson Jr. announces resignation

The jockeying to replace Jesse Jackson Jr. began before the ink was dry on the former congressman's resignation letter.

Muslim Brotherhood head denounces cease-fire, as Morsi claims more power in Egypt

The top leader of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood denounced peace efforts with Israel and urged holy war to liberate Palestinian territories on Thursday — one day after the country's president, who hails from the movement, mediated a cease-fire between Israelis and Palestinians to end eight days of fierce fighting.

Chinese worry busy parents are neglecting kids

On the day China unveiled its new leadership in Beijing with promises of a better life for all, five runaway boys seeking shelter and warmth died in a garbage bin in the south.

Inside the Beltway: Normal guy Romney

It is the ultimate political irony: Mitt Romney has been out and about in public after his defeat in the presidential election, doing all the normal stuff that appeals to voters. Mr. Romney filled his own car with gas, wore jeans and a plaid shirt, and went with his wife, Ann, to see "Breaking Dawn Part 2," the big finale of the "Twilight" vampire movie series. He went to Disneyland, drank chocolate milk, had pizza and chatted casually with nearby customers. He grinned. His hair was tousled.

Gazans clean up as truce with Israel holds

Gaza residents cleared rubble and claimed victory on Thursday, just hours after an Egyptian-brokered truce between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers ended the worst cross-border fighting in four years.

Israeli soldier dies of wounds from Gaza violence

The Israeli military says a soldier has died from injuries sustained in a Palestinian rocket attack that occurred before a cease-fire with Hamas took effect.

In Iowa, it may be last straw for precaucus poll

In the days since Republicans lost an election many in the party thought was theirs, chatter has been bubbling about what the party should do to recover.

Hun Sen shows knack for staying in power

President Obama arrived in Cambodia on Monday having just won four more years in office, but that is nothing compared with his host, Hun Sen.

EU leaders prepare for bitter fight over budget

British Prime Minister David Cameron set the tone Thursday for what is expected to be a bitter fight over the European Union's budget, warning that the latest proposal for a spending ceiling does not go far enough.

Commentary

WEST: Counting blessings despite election bruises

This week, most Americans from sea to shining sea will gather for a special meal. Thanksgiving Day is when all of us, regardless of who we are or our origins, can take a moment to reflect on the bounty that is ours as citizens of these United States.

QUINN AND SILVER: 'Call of Duty' video game highlights real threat

As people head out to the store this Black Friday, one item on many shopping lists is certain to be "Call of Duty: Black Ops II." This recently released and wildly popular video game features a chilling scenario: a new Cold War between China and the United States has erupted, spurred by a ban on Chinese exports of rare earth minerals.

CROUSE: U.N. declares contraception basic human right

The radical feminists' push for universal access to contraception went on steroids with the just-released report from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

MILLER: Crimes of gun-grabbing mayors

Mike Bloomberg is on a mission to take away everyone's guns. New York City's billionaire mayor has bankrolled a coalition of municipal chiefs from coast to coast who tirelessly lobby for new laws restricting the rights of law-abiding gun owners.

EDITORIAL: They built this

The History Channel recently concluded "The Men Who Built America," a mini-series about the former titans of industry -- Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Morgan and Ford. These men built America from the ground up in the 50 years following the Civil War.