Consulate lacked requested 'man traps'

The U.S. mission in Libya where a U.S. ambassador and three other Americans were killed in a terrorist attack lacked special security barriers that the State Department's inspector general recommended three years ago for diplomatic facilities in danger zones, the top Republican on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee said Thursday.

Lot of movement, no progress on 'fiscal cliff': Tax increases vs. spending cuts

President Obama's top aides floated a budget framework to Republicans on Thursday that would call for $1.6 trillion in tax increases coupled with a promise for future spending trims in order to head off the "fiscal cliff," an offer GOP leaders immediately rejected, saying the White House needs to "get serious" about spending cuts.

GOP activists target Priebus

A postelection civil war is brewing among Republicans, with some conservative activists angry over the party's poor performance this cycle gunning for party Chairman Reince Priebus and planning demonstrations at the Republican National Committee's annual winter meeting in Charlotte, N.C.

Palestinians gain U.N. status as 'observer state'

Palestinians won a victory on the world stage Thursday when the U.N. General Assembly voted to grant them enhanced status in the world body, but they could face a backlash in Washington, where lawmakers introduced legislation to kick them out of their diplomatic offices and to strip U.S. aid.

Tensions rise over new law in Egypt

Tensions heightened in advance of massive anti-government protests scheduled for Friday and Saturday after an Islamist-controlled panel hurriedly approved Thursday a final draft of Egypt's constitution that, among its new dictates, would grant Muslim clerics a role in interpreting some legal matters -- angering critics and worrying minorities in this secular Islamic nation.

U.S. economy chugging, as rivals face recession

Even with ho-hum growth, the U.S. is starting to look like an outperformer in a world where Britain and the rest of Europe are in a double-dip recession, Japan is falling into what may be a triple-dip downturn, and some formerly robust emerging markets recently have slowed to a near-standstill.

Obama plans campaign-style trip to push higher taxes

President Obama is hitting the hustings in a campaign-style push for tax increases, and his first stop is Pennsylvania — a battleground state with the kinds of Republicans who he thinks could be amenable to being swayed by grass-roots pressure.

Romney, Obama discuss 'leadership' over lunch

Perhaps it's reading between the lines of their private lunch Thursday at the White House, but President Obama and his vanquished Republican opponent, Mitt Romney, will probably never consider each other friends.

Lawsuit seeks to overturn Ariz. Gov. Brewer's immigration order

A coalition of immigrant-rights advocates filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking to overturn an order by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer that denies driver's licenses to illegal immigrants who avoided deportation under a new Obama administration policy.

Inside the Beltway: Campaign still bustling

All those cheeky, annoying, occasionally profane emails sent out by the Obama for America campaign are going nowhere.

Clinton: 'We have to go where the virus is' 

Global cooperation and funding in targeted areas to high-risk groups "where the virus is" can help bring the world closer to the goal of eliminating the scourge of AIDS, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday.

Senate votes to rewrite detention rules in war on terror

Senators voted late Thursday to rewrite some of the key rules in the war on terror, including prohibiting indefinite detention of U.S. citizens captured at home, and a permanent ban on transferring suspected terrorist detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the United States.

Michigan eyes right-to-work measure

Having just helped torpedo a labor-backed move that would have enshrined collective-bargaining rights in the state's constitution, emboldened Republican lawmakers are considering a move to make this historic bastion of union power into the nation's 24th right-to-work state.

Chamber chief: Energy boom could ease U.S. fiscal woes

America's suddenly booming domestic energy scene could provide critical aid in bailing out the nation's fiscal woes, the chief of the nation's top business lobby said Thursday

Former President George H.W. Bush hospitalized

Former President George H.W. Bush has been hospitalized in Houston for treatment of a lingering cough.

Empire State Building surprises N.Y. with new lights

In the middle of the night, as most of New York slept, something big and bright lit up the Manhattan skyline for just seconds — a tightly kept secret to all but a handful of people.

Commentary

GORDON: Egypt will set course for Middle East

With the ebb and flow of major clashes in Cairo's Tahrir Square since the Arab Spring began nearly two years ago, it's easy to get bogged down in the details of who's doing what to whom on any given day. Americans must take a step above the fray and look at Egypt and beyond from a broader, strategic level.

O'KEEFE: Real solutions for the 'fiscal cliff'

As we approach the "fiscal cliff" and Washington's finest scramble to avert economic disaster, many ideas and proposals are being considered: Let the George W. Bush tax cuts expire, close loopholes or increase revenue.

MCCONCHIE: Pro-life victories in 2012

As 2012 draws to a close, it is that time of year when we take stock of what we've accomplished and look ahead to the future. For pro-life Americans, the victories are numerous, and despite the November election, the outlook is bright.

MILLER: Standoff at the 'fiscal cliff'

Democrats have painted themselves into a box with their Mediscare tactics. Because they spent the last two years frightening seniors with tales of Republicans taking away their benefits and "ending Medicare as we know it," the left-hand side of the aisle has effectively eliminated the possibility of negotiating changes to this broken program essential to any true resolution of the looming budgetary and tax disaster.

WAGNER: Obama's sad toy story

President Obama will be playing politics at K'Nex Industries in Hatfield, Pa., on Friday. The maker of Lincoln Logs and other popular children's construction toys will serve as a backdrop for the president to tout his tax agenda.