Egypt's military returns to the political fray

Egypt's powerful military, sidelined last summer by the newly elected Islamist president, edged back Saturday into a political fray boiling over with tensions between secular forces and a government determined to pass a constitution enshrining a central role for religion.

Obama takes 'fiscal cliff' case to public; GOP turns to Rubio to make its case

After a week in which lawmakers in Washington said there had been "no progress" on the "fiscal cliff" talks, President Obama reiterated for Republicans his stand on the gridlocked negotiations: No deal without higher taxes on high-income Americans.

Supreme Court to weigh in on gay marriage

In a saga that began almost 22 years ago in Hawaii, lawsuits over the rights to gay marriage are finally going to reach the nation's highest court.

Manziel is first freshman Heisman Trophy winner

Johnny Football just got himself a way cooler nickname: Johnny Heisman.

Litmus test for GOP, tea party? Polls open in Louisiana race pitting Boustany against Landry

The polls are open in Louisiana's 3rd Congressional District runoff, pitting two Republicans — veteran Rep. Charles Boustany against freshman incumbent Rep. Jeff Landry — in the first post-November 2012 test of the tea party's influence on the GOP.

Ohio, Virginia eye proposals for more proportional split of electoral votes

Officials in Virginia and Ohio, once reliably red states that have gone for President Obama in the past two elections, have discussed the idea of apportioning their electoral votes by congressional district — a system some say would more accurately reflect the will of the states' voters but one that others dismiss as an unnecessary political ploy.

Navy sends 2 more warships for N. Korean missile launch

The Navy has positioned two more warships in the Pacific to monitor North Korea's upcoming long-range missile launch.

USDA chief: Rural America becoming 'less relevant'

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has some harsh words for rural America: It's "becoming less and less relevant," he says.

Egypt: military warns of 'disastrous consequences'

Egypt's military warned on Saturday of "disastrous consequences" if the crisis that sent tens of thousands of protesters back into the streets is not resolved, signaling the army's return to an increasingly polarized and violent political scene.

White House faces furor over Psy's anti-U.S. lyrics

The White House deleted a petition Friday on its web site demanding that President Obama rescind an invitation to "Gangnam style" rapper Psy to sing at a Christmas concert in Washington, due to the performer's anti-American rants.

White House says federal bill for Sandy is $60 billion

The White House sent Congress a $60.4 billion emergency spending request Friday to pay for recovery from Superstorm Sandy, which struck the northeastern U.S. five weeks ago, killing dozens and flooding homes and businesses across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Dems look to Obama to punish Michigan over labor vote

A top Michigan Democrat is looking to President Obama to deliver retribution to Republicans after the GOP-dominated state legislature approved a package of bills that could make this stronghold of union power the nation's 24th right-to-work state as early as next week.

Syrian rebels press in battle for Damascus airport

Syrian rebels fighting to topple President Bashar Assad declared Damascus International Airport a "legitimate target" Friday in a bid to cut off regime supplies, as clashes between government troops and rebels forced the closure of the airport road for the second time this week.

Pentagon review finds generals need ethics training more often

An initial review by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff found that current ethics training is "appropriate," but it needs to start earlier in a flag officer's career and be reinforced more frequently.

Pearl Harbor dead remembered on 71st anniversary

More than 2,000 people at Pearl Harbor and many more around the country are marking the 71st anniversary of the Japanese attack that killed thousands of people and launched the United States into World War II.

Snow may have slowed North Korea launch

New satellite images indicate that snow may have slowed North Korea's rocket launch preparations, but that Pyongyang could still be ready for liftoff starting Monday.

Commentary

ALLARD: Sequestration spotlights real defense abuses

Apanel of defense-industry executives complained last week to a National Press Club audience about the defense budget cuts known as sequestration. Calling those reductions "irresponsible," TASC CEO David Langstaff said sequestration would shatter "our ability to execute U.S. national security strategy."

ISAAC AND KOVACEVICH: Charting a course away from the fiscal cliff

If Congress and the Obama administration don't reach an agreement before year's end, income tax rates will increase automatically for every taxpayer, defense spending will be slashed, and other federal spending will be cut across the board.

SCANLON: Obama's radical energy transformation reversal

President Obama has his second term and will never face voters again. On one of his highest priorities -- energy and the environment -- he's free to be the "transformational" figure he always wanted to be.

MILLER: Handgun hypocrisy

The loudest advocates of gun control are well protected. President Obama said he wants more laws restricting firearms ownership because, in his hometown of Chicago, "there's an awful lot of violence, and they're not using AK-47s, they're using cheap handguns."

EDITORIAL: 2016's conservative comeback

Many conservatives are understandably demoralized by last month's election returns. President Obama won despite being saddled with the weak economy, high gas prices and soaring deficits.