Obama pivots to next budget fight, opens door to deficit reduction

Just two days after signing off on the bipartisan "fiscal cliff" deal, President Obama on Saturday pivoted to the next budget showdown with Congress, reiterating his "no-negotiations" pledge on the upcoming debt-ceiling debate.

Hugo Chavez's allies re-elect legislative chief

Allies of cancer-stricken President Hugo Chavez on Saturday chose to keep the same National Assembly president — a man who could be in line to step in as a caretaker leader in some circumstances.

Seahawks cornerbacks a tall order for Redskins

Seattle's cornerbacks present of the biggest challenges for the Redskins on Sunday in their NFC wild card game against the Seahawks, from Robert Griffin III to his receivers.

N.Y. Democrat: Republicans who voted no on Sandy storm aid 'mean-spirited'

Rep. Gregory Meeks, New York Democrat, said Saturday that some Republicans who voted against the Superstorm Sandy relief funds are "mean-spirited."

McChrystal takes blame for Rolling Stone article

Speaking out for the first time since he resigned, retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal takes the blame for a Rolling Stone article and the unflattering comments attributed to his staff about the Obama administration that ended his Afghanistan command and army career.

Strong earthquake shakes parts of Alaska, Canada

A powerful earthquake sparked a tsunami warning for hundreds of miles of Alaskan and Canadian coastline, but the alert was canceled when no damaging waves were generated.

Report: Lance Armstrong weighs doping admission

The New York Times reported Friday that Lance Armstrong, who has strongly denied the doping charges that led to him being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles, has told associates he is considering admitting to the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Packers show off depth in 24-10 win over Vikings

Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers showed how dangerous they can be when they're at full strength Saturday night, overwhelming the Minnesota Vikings 24-10 in an NFC wild-card game that was never really close.

Houston beats Bengals 19-13 in wild-card playoff

J.J. Watt swatted away passes, Arian Foster ran away from tacklers and the Houston Texans did just enough to knock Cincinnati out of the playoffs for the second straight year.

PGA Tour's season opener delayed again

For those who think the PGA Tour season never ends, here's a new twist: This one can't get started.

Redskins' defense focused on Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch in playoff opener

While Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is getting a lot of the headlines heading into Sunday's playoff game, the Washington Redskins' defenders have no question who is the real newsmaker on the Seattle offense.

NHL lockout 2012: Mediator gets league, union back together

A federal mediator has finally been able to get the NHL and the players' association back together Saturday for their first face-to-face meeting since talks broke down two days earlier.

4 dead after police standoff at a Colo. townhome

Authorities say four people are dead, including the suspect, after an hours-long police standoff at a Colorado townhome.

Vittorio Missoni: Fashion executive on small plane missing in Venezuela

The search resumed Saturday for a small plane that has disappeared off the Venezuelan coast with six people aboard, including Vittorio Missoni, a top executive in Italy's Missoni fashion house, officials said.

Commentary

PERKINS: 'Fiscal cliff' compromise deal betrays lack of courage

My neighbor's 10-year-old station wagon has a terrible noise coming from the engine compartment that has been getting louder over time. Something is obviously very wrong.

OLIVER: Google-FTC settlement a victory for the free market

While Christmas festivities for many concluded last month, American consumers received a late gift from two unlikely co-donors: Google and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), who have resolved the agency's 18-month antitrust investigation into the company's search business.