Republicans Block U.S. Health Aid for 9/11 Workers  —  WASHINGTON — Republican senators blocked Democratic legislation on Thursday that sought to provide medical care to rescue workers and others who became ill as a result of breathing in toxic fumes, dust and smoke at the site of the 9/11 World Trade Center attack.

House Democrats defy Obama on tax cut bill  —  (CNN) - Defying President Obama, House Democrats voted Thursday not to bring up the tax package that he negotiated with Republicans in its current form.  —  “This message today is very simple: That in the form that it was negotiated, it is not acceptable to the House Democratic caucus.

Pelosi pledges to win changes as House Dems reject tax deal  —  The House Democratic Caucus on Thursday rejected the tax deal negotiated between the White House and Senate Republicans.  —  The non-binding vote of the caucus held during a closed-door meeting puts tremendous pressure …

Obama ‘confident’ amid Dem tax revolt  —  The House Democratic Caucus voted Thursday to oppose President Barack Obama's tax plan, throwing into flux weeks of negotiations on an issue that has turned many congressional Democrats against the White House.  —  But in an interview with NPR Thursday …

Dems Gone Wild: ‘F*%k the President’  —  From Roll Call:  —  The frustration with President Barack Obama over his tax cut compromise was palpable and even profane at Thursday's House Democratic Caucus meeting.  —  One unidentified lawmaker went so far as to mutter “f— the president” …

Gravel considering Obama primary challenge, calls for new 9/11 investigation  —  Former Alaska Senator and 2008 Democratic presidential candidate Mike Gravel told The Daily Caller in an exclusive interview that he is mulling a primary challenge to President Barack Obama in 2012.

Key vote on 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' repeal fails  —  *** UPDATE *** 4:45 PM ET: In a press conference after the vote, Sens. Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins announced that they will introduce a stand-alone bill to repeal “Don't Ask Don't Tell” and that Senate Majority Leader Reid has promised to support it.

Fox News' Spin Game  —  As the debate over the health-care public option heated up, a Fox News executive told staffers to change the way they talked about it.  Howard Kurtz on the memo that echoed a GOP talking point.  —  As the health-care debate was heating up in the summer of 2009 …

Sarah Palin Goes Abroad  —  The Daily Beast has learned exclusively that Sarah Palin is planning her first real foreign trip—a move that could burnish her foreign policy credentials in advance of a 2012 presidential run.  —  The Daily Beast has learned that Sarah Palin will be traveling overseas in the new year.