CNN Poll: GOP has edge in early midterm indicator  —  Washington (CNN) - Democrats have lost their advantage and Republicans now have a slight edge in the battle for control of Congress, according to a new national poll.  —  A CNN/ORC International survey released Thursday also indicates …

Many counties lack affordable plans for unsubsidized  —  More than half of the counties in 34 states using the federal health insurance exchange lack even a bronze plan that's affordable — by the government's own definition — for 40-year-old couples who make just a little too much for financial assistance, a USA TODAY analysis shows.

Egypt names Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group  —  CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's military-backed interim government declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization Wednesday, intensifying its campaign of arrests and prosecutions targeting its members and tightening the noose on the group's network of charities and businesses.

GOP, Business Recast Message  —  Republican Leaders, Allies Aim to Diminish Clout of Most-Conservative Activists  —  Republican leaders and their corporate allies have launched an array of efforts aimed at diminishing the clout of the party's most conservative activists and promoting legislation instead of confrontation next year.

Why the Tea Party Isn't Going Anywhere  —  The demise of the Tea Party was loudly announced right after Congress voted on October 16 to lift the debt ceiling and reopen the federal government.  “Finally!  The Republican Fever Is Broken,” exulted Jamelle Bouie atThe Daily Beast …

The 13 most memorable quotes of 2013  —  The year started with a deal on the fiscal cliff and ended with a deal on a two-year budget accord.  —  In between, there were fights over the Benghazi, Libya terrorist attack, National Security Agency surveillance programs, immigration reform …

Judge Who Once Called Rape Victim ‘In Control’ Sentences Abusive Boyfriend To Write ‘Boys Do Not Hit Girls’  —  Montana District Judge G. Todd Baugh's controversial remarks about a 14-year-old rape victim inspired a national petition and protests when he suspended the rapist's jail sentence in August to a mere 30 days.

Kidnapped American asks U.S. to negotiate with al-Qaeda for his release  —  A U.S. government contractor kidnapped by al-Qaeda militants in Pakistan in 2011 has recorded a video message calling on the Obama administration to negotiate with his captors, saying he feels “totally abandoned and forgotten.”

A Work Still in Progress  —  When the country observed the Constitution's 200th anniversary back in 1987, two narratives vied for public acceptance.  There was the triumphalist narrative celebrated in Philadelphia, where a quarter-million people took part in a 15-hour-long gala …

Jesse Jackson Sr. responds to ‘Duck Dynasty’ star's comments  —  Jesse Jackson Sr. has jumped into the controversy surrounding comments by Phil Robertson, star of A&E's backwoods reality TV show, “Duck Dynasty.”  —  In an announcement sent out Tuesday, Jackson Sr. compared Robertson's recent comments …

Israel plans new settlement push while freeing Palestinian prisoners  —  (Reuters) - Israel plans to announce a push for more construction in Jewish settlements when it frees two dozen Palestinian prisoners next week, an Israeli official said on Wednesday, in a move that could jeopardize U.S.-brokered peace talks.