Tens of thousands of US, foreign contractors in Iraq to lose legal immunity

• Federal judge rules provisional ballots must be counted in tight Ohio congressional race

• Byrd, sporting a snappy fringed jacket, gavels open festivities for his 91st birthday

• Bill introduced to regulate credit default swaps blamed for Wall Street collapse

• McCain had more votes in Fla. on Nov. 4, but Obama sealed victory with early, absentee votes

• Bush seeks to broaden support for united economic response at APEC gathering in Peru

• Deal with it: No matter how hard he tries, Obama likely to run into a bum nomination or two

• Rep. Hoekstra wants DOJ investigation into CIA; agency withheld 2001 Peru shoot-down info

• Next step in political fundraising? Giving through texting

• US advisory panel warns of Chinese cyberspace espionage attacks

• White House: Bush now would sign measure providing additional benefits to long-term jobless

• Bush and Olmert, close allies and friends, to hold talks at White House 1 more time

• Defeat of Sen. Ted Stevens, Palin's rise, highlight generational shift in Alaska politics

• Former Mass. Gov. Romney reiterates staunch opposition to federal bailout for Big 3 automakers

• Departure of longtime spending leaders unlikely to change Senate much

• Conservatives urge immediate release for 17 Muslim Uighurs held at US naval facility in Cuba

• Democratic leaders looking at ways to overturn changes to endangered species rules

• Congressional Democrats sidetrack vote on auto industry bailout, demand Big Three develop plan

• Who's in, who's out? Names in the mix for top jobs in Obama administration

• Henry Waxman topples John Dingell as panel leader; Dems eye stronger environmental stance

• Judge orders release of 5 terror suspects from Guantanamo; urges government not to appeal

• Sen. Ted Stevens gives swan song Senate speech; Colleagues and aides give standing ovation

• Former spymaster Gates now looking more likely to accept longer stint as defense secretary

• Obama's top choice for homeland security secretary is a tough politician

• Obama is the first Columbia graduate elected president

• Former congressional aide pleads guilty to concealing gifts received from lobbyists

• Democratic officials: Arizona's Janet Napolitano is leading candidate for Homeland Security

• In 2 uncalled open-seat congressional races, both candidates play House member-elect

• Despite small gains, hurdles remain to making HIV testing as common as cholesterol checks

• Rep. Linda Sanchez of California pregnant with first child, plans to marry

• Obama's likely choice to be Homeland Security secretary is no stranger to Washington scandals

• Washington's transit system warns of packed subways, buses for presidential inauguration

• Intel Trend Report: Russia, Muslim states may gain new prominence in 2025

• Obama, UN chief discuss reform while US rededicates itself to the world organization

• Holder's likely nomination revives uproar over pardon for fugitive financier Marc Rich

• Black Caucus doesn't predict close relationship with Obama; approach underscores hesitancy

• Judge grants Franken campaign request for access to rejected absentee ballot data

• Polish Foreign Minister looking for signal from Obama team on missile defense deal

• Obama leads office birthday party for his No. 2; Joe Biden turns 66 on Thursday

• After 4 years, former Sen. Tom Daschle returns to Washington spotlight in Obama Cabinet

• Democratic sources: Bill Clinton offers concessions to help wife become secretary of state

• Biographical information on Tom Daschle

• Uncle Sam seeks safe US city with 20,000 hotel rooms willing to pay to host big event in 2011

• Beau Biden, son of Joe Biden, will not accept Senate appointment, will fulfill military duty

• Congressional Budget Office's Orszag likely Obama budget director, Capitol Democrats say

• Fit first couple: Obamas find time for daily workouts, leaving no excuses for the rest of us

• Fit first couple: Obamas find time for daily workouts, leaving no excuses for the rest of us

• Sources: Decorated immigration agent arrested on crystal methamphetamine charges

• Finger-pointing begins as Senate cancels vote on auto bailout as Big Three warn of collapse

• Source: Holder 'informally' offered, accepts AG job in Obama administration pending vetting

• Bush helps reopen renovated National Museum of American History, flag as centerpiece

• Anchorage mayor comes from Alaska political family but takes more restrained route to Senate

• Struggling for survival, auto dealers try to put local face on bailout fight

• Obama presidency signals major shift in policies toward trade agreements

• Congressional Budget Office's Orszag likely Obama budget director, Capitol Democrats say

• Justice Dept., NYPD battling over how to spy quickly and legally on terrorist suspects

• Need for $50 million budget to oversee financial rescue questioned now that plan has changed

• Bill Clinton to disclose donors in effort to smooth wife's path to become secretary of state

• Senate's seniority rules don't favor big role for Hillary Clinton despite historic run

• Extreme Makeover, WH edition: What redecorating might take place in the executive mansion?

• Democratic officials: Former Senate Majority Leader Daschle accepts post as HHS secretary

• House Republicans re-elect Boehner as their leader

• What change should the Obamas bring to the White House itself? Interior designers weigh in

• Obama returns congratulatory calls from UN secretary-general, 4 foreign leaders

• Extreme Makeover, WH edition: What redecorating might take place in the executive mansion?

• FBI offering $50K for information on 4 suspected of ecoterrorism in 5 Western states

• Convicted Sen. Ted Stevens concedes defeat, Democratic winner stakes out conservative terrain

• Pentagon defends international military effort to thwart 'alarming' rise in pirate attacks

• Despite Washington's decision, some Connecticut Democrats want Sen. Joe Lieberman punished

• Huckabee, envious of Palin's quick political rise, won't rule out 2012 bid for president

• Insurers seek trade-off for covering customers with pre-existing conditions

• McCain defeats Obama in close Mo. presidential race, ends state's streak of picking winner

• In bailout bid, US automakers and allies warn industry's demise would harm national security

• In Iowa, unease among some Republicans about undermining GOP nominee in 2012

• Joint Chiefs chairman says war stresses on troops are 'extraordinary' and may be growing

• Ohio Democrat unopposed in congressional election to fill unexpired Tubbs Jones' term

• Bill Clinton's foundation raised more than $124M as wife sought presidency last year

• INSIDE WASHINGTON: Bush administration picks make switch into more permanent jobs

• Top US military officer gives props to Taliban, says Afghan militants 'doing pretty well'

• Obama, McCain bury the hatchet, pledge bipartisan approach to fixing nation's problems

• McCain to run for 5th Senate term, setting up fundraising PAC

• Incoming, outgoing congresses choose leaders, fight with Bush over auto industry bailout

• A senator once again, McCain returns to Capitol welcomed by Kerry and applauded by GOP caucus

• Bush plans to watch Army-Navy football game on Dec. 6 in Philadelphia

• Obama promises Washington will take leading role on combating climate change

• Panel urges FDA to revise warning of the risks of cosmetic facial fillers

• Schiliro, creature of Congress, to bring calm intensity and Hill skills to Obama's White House

• Bush proposes steps to ease air travel congestion; passengers may see marginal improvement

• Lieberman, despite backing GOP's McCain, stays as Senate Homeland Security panel chairman

• Obama advisers: No charges likely against workers who authorized harsh interrogation methods

• President-elect Obama may have to give up his BlackBerry due to security issues

• Leader for presidential transition is former Clinton aide who doesn't always agree with Obama

• DC congregations to roll out welcome mat for Obamas; church choice likely to face scrutiny

• Treasury pays $33.56 billion to 21 banks in second round of disbursements from rescue fund

• Could this be an issue beyond Washington lobbying? A tough road for carmakers on bailout

• Congressional sources say White House will not tap $350B of $700B financial system bailout

• Top Republican senators oppose automaker bailout, saying it would only postpone demise

• Obama mixes Washington insiders with Chicago operatives in White House staff

• Obama daughters will have to wait until White House move before they get a puppy

• Obama does his best to savor remaining days of semi-normal routine before move to White House

• President-elect Obama seems interested in a Lincolnesque 'team of rivals' for Cabinet

• Obama urges Congress to act as US faces 'greatest economic challenge of our times'

• Obama interviews ex-rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bill Richardson as secretary of state

• As 3 major US cities ask for federal bailout funds, other cities grapple with how to proceed

• Hillary Clinton's chances of being top US diplomat could be hurt by husband's business deals

• Gov't audit concludes Sharpton campaign owes US nearly $500,000 for 2004 presidential campaign

• Talk of Big Three car bailout spurs lobbying scramble for a piece of the pie

• Palin calls on GOP governors to keep new president, Democratic majority in check

• Officials say Sen. Hillary Clinton among candidates Obama considering for secretary of state

• Barack Obama's inauguration could draw 1 million-plus to D.C.; scramble for tickets, rooms

• In military milestone, Dunwoody becomes first female four-star general in US history

• Former radical Ayers discounts suggestion that he's a close friend of Barack Obama

• AP sources: Prosecutors draft indictment against Blackwater guards in Iraqi killings

• California Rep. Dan Lungren challenges House GOP Leader John Boehner after large loss of seats

• Government says crude oil drop means lower heating costs this winter, especially in Northeast

• Almost ready to pass the baton: Dick Cheney gets together Thursday with successor, Joe Biden

• Democrat Begich leads Republican Sen. Ted Stevens by 800-plus votes in Alaska race

• Missile defense chief: US interests would be hurt if Obama drops missile defense in Europe

• CIA director says bin Laden isolated from daily operations, hunt for him still a top priority

• County treasurer who lost to 'teenybopper' student blames 'brainwashed' college students

• Faltering economy cuts mail volume, post office ends year $2.8 billion in the red

• Palin says she'd consider being a senator, if the opportunity were there