Bah Humbug:

With budget talks between President Obama and Republicans at a standstill, members of Congress may be forced to return to Capitol Hill immediately after Christmas. The two sides remain far apart over how to avoid falling off the so-called fiscal cliff. “We’ve said we’re committed to staying here. We’re going to stay here right up until Christmas Eve and throughout the time period before the new year because we want to make sure we resolve this in an acceptable way for the American people,” House Majority Leader Eric Cantor told reporters Wednesday. (Read more)

Watchdog Win: Sen.-elect Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has been appointed to the powerful Senate Banking Committee despite lobbying efforts by Wall Street to keep the consumer advocate off the panel. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made the announcement Wednesday. “I am excited to work with the members of our expanded majority,” Reid said. “Our caucus is more diverse than ever, with a record 16 female Democratic senators serving in the next Congress.” (Read more)

Weighty Matters: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie dismissed criticism that he’s too fat to be president during an interview with Barbara Walters for her “Most Fascinating People” special. When Walters brought up that some people believe Christie shouldn’t be president because of his weight, Christie responded, “That’s ridiculous, I mean, that’s ridiculous. I mean I don’t know what the basis for that is.” He added, “I’ve done this job pretty well and I think people watched me for the last couple weeks and during Hurricane Sandy doing 18-hour days and getting right back up the next day and still being just as effective so I don’t really think that would be a problem.” (Read more)

He’s No Prize: Presidential loser Mitt Romney has won a dubious distinction he’d probably rather not have gotten. The 2012 Republican nominee has been “honored” with PolitiFact’s “Lie of the Year” award. The fact-checking website picked Romney and his campaign for telling the whopper that Jeep was moving its U.S. production to China. Poor Mitt. Even when he’s winning, he’s still really losing. (Read more)

Out of Office: A registered sex offender who was working as an unpaid intern in New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez’s office has been arrested on suspicion of immigration violations. Menendez confirmed the arrest of 18-year-old Luis Abrahan Sanchez Zavaleta during an interview on MSNBC. “Once it came to our attention our New Jersey staff director let the young man go from the program,” Menendez said, adding that “we certainly wouldn’t have known through any background checks, since he is a minor, about any sex offender status.” (Read more)

Video of the Day: Fox News’ John Stossel tries to tell “War on Christmas” propagator Bill O’Reilly that the holiday has emerged victorious from the phony war. Let’s just say based on his reaction, it is doubtful “The O’Reilly Factor” host will be putting the issue to rest anytime soon.

WAIT, BEFORE YOU GO…

If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.

Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG
In this Article:
#barbara walters#bill o'reilly#budget#chris christie#economy#elizabeth warren#fiscal cliff#fox news#mitt romney#politics#senate#senate banking committee#war on christmas