The United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly — and over the vociferous objections of the U.S. and Israel — to elevate the status of Palestine to “nonmember observer state.” Will this shift the balance of power in the Middle East? Is this a recipe for peace or for even greater conflict?

U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice continues to face criticism from Republicans over her statements about the attack in Benghazi. Is this about her or about Sen. John Kerry and the partisan balance of the Senate?

Also, the White House and House Republicans continue their brinkmanship as the country rolls closer to the Washington-made fiscal cliff. President Barack Obama has laid out his plan and is waiting for the GOP to make a counteroffer, but Speaker John Boehner says negotiations have reached a stalemate. Is this a game of chicken or are the two sides too far apart to avoid taking the country over the brink?

The “Left, Right & Center” crew talks debt ceilings, stimulus and revenue, and explores the question of whether the election was a mandate for movement or a ratification of the gridlocked status quo.

This week, Joshua Barro, lead writer for Bloomberg View’s The Ticker, brings us a conservative opinion, Rula Jebreal offers a moderate Middle Eastern middle view and Truthdig Editor-in-Chief Robert Scheer supplies the perspective from the left.

— Adapted from KCRW by Alexander Reed Kelly.

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#audio#benghazi#fiscal cliff#left right and center#matt miller#palestine#state department#susan rice