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Quote of the Day. "First it's passengers' shoes, then liquids, then laptops, then whole-body scans and now thorough pat-downs." Travelers are saying: 'What's next?' What's the vision, and when does it get better?'" Geoff Freeman, executive vice president of the U.S. Travel Association, on the growing opposition to which TSA screening methods for air travel. (USA Today)
RELIGION IN THE NEWS
Obama Clarifies Partnership with Faith-Based Groups "President Obama signed an executive order Wednesday that made some clarifications on the partnership between the government and faith-based organizations."
Survey: Potential religious landmines for Obama, GOP in next election "President Obama and both the Democratic and Republican parties all face tough questions from faith-based voters going into the 2012 election cycle, a new survey on religion and the 2010 midterm elections suggests."
Iraqi Christians flee after violence "Our Lady of Salvation church, once a vibrant center of prayer in this predominantly Muslim city, is nearly empty now. Last month, in a more than four-hour siege, gunmen shot their way in and killed at least 58 people , sending a message that Christians, among many others, are not safe in Iraq."
Three keys to reading the Dolan win at the USCCB (John L. Allen, Jr., National Catholic Reporter) "The consensus explanation for Archbishop Timothy Dolan's election as president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops seems to be that his victory signals a broad conservative shift within the conference. Without questioning that analysis, I'll offer three observations about the significance of Dolan's election."
NEWS AT HOME
Pelosi elected as minority leader. Pelosi to lead Democrats; path is unclear "House Democrats elected Rep. Nancy Pelosi as minority leader Wednesday, turning to the once-powerful speaker to oversee a shrunken and demoralized caucus." Fractured Democrats Keep Pelosi as Leader "Representative Nancy Pelosi was returned as the House Democratic leader on Wednesday on a vote that exposed clear unease among some colleagues about her remaining as the party's most visible figure in the House after deep losses in the November elections."
START. Obama, GOP in test of will over START treaty "The Obama administration appeared headed Wednesday toward its first major post-election foreign policy battle with its Republican opponents in the Senate, over a U.S.-Russia nuclear arms reduction treaty." Obama to push for Senate vote on new arms pact with Russia "President Obama will push for ratification of a nuclear-arms treaty with Moscow by year's end despite Republican opposition, the White House said Wednesday, setting up a political clash over a pact that the administration sees as crucial for U.S. foreign policy."
Budget Deficit. Deficit Panels Go Where Politicians Won't "Two bipartisan plans propose substantial cuts to spending across the board and an end to popular tax breaks for individuals and corporations." A Second Group of Experts Calls for Cutting Military Programs to Lower U.S. Debt "The calls are for lowering Pentagon spending and canceling troubled weapons programs as part of a broad effort to reduce federal budget deficits." Sides agree latest deficit measure way off "Liberals and conservatives agreed on something Wednesday: a new, far-reaching, bipartisan plan to balance the budget and stabilize the national debt goes too far."
Immigration Reform. 'Birthright citizenship' will be target of House GOP majority "As one of its first acts, the new Congress will consider denying citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants who are born in the United States." Arizona Law Said to Harm Convention Businesses "A study by the Center for American Progress said the state's immigration law has led to $45 million in lost convention business this year."
Food safety bill. Senate advances bill to overhaul food safety "The Senate moved forward Wednesday on long-awaited legislation that would overhaul the nation's food safety system, grant new powers to the Food and Drug Administration and make farmers and processors responsible for preventing food-borne illness." Food safety bill moves forward in Senate "A long-stalled food safety bill advanced in the Senate, drawing unusual bipartisan support in the wake of the largest recall of eggs in U.S. history."
Free storage for the homeless. A place homeless can hang hat "Finding a place to safely leave possessions is one of many challenges homeless people face each day, homeless advocates say."
Fewer children raised by married parents. At the Thanksgiving table: Fewer children raised by married parents as nation redefines family "As families gather for Thanksgiving this year, nearly one in three American children is living with a parent who is divorced, separated or never-married. More people are accepting the view that wedding bells aren't needed to have a family."
NEWS AROUND THE WORLD
Afghanistan. U.S. appears ready to acknowledge a long haul in Afghanistan "President Obama built his Afghanistan strategy around the bet that he could quickly turn around a "must win" war by narrowing his goals and sending more troops. This weekend he will make his clearest acknowledgement yet that doing so will actually take years." U.S. could be in Afghanistan beyond 2015, NATO official says "A top NATO official said Wednesday that a complete handover of security to Afghan forces by 2014 was "realistic, but not guaranteed," and the transition could last into 2015 'or beyond.'" NATO to scold Karzai, press Petraeus in search for Afghan war's endgame "NATO leaders gathering for a two-day summit this week in Lisbon will be looking to the American general in command of the war in Afghanistan to show them a way out." Afghan rebel group offers truce terms "A leading Afghan insurgent group has told the BBC it would agree to a ceasefire if US-led coalition forces stayed in their main bases."
Global poverty measurement. Why 300 million more people are suddenly poor "In November, 300 million more people around the world were suddenly poor
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