TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
House GOP unbending on payroll tax deal
House Republicans vow to kill a bipartisan Senate agreement on a federal payroll tax cut, saying the deal represented the Washington ways they were elected to change.
(By Rosalind S. Helderman, Paul Kane and Felicia Sonmez)
Poll: Gingrich, Romney in dead heat nationally
Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich are tied two weeks before the caucuses in Iowa begin the nominating process, a new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows.
(By Jon Cohen and Dan Balz)
Secrecy defines Obama’s drone policy
The Obama administration is resisting calls for it to explain its rules for the drone attacks that have killed as many as 2,250 people in Pakistan in the past three years.
(By Karen DeYoung)
Blizzards crawling across Midwest blamed for at least 6 deaths, halting pre-holiday travel
WICHITA, Kan. — Fierce winds and snow that caused fatal accidents and shuttered highways in five states crawled deeper into the Great Plains early Tuesday, with forecasters warning that pre-holiday travel would be difficult if not impossible across the region.
(By Associated Press)
Seat Pleasant 59: The Legacy
Some look back with pride at the gift two wealthy businessmen offered them. Others are haunted by regret. They all remember the moments when they were defined by their potential.
(By Paul Schwartzman)
NATION
After death of N. Korea’s Kim Jong Il, ‘it is scary how little we really know’
U.S. has little knowledge of and virtually no leverage over what is to come from Pyongyang’s ruling elite.
( by Karen DeYoung and Joby Warrick , The Washington Post)
Secrecy defines Obama’s drone policy
The Obama administration is resisting calls for it to explain its rules for the drone attacks that have killed as many as 2,250 people in Pakistan in the past three years.
( by Karen DeYoung , The Washington Post)
Health-care model for seniors to be tested
Thirty-two groups have been named to test a health-care model called for in the health-care law and designed to improve seniors’ care and reduce costs.
( by Christian Torres Kaiser Health News , The Washington Post)
Investigators find link between Manning, WikiLeaks
Prosecutors presented new evidence Monday that appears to link Pfc. Bradley Manning to a massive leak of government material to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks.
( by Ellen Nakashima , The Washington Post)
A voice in the wilderness
Former defense secretary Robert M. Gates served for more than 30 years in government, and his criticisms of Washington should be taken seriously.
(, The Washington Post)
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METRO
Seat Pleasant 59: The Legacy
Some look back with pride at the gift two wealthy businessmen offered them. Others are haunted by regret. They all remember the moments when they were defined by their potential.
( by Paul Schwartzman , The Washington Post)
Two dead, two wounded in D.C. shootings
Three incidents in the District leave two dead and two wounded in less than two hours.
( by Martin Weil , The Washington Post)
Two die, one missing in boat accidents
Authorities continue to search for a man missing in the Chesapeake Bay after a sailboat capsized Saturday.
( by Martin Weil , The Washington Post)
Erica Wilson, ‘America’s first lady of stitchery,’ dies
Erica Wilson, 83, was a British immigrant who built a multimillion-dollar embroidery empire through her needlework designs, television shows, books and stores.
( by Valerie J. Nelson , The Washington Post)
Gadget helps heart patients at Children’s
A nifty new medical gadget can help Children’s Hospital patients who suffer from heart disease.
(, The Washington Post)
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POLITICS
Newt Gingrich takes aim at ‘activist judges’
The former speaker’s latest condemnation drew criticism from members of his own party.
( by Beth Marlowe , The Washington Post)
Poll: Gingrich, Romney in dead heat nationally
Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich are tied two weeks before the caucuses in Iowa begin the nominating process, a new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows.
( by Jon Cohen and Dan Balz , The Washington Post)
Providing state-of-the art technology to our sailors and Marines
As director of transition in the Office of Naval Research (ONR), Joseph P. Lawrence manages a $1 billion research and development portfolio that delivers science and technology solutions from the lab to the naval fleets and the battlefield.
( by The Partnership for Public Service , The Washington Post)
Obama’s ratings may be recovering
A new Washington Post-ABC News poll finds that views of his overall performance have recovered among key groups.
( by Peter Wallsten and Jon Cohen , The Washington Post)
House GOP unbending on payroll tax deal
House Republicans vow to kill a bipartisan Senate agreement on a federal payroll tax cut, saying the deal represented the Washington ways they were elected to change.
( by Rosalind S. Helderman, Paul Kane and Felicia Sonmez , The Washington Post)
More Post Politics: Breaking Politics News, Political Analysis & More - The Washington Post
STYLE
She wants to quit, but feels guilty about it
She’s extremely well paid, but hates her job. The thought of quitting and leaving her husband as the only breadwinner makes her feel guilty.
(, The Washington Post)
Theater resolves Latino name dust-up
Shakespeare Theatre Company has restored the names of changed character names for its Cuban-set production of “Much Ado About Nothing.”
( by Peter Marks , The Washington Post)
Sia Tolno: ‘My Life’
Sia Tolno’s album is an irrepressible song-cycle confronting the ravages she witnessed in her native Sierra Leone.
(, The Washington Post)
Ann Hornaday: ‘Dragon Tattoo’ review
Rooney Mara exerts an undeniable command of the screen as cyber-sleuth Lisbeth Salander in ‘The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,’ David Fincher’s adaptation of the best-selling novel. Part plodding procedural, part sordid pulp-shocker, this handsome production is at once satisfying and underwhelming, considering the breathless hype that’s preceded it.
( by Ann Hornaday , The Washington Post)
Young Jeezy: ‘Thug Motivation 103’
The album isn’t thrilling, but proves that Jeezy doesn’t have to see the future to remain among the genre’s elite.
(, The Washington Post)
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SPORTS
TV and radio listings: Dec. 20
(, The Washington Post)
Epps comes up big for Magruder
J.J. Epps overcomes a shoulder injury to lead sixth-ranked Magruder past No. 10 Springbrook in a Montgomery County nonleague game.
( by Josh Barr , The Washington Post)
Redskins buoyed by turnaround
Their offense has come to life and their defense played one of its best games of the season Sunday, providing optimism about next season.
( by Rick Maese , The Washington Post)
Hokies pull away from Ospreys
Virginia Tech breaks open a tight contest to close the first half and then cruises to its fourth straight win.
( by Mark Giannotto , The Washington Post)
Young returns to Wizards
Shooting guard Nick Young signs his one-year, $3.7 million qualifying offer to stay in Washington, but he hopes to work toward the long-term deal and big-time money that eluded him in this deal.
( by Michael Lee , The Washington Post)
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WORLD
Kim Jong Eun in as ‘Great Successor’
North Korea is preparing to put its leader Kim Jong Il to rest and welcome his successor, Kim Jong Eun, after the announcement of Kim Jong Il’s death on Saturday.
(, The Washington Post)
After death of N. Korea’s Kim Jong Il, ‘it is scary how little we really know’
U.S. has little knowledge of and virtually no leverage over what is to come from Pyongyang’s ruling elite.
( by Karen DeYoung and Joby Warrick , The Washington Post)
Philippine storm killed nearly 1,000
Nearly 1,000 people were killed when flash floods and landslides caused by Typhoon Washi hit the southern Philippines last week, the national disaster agency said.
( Reuters , Reuters)
Secrecy defines Obama’s drone policy
The Obama administration is resisting calls for it to explain its rules for the drone attacks that have killed as many as 2,250 people in Pakistan in the past three years.
( by Karen DeYoung , The Washington Post)
Investigators find link between Manning, WikiLeaks
Prosecutors presented new evidence Monday that appears to link Pfc. Bradley Manning to a massive leak of government material to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks.
( by Ellen Nakashima , The Washington Post)
More World: World News, International News, Foreign Reporting - The Washington Post
LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Reindeer: What do they do the other 364 days of the year?
Dr. Layne Adams discusses reindeer, including what they eat, where they live, if they really do fly and more.
(, vForum)
Free Range on Food: Cheap eats, holiday cooking and beef
Have cooking questions? We have answers. Ask us now.
(, vForum)
The Seat Pleasant 59: Where are the scholarship recipients today?
Post reporter Paul Schwartman discusses the Seat Pleasant 59 "Dreamers" and where they are today.
(, vForum)
What does Kim Jong Il's death really mean?
Michael Nacht discusses what Kim Jon Il's death means for North Koreans and the rest of the world.
(, vForum)
Advice from Slate's 'Dear Prudence'
Live discussion with Slate advice columnist Dear Prudence, a.k.a. Emily Yoffe.
(, vForum)
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TECHNOLOGY
AT&T gives up on T-Mobile merger
AT&T ended its pursuit of T-Mobile, bowing to government opposition to the $39 billion deal that would have created the nation’s biggest mobile provider of phone and Internet service.
( by Cecilia Kang , The Washington Post)
Apple wins small victory in smartphone patent battle
The U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that HTC devices that use “data tapping” technology in a specific way will be hit with an import ban on April 19, 2012.
( by Hayley Tsukayama , The Washington Post)
Sweety High aims to help young girls shine
“Sweety High”, a social networking site for young girls, takes a privacy-first approach.
( by Hayley Tsukayama , The Washington Post)
British Telecommunications the latest major company to sue Google over patents
We'll see if Google decides to fight this one out or head back to the negotiating table.
( by Nilay Patel | The Verge , theverge.com)
Report: Production starts on Apple’s next iPad
There are indications that Apple has started more iPad production
( by Hayley Tsukayama , The Washington Post)
More Technology News - The Washington Post
EDITORIAL
Radical GOP Winterfest
Speaker Boehner tends bar for backbenchers.
(, The Washington Post)
The outsider in power
Madeline Albright remembers Vaclav Havel.
( by Madeleine Albright , The Washington Post)
Revolution of truth
Vaclav Havel was a historical prophet.
(, The Washington Post)
Life, interrupted
A dictator, a dissident and Suzanne Hart.
(, The Washington Post)
What’s next for North Korea
The White House has many reasons for concern.
( by Michael J. Green , The Washington Post)
More Opinions: Washington Post Opinion, Editorial, Op Ed, Politics Editorials - The Washington Post
BUSINESS
Former controller pleads guilty to role in Madoff fraud
The former controller at Bernard L. Madoff’s investment firm, Enrica Cotellessa-Pitz, pleaded guilty Monday to participating in Madoff’s fraud.
( by David S. Hilzenrath , The Washington Post)
Euro-zone credit crisis may come to a head in early 2012
Banks and governments have hundreds of billions of dollars in loans to refinance early in the year, and the European Central Bank is worried about the outcome.
( by Howard Schneider , The Washington Post)
Apple wins smartphone patent ruling against Android devices
Apple Inc. won a patent-infringement ruling that bans some HTC Corp. smartphones from the U.S. starting next year, bolstering efforts to prove that devices running Google Inc.’s Android operating system copy the iPhone.
( by Susan Decker Bloomberg News , Bloomberg)
AT&T gives up on T-Mobile merger
AT&T ended its pursuit of T-Mobile, bowing to government opposition to the $39 billion deal that would have created the nation’s biggest mobile provider of phone and Internet service.
( by Cecilia Kang , The Washington Post)
SEC names examinations chief in Boston
Michael E. Garrity, 54, has been named head of examinations in the SEC’s Boston regional office, where he will scrutinize mutual funds, brokerage firms, hedge funds, and private-equity firms.
( by David S. Hilzenrath , The Washington Post)