the body politek

NEW YORK – AT&T Inc. joined the recession's parade of layoffs Thursday by announcing plans to cut 12,000 jobs, about 4 percent of its work force. The Dallas-based telecommunications company — the nation's largest — said the job cuts will take place in December and throughout 2009.

Ban drew strongest support from lesser educated, evangelical Christians.

(CBS) Two suicide bombers simultaneous attacked the headquarters of Afghanistan's Intelligence Agency (NDS) and its counternarcotics building in the eastern city of Khost Thursday morning, reported CBS News' Fazul Rahim. The bomb blasts were followed by a group of armed men in military uniform storming the NDS building, according to an employee of a security firm which provides protection for non-governmental organizations and NATO coalition convoys in the region.

Zimbabwe declares nat'l emergency

Iraq security targeted in Fallujah blasts

Taxes rise despite steepest drop in home value since Great Depression.

Union joins Big 3 in making sacrafices

ACLU: American detained at US behest, charged with terrorism-related offense.

Held by KBR subcontractor without pay, migrant workers fight deportation.

Prop 8—The Musical, a new music video satirizing Prop 8 — the California ballot proposition that amended the state Constitution to restrict the definition of marriage to a union between a man and a woman — is now available for on-line viewing. Conceived and written by Hairspray Tony winner Marc Shaiman, the three-minute video was directed and staged by Adam Shankman, who helmed the "Hairspray" movie musical... Video at the link.

...twice! Pol in disbelief that President-elect would call her office?

Iraq contractor accused of holding 1,000 men captive

The family of a man trampled to death in a New York Wal-Mart on Friday filed a lawsuit Wednesday, claiming the store failed to control the crowd pushing to gain entry on one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Jdimytai Damour, 34, a temporary worker, was crushed as he and other employees tried to unlock the doors of the Wal-Mart at Green Acres Mall...

Previously begged for aid fresh from private jet; Congress briefed.

Executives of Lehman Brothers Holdings investment management unit won an auction to buy the business, including the Neuberger Berman fund division, from the bankrupt securities firm. Terms were not disclosed. The group, which includes the Lehman executive George Walker, beat a previous bid of $2.15 billion by the private equity firms Bain Capital and Hellman & Friedman....

Rachel Maddow interviews Leo Gerard, the President of the United Steelworkers Union and asks if the auto industry is getting tougher treatment than the financial industry did when it was their turn for a bailout. Gerard goes through the list of bailouts that have cost our economy trillions of dollars and notes that no one complained when CEOs made away with hundreds of billions of dollars over the years while they have taken our entire economy down the tank. He makes some great points on how "we've treated the people who take a shower after work much different than we've treated the people who shower before they go to work".

Microsoft founder Bill Gates told CNN on Wednesday that he hopes President-elect Barack Obama and Congress immediately craft a wide-ranging stimulus package, to help jump-start the nation's sputtering economy, and double the United States' commitment to foreign aid...

US gives Mexico $197m aid package

Obama finally takes question from Fox News

Article about homo-
sexuality violated 'decency law,' Kurd court rules.