Chris Dodd to step aside (Washington Post)

Embattled Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd (D) has scheduled a press conference at his home in Connecticut Wednesday at which he is expected to announce he will not seek re-election, according to sources familiar with his plans.

Dodd’s retirement comes after months of speculation about his political future, and amid faltering polling numbers and a growing sense among the Democratic establishment that he could not win a sixth term. It also comes less than 24 hours after Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) announced ..read more

Chris Dodd Retirement – Chris Dodd Retiring! (LALATE)

Chris Dodd is retiring, a retirement press conference scheduled Wednesday, says reports. Chris Dodd’s retirement will come with an announcement that Dodd will not seek reelection come November this year, reports sources early this morning.

A Chris Dodd retirement press conference will make it official later Wednesday, reports sources to AP and the Washington Post.

Dodd is a five term Democrat and chair of the Senate Banking Committee. With Dodd not seeking reelection, would would fill a Democratic ticket? ..read more

Steelers withstand Dolphins’ rally (Washington Post)

A swarming Steelers defense sent two Miami quarterbacks to the sideline, including Pat White with a scary head injury, and the reigning Super Bowl champions averted a late collapse to beat the Dolphins 30-24 Sunday.

The Dolphins (7-9), who won the AFC East in 2008, were eliminated with 2 minutes left in the game when Houston beat New England.

Houston’s win hurt the Steelers’ chances. To make the postseason, Pittsburgh (9-7) needed losses or ties by the Ravens, Broncos and Jets in ..read more

Obama adviser says Cheney is wrong in criticism – Washington Post

Last week the former vice president said Obama is “trying to pretend” the U.S. is not at war with terrorists. The result, according to Cheney, is that Americans are less safe.

White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan said Sunday that he has worked for five administrations and that Obama is as determined as anyone to keep the nation safe.

Brennan calls Cheney’s comments disappointing and says they do not speak well of the former vice president.

Brennan appeared on “Fox News Sunday” and ..read more

White House Defends Erroll Southers, TSA Nominee

HONOLULU — President Barack Obama’s pick to lead the Transportation Security Administration has provided Congress inconsistent reports about – and regrets for – running background checks on his then-estranged wife’s boyfriend two decades ago.

Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent whose nomination has been delayed by Republicans for unrelated concerns, wrote to senators in November to correct what he called a distortion of his record.

“I am distressed by the inconsistencies between my recollection and the contemporaneous documents, but I assure you ..read more

Erroll Southers,TSA Nominee, Misled Congress About Accessing Confidential Records: Washington Post

The White House nominee to lead the Transportation Security Administration gave Congress misleading information about incidents in which he inappropriately accessed a federal database, possibly in violation of privacy laws, documents obtained by The Washington Post show.

More on Barack Obama

Iowa State holds off Minnesota at Insight Bowl (Washington Post)

The Cyclones (7-6) overcame four turnovers by Arnaud, who threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles.

Iowa State won for the third time in 10 bowl games – and the second in Arizona.

Minnesota’s Adam Weber threw for 261 yards and a score, and Kyle Theret picked off two passes for the Golden Gophers (6-7), who became the first three-time Insight Bowl loser.

The Insight pitted two 6-6 squads that needed to defeat a team from the Dakotas to become bowl-eligible.

A crowd of ..read more

Rush Limbaugh rushed to Honolulu hospital with chest pains (Washington Post)

Most of the island’s focus over the holidays has been on President Obama, who is vacationing with his family and a group of friends in a residential waterfront neighborhood.

But Limbaugh has been staying a short distance from the Obamas, at the Kahala Hotel & Resort, according to local news accounts. The conservative radio host was spotted on a golf course next to his hotel earlier in the week.

KITV reported that Limbaugh was taken Wednesday afternoon from the resort in serious ..read more

Peter Orszag, Bianna Golodryga Dating! OMB Director And ABC Money Honey An Item (The Huffington Post)

OMB Director Peter Orszag and ABC News financial reporter Bianna Golodryga are an item!

The Washington Post’s Reliable Source column reports that the two — who have been spotted at DC events like the Meridian Ball (where she changed into her dress at his office) and the Kennedy Center Honors — went public by holding hands at the White House Hanukkah party.

“Their hand-holding at the White House Hanukkah party made it clear they’re officially an item,” the column says. “She ..read more

Digest – Washington Post

Northwestern finally returns to AP poll

It usually isn’t big news when a team from the Big Ten moves into the Associated Press college basketball poll. It is when that team is Northwestern.

The Wildcats moved into the poll on Monday at No. 25, their first appearance in the rankings since January 1969, when it was still just a Top 20.

With Kansas again a runaway No. 1, as it has been since the preseason poll, the top eight teams remained the same ..read more