Senator Bob Menendez, an Iran hawk, Iraq dove, pro-immigration, pro-embargo Cuban American, will most likely be the next chair of the Foreign Relations Committee.
“Second inaugurals are always like second weddings. The first time brings excitement, great expectations, in fairy tale settings. The second time, reality sets in.”
— Bob Schieffer on Face the Nation on January 13, 2013. President Obama's second inauguration is a week from today.
Nixon at 100: The David Frost Interview
“When the President does it, that means that it is not illegal.”
House Republican Open To Gun Restrictions
Tea Party-backed congressman Phil Gingrey becomes perhaps the most conservative member of Congress to open the door to specific limitations on guns.
The Tragic Death of a U.S. Army Psychologist
How Dr. Peter J.N. Linnerooth, who won a Bronze Star in Iraq for keeping troops from killing themselves, couldn’t save his own life.
“Unlike the first term, which was often referred to as a team of rivals, I think this is going to be more like a band of brothers.”
— Karl F. Inderfurth, an assistant secretary of state in the Clinton administration, on President Obama's second-term cabinet to the Washington Post.
Jack Lew: What the Treasury Nominee’s Signature Really Tells Us
A graphologist analyzes the Treasury Secretary nominee’s signature.
The Silly Conservative Attacks on John Brennan
The conservative case against Obama’s CIA nominee seems to be that the man is somehow soft on terrorism.
Biden Newtown Task Force Aims Big on Guns
After historic Biden-NRA meeting, the VP is expected to make three recommendations: extended background checks, limited access to high capacity magazines, and federal authority to track gun sales and crime weapons.
Obama and the Liberals, Part Two: Progressives Should Focus on Progress
Someday, progressives will look back at the Obama presidency as a golden era of progress. They might as well start now.
100,000
— New NRA members in the past 18 days, according to Politico. The NRA now has 4.2 million paid members.
UPDATE: NRA membership, according to US News and World Report, has increased by 250,000 in the month since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
“No one hunts with an assault rifle. No one needs 10 bullets to kill a deer.”
— N.Y. Governor Andrew Cuomo in his State of the State address January 9. Cuomo called for “the toughest assault weapons ban in the nation” and the elimination of all high-capacity magazines.
Nixon at 100: Playing Piano on Paar
Richard Nixon taps the ivories for Jack Paar in part 4 of Swampland’s 5 part series this week, as TIME celebrates the anniversary of Richard Nixon’s 100th birthday with his most memorable moments.