The "fiscal cliff" talks are at a partisan standoff.

House Speaker John Boehner says President Barack Obama should support a Republican plan to avoid January tax increases on everyone but those earning over $1 million. Boehner says if Obama doesn't support the measure, the president will be responsible for what he calls "the largest tax increase in history."

President Barack Obama is asking a team led by Vice President Joe Biden to offer "concrete proposals" to curb gun violence no later than January, in the aftermath of the horrific massacre at a Connecticut elementary school.

The White House says President Barack Obama would veto House Speaker John Boehner's 'Plan B' proposal for extending tax cuts for people making up to $1 million.

President Barack Obama today will outline a new gun control initiative today, though he's not expected to call for specific measures.

A manager at a U.K.-based security firm says an employee who was traveling with NBC correspondent Richard Engel and his crew in Syria is free after the group was kidnapped.

The White House says President Barack Obama is "actively supportive" of efforts on Capitol Hill to reinstate an assault weapons ban.

The White House is rejecting House Speaker John Boehner's plan to push a backup tax bill as a way to deal with the "fiscal cliff."

NBC's chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel says he believes the gunmen who kidnapped him and his crew in Syria were a Shiite militia group loyal to the Syrian government.

President Barack Obama has proposed a deficit-reduction package to House Speaker John Boehner (BAY'-nur) that would increase the top tax rates on taxpayers earning more than $400,000, cut more spending from health care programs and add $200 billion more in spending cuts over 10 years to his earlier offer.

Nevada's six presidential electors have cast their Electoral College ballots for President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.

The office of Sen. Daniel Inouye (ih-NOH'-way) says the Medal of Honor recipient and 50-year veteran of the Senate has died of respiratory complications at a Washington-area hospital.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says Congress must have a meaningful conversation and debate on how to change laws to stop gun violence.

A White House official says President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (BAY'-nur) are meeting at the White House to discuss the pending fiscal cliff and deficit reduction.

Even in retirement, Barney Frank plans to antagonize conservatives.

Pres. Obama is expected to nominate Sen. John Kerry to succeed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. And Mr. Obama's top candidate for defense secretary is Former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel.

The founder of Domino's Pizza is suing the federal government over mandatory contraception coverage in the health care law.

Nevada Sen. Harry Reid is declaring congressional efforts to legalize Internet poker dead for the year.

The White House "fiscal cliff" meeting between President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner has ended with no immediate indication of progress from either side.

UN Ambassador Susan Rice withdraws from consideration for secretary of state.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi says a deal must be reached "in the next couple of days or the very beginning of next week" to avoid the fiscal cliff of automatic tax hikes and spending cuts.

The next "Game Change" is in the works.

The Senate's top Democrat says "it's going to be extremely difficult" to pass legislation to address the so-called fiscal cliff before Christmas, but adds there's still a chance it can be done.

Liberal Democratic members of Congress are warning President Barack Obama to not cut the Medicaid health care program as part of negotiations with Republicans over avoiding the so-called fiscal cliff.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi is calling on Republicans to permit a vote on President Barack Obama's plan to let tax cuts expire at upper incomes, while keeping them in place for the middle class.