Dallas passes de facto ban on fracking

The 10 best audiobooks of 2013

Don't cry for Oprah's unborn children

Arctic melt slowed this year, but don't get too excited

"SNL" reportedly auditioned black female comics last week

Sen. Coburn: Key part of Obamacare "will work and work well"

Michigan lawmaker reveals she is a rape survivor in powerful testimony against new "rape insurance" law

Downton Abbey's Jim Carter dresses up as Santa and cancels Christmas

NBC fails to mention that Olympic commentator Johnny Weir may work with the Russian government

Senate confirms "radical feminist" judge Nina Pillard to federal bench

“I hate reading short stories, but I like your book OK”: Story writers tell all

Pick of the week: A dazzling American con, circa 1978

3 essential (and ignored) questions about Detroit's bankruptcy

Houses passes Ryan-Murray budget

When will the media learn? Conservatives are not "centrists"!

Don't celebrate yet!: Why Boehner won't really ditch the right-wing nutjobs

Your boss wants to be Nate Silver

Federal education reform is doomed

3 reasons the budget deal is a raw one

Global cancer cases on the rise

My critics have "income envy": Ed Schultz unloads after backlash to his union quote

Honeymoon is over for gay couples in Australia

The Christian right wants civilization to collapse

Typhoon Haiyan's death toll passes 6,000, with more bodies still being found every day

Must-see morning clip: Fox's War on Christmas is officially insane

Paul Krugman: The GOP's austerity agenda is winning

Democrats' family leave bill may be doomed, but it could still change things for the better

Arctic 30 told they can't leave Russia

Beyoncé quietly releases new album on iTunes

Pussy Riot case up for review in Russia

Bloomberg: Majority of Americans support Keystone XL

Donald Trump and other birthers reignite conspiracy theories in wake of Loretta Fuddy's death

Jason Segel is a perfect choice to play David Foster Wallace

Prince to guest star on "New Girl"

I watched the "Scandal" midseason finale without turning on the TV

Chinese scientists charged with stealing Monsanto's secrets

Twitter's terrible blocking change was a gift to trolls

"SNL" to add black female cast member in January

Beyoncé's feminist statement shouldn't come as a surprise

Defense bill featuring major sexual assault reforms heads to Senate

Mike Huckabee is deluding himself and will never be president

Tea Party congressman warns Salon: Another shutdown may be coming!

Pentagon announces that all states have (finally) complied with directive on same-sex benefits

Appalachian community fights PETA over annual New Year's "Possum Drop"