Obama: Deal needs higher tax rates for rich
The president rejects a Republican proposal that would raise revenue by limiting deductions and tax breaks.
On Faith
Why we need to help young atheists
Young atheists don’t want special treatment, but equal treatment, says a teacher, blogger and author.
Our lady of hyperemesis gravidarum
Duchess of Cambridge, the former Kate Middleton, becomes the patron saint of morning sickness.
Author: Surviving Kate Middleton’s pregnancy disease was a test of faith
An HG sufferer prays the Duchess of Cambridge is spared the kind of treatment many women endure.
Scrooges on Capitol Hill: Republicans hold middle-class tax cuts hostage
GOP counter offer is reminiscent of the Charles Dickens classic, says a Chicago theologian.
Higher Education
Wellesley joins online platform edX
College is latest to offer massive open online courses, or MOOCs.
Senate panel ends UMUC inquiry
University of Maryland University College, after scrutiny, wins praise for its online education priorities.
New law school dean at Catholic U.
Daniel F. Attridge was managing partner at Washington law firm Kirkland & Ellis.
African lions’ habitat shrinks 75 percent
The lion population has fallen to as few as 32,000, a new study finds, as savannah habitat plummets.
A smaller trap in the hunt for dark matter
Scientists hope to find evidence of dark matter particles when they ping into other tiny things, like balls striking each other on a pool table. Previous ideas for capturing these interactions required huge spaces, but a group of scientists has envisioned a detector the size of a large coffee table.
Grapefruit’s unintended sting
The number of medications that interact with grapefruit is on the rise, new research finds.
National Education
What Obama’s debate performance says about his education policy
There is a connection between Obama’s lackluster response to Romney and education policy.
What Romney’s debate performance says about education policy plans
What we learned about Romney’s education policy plans during the debate.
Do kids really learn from failure? Why conventional wisdom is wrong
It is commonly said failures helps kids learn. It turns out that failure may not be as helpful as all that.
Innovations
Thomson Reuters releases patent-based top-innovators list
In its second annual list, Google, Lockheed and AT&T make the patent-related grade.
Curiosity rover completes full analysis of soil samples
The latest findings from Curiosity that were billed as being “for the history books,” fall short of initial expectations.
On Leadership
The coaching carousel in college football
How much good will all these leadership changes do?
Doris Kearns Goodwin on life, death and the presidency
Goodwin compares Obama’s and Lincoln’s leadership, and reflects on what it means to be a historian.
Solving the Susan Rice predicament
Like all political brouhahas, this too shall pass. Yet having the wrong person in the job won’t.
Moral values and the fiscal cliff
It may seem counterintuitive, but our political leaders should avoid using the word “compromise” too often.
Exhaustion is not a status symbol
Who are we without productivity as a metric of our worth?
National Blogs & Columns
Vivek Wadhwa
Breaking the silence
Carly Fleischmann had a question for Sen. John Kerry, and her autism wouldn’t stop her, thanks to technological innovation.
Al Kamen
Table for 2 — Abramoff and DeLay
IN THE LOOP | The fellow felons meet for sushi. No word on what else was on the menu.
Joe Davidson
Unusual team opposes Defense cuts
A federal workers’ union and a contractor organization oppose workforce cuts in Senate bill.
The Federal Eye
House backs another delay in online posting of financial disclosures
The House wants to delay until April a requirement that the publicly available financial disclosure forms filed by many federal employees be posted online.
The Checkup by Jennifer Huget and Rob Stein
Frankie Muniz suffers mini-stroke at 27? How can that be?
The actor, best known for “Malcolm in the Middle,” reports he recently suffered a mini-stroke.
The latest headlines
- Apple, Samsung renew their epic, $1B patent battle over control of smartphone technology
- Strike at Southern Calif. ports a sign for upcoming talks for 24,000 western dockworkers
- Colonial staple, 'Reefer Madness' and now legal weed: marijuana in American history
- Celebrations planned as law legalizing marijuana in Washington state takes effect
- WikiLeaks hearing continues for 8th day; brig commander is key to pretrial punishment claim
- As GOP demands deficit cuts to raise debt limit, fight from 2011 makes a return appearance
- Senate to vote to normalize trade with Russia, impose human rights sanctions
- Sandy's aftermath brings economic booms (construction) and busts (casinos) across Northeast
- Obama administration takes tough line with GOP in fiscal cliff as Obama talks with Boehner
- Procrastinators' guide to the fiscal cliff: Obama, Congress could delay past Dec. 31 deadline
Featured Videos
Bold predictions for Redskins-Ravens game — Post Sports Live
The Post Sports Live crew offers bold predictions for the Redskins game against the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens on Sunday at FedEx Field.Homeless man arrested in NYC subway death
A homeless man was arrested Wednesday in the death of a subway rider who was pushed onto the tracks and photographed just before a subway train struck him.Egyptians protests outside of presidential palace
Supporters and opponents of Egyptian leader Mohamed Morsi fought with rocks, firebombs and sticks outside the presidential palace in Cairo on Wednesday.Trainers teach dogs to drive a car
Three dogs in New Zealand have been taught to drive a car. After weeks of indoor training in how to change gear, brake and steer, the canines have finally been allowed behind the wheel of a real car--with a little help from their handlers.Kate Middleton’s hospital receives prank call from radio station
VIDEO | The hospital treating the Duchess of Cambridge is apologizing today after a nurse revealed private details about Kate to a prank caller. The caller pretended to be the Queen.Jovan Belcher's mom begs dying girlfriend to live
Jovan Belcher's mother can be heard begging her son's dying girlfriend to stay alive while frantically asking for an ambulance shortly after the Kansas City Chiefs linebacker shot the mother of his 3-month-old daughter.Fiscal Cliff Fix: The business community
VIDEO | The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza profiles the business community’s role in the fiscal cliff negotiations.MSNBC chief cites Fox News's 'benching' of Rove, Morris
Phil Griffin argues anew that a Pew study putting MSNBC on comparable footing as Fox News in terms of presidential election coverage was faulty.Jazz musician Dave Brubeck dies
VIDEO | Jazz composer and pianist Dave Brubeck, whose pioneering style in pieces such as "Take Five" caught listeners' ears with exotic, challenging rhythms, has died.Astronaut Scott Kelly on challenge of yearlong space trip
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly says spending a year in space will be like spending a whole year at the office. And you never get to leave.Force reduction: Civilian mission in Afghanistan will face unknowns post 2014
As the U.S. continues its military withdrawal from Afghanistan, plans for a robust civilian and diplomatic presence are threatened by budget and safety concernsObama warns against another debt ceiling fight
VIDEO | President Obama is warning Republicans not to create another fight over the nation's debt ceiling, telling business leaders it's "not a game that I will play."John McAfee speaks out from Guatemala
VIDEO | Internet pioneer John McAfee speaks with journalists in Guatemala City after fleeing Belize where he is wanted for questioning as a "person of interest" in connection with the murder of his neighbor - fellow American Gregory Faull.Dems: ‘Fiscal cliff’ talks ‘ought not be about tactics'
VIDEO | With the “fiscal cliff” looming, House Democrats say they are hopeful Republican leaders will agree to a separate vote on the middle income tax cuts ahead of the new year.Boehner challenges White House on ‘fiscal cliff'
VIDEO | The Obama administration and House Speaker John Boehner continue to ridicule the negotiating stances of the other side with Boehner saying the White House's plan couldn't pass either chamber of Congress.59 Seconds: Wednesday, December 5, 2012
VIDEO | The Post’s Emi Kolawole offers news on the New York Post controversy, D.C.’s mayor campaign probe and more.Elsewhere in National
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Web Hostess Live: The latest from the Web
Live Q&A transcript
Monica Hesse discussed the latest viral videos, memes, Internet news and more.