POL-Progressives-Pressure-Lawmakers

Two coalitions of progressive groups are trying to exert more pressure on lawmakers to protect the Bush-era tax cuts for the middle class as congressional leaders and the White House try to avert the fiscal cliff when all tax rates rise and major spending cuts are enacted at the beginning of next year.

POL-House-GOP-Immigration-Bill

The U.S. House approved Republican-backed immigration legislation on Friday that had previously fallen short in September, though Democrats described it as a piecemeal political move by Republicans after their poor election showing among non-white voters. House Democrats predicted it would fail in the Democratic-controlled Senate, partly due to White House opposition. The "STEM Jobs Act" would grant as many as 55,000 visas to non-citizens who complete some advanced degrees at U.S. universities in science, technology, engineering, and math.

POL-Boehner-Appoints-Woman

House Speaker John Boehner named Rep. Candice Miller of Michigan as the chairman of the House Administration Committee on Friday, three days after the Republican conference took heat for electing only males as committee heads.

POL-Rand-Paul-Middle-East

Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, will travel to the Middle East in the new year, his spokeswoman confirmed to CNN on Friday.

MONEY

MONEY-stocks-markets

U.S. stocks went nowhere Friday as investors remain sidelined by political gridlock in Washington.

MONEY-european-bailout-downgrade

Another day, another European downgrade. Ratings agency Moody's announced a downgrade Friday of the continent's main bailout vehicle, the European Stability Mechanism, knocking it one notch from prized Aaa status to Aa1.

FEATURES AND COMMENTARY

ENT-Carrie-Underwood-to-star-in-NBC's-'The-Sound-of-Music'

Raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens and Carrie Underwood as Maria? On Friday, NBC announced its plans to air a live broadcast of "The Sound of Music," starring Underwood as Maria, based on the original musical.

ENT-MTV's-'Buckwild'-to-premiere-January-3

With MTV's "Jersey Shore" coming to an end, the network is readying a new group of party animals to fill the void -- and the Thursday night time slot. "Buckwild," which follows a group of nine friends on their quest to entertain themselves in Sissonville, West Virginia, is set to premiere on January 3, according to MTV.

ENT-Clint-Eastwood's-daughter-named-Miss-Golden-Globe-2013

Looks like Clint Eastwood and Frances Fisher's daughter will join hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler on stage during the 2013 Golden Globes. Francesca Eastwood was named Miss Golden Globe by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association at an event on Thursday.

TECH-apparently-matter-thin-guys

Apparently This Matters: Chicks dig skinny guys

FEA-Pat-Robertson-Challenges-Creationism

Televangelist Pat Robertson challenged the idea that Earth is 6,000 years old this week, saying the man who many credit with conceiving the idea, former Archbishop of Ireland James Ussher, "wasn't inspired by the Lord when he said that it all took 6,000 years." The statement was in response to a question Robertson fielded Tuesday from a viewer on his Christian Broadcasting Network show "The 700 Club." In a submitted question, the viewer wrote that one of her biggest fears was that her children and husband would not go to heaven "because they question why the Bible could not explain the existence of dinosaurs."

FEA-Gay-Activists-Build-Faith-Outreach

After gay marriage successes, activists look to build on new faith outreach techniques.

FEA-Gauging-Purpose-Driven-Life-Impact

This month marks the 10th anniversary of the best-selling hardback book in American history: Rick Warren's "The Purpose Driven Life." We reached out to scholars, religion experts and Warren's wife, Kay, to ask about the book's impact after a decade. Here's what they told us:

US-High-school-football-Valdosta

When football loves you back: An author documents a season with the winningest high school football program in America.