A bipartisan panel of foreign policy experts is encouraging President-elect Barack Obama to merge the National Security and Homeland Security councils to ensure interagency cooperation (Washington Post).
"Instead of being able to call in their chits for having helped elect Obama, union leaders are facing an array of crises" as the economic situation grows worse (Boston Globe).
Obama has begun to tap his network of online supporters in his drive to reform health care (Washington Post).
Microsoft founder Bill Gates spoke Wednesday at George Washington University, where he called upon Obama to ramp up government spending to stimulate the economy (Washington Post).
A dozen retired generals met with Eric Holder, Obama's choice for attorney general, on Wednesday, to argue for closing the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, among other recommendations (Army Times).
Obama's campaign was boosted by his pledge to withdraw all combat forces from Iraq within 16 months of his inauguration, but that promise is now being tempered by reality (New York Times).
The North American Free Trade Agreement, which Obama "frequently derided as a candidate," has not come up in any of his post-election remarks (Washington Times).
When Obama called Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen to congratulate her on her re-election, the Florida Republican hung up on the president-elect, thinking the call was a prank (AP).
As Obama's mother-in-law considers taking up residence in the White House, there's plenty of precedent of extended first families setting up shop on Pennsylvania Ave. (USA Today).
Stocking The Cabinet
Obama tapped New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson to be his secretary of Commerce, making him the first Latino picked for the Cabinet thus far (USA Today).
The two-and-a-half years Rahm Emanuel, Obama's soon-to-be chief of staff, spent cashing in on his political connections as an investment banker are a little-known part of his life (New York Times).
Lawrence Summers, Obama's choice to lead the National Economic Council, has made something of a comeback just two years after he left Harvard with a cloud over his head (Boston Globe).
Holder's role in the controversial Marc Rich pardon likely won't be enough to derail his confirmation, but it's still making Senate Democrats uneasy (Politico).
Congressional Democrats are putting the finishing touches on legislation that would clear the way for Hillary Rodham Clinton to become secretary of State, which an obscure constitutional footnote currently prevents (Politico).
After including plenty of bona fide moderates in his Cabinet, Obama is looking to fill out his team with more liberal picks (Wall Street Journal).
Inauguration Conflagration
Oprah Winfrey will host her show from the Kennedy Center during inauguration week (Access Hollywood).
By banning strollers and backpacks and not providing childcare facilities, the message from inauguration organizers is clear: Leave the kids at home (Washington Post).
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