President Bush is hosting every living former president -- plus President-elect Barack Obama -- at the White House today for lunch, the first such gathering since 1981. (AP)
Obama's "one president at a time" tack on the Israeli invasion of Gaza is frustrating some Middle East players and threatening to spoil his "honeymoon" in the region. (Los Angeles Times)
Vice President-elect Joe Biden has organized a trip with four other senators to southwest Asia this week, "despite a rule that prohibits lame-duck Senators from traveling on taxpayer-funded trips." (Roll Call -- subscription)
Now that the future first family is checked into its suite at the Hay-Adams Hotel, the identity of the guest occupying the Blair House has emerged: former Australian Prime Minister John Howard. (New York Times)
CDR Financial Products, the California-based firm at the center of the federal investigation into New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, also donated $28,500 to Obama and the Democratic Party in September. (Washington Times)
After being the "center of black political power in Washington" for 40 years, the Congressional Black Caucus is trying to figure out its place under an African-American president. (New York Times)
Obama's Change.gov transition site has a new rival -- Change.org -- which lets users submit and vote on progressive policy ideas for the new administration. (NationalJournal.com)
An 18-year-old hacker has admitted to breaking into Obama's Twitter accounts (and those of other celebrities as well). (Wired)
Inauguration Conflagration
The Presidential Inaugural Committee is giving the Smithsonian Institute $700,000, allowing two museums to open two hours early on Jan. 20 while also helping the institute fund special events. (Washington Post)
The DC Metro has opened nearly 60,000 parking spots up at various metro stations for Inauguration Day. (Washington Post)
Major bridges into the city, however, will be closed and transit officials are warning of traffic nightmares. (AP)
Meanwhile, many local residents intend to flee the city on the days surrounding the Inauguration. (Washington Post)
Stimulus Wars
Obama promised to ban pork-barrel projects in his forthcoming economic stimulus package, but warned of trillion-dollar budget deficits "for years to come." (Washington Times)
Obama is preparing to name a new "efficiency officer" to trim waste from government agencies. (Government Executive)
California has $44 billion worth of infrastructure and green projects ready to go pending a federal stimulus package, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) told Obama Tuesday. (Reuters)
Name Game
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, chief medical correspondent for CNN, has reportedly accepted the post of Surgeon General. (Time)
Obama is defending his choice of Leon Panetta for CIA chief, which one critic called a "Hail Mary pass" (Los Angeles Times). Still, Panetta's former White House colleagues said he's the right man for the job. (Washington Post)
Mary Schapiro, Obama's choice for the top job at the Securities and Exchange Commission, is expected to face tough questioning over the Bernie Madoff scandal at her Senate confirmation hearing next week. (Wall Street Journal)
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