Senators to Facebook co-founder: Don't come back

A pair of Republican Senators have stepped up their opposition appointment of Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense after his rough confirmation hearing last week.

DANBURY, Conn. — Connecticut's two Democratic Senators signaled Thursday that an assault weapons ban is unlikely to be taken up in Congress when legislative measures to curb gun violence are introduced as early as next month. Both Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal were evasive about their hopes for a ban on assault weapons being part of a package — at least for now. 

A newly formed non-profit organization is targeting Senate Democrats up for re-election in 2014 to build pressure on them to oppose former Sen. Chuck Hagel's confirmation as Secretary of Defense.  The group, Americans for a Strong Defense, released its first ad Tuesday slamming Hagel's past statements on Israel and Iran and his position supporting cuts to the defense budget.

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump and Barack Obama arrived together to the U.S. Capitol Friday as the real estate mogul and reality TV star who upended American politics prepared to be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. His ascent puts Republicans in control of the White House for the first time in eight years. “It all begins today!” Trump tweeted at daybreak, before attending a morning church service with his family. “THE MOVEMENT CONTINUES – THE WORK BEGINS!”

"Morning Joe" co-host Joe Scarborough on Friday slammed Republican Sens. John McCain and Ted Cruz, two of the Senators who had contentious exchanges with Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel during his confirmation hearing Thursday.

A bipartisan group of eight Senators have reached a deal on the framework of a bill that they plan to introduce on Monday, according to multiple reports. The Senators will preempt President Barack Obama, who is planning to speak about his immigration plan on Tuesday in Nevada. The group of Senators will unveil their plan at a news conference on Monday.

Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham urged lawmakers Friday not to use the Boston bombings as an excuse to delay or halt progress on the comprehensive immigration bill now pending in the Senate.  Here's their statement: 

Submitted by Doug Casey of Casey Reasearch, In a wide-ranging interview with Casey Research editor Louis James, Doug Casey discusses why it's imperative to start diversifying one's assets today, and provides some guidance in considering countries to diversify into.