BARACK OBAMA

U.S. President Barack Obama appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday morning to discuss a wide range of issues facing the nation as the year draws to a close. His remarks touched on topics ranging from gun control and the fiscal cliff to the Benghazi consulate attack and congressional gridlock.

The U.S. Senate continued to work on a bipartisan budget bill Sunday, while Obama administration officials prepared a back-up bill.

With U.S. Senate leaders inching toward a budget deal to avert the cliff, one eye was fixed on the Senate, the other on the House.

Emphasize the positive, and forget the negative: Here are five people who deserve credit for doing things right this year.

Asian markets rose in the week amid the hope that the policymakers in Japan and China would announce stimulus measures.

If Congress cannot reach a bipartisan deal to avert the fiscal cliff, then it should vote on a forthcoming Senate package, the president says.

The Senate passed an extension of the foreign intelligence law that permits tapping Americans' communications without authorization.

Was 2012 the year memes finally entered mainstream culture? Here's a look at some of the most influential memes of 2012.

The White House's easy-to-abuse "We the People" online petitioning system has turned a First Amendment right into a crowd-sourced circus.

President Barack Obama will meet with congressional leaders from both parties at the White House Friday afternoon in a bid to revive negotiations to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff, with three days left before its deadline.

Sen. Harry Reid says the nation is headed for the cliff, but Sen. Mitch McConnell's actions may have the final say.

U.S. port operators and maritime shipping companies are bracing for a longshoremen's strike of facilities from Massachusetts to Texas.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama sat down with Barbara Walters for an exclusive interview.

Crude oil prices slightly declined and hovered below $91 a barrel during the Asian trading hours Thursday as traders remained concerned about the fiscal cliff negotiations.

A horrific shooting in Connecticut changes the terms of the debate.

The GOP majority's determination to shield millionaires at all costs may push John Boehner off a cliff, too.

The U.S. stock index futures pointed to a slightly higher open Wednesday with markets prepared to reopen after Christmas holiday.

Bo Obama makes sure he continues to be the center of attention this Christmas.

Where's Santa Claus Now? It's a question kids across America may be asking their parents, and one that a U.S. governmental site exists to keep track of. The NORAD Santa tracker may be more popular and well-known, but there's a second option when your children ask about old St. Nick, and it's called, fittingly, "Where's Santa Claus Now?"

The impending crisis cuts has been simmering for months. Now it's reaching a boil. Merry Christmas!

A look back at a year and a time when a nuclear Iran was considered the greatest threat to the U.S.