Democrat-turned-independent Sen. Joe Lieberman managed to keep his Senate committee chairmanship in part because President-elect Barack Obama didn't want to punish him for supporting Sen. John McCain, Lieberman said Tuesday.

President-elect Barack Obama has picked Peter Orszag, the head of the Congressional Budget Office, to head his Office of Management and Budget, a top Democratic source told CNN Tuesday.

Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, the Republican lawmaker convicted on felony corruption charges in October, was defeated in his bid for re-election by Democrat Mark Begich, according to a release from Begich's campaign and unofficial results from state officials.

Vice President Dick Cheney and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales have been indicted on separate charges related to alleged prisoner abuse in federal detention centers, Willacy County, Texas, District Attorney Juan Angel Guerra told CNN Tuesday.

More than a week after voters in California, Arizona and Florida passed ballot initiatives outlawing same-sex marriage, thousands of people across the country protested the bans in simultaneous rallies Saturday. In California, Proposition 8 overturned a May ruling by the California Supreme Court that struck down a 2000 ban on same-sex unions. It passed 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent. CNN's D.L. Hughley spoke to sex columnist Dan Savage about the ongoing battle to legalize same-sex marriage in California. Savage is the author of the popular syndicated sex advice column "Savage Love."

Lawmakers challenged Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on his handling of the $700 billion bank bailout program and stressed the importance of doing more to help homeowners.

Former President Bill Clinton's international business dealings, global foundation and penchant for going off script could present a significant obstacle to Hillary Clinton becoming secretary of state, observers say.

Officials in Alaska, one of three states yet to certify winners in the November 4 U.S. Senate races, say they hope to have nearly all ballots counted on Tuesday.

Ford Motor Company chief executive Alan Mulally defended his company Tuesday against charges that Ford caused its own problems and said bailing out Detroit was essential to the U.S. economic recovery.

Stevens, one of the longest serving senators in the history of the Senate, at last check trailed his Democratic rival, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, by more than 3,700 votes as absentee and overseas ballots were counted.

President-elect Barack Obama has decided to nominate Eric Holder as attorney general, according to a source close to the Obama-Biden transition team. If confirmed, Holder would be the country's first African-American to lead the Justice Department.

The election is just over, and already there is beltway gossip surrounding Obama's possible Cabinet posts. Who will fill these crucial spots, and who will advise the president-elect from behind closed doors?

Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in the history of the Senate, is falling behind Democrat Mark Begich in his re-election bid as absentee ballots and other ballots are counted.

Washington attorney Eric Holder has been chosen by President-elect Barack Obama to be the next attorney general. Holder, a former U.S. attorney who served as the No. 2 official in the Justice Department under President Clinton, would be the nation's first black attorney general.

Sen. Joe Lieberman will keep his job as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee. Democrats decided against replacing the independent from Connecticut, but did strip him of the chairmanship of an environmental panel.

Democrats decided Tuesday to let Sen. Joe Lieberman keep his prized chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee, despite his support for Republican presidential candidate John McCain. Meanwhile, Democrats are bracing for a battle on Wednesday over control of the House energy panel.

Treasury Secretary Henry Pauson is defending the $700 billion bailout on Capital Hill Tuesday. Meanwhile, the question of whether automakers will get more government money, hangs heavy in the air.

At this point Republican incumbent Ted Stevens is behind Democratic challenger Mark Begich by just over a thousand votes. Even if he's able to pull off a victory, Stevens still faces an expulsion vote in the Senate. His Republican colleagues put off a preliminary step toward one Tuesday — waiting to see what happens in Alaska.

The inaugural ceremonies communications director offers tips on how to get a ticket without being scammed ... or losing friends. Lately, ex-boyfriends she hasn't heard from in years are suddenly contacting her on facebook.

In January, Michelle Obama will make history as the nation's first black First Lady. But Obama, an Ivy-League educated attorney, is a symbol in her own right. As she prepares for her own White House transition, working mothers are watching to see what legacy she will leave on a historic presidency.

The name of former anti-war activist William Ayers was brought up twice in an attempt to discredit Barack Obama during the recent presidential campaign — first by Hillary Clinton, and then by the McCain campaign.

After a bitterly contested election, President-elect Barack Obama met with John McCain to discuss how they would work together to "solve the common and urgent challenges of our time." Guests and listeners weigh in on "frenemies" — hybrid colleagues who are both enemies and friends.

In a closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill, Sen. Joe Lieberman's colleagues voted to allow the Democrat-turned-Independent to keep his prized post as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee. New Yorker reporter Ryan Lizz talks about Lieberman's political future.

Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele says he has a new ally in his pursuit to become chairman of the Republican National Committee: former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. "Newt's decided not to run for the job, and he's, in fact, supporting me in my efforts," Steele exclusively told NPR's Farai Chideya.