The comparisons are eerily similar.

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.

On Thursday, Democrats in the House will cast a vote deciding who they want to lead the Energy and Commerce Committee. The face-off is a battle between two legislative titans in Congress: Current Chairman John Dingell, from Michigan, and California Rep. Henry Waxman.

If confirmed, the former Senate majority leader would fill what may be one of the most important Cabinet posts, given the emphasis the Obama campaign put on the need for affordable health care during the election.

President-elect Barack Obama has chosen Tom Daschle for Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services. Host Madeleine Brand talks to Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving about this selection.

President-elect Barack Obama is expected to nominate Eric Holder as attorney general. Holder, who served as deputy attorney general during the Clinton Administration, would be the first African American to hold the top position at the Justice Department. A close family friend of Holder shares her thoughts on the Washington lawyer.

The talk of Washington is that Sen. Hillary Clinton is on president-elect Barack Obama's short list for Secretary of State. The XX Factor bloggers discuss past female secretaries of state and how well Clinton would do in the role.

President-elect Barack Obama wants to bring change by recruiting people from across the aisle for his cabinet. Some are comparing this plan to Abraham Lincoln's so-called "Team of Rivals." Civil War historian Matthew Pinsker says Lincoln's idea didn't work out so well.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is hosting an international climate change summit in Beverly Hills this week. He's partnered with governors from across the country to discuss how cutting emissions can help the economy. We also talk to Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who recently vetoed the expansion of coal plants in her state.

Bill Ayers gained a lot of attention in the last days of the 2008 presidential campaign when he became the focus of Republican attacks against then-Senator Barack Obama. Ayers, a former member of the radical antiwar group the Weather Underground, is now an educator in Chicago. He talks about the extent of his association with the President-elect and why he remained silent during the campaign.

President-elect Barack Obama will likely have to give up his well-worn BlackBerry and e-mail account when he takes office in January. For years, Obama has lived with his BlackBerry on his hip, but the Presidential Records Act would make all of his correspondence available for public review.

Will Bill Clinton affect Hillary Clinton's chances of being nominated for secretary of state? Also: Sen. Joe Lieberman is allowed to continue as the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, and Obama chooses Eric Holder for attorney general.

Democrats on Capitol Hill have allowed Sen. Joe Lieberman to remain Homeland Security chairman, even though he actively campaigned against President-elect Obama. Plus, Detroit's Big Three automakers have pleaded for $25 billion from Congress to help stay afloat. Farai Chideya speaks with Donna Brazile and Ron Christie.

President-elect Barack Obama's top choice for U.S. attorney general seems to be Eric Holder. Holder was the No. 2 official in the Justice Department under President Clinton. The Obama team says no final decision has been made.

CEOs from GM, Ford and Chrysler appear Wednesday before the House Financial Services Committee. Rep. Barney Frank, the committee's chairman, has drafted legislation extending the $700 billion rescue program to Detroit's Big Three automakers — and requiring that they meet conditions in return, Frank says.

In the U.S. Senate race in Alaska, Democrat Mark Begich has claimed victory over six-term Republican incumbent Ted Stevens. The Anchorage mayor's victory moves Senate Democrats within two seats of a filibuster-proof 60-vote majority. Senator-elect Begich tells Renee Montagne that he won because Alaskans are ready to focus on the future.

Democrats in the Senate decided Tuesday that Joe Lieberman may keep his committee chairmanship — even though he campaigned for Republican John McCain. Democrats secretly voted 42-13 to let him remain chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. His only sanction was being removed from the Environment Committee.