Oprah to Interview Obamas for Christmas Show

A bike and a basketball for him, doll house for her

(NEWSER) - Oprah's Christmas special at the White House airs tomorrow night, in which we learn the first couple's favorite holiday presents. For those who just can't wait: The president picks a 10-speed bike and Michelle a doll house. ("I remember I really didn't know how to set up a house so I had all the furniture lined up along the walls as opposed to nestled around the fireplace. But I loved that little doll house.") And this is Oprah, after all, so Barack digs a little deeper into his psyche. More»

Date for speech not set, but it's not Feb. 2: Gibbs

(NEWSER) - The date isn't set yet, but couch potatoes can relax: President Obama's State of the Union address will not muscle out the 3-hour premiere of the final season of Lost on Feb. 2. "I don't foresee a scenario in which the millions of people who hope to see a conclusion to Lost are pre-empted by the president," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said at today's daily briefing. "You can quote an administration official on that." More»

(NEWSER) - Damon Weaver, not yet out of elementary school, made his name on the Internet when he interviewed Joe Biden during the 2008 campaign for his school's TV station. Yesterday, the grizzled journalistic veteran bagged his biggest sit-down yet following 8 months of requests—a 10-minute grilling of Barack Obama at the White House. Damon skillfully asked about education policy, school lunches, and the president's basketball skills, reports CBS. More»

But it's the golf club's decision: Obama

(NEWSER) - As controversy over the Augusta National Golf Club's men-only policy resurfaces, the White House is taking sides. President Obama "believes women should be admitted," says press secretary Jay Carney. It's "up to the club to decide," but Obama's "personal opinion is that women should be admitted to the club." Meanwhile, a women's rights campaigner who led protests against the club in 2002 is gearing up for a new fight, CNN reports. More»

President warns Supreme Court of 'judicial activism'

(NEWSER) - President Obama stood up for health care reform today and took a swipe at "unelected" Supreme Court justices who might rule against Obamacare, the Washington Post reports. “Ultimately, I am confident the Supreme Court will not take what would be an unprecedented, extraordinary step of overturning a law that was passed by a strong majority of a democratically elected Congress,” Obama said at the White House, during a joint press conference with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. More»