The Briefing 12-12-13

1) The ascendance of hard-line liberal left against moderate Democrats

With Filibuster Threat Gone, Senate Confirms Two Presidential Nominees, New York Times (Jeremy W. Peters)

Coalition of Liberals Strikes Back at Criticism From Centrist Democrats, New York Times (Jonathan Martin)

2) 5th Anniversary of Madoff Scandal

Madoff fraud scandal: 5 years later, USA Today (Kevin McCoy)

3) Catholic school teacher fired for filing for same-sex marriage license

Catholic school teacher fired for gay wedding, USA Today (Associated Press)

4) Dominant theory of evolution is not as dominant as some would like us to think

Baffling 400,000-Year-Old Clue to Human Origins, New York Times (Carl Zimmer)