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In Case You Missed It - President Obama will have Secret Service protection for life; Vice President Biden will make gun control recommendations next week; Newark Mayor Cory Booker files paperwork for Senate bid, and more. – Joyce Jones

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For Life - Obama signed a bill this week that grants Secret Service protection for life to himself, former President George W. Bush, future presidents and their spouses. Lifetime security had been the law until Congress changed it in 1997, limiting Secret Service protection for just 10 years after leaving office. The new law also provides security for presidents' children until they reach age 16. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Closer - Newark Mayor Cory Booker seems to be doing more than "exploring" the idea of a Senate bid in 2014. He has filed the paperwork for "Cory Booker for Senate." Incumbent Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who will be 90 in 2014, has not yet announced whether he plans to retire.

Photo By Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

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Gun Violence - A task force led by Vice President Joe Biden met with various stakeholders this week to discuss gun control and ways to prevent gun violence. The NRA called the vice president's efforts an "attack" on the Second Amendment. Biden will send recommendations to Obama by next Tuesday. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Winding Down - Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Obama met at the White House on Jan. 11 to discuss the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. They announced that the process for Afghan troops taking the security lead would move more quickly than planned. "Starting this spring our troops will have a different mission — training, advising and assisting Afghan forces," Obama said. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Stands by His Man - Despite efforts by certain lawmakers to give former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel the "Susan Rice treatment" by derailing his nomination for defense secretary before it was announced, President Obama made it official on Jan. 7. Sen. Lindsay Graham and others consider it an "in your face nomination" because of Hagel's previous stands on Israel, Iran and other foreign policy issues. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Keys to the Treasury - Obama nominated his chief of staff, Jack Lew, to serve as treasury secretary in his second term. He is expected to be easily confirmed, but his loopy signature, which will appear on dollar bills, is another story. It bears no resemblance to his name or any word in the English language. (Photo: courtesy Whitehouse.gov)

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Biting the Hand That Saved It - Remember AIG, the insurance giant that received an $85 billion bailout during the economic crisis in 2008? Its board has wisely declined to join a lawsuit filed against the government by shareholders who say the bailout deprived them of billions of dollars in dividends. California Rep. Maxine Waters, senior Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, called even considering the suit "outrageous."   (Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo, File)

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He Never Learns - Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, currently on trial for public corruption, may find himself back in jail sooner than expected. A Walmart security camera captured Kilpatrick cashing a $2,000 money transfer from Chicago pastor and fundraiser Corey Brooks in December. Failing to report the gift could be a probation violation. (Photo: David Coates/Detroit News/AP Photo )

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Nuts! - The Council on American-Islamic Relations is hoping to make a few bucks from its not-so-friendly relationship with former Rep. Allen West. The organization has put up for sale on eBay a letter from the colorful lawmaker with an opening bid of $1,000. The message is short and not very sweet: "I am writing to you with regard [sic] your recent letter," it reads. "NUTS!" (Photo: Courtesy EBay)

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Sooner Than Later? - The nation could reach its debt limit earlier than anticipated, according to a new report from the Bipartisan Policy Center. "We estimate that Treasury will exhaust its borrowing authority and no longer have sufficient funds to meet its obligations in full and on time at some point between February 15 and March 1. It will be difficult for Treasury to get beyond the March 1 date in our judgment,” said the organization's Economic Policy Project senior director Steve Bell. (Photo: Gerald Herbert/AP Photo)

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Gun Control - A task force led by Vice President Joe Biden on Jan. 9 kicked off a series of meetings on gun control with representatives of victims' groups and gun safety organizations. On Jan. 10, the coalition will meet with hunters, gun owners groups and a representative from the National Rifle Association.  (Photo: Susan Walsh/AP Photo)

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More Popular Than Congress - What do head lice, cockroaches, root canals, colonoscopies and Brussels sprouts have in common? Each is more popular among the American public than members of Congress, according to a new survey from Public Policy Polling. (Photo: Gudrun Herzner/DPA /LANDOV)