Senator Scott Brown may have lost his seat to Senator-elect Elizabeth Warren, but his campaign has new life. With John Kerry well on his way to head up the State Department, Brown has a chance to fill his empty seat. Political writer David Bernstein discusses who might be Brown's challenger.

Following Friday's nomination by President Obama, it is expected that Senator John Kerry will find an easy confirmation of his role as the next secretary of state. Juana Summers, national reporter for Politico, discusses how the leadership at the State Department will change under Kerry.

While the Olympics may have been the highlight of this year in sports, Lance Armstrong's doping scandal threatens to overshadow the athletic world as we reflect on 2012. Most Americans will likely remember Armstrong as a fraud, but Ellis Cashmore, professor of culture, media and sport at Staffordshire University, says that Armstrong’s case demonstrates that it’s time to allow doping in sports.

Earlier this month, NYU graduate student Josh Begley began tweeting every reported American drone strike — starting in 2002. His feed highlights the growing prevalence of a lethal tactic known as the "double tap." The tactic involves bombing a target repeatedly in relatively quick succession. It often results in the death of rescuers responding to the initial attack.

On Christmas Day, Tom Hooper’s film adaptation of Les Misérables will debut in theaters nationwide to the delight of millions of fans. But behind the many adaptations of the story, is Victor Hugo's 1862 novel — a social, political, and literary masterpiece. Patrik Henry Bass, books editor for Essence, discusses the historical and cultural significance of Les Misérables.

What's the best holiday song? Ryan Roche picks Put the Lights on the Tree by Sufjan Stevens. Bobby Birch nominates Josh Groban's Oh Holy Night. The worst? Well, we'll just say that Paul McCartney made the list.