Last night Yoko Ono presented the 2013 Courage Award to Julian Assange, who accepted in absentia in New York.

Good morning everyone, and welcome to 2013. I hope it’s a fantastic year for all of you.

There should be no doubt that one of the most dangerous aspects of this current debt ceiling deal, is that it set a precedent for Republicans turning every future debt ceiling increase in the future into another hostage situation to force spending cuts.