was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. national endowment for the humanities, promoting excellence in the humanities... the national endowment for the arts, because a great nation deserves great art. with support from the following. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. gwen: the president's convincing re-election, the looming fiscal cliff and tonight, a c.i.a. bombshell. victory and fallout, tonight on "washington week." the lines were long. the victory party was robust. >> a long campaign is now over. and whether i earned your vote or not, i have listened to you. i have learned from you. and you've made me a better president. gwen: a the thank yous were fervert. >> i'm really proud of all of you. it will go on in history. people will read about it it. and they'll marvel about it. >> as president obama claimed his second term. the election turned out to be a lesson in truth and consequences. what did the obama campaign do right and what did the romney campaign do wrong? >> and i ran for office be

. ♪ day by day was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. onal endowment for the humanities, promoting excellence in the humanities. the national endowment for the arts, because a great nation deserves great art. with support from the following: and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> countdown, where the race stands as it enters the last weekend. what happens when all of the ads stop? tonight on "washington week." >> four more years! four more years! four more years! gwen: the candidate's final pitch. who really owns hope and change? >> the question of this election comes down to this -- do you want more of the same or do you want real change and we want real change. >> we know what change looks like. and what the governor's offering ain't it. gwen: the polls can't predict it. the crowds can't guarantee it and even the early voters can't. >> it ended in the great recession of 2008. >> we know what this movie looks like at the end of the movie. turn on the tv and look at europe. >> a toss-up election, com

additional funding is provided by the an nenberg foundation, the corporation for public broadcasting and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> once again, live from washington, moderator gwen ifill. gwen: good evening. two men faced off for what each said would be his final campaign competing for the hearts and the minds of an economically stressed electorate. president obama won the much discussed battleground states. he won the electoral vote. he won the popular vote of -- and he won an america that revealed itself to be more divided than ever. today the president walked into the east room saying elections have consequences. >> what the american people are looking for is corporation. they're looking for consensus. they're looking for common sense. most of all, they want action. i intend to deliver for them in my second term i expect to find willing partners in both parties to make that happen. so let's get to work. gwen: the obama campaign pieced together a electoral puzzle. how did they put it together? >> they had multiple paths to get to 270.

was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. the national endowment for the humanities, promoting excellence in the humanities. the national endowment for the arts, because a great nation deserves great art. with support from the following: and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. by richard rodgers and oscar hammerstein called "pipe dream," and it played in this very theater. i was in awe of their work because beginning with "oklahoma!" in the middle of the second world war, they had pioneered a kind of show in which the story was more important than anything else. in the 1940s and '50s, dramatic stories were transformed into a wealth of broadway classics, including the lerner and loewe musical that i took instead of "pipe dream," "my fair lady." oh, how loverly it was, the golden age of the broadway musical. [ sirens blaring ] andrews: throughout world war ii, with the threat of enemy aircraft a constant fear, the lights of new york city were frequently turned off. man: broadway, target number

corporate funding for "washington week" is provided by norfolk southern, boeing. additional funding for "washington week" is provided by the annenburg foundation, the corporation for public broadcasting contributions to your pbs station from viewers liou. ou. station from viewers liou. ou. thank you. where are you going? >> "inside washington" is brought you in part by the american federation of government employees, proud to make america work. for more information about afge and membership, visit afge.org.

corporate funding for "washington week" is provided by norfolk southern, boeing. additional funding for "washington week" is provided by the annenburg foundation, the corporation for public broadcasting contributions to your pbs station from viewers liou. oc thou thank you. oc thou thank you. ♪ "as time goes by"

additional funding is provided by the annenberg foundation, the corporation for public broadcasting and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. once again, from washington, sitting in for gwen ifill this week, pete williams of nbc news. pete: good evening. we hope your holiday went well. president obama and hillary clinton could not have expected their week to unfold as it did. the president was hoping to focus new attention on the promise of u.s. relations with the far east. secretary clinton was with him on what she thought would be her last overseas mission. instead, mr. obama found himself on the phone with middle east leaders as israel and hamas in gaza rained down rockets on each other. and secretary clinton headed for the region hoping to use a cease-fire to search for longer term answers. >> now we have to focus on reaching a durable outcome that promotes regional stability and advances the security, dignity, and legitimate aspirations of palestinians and israelis alike. pete: but she also made it clear the u.s. is firmly supporting its ally israel

this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> woodruff: this was a day of urgent diplomacy aimed at stopping the battle of air strikes and rockets between israel and hamas. rumors of a cease-fire flew all day, and secretary of state clinton arrived in the region after nightfall. she met first with israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu, and called for more than just a temporary truce. >> the rocket attacks from terrorist organizations inside gaza on israeli cities and towns must end and a broader calm restored. the goal must be a durable outcome that promotes regional stability and advances the security and legitimate aspirations of israelis and palestinians alike. >> brown: prime minister netanyahu said he'll take whatever military action is necessary. underscoring that point, the israelis launched new air strikes after dark. we have a report from john ray of independent television news in gaza. and a warning, some of the images may be disturbing. >

and by the corporation for public broadcasting. major support for frontliis provided by the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation, committed to building a more just, verdant and peaceful world. more information is available at macfound.org. additional funding is provided by the park foundation, dedicated to heightening public awareness of critical issues. and by the frontline journalism fund, with grants from jon and jo ann hagler, on behalf of the jon l. hagler foundation. and scott nathan and laura debonis. >> my name is brittany smith, and i'm nine years old. it's tough because my mom and dad are poor. my dad just lost his job. it's kind of hard for us. monday i tried getting in the shower, and it was cold. i put the hot on all the way and no cold, and it was freezing. it felt like shoving your face in a bunch of snow. it was freezing! the hot water shut off because we didn't pay the bill in time. it was overdue. >> so what's the next bill due? >> electricity. it's going to be $318. we just need to put roger's ass to work

this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> brown: the battle for control of syria reached ever closer to the capital today. heavy fighting flared near the damascus airport, and online access was cut, as the pressure intensified on president bashar al-assad. we have a report narrated by jonathan rugman of "independent television news." >> reporter: it could be the west's worst nightmare. jubilant jihadist fighters near damascus. this group has captured a helicopter and these islamists are now in the vanguard of syria's rebel army. syrian warplanes and helicopters were filmed attacking the fringes of the capital today. and to the road to the international airport has been closed by fighting. and as that fighting intensifies much of syria's internet network has been cut. the government and opposition are blaming each other for the shutdown. whatever the truth, syria's regime is battling these men for its very survival. president assad's helicopters are being

this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> brown: a still tentative american economy looked online today, as digital deals were to be had, and holiday shoppers lit up web sites. retailers had high hopes that cyber monday sales would add to what's been a strong start so far. >> if all goes as expected, today will end up being the busiest online david year, with major bargains and steep discountses just a click away. >> every year we see more and more consumers shopping is online, both the younger computer born with a computer in their crib, and the elder generation is now also shopping online. deals are become, plentiful. >> all told the research firm comstore, estimates americans will spend $1.5 billion online this year, an increase of 20% from last year. amazon.com and other sellers are going all out to keep up with the spike in demand. all this follows a successful opening holiday sales weekend that began on thanksgiving night. the national retail

this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> brown: washington was a-whirl today with more talk of avoiding the much-discussed fiscal cliff. but as november wound down, the president suggested an agreement on taxes and spending could come in time for the holidays. >> i believe that both parties can agree on a frame work that does that in the coming weeks. in fact my hope is to get this done before christmas. >> you know me, i was born with the glass half full. i'm an optimist. >> brown: hopeful signs emanated from the white house and the capitol today, about getting a deal before the new year brings automatic tax hikes and spending cuts. president obama offered his optimism at an event with middle-class americans who'd be hit by any tax increase. >> i'm glad to see-- if you've been reading the papers lately-- - that more and more republicans in congress seem to be agreeing with this idea that we should have a balanced approach. so if both parties agree

for public broadcasting. it was a response to mitt romney's proposal to reduce funding for p-b-s -- and programs like *sesame street.* the corporationor public broadcasting's budget for this year is some 445-million dollars. the participants r-s-v-p'd on facebook -- and brought their own muppets to the march seseme street celebrates its 43rd birthday on november 10th >> protesters are upset about possible school closings are willing to spend some time behind bars for their cause. next what they told us after they were released >> some good news for new york and new jersey residents in desperate need of gasoline to keep generators and cars running... break how do you put an unforgettable day into a fabric softener? turn downy simple pleasures into downy infusions. new layers of fresh scent create an experience so fresh it's unforgettable. you'll remember the days you wear it. downy infusions. [ male announcer ] most people tend to think more about how they brush than what they brush with. until i show them this. the oral-b pro-health clinical brush. its pro-flex sides adjust to teeth and gums for a better clean. the pro-health clinic

this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> brown: washington's struggle to avoid going off the "fiscal cliff" resumed in earnest today. the president moved to draw on his reelection victory for new clout with congress. the goal: a sweeping deficit agreement to avert $650 billion in spending cuts and tax increases at the start of 2013. from the white house came word that president obama will try to build public pressure on congress to raise taxes on the wealthy and prevent tax hikes for everyone else. white house spokesman jay carney. >> well, the president believes very strongly that the american people matter in this debate. because this debate is about them. the question of whether or not taxes go up on 98% of american tax payers is a very important to ordinary americans. it is not just a matter for discussion between the president and the senate minority leader. or other congressional leaders. >> brown: to that end the president met privately toda

for public broadcasting. it was a response to mitt romney's proposal to reduce funding for p-b-s and programs like sesame street. the corporation for public broadcasting's budget for this year is about 4-hundred- 45 million dollars. >>just ahead what analysts are predicting about the u.s. economy for the next four years, regardless of who wins the presidential election. and, still to come this midday. why gas prices are taking a big plunge. and later in lunchbreak: a cajun tw [ "i'm only human" plays ] humans -- sometimes life trips us up. and sometimes, we trip ourselves up but that's okay. at liberty mutual insurance we can "untrip" you as you go through your life with personalized policies and discounts when you need them most. just call... and speak with a licensed representative about saving on your policy when you get married move into a new house... [crash!] or add a car to your policy. don't forget to ask about saving up to 10% when you combine your auto and home insurance with liberty mutual. security, coverage and savings. all the things humans need to make our beautifully imperfect world a little less imperfect. call

and by the corporation for public broadcasting. major funding is provided by the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation, committed to buildina re just, verdant and peaceful world.additional funding is provided by the park foundation, dedicated to heightening public awareness of critical issues. and by the frontline journalism fund. with grants from scott nathan and laura debonis, and millicent bell, through the millicent and eugene bell foundation. major funding for this program is provided by the kendeda fund. >> chicago is now under full national security. >> a no-fly zone is in effect, except for the world leaders who are landing at o'hare, as president barack obama and a number of world leaders... >> hockenberry: it was a big weekend in chicago. last spring, the president was in town, along with the leaders of nato, to discuss threats to global security and nuclear proliferation. at a huge convention center, the eyes of the world were wching. >> ...that demands global solutions. we came to chicago... (police whistle blows

this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> woodruff: egypt's leaders tried today to mediate a truce between israel and hamas, but there was no outward sign of progress. instead, the two sides traded hundreds more air strikes and rocket attacks. in gaza, palestinians reported more than 100 people killed so far, more than half of them civilians. we have two reports from independent television news, beginning with john ray in gaza. (gunfire). >> reporter: two sides talking peace but conducting a war. fairly a lull in hostilities before an israeli air strike killed another militant leader inside a building used by local and world media. this was already the day of the dead when bodies followed bodies from morgue to cemetery shrouded in the green flag of hamas and carried along on a seething river of fury. no surrender, this man shouts. it's either us or israel in this land. these are the dead from one family: four children who died with their father and

this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> sreenivasan: it was a day of calm in the middle east, after eight days of punishing israeli air strikes and hamas rocket fire. each side claimed the ceasefire was a victory, but neither was certain the truce would last. we begin with a report from alex thomson of "independent television news" in gaza. >> reporter: party on, a show of joy, relief and unity. the flags of hamas, islamci jihad and fatah. all factions are friends today, at least in public the kalashnikovs are celebratory for now but hamas was pledging to break the ceaseifre even on day one if the blockade of gaza isn't lifted. >> if the palestinian will stay and the occupation in the west bank and here under israeli, gaza under siege, i don't think there is going to be a long ceasefire. one day or in a few days, a few weeks, a few months, they're gonna break this ceasefire. by occupation he means this, areas, just one militarized crossing from ga

this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> woodruff: the president faced the white house press corps today in a wide-ranging session. he addressed two major stories-- the fiscal cliff and the sex scandal that ousted the c.i.a. director-- plus immigration, climate change and mor newshour correspondent kwame holman has the story. >> please have a seat. i hear you have some questions for me. ( laughter ) >> reporter: the president went right to the point in his first news conference since winning re-election eight days ago. topping the list: the looming fiscal cliff, $650 billion in spending cuts and tax increases kicking in at the first of the year. >> if congress fails to act by the end of this year, everybody's taxes will automatically go up, including the 98% of americans who make less than $250,000 a year and the 97% of small businesses who earn less than $250,000 a year. that doesn't make sense. our economy can't afford that right now. certainly n

this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> brown: israel and the militant group hamas slid closer to all-out war today. the israelis blasted gaza with scores of air strikes, and the palestinians said 16 people were killed there. hamas and its allies fired more than 200 rockets and even struck as far away as tel aviv. three israelis were killed. we begin with this report by john ray of "independent television news." ( gunfire ) >> reporter: in gaza, gunfire and a thirst for revenge. thousands throng the streets for the funeral of a hamas leader killed by israel. the first death of this conflict but how many more will follow? the mood here is of great anger and defiance. militarily, hamas is no match for the israeli air force. but they say this ia death that must and will be avenged. so, no ceasefire in sight, just a ceaseless barrage of rockets and missiles. and misery on both sides of the border. here, three israelis died when their home suffered a direc

this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> brown: the investigation that felled the head of the c.i.a. has expanded, to include a high- ranking u.s. military figure. thanews rippled outward fro the pentagon today, and across official washington. the name of u.s. marine general john allen, the top american commander in afghanistan, surfaced overnight in the scandal that began friday with david petraeus resigning at c.i.a. director. unnamed defense officials say the military is now investigating possibly, quote, inappropriate communications between allen and tampa socialite jill kelley. she had reported getting harassing emails from another woman, paula broadwell. the f.b.i. investigation that followed uncovered broadwell's affair with petraeus. but according to the newest revelations, agents also found extensive contacts between kelley and general allen. the f.b.i. notifieded the pentagon on sunday. last night spokesman george little read a statement

this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> brown: the losses in life and property kept growing today, in the wake of "sandy". the death toll reached 92 and the focus on physical damage shifted to new jersey, where the monster storm blasted barrier islands and other waterside cities. the massive force of the storm's destruction along the jersey shore came fully into view today. town after town presented stark scenes of wrecked homes and boats, underscoring the long process of rebuilding that lies ahead. one of those towns was the long beach community north of atlantic city, where army national guard troops arrived to assist. >> a lot of devastation. the island has been hit very hard. from what i understand there is roughly 18,000 homes without power, there is severe gas leaks, so right now we are just trying to get everything together for the office of emergency management here and the different municipalities and just assist them with whatever needs they

this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> brown: the downfall of david petraeus showed no sign of fading into the background today. instead, there was every indication that his admission of adultery will echo far beyond the end of his career at the c.i.a. >> a personal scandal forces c.i.a. director david petraeus to... >> i want to start out with this out of the blue thunder bolt that hit washington friday. >> brown: all weekend in washington the details kept coming along with more questions. after david petraeus' sudden resignation on friday because he had had an extra marital affair quickly revealed to involve his biographer paula broadwell. her book came out last january. appearing on c-span she recalled first meeting petraeus several years earlier. >> he came to harvard university where i was a graduate student and wanted to speak to students about the merits of counterinsurgency approach to fighting the iraq war. >> brown: later researching he

and by the corporation for public broadcasting. major funding is provided by the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation, committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. additional funding is provided by the park foundation, dedicated to heightening public awareness of critical issues. and by the frontline journalism fund, with a grant from the orfalea foundation. >> it's time to send a message to washington: stop spending money we don't have. how can we afford this tax? ...big corporations and the richest two percent. >> what's at stake is the future of america. >> it costs us, and taxes us, too much. >> american future fund is responsible for the content of this advertising. >> ryssdal: i knew right away this wasn't going to be the usual story on campaign finance. one of the first surprises was finding myself driving the dark streets of denver with attorney alan schwartz, who shared kind of a strange experience. >> it was early january of 2011, and my wife, who had just been reelected to the colorado state s

this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. back to this special vote 2012 edition of the pbs newshour. from the victory rallies tonight it's been a long road that now appears to have finally reached its end. the voters have spoken. we'll be reporting and analyzing what they had to say in this hour and thrghout the evening on most pbs stations. here to help us do that are syndicated columnist mark shields and "new york times"el columnist david brooks. david brooks, are you shockd about indiana? >> no. no, there was no way barack obama was going to carry that. there were two states he carried last time that were a bit tbreekish. indiana was super freakish if i can go back to the 1970s. >> ifill: a good way to start the night. >> and north carolina was less freakish but still unusual. now north carolina is a swing state. that's in part because the demographics have shifted so much in north carolina. those were the two states he carried that will be uphill

this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> warner: washington's clock ticked another day closer today to automatic tax hikes and spending cuts, the so-called "fiscal cliff". the president took to the road, while republicans warned there's a deadlock in efforts to reach a deficit deal. >> now, of course, santa delivers everywhere. i've been keeping my own naughty and nice lists for washington. >> warner: the president chose a seasonal setting, a toy factory in hatfield, pennsylvania, and holiday imagery to press again for extending tax cuts for the middle class. >> if congress does nothing, every family in america will see their income taxes automatically go up on january 1. i mean, i... i'm assuming that doesn't sound too good to you. >> no. >> that's sort of like the lump of coal you get for christmas. that's a scrooge christmas. >> warner: in washington, republicans portrayed the road trip as so much humbug, at a time, they said, when negotiations

. >> this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> brown: on this final friday before election day, there was word that jobs are on the increase, but so is unemployment. the numbers were seized upon by the presidential candidates as they began making closing arguments on an issue that's been front and center throughout the campaign. did an economy in need of a spark find one in october? u.s. employers across nearly all sectors were hiring, for a net gain of 171,000 new jobs. the labor department also revised its august and september figures higher, by 84,000. all told, it signaled slow but steady growth, and it was news that president obama wanted to play up in the campaign's final weekend, especially in one critical state. >> "oh (io), oh (io)" >> brown: the president made three stops in the buckeye state, starting in hilliard, just outside columbus. >> in 2008, we were in the middle of two wars and the worst economic crisis since the great depression. and

this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> woodruff: the u.s. death toll from the giant storm named sandy has risen to at least 63 today. about 6.5 million homes and businesses are still without electricity though there were signs of daily life returning to its usual rhythm in some places. a familiar sound returned to lower manhattan streets last night. ( horns honking ) the power did not. police helped direct traffic with signals still dark, but one taxi driver said it wasn't worth the risk. >> it's been dangerous. i've got to go home, i'll walk. there's no traffic signal light, no nothing there. >> woodruff: you're going home? you're done? >> i'm done already. >> woodruff: it wasn't much easier for pedestrians who made their way on foot, some with only flashlights leading the way. >> it's really unsettling because we don't have power. we don't know what's going on. we don't have anywhere to get to televisions. >> woodruff: many people flocked to mobile

this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> woodruff: after another day of violence, a ceasefire deal between israel and hamas was finally announced in cairo today. but further negotiations on key longer-term sticking points between the two sides were put off for now. egypt's foreign minister, mohammed kamel amr, announced the breakthrough with secretary of state hillary clinton at his side. >> egypt has exerted efforts and conducted intensive discussions since the renewed outbreak of hostilities in the gaza strip with all parties: the palestinian leadership, the these efforts and communications managed to reach an agreement to a ceasefire and the return of calm and halt of the violence and the bloodshed that was witnessed recently. >> the united states welcomes the agreement today for a ceasefire in gaza. for it to hold, the rocket attacks must end, a broader calm returned. in the days ahead, the united states will work with partners across region to con