• Supreme Court agrees to review Texas redistricting; Justices may want to impose new guidelines. [WP, LAT, NYT, WSJ, USAT]

•Bush says 30,000 Iraqis have died in the war. Bush: "Knowing what I know today, I'd make the decision again. . . The long run in this war is going to require a change in governments in parts of the world." [WP, NYT, USAT, WT]

•Bush is "confident" that a deal can be reached with Sen. McCain (R-Ariz.) regarding the treatment of detainees. [NYT]

•Bush says race was not a determining factor in the government's response to Katrina. [NYT]

• Federal budget deficit hit a record-high for November, up 43% from last year. [WSJ]

•Bush's approval rating rises to 42% in USAT/Gallup Poll. [USAT]

• Texas prosecutor will appeal the dismissal of one of the indictments in the case against Rep. DeLay (R-Tex.). [WP]

• ACLU raises concern about provision of the Patriot Act that gives the Secret Service too much leeway to charge protesters. [WP]

• Some states try to sidestep the administration in the regulation of emissions. [WSJ]

•Gale Norton, Elaine Chao exaggerate benefits of ANWR drilling. [WP]

• House and Senate negotiators agree on $601.7b domestic spending bill. [WSJ]

• Advertisement from New Orleans residents tells Congress to pay for stronger levees. [NYT]

• GOP leaders in New York urge Jeanine Pirro to drop her senate bid. [WP]