Happy Birthday to MSBC’s executive producer for The Daily Rundown with Chuck Todd, contributor to the NBC News Political Unit and Georgetown professor. The man is busy but he can still celebrate. h/t Brad Dayspring   

LaRoche sticking around [natitude] RGIII headed into surgery [knee] Metro love story [amazing] Photo by John Sonderman

Big shout out to Shane Harris and his piece on Mark Knoller, “the unofficial White House statistician” that just about every White House flack and hack has relied on to keep meticulous stats on the presidential ongoings. From stump speeches to the putting green, Knoller knows just how many appearances the last …

Inside the National Cathedral by DC photographer Jessica Veltri. Visit her website for more great photographs.

Inauguration ball sells out [tickets] Clinton gets protection [helmet] RGIII depression sets in [GIFs] What’s in a dress? [inauguration] Photo by jkurl11

The Caps are back [NHL] Getting ready for inauguration [events] Not even the Delorean is safe from public transportation cops [ticket] Photo by Robb Hohmann

Senator Kirk is a true inspiration, we’re still waiting on our Christmas gift from Chris Paulitz, Steve Stombres seems to be making a move on Twitter, Where in the world will will Team Mullen travel to next?, congratulations to Shannon McGhan the new staff director for the House Financial Services …

Freshman Congressman Raul Ruiz was probably a little surprised to see the name change on his new, official house website. We’re not referring to the lack of MD although our hopes are high that it will eventually say Doctor Congressman.    

New Congress members are social [Twitter] Barney Frank making moves [Senate] Unemployment details [numbers] Photo by Noe Todorovich

Out with the old and in with the new. 84 new to be exact. At 12pm EST today the 113th Congress was sworn in by Joe Biden followed by Rep. Boehner’s re-election as Speaker of the House. Like the first day of high school, the cool kids already knew where …

The first weekend in January is always a mix of excitement for the new year and hangover from the holidays. However, though we’re detoxing from cookies and champagne, that doesn’t mean we can’t have a weekend filled with fun in DC.

Welcome Congress [freshman] DC gets some new faces [councilmembers] #SaveChefBart of Belga Cafe [Top Chef] Photo by Emily Reid  

Though government may wait till the last minute, the internet is always on top of things. Thankfully throughout this Fiscal Cliff nightmare we had this Les Fiscal Miserables tumblr to keep us amused. We’ve selected some of our favorites:  

Breaking down the cliff [numbers] Breaking down the cliff [timeline] Anything other than the cliff [tabloids] Photo by Jennifer Sherman

Redskins for the win [rookies] Celebrate New Year’s Eve [parties] 2012 was crazy [news] Photo by jsherman16