Politics

For 110 years, Senate bean soup has been offered every day but one in the U.S. Senate cafeteria. But few staffers have actually tasted the traditional soup of the "world's greatest deliberative body."

When Congress returns to work in January, Sen. John McCain of Arizona is set to lead the committee, which deals with everything from the Pentagon budget to the U.S. war against the Islamic state.

Travel to Cuba for business or education will be much easier as the U.S. eases restrictions, but until the embargo is completely lifted, going to Cuba simply for tourism still won't be allowed.

When Congress returns in 2015, it will consider the nomination of Antonio Weiss to be undersecretary of Treasury for domestic finance. The nomination is causing a fight within the Democratic Party.

This week, President Obama announced that he will begin to normalize relations with Cuba. Cuban-American writer Richard Blanco recommends a book about Cuba's imprint on the American imagination.