Journalist Joe Hagan says the upcoming election will be “the ugliest campaign ever.” He details how superPACs have changed the election game, bringing an unprecedented flood of outside money to fund opposition research and negative ads. (photo courtesy of New York Magazine)

If you look at [President Obama’s] strategy for 2012, he’s basically been really honest about the fact that he’s going to be attacking the Republican Congress right and left. This era of Barack Obama trying to be this bipartisan uniter seems to be over, at least for now.

— Jodi Kantor on the 2012 Democratic Strategy.

It is indeed 2012, not 2011!

— First email from NPR HQ today. [I have a feeling I’m going to be sending many emails that say this.]

Happy 2012 from the staff of Fresh Air! Catch you Tuesday! — Mel

Mummers — Avalon String Band (by Melody Kramer)

What’s In The 2012 Budget Plan? NPR Breaks It Down