DAY'S END ROUNDUP

FROM THE BLOGS:

Menendez and Hagel on opposite sides of Iran issue
If former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) becomes Secretary of Defense and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) becomes chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, they could find themselves on opposite sides of dealing with Iran, writes Josh Rogin at Foreign Policy's The Cable.

The new mandate on defense
In the latest issue of Democracy: A Journal of Ideas outgoing Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) argues it's time to spend more, not less.

Libertarians and risk aversion
Noah Millman ponders whether libertarians tend to avoid risk at his blog at The American Conservative.

Graham, Rubio and Blunt meander through questions about gun control
Dave Weigel asked a number of Republican senators about new gun legislation. Read responses from Sens. Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Marco Rubio (Fla.), and Roy Blunt (Fla.) here. 

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:

Boehner moves to 'Plan B'
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) took steps to introduce a "Plan B" deficit reduction plan on Tuesday, The Hill's Erik Wasson and Russell Berman report. 

President Obama to push assault weapons ban in second term
President Obama will push legislation strengthening gun restrictions in his second term, according to the White House. The Hill's Justin Sink has more.