THE GUARDIAN: Hillary Clinton plans to accept the job of secretary of state offered by Barack Obama, who is reaching out to former rivals to build a broad coalition administration, the Guardian has learned. Obama’s advisers have begun looking into Bill Clinton’s foundation, which distributes millions of dollars to Africa to help with development, to ensure that there is no conflict of interest. But Democrats do not believe that the vetting is likely to be a problem. Clinton would be well placed to become the country’s dominant voice in foreign affairs, replacing Condoleezza Rice. Since being elected senator for New York, she has specialised in foreign affairs and defence. Although she supported the war in Iraq, she and Obama basically agree on a withdrawal of American troops. MORE
UPDATE: Hillary Rodham Clinton has decided to give up her Senate seat and accept the position of secretary of state, making her the public face around the world for the administration of the man who beat her for the Democratic presidential nomination, two confidants said Friday.The apparent accord between perhaps the two leading figures in the Democratic Party climaxed a week-long drama that riveted the nation’s capital. Mrs. Clinton came to her decision after additional discussion with President-elect Barack Obama about the nature of her role and his plans for foreign policy, said one of the confidants, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the situation. [via NEW YORK TIMES]
GLENN GREENWALD: It simply is noteworthy of comment and cause for concern — though far from conclusive about what Obama will do — that Obama’s transition chief for intelligence policy, John Brennan, was an ardent supporter of torture and one of the most emphatic advocates of FISA expansions and telecom immunity. In fairness, Brennan, over the last couple of years, as he’s become more attached to Obama’s campaign, has several times said that waterboarding specifically is wrong, that it is “inconsistent with American values and it’s something that should be prohibited.” In a 2006 PBS interview, he said that “the dark side has its limits”; that “we’re going to look back on this time and regret some of the things that we did, because it is not in keeping with our values”; and, to his credit, he urged that there be much greater openness in debating policies such as eavesdropping and interrogation. MORE
NPR: Obama tapped New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson for U.S. secretary of commerce, and New York Federal Reserve President Timothy Geithner has been asked to serve as Treasury secretary, the transition team member said. MORE
THIS JUST IN: Teen Kills Self On the Internet
A Florida teen who intentionally overdosed streamed his death on the Internet while it occurred Wednesday. Others watched online as 19-year-old Abraham Biggs Jr. died. The Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office told The Miami Herald that he took a deadly mixture of prescription drugs. Media reports and comments on discussion boards — including some posts from those who claimed to have witnessed the incident — vary on whether Biggs actually ingested the drugs on camera. Accounts also vary as to whether people may have encouraged him to kill himself. Justin.tv, the forum where Biggs streamed the incident, has deleted video and the related string of comments. Other sites still hosted silent video Friday that showed Biggs lying motionless in a fetal position on his bed, with his back facing the camera, as police discovered the body and blocked the camera. MORE