In what will could be the final news conference of his first term, President Obama called on Congress to increase the debt ceiling.
Obama used harsh language to describe the tactics Republicans are using to bring about spending cuts, saying that they are "holding a gun to the head of the American people."
An apt metaphor as the president was asked repeatedly about gun control and Vice President Joe Biden's task force that has been looking into what the administration's response to the violence in Newtown should be. The president gave up little information, saying he will review Biden's report Monday and have a "fuller presentation" later in the week.
But he did hint that a response could include a combination of calling on Congress to pass legislation and issuing an executive order.
You can read NPR's live blog of the conference here.
