SOTU Scoop

By Nefi Alarcon [twitter-follow screen_name='NefiAlarcon']

Get your daily scoop of what State of the Union is watching today, November 20, 2013.

Congressman's cocaine bust: Earlier this year, on his first day on the job, we interviewed first-term Republican Rep. Trey Radel about how he planned to change Washington. “I want to be a conservative voice that stands up for what is right and does the right thing,” he said.

Court documents show Radel was caught last month in a sting operation buying a small amount of cocaine in Washington D.C.. Today he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor cocaine possession and was sentenced to a year of probation.

In a statement released Tuesday the Congressman said, “I struggle with the disease of alcoholism, and this led to an extremely irresponsible choice.”

Today in court he said, "I want to come out of this stronger."

Radel was elected last year to represent Florida's 19th Congressional District which is located in the southwest part of the state.

How low can you go?: According a new CBS News poll released today President’s Obama’s approval rating has hit a new low going from 46% in late October to 37% now in November. The President’s disapproval numbers rose from 49% in October to 57% now.

The CNN Poll of Polls also released today puts Obama’s approval at 40% and his disapproval at 55%.  The CNN Poll of Polls averages the last non-partisan surveys by CBS News, Gallup Daily Tracking, and ABC News/Washington Post.

The CBS News poll also shows a growing number of people who disapprove of the President’s landmark healthcare legislation.  61% of those surveyed disapprove of the Affordable Care Act.  31% approve – last month the approval rating stood at 43%.

A deal on the language: The U.S. and Afghanistan have reached an agreement on the contractual language that would allow a limited number of American troops to stay to train Afghan security services.

Even though the White House said a deal was hammered out last month, a deal on the official contract language was not reached until today.  The agreement will be submitted to the Loya Jirga, the Afghan council of tribal elders and officials who are meeting tomorrow to consider it.

Speaking to reporters Secretary of State John Kerry said, “The agreement will speak for itself when the agreement is approved and as we sit here tonight, we have agreed on the language that would be submitted to a Loya Jirga, but they have to pass it.”

Responding to reports that the deal hinged on a formal letter of apology for past mistakes by American troops are false, the secretary said.

“President Karzai didn't ask for an apology, there was no discussion of an apology, there will be, there is no, it's just not even on the table. He didn't ask for it, we're not discussing it and that is not the subject that we've been talking about.”