As 2013 comes to a close, we take one last look back at our top 50 most-viewed posts of the year. We’re down to the top 10, the least of which drew over 133,000 page views. The top 10 is almost a microcosm of 2013 in itself, but there are a couple of surprises — including our most-viewed post of the year (page-view counts as of 12/27/13):

• #10: Video: Secret gun-rights provision in ObamaCare? – As I wrote at the time, even Nancy Pelosi didn’t know what was in the bill until it passed. Harry Reid snuck in language prohibiting the federal government from collecting firearms-registration data. Jim Acosta’s report from January is still live at the link. Views: 133,849.
• #9: Dewhurst: I’ll pass the late-term abortion ban — and “take action against” those who incited demonstration – This may be the most popular interview I’ve done. While the media focused on Texas state Senator Wendy Davis and her pink sneakers, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst focused more on the way her supporters hijacked the legislature — and vowed in this interview to “take action” against them. In the end, Dewhurst focused more on passing the late-term abortion restrictions that Davis tried to derail, and succeeded easily in the next session. Views: 138,455.
• #8: Some advice on women in combat from a female veteran – We don’t have a Letters to the Editor section, but this response to Jazz Shaw’s column (posted by Jazz) should have us thinking about it. Jazz offered his opposition to including women in combat roles, which provoked a whole range of reactions — and this endorsement from a reader who wrote, “I am not interested in risking men’s lives so I can live my selfish dream.” Views: 146,782.
• #7: Audio: IRS agent tells pro-life group, “Keep your faith to yourself.” – Because that’s what free speech is all about, right? And free expression of religion, too, for that matter. Consider this one from Mary Katharine as your complete First Amendment-meet-regulatory-Hell post. Views: 204,090.
• #6: White House finally releases 1st briefing photo of Obama on night of Benghazi attack; Update: 3 months old? – A non-story turned out to be “a little more … non,” as I wrote at the time. The picture told us nothing new, and even the picture itself wasn’t new. But the 212,262 views this post got told us that the Benghazi story wasn’t going away, either, even if that’s news to the White House.
• #5: Video: Say, where are those ObamaCare premium price cuts? – This Jason Mattera video turned out to be the fifth-most viewed post of the year, but when Rep. Jim McDermott asks if you’re being paid by “the cock brothers,” well, that’s memorable. This one got a Drudge link, and 226,444 page views.
• #4: Iowa Democrat prayer: Thank God for abortionists! – And let’s not forget this addendum: “We pray for women who have been made afraid by their paternalistic religion.” Because women apparently aren’t smart enough, according to the Iowa Democratic Party, to decide on their own religious beliefs. Unbelievable. Views: 242,654.
• #3: Video: Dr. Benjamin Carson’s speech at the National Prayer Breakfast – The most popular speech of the year at Hot Air and The Blaze, and the speech that launched the political career of Dr. Carson … at the expense of Barack Obama, sitting just off to Dr. Carson’s right. Views: 245,134.
• #2: Breaking: Explosion at Boston Marathon? Update: At least two dead; Update: Reports of 12 dead; Update: Hidden in trash cans? Update: Video added; Update: “Two backpacks”; Update: Man “in custody”; Update: Five devices? – CNN’s Brian Stelter recently suggested that the media overreacted to the Boston Marathon bombing and created a storm of indignation, but that’s not a new suggestion. Nevertheless, our top 50 has been peppered with Boston bombing stories, and the 459,998 page views this initial post received seems to settle the point.

And the number one, most-viewed post of the year is …..

• #1: NYT reporter: Obama admin “most closed, control-freak administration I’ve ever covered” – A big surprise, and it wasn’t even close — this got 740,371 views, 60% more than the #2 post received. The irony was not lost on Hot Air readers, especially with Leonard Downie’s appeal to the Obama administration on their promise to run “the most transparent administration ever.”

Now, it’s your turn. Based on the polls from yesterday, I’ve narrowed down the race for top story and most underreported story down to five finalists each. Cast your votes, and watch for the results tomorrow!