While there was no clear winner in last night's Republican debate, which focused primarily on terrorism, the Marco Rubio-Ted Cruz showdown was something to watch. Take a look at the best moments, including Jeb Bush calling Donald Trump a "chaos candidate." [Igor Bobic, HuffPost]
"After weeks of closed-door meetings and late-night negotiations, Republicans and Democrats finally reached an agreement Tuesday night on a $1.1 trillion bill to fund the government until October 2016. Lawmakers also agreed on a robust package of so-called tax extenders, which would make expired tax provisions permanent." [Laura Barron-Lopez and Matt Fuller, HuffPost]
Stocks are up and emerging markets are rattled as the Fed weighs whether or not to "raise short-term borrowing costs [and] mark the end of an era of zero interest rates." [WSJ]
Over 650,000 students returned to school in Los Angeles Wednesday, after an emailed bomb threat caused the superintendent to close the LA school system. New York City officials said they received the same threat -- and dismissed its veracity. [USA Today]
"Once demonized for withholding lifesaving AIDS drugs from poor countries in Africa, chastened pharmaceutical companies are testing an alternative strategy: a complicated deal to sell hepatitis drugs at a fraction of their usual cost while imposing tight restrictions intended to protect lucrative markets in the West." [NYT]
Only two people reported minor injuries, while one complained of chest pain after the plane crash landed on the runway. [Michael McLaughlin, HuffPost]
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WHAT’S BREWING
Set aside some time to read these wonders. [Longform]
The U.S. Postal Service is set to deliver over 15 billion packages and letters this holiday season. [HuffPost]
Inside the luxury candle racket. [Racked]
The trio from "The First Wives' Club" will return to Netflix for a tale about the reunion of a popular singing group. [HuffPost]
Forget winter is coming -- and all hail Queen B. [HuffPost]
WHAT'S WORKING
"San Diego's city council unanimously voted Tuesday to adopt a plan to power the city entirely with renewable energy by 2035, joining cities like San Francisco, Paris and Vancouver, Canada, in setting ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the next several decades." [HuffPost]
For more, sign up for the What's Working newsletter.
ON THE BLOG
" If we have any hope of uprooting it we must talk about the root cause of the problem and the role that governments around the world have played in the emergence of this phenomenon." [HuffPost]
BEFORE YOU GO
~ The fewest people were sentenced to death in the U.S. this year since 1976.
~ The secret behind Vladimir Putin's walk.
~ In honor of the fabulous first trailer for "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," here are the top gifts for the Harry Potter fan in your life (aka yourself).
~ Why you should make the TSA PreCheck investment.
~ The boyfriend of Michelle Dockery, star of "Downton Abbey," has died. John Dineen was 34.
~ Upgrading your holiday light display (and saving you some electricity cash along the way).
~ Visualizing your day through big data.
~ "Gossip Girl" star Kelly Rutherford has lost custody of her children after an extended custody battle.
~ As Vulture points out, "UnReal" has beaten "The Bachelor" to casting the first African American suitor.
~ Lamar Odom is reportedly not doing very well after his October overdose.
~ And 2015's top selfies are not what you would expect.
Send tips/quips/quotes/stories/photos/events/scoops to Lauren Weber at lauren.weber@huffingtonpost.com. Follow us on Twitter @LaurenWeberHP. And like what you're reading? Sign up here to get The Morning Email delivered to you.