Bush to explore presidential run . . . Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush announced Tuesday that he plans to "actively explore" a run for president, taking his most definitive step yet toward mounting a 2016 campaign. The former GOP governor also said he plans to launch a new political operation allowing him to raise money for like-minded politicians. Bush said he's discussed his plans with his family. 

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Obama makes deal with Cuba to free U.S. prisoner . . . American Alan Gross has been released from a Cuban prison after five years, as part of an agreement that also includes the release of three Cubans jailed in the United States, senior U.S. officials said Wednesday. Associated Press

Obama will announce the deal in a statement from the White House at noon. I'll live stream on White House Dossier.

Judge: Obama immigration order unconstitutional . . . In the first court opinion on the issue, a federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled that President Obama’s immigration actions are an unconstitutional abuse of presidential power. White House Dossier

This action by itself will not undermine the amnesty, but it does signal that the legal route against the orders may have a chance.

Obama takes most executive actions since Truman . . . President Obama has issued a form of executive action known as the presidential memorandum more often than any other president in history — using it to take unilateral action even as he has signed fewer executive orders. When these two forms of directives are taken together, Obama is on track to take more high-level executive actions than any president since Harry Truman battled the "Do Nothing Congress" almost seven decades ago. USA Today

The White House has been at its usual disingenuous best, suggesting that Obama is not exercising executive power by emphasizing his relatively restrained use of "orders." They forgot to mention the memoranda.

Obama's Surgeon general should try practicing medicine . . . Obama’s new Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, is in fact a political animal with relatively little experience working as an actual doctor. Murthy, who is 37, only graduated from medical school – Yale, from which he also received an MBA - in 2003. He completed his residency just eight years ago. I’m not sure I’d trust him with my gall bladder yet, let alone make him surgeon general. White House Dossier

IRS blocks document release . . . An independent IRS monitor announced Monday it will block the release of roughly 400 more pages of documents related to unauthorized leaks of confidential taxpayer information to the White House. The IRS will be withholding nearly all of the 2,500 documents it located that were related to unauthorized IRS leaks to the White House. Washington Free Beacon

Ecuadorans win entry after donations to Dems . . . The Obama administration overturned a ban preventing a wealthy, politically connected Ecuadorean woman from entering the United States after her family gave tens of thousands of dollars to Democratic campaigns, according to finance records and government officials. New York Times

Hillary rips torture, says, "Black lives matter" . . . Hillary Rodham Clinton said Tuesday she's proud to have been part of an administration that "banned illegal renditions and brutal interrogations" and said the U.S. should never be involved in torture anywhere in the world. Fox News

She finally gets with the Democrat program. So slow off the mark. Wasn't excess caution what sank her last time?

Nearly 2.5 million select health plans . . . But many unknowns remain heading into pivotal weeks for the health care overhaul. Figures released by the Health and Human Services Department on Tuesday reflect customers from only 37 states that rely on the federal exchange. It is unclear how many more signed up in the final three days leading up to Monday’s midnight deadline. Washington Times

Obama's Wednesday schedule

Sony hackers vow mass attacks . . . Sony’s hackers are vowing a 9/11-style attack on moviegoers who attend “The Interview—” a threat so chilling that Thursday’s New York premiere of the film has been canceled. New York Post

More Americans being lured toward ISIS . . . Since March 2013, more than 20 American citizens or legal residents have tried to join or provide support to terror groups in those two countries. At a time when the threat of lone-wolf Islamic State sympathizers once again has risen to the fore, the review shows that since early this year, federal law enforcement in the U.S. have been dealing with homegrown terror cases at a rate of one almost every other week. Fox News​

Rubio not backing down to Bush . . . Rubio’s supporters believe the challenge is surmountable, in part because the senator has cultivated his own profile as a national leader during his first four years in Washington and built a solid political and fundraising network that extends beyond Florida. Washington Examiner

Pataki considering a run . . . Former NY Gov. George Pataki said Monday he is “very seriously” considering a run for President, adding, “I have no doubt in my mind that I have the ability to run this country well.” New York Daily News

Levin's epic rant rips RINO Republicans . . . Radio host Mark Levin’s point is very straightforward, even though its seems mysterious to most Republicans: The people have handed the GOP – I hesitate to use the initials, since it certainly is an old Party, but not acting very grand – an historic victory, an opportunity, and even a responsibility. And yet they squandered it so everyone could go home and decorate their Christmas trees. White House Dossier

Cruz, Lee: Don't blame us for confirmations . . . As the 113th Congress draws to a close, Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah are facing harsh criticism from colleagues for supposedly opening the door to confirmation of presidential nominees — a claim Lee’s office said is “a complete fabrication.” Daily Signal

McConnell: Keystone up first . . . Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that approving the Keystone XL oil-sands pipeline will be the first item on the agenda for Republicans when they take control of the Senate next year. National Journal​



EU removes Hamas from terrorist blacklist . . . The European Union’s second highest court ruled Wednesday that Hamas must be removed from the EU’s terrorism blacklist over a technicality. The decision came just four months after Hamas launched thousands of rockets at Israeli communities and days after its anniversary celebrations included a militaristic display glorifying terrorism against Jews. The Blaze

As the Swedes go, so goes Europe . . . Some 20 percent of Sweden’s 9.5 million people are immigrants or the children of immigrants: the highest figure in Europe. Most European states were until recently monocultural. They have trouble assimilating immigrants, especially rural Muslims who wish to keep their cultural and religious identity. Weekly Standard

Europe is going to good-will itself into extinction.

Pakistan deaths include 132 kids . . . Savage Taliban gunmen stormed a school in Pakistan filled with the young sons and daughters of military personnel Tuesday, killing at least 141 people before being gunned down in an eight-hour siege, officials said. The victims included at least 132 kids, some only 10 years old. Most were 12 to 16. An additional 121 students and three staff members were wounded. New York Post