Good morning. I'm back at it after feeling a little under the weather. But enough about me. Here's what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and Out the Door.
It must have stuck in President Barack Obama's craw to deliver a win for WikiLeaks. But that's effectively what he did when he commuted the 35-year sentence of Pvt. Chelsea Manning. She's convicted of committing one of the biggest leaks of classified information in US history. And Obama's move to free someone regarded by many as a traitor set off a firestorm in the political and intelligence communities. We're sure this will come up when Obama holds his final presidential news conference today.
2. Obamacare
If you fall into the camp that thinks Obamacare is expensive, wait till you hear how expensive it'll get if it's repealed without a replacement. That'll quickly strip 18 million Americans of their insurance and cause premiums to double. That's according to the Congressional Budget Office - and they're non-partisan. President-elect Donald Trump wants Obamacare gone, gone, gone and says he's nearly done crafting a plan with "insurance for everybody." To that, Republican lawmakers say, please do share. Tom Price, Trump's pick for HHS secretary, says he too has a plan. But he too isn't sharing.
What a horrible, ghastly mistake. More than 50 people at a refugee camp in northeast Nigeria were killed when a Nigerian fighter jet, targeting members of Boko Haram, hit the camp instead. About 120 were wounded. Among the dead were six staffers with the Nigerian Red Cross. The saddest part of all this is that most of the displaced people at the camp were there because they had fled the evil clutches of the terrorist group.
5. Abortion
It's a fact that probably won't stop the political battle over abortion, but it's noteworthy nonetheless: abortions are at a historic low in the US. A new report says the rate has declined to 14.6 abortions per 1,000 women of childbearing age. That's the lowest level since Roe v. Wade legalized abortions in the early 70s. There are two reasons: Greater use of contraceptives and a wave of abortion restrictions in several states.
Get well soon We're sending good vibes to former President George H.W. Bush, who's in a Houston hospital. A staffer says Bush is "doing fine."
Kick 'em out Yes crying babies and overzealous seat recliners irk us on a plane, but the most loathed passenger (for the third year in a row)? The rear seat kicker.
RIP Colo Colo, the oldest gorilla on record, has died. She was 60. That's 20 more years of life than most gorillas get.
Inside Syria This is a long, heartbreaking read, but it's worth it. It's on Arwa Damon's trip to rebel-held Syria, where children beg to die.
And finally ...
Riding the rails Nothing like a relaxing train ride to clear your mind, even if it's a train made of Legos. (Click to view)
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