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In Case You Missed It - President Obama ends a difficult year like a lion; Attorney General Eric Holder gives props to athletes protesting police killings; Jeb Bush is definitely open to the idea of running for president – and more. — Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick) (Photo: BET)

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A New Normal - The president surprised many and angered some when he announced on Dec. 17 the re-establishment of diplomatic relations and an easing in economic and travel restrictions on Cuba. "Isolation has not worked," he said in remarks from the White House. "It's time for a new approach." He also made a deal for the release of captive USAID contractor Alan Gross in exchange for three Cubans jailed in the U.S. for spying. (Photo: Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images)

Photo By Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images

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Senate Family Feud - Sens. Marco Rubio (Florida) and Rand Paul (Kentucky), who each are considering presidential bids, have been engaging in a war of words since Obama announced plans to normalize relations with Cuba. Rubio, whose parents are Cuban immigrants, slammed the president as "the worst negotiator" as president since Jimmy Carter and perhaps in the nation's history. Paul accused Rubio of being an isolationist and Rubio says Paul doesn't know what he's talking about. (Photos from left: T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images, Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)

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Proud - Jimmy Carter, who as president tried to mend relations between the U.S. and Cuba, praised Obama for re-establishing ties with the Caribbean nation. “This is the kind of thing that has been long overdue, and I’m very proud and grateful that President Obama has shown such wisdom and also, I think, political courage in taking these long overdue steps,” Carter said on MSNBC’s Morning Joe. (Photo: Ralph Barrera-Pool/Getty Images)

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Thinking and Caring - In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Holder praised professional athletes for supporting the Eric Garner protests. “For them to get out there and to express in that way a social conscience, I think goes back to maybe people that these guys don’t even know or my son has a vague awareness of, to Jackie Robinson, who is seen as not only a great athlete, but as an involved, thinking, caring black man," Holder said. “And to have LeBron, Derrick Rose and others who wore those ‘I Can’t Breathe’ shirts, that shows a level of involvement. It shows a depth to them beyond just being great ballplayers.” (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Presidential Pardons - The president on Dec. 17 commuted the prison sentences of eight people who'd been convicted of drug-related crimes. "All have served at least 10 years in prison with good conduct while incarcerated, and all would have gotten lesser sentences if convicted of the same crimes today," said Deputy Attorney General James Cole. Obama also issued 12 pardons to those whose offenses range from misappropriating bank funds to "possession of an unregistered distilling apparatus." (Photo: Matthew Ragen/Getty Images)

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The Joyfulness Test - Former Florida governor Jeb Bush on Dec. 16 announced that he will “actively explore the possibility” of running for president in 2016, ending speculation about whether he was considering it. Bush, the brother and son of presidents, has in the past said that he would run for the highest office in the land only if he could do so "joyfully." (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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O'Reilly Says - In a segment with Martin Luther King III, conservative host Bill O'Reilly offered his take on statements protesters should be making on their T-shirts. “Don’t abandon your children. Don’t get pregnant at 14. Don’t allow your neighborhoods to deteriorate into free-fire zones. That’s what the African-American community should have on their T-shirts,” O'Reilly said. (Photo: The O'Reilly Factor/Fox News)

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At Last - Before heading home for the holidays, the Senate approved the nomination of a new U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy. The post had been open for 17 months. He is the youngest and the first of Indian descent to hold the position. (Photo: REUTERS/JASON REED/LANDOV)

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Surprise - The president surprised his old pal Deval Patrick, who conducted his last monthly radio stint as Massachusetts governor on Dec. 18. "Uh, Governor, this is Barack Obama, formerly of Somerville. I've got a few complaints about service in and around the neighborhood, but I've moved down South since that time...," he said, leading Patrick to question whether the call was a hoax. After a bit of joking around, Obama said, "I just wanted let my dear friend know how proud I am. Deval, you done good, man." (Photo: REUTERS/Jason Reed)