Stranger Than Fiction

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TOP NEWS

• Last night’s Democratic debate put Buttigieg as the main competitor target for the first time. He sought to fend off charges that he’s in the pocket of large donors.

• Former senior Trump administration officials say they feared Putin influenced Trump on Ukraine and 2016.

• Boris Johnson’s newly conservative majority in Parliament helped sail through an endorsement of a Brexit deal that would take the country out of the EU by the end of January.

THE ELECTION

• Buttigieg passed his first big test in a debate

• Buttigieg’s midwestern rival Amy Klobuchar sought to draw distinction from him

• Biden had his strongest debate thus far

THE COMMENT

“This is the problem with issuing purity tests you cannot yourself pass," Buttigieg added. "If I pledge never to be in the company of a progressive Democratic donor, I couldn't be up here. Senator, your net worth is 100 times mine. Suppose you went home and felt the holiday spirit — I know this isn't likely, but stay with me — and decided to go on pete.com and gave the maximum, would that pollute my campaign because it came from a wealthy person? No. I would be glad to have that support. We need the support of everybody who is invested to help beat Donald Trump."

"I do not sell access to my time," Warren responded.

"Since when, senator?" Buttigieg interjected.

THE STRANGEST

• U.S. megachurch seeks $100K, prayers to ‘resurrect’ singer’s dead child

THE AV ROOM

• NASA ON HOW WE ARE GOING BACK TO THE MOON

• BEAT MAKING BATTLE

• CHRISTMAS IN HANOI