First on CNN: Graham ends his campaign for the White House  —  U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham suspends presidential campaign  — Sen. Lindsey Graham told CNN's Kate Bolduan in an exclusive interview that he is ending his presidential campaign  — Graham is an experienced foreign policy voice …

Clinton's brief absence at the Democratic debate explained  —  Coverage of the Saturday night Democratic debate has focused on Bernie Sanders' apology to Hillary Clinton for his staff's poor judgment in viewing her campaign's proprietary data.  But Clinton issued a “sorry” of her own — although for a far less serious matter.

Donald Trump: ‘I will demand an apology from Hillary’  —  Donald Trump says he wants Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to apologize for claiming that he was “becoming ISIS's best recruiter.”  —  “I will demand an apology from Hillary.  She should apologize,” he told TODAY's Matt Lauer on Monday.

Ted Cruz Is Still Best Positioned For The Nomination  —  I think Ted Cruz had a problematic week, but I do not think it has impacted him negatively with his base.  The most interesting observation to be made this coming week and over this past weekend is what Ted Cruz does with and how he treats …

Iran provokes the world as Obama does nothing  —  IRAN IS following through on the nuclear deal it struck with a U.S.-led coalition in an utterly predictable way: It is racing to fulfill those parts of the accord that will allow it to collect $100 billion in frozen funds and end sanctions …

Clinton campaign sweats out data breach damage  —  MANCHESTER, N.H. — Accusing your opponent of committing evil and unpardonable crimes is basic presidential campaign jujitsu.  But Hillary Clinton's team is genuinely jittery about the sneak peek taken by Bernie Sanders staffers into its secret voter file.

Las Vegas Strip blocked off after car mows down pedestrians  —  11:45 p.m. ET: Officials don't yet know whether it was an accident or intentional.  —  11:44 p.m. ET: At least one dead and seven in critical condition, fire officials said.  There were a total of 37 patients.  —  [Original story]

Heroic high school football player killed shielding teenage girls from gunmen  —  When the shooting began Thursday night in Knoxville, Tenn., Zaevion Dobson faced a split-second choice: run away and save himself or use his body as a shield to protect those around him.

CBS Edits Out Criticisms of U.S. Policy From Frank Luntz Focus Group With Muslim Americans  —  When a CBS News segment featuring a focus group of American Muslims aired Friday, it highlighted their relationship to terrorism, with a particular fixation on how much responsibility they felt to condemn terrorist attacks.

Woman Live-streams Video of Alleged Anthony Cumia Assault  —  Anthony Cumia was arrested and charged this weekend with strangulation in the second degree, unlawful imprisonment in the second degree, assault in the third degree, and criminal mischief in the third and fourth degree.

Anger: An American History  —  WHERE, many have asked these last weeks, do the rhetorical fireballs — the raging suspicion and rabid xenophobia — come from?  Barring people from our shores, Paul Ryan reminds us, is “not what this country stands for.”  Emma Lazarus would have agreed.

Miscellaneous Americana for the New Year  —  John Wilkes [1727-1797].  You may have heard of “that devil [John] Wilkes.”  His publication—The North Briton—made him a hero in the eyes of American patriots and Whigs everywhere, and a thorn in the side of the British ministers …