U.S. plans raids to deport families who surged across border  —  The Department of Homeland Security has begun preparing for a series of raids that would target for deportation hundreds of families who have flocked to the United States since the start of last year, according to people familiar with the operation.

Did Trump impugn fifth-grader's question to Clinton?  —  KEOTA, Ia.  — The morning after Hannah Tandy made national news with a poignant question to presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, rival candidate Donald Trump appeared to imply that the scene was phony.

Mele Kalik-Baracka  —  President Obama jets to a Hawaiian holiday, while the world unravels.  —  Before leaving for his annual Hawaiian Christmas vacation, President Obama found an odd way to wish Americans “Mele Kalikimaka!”  In an interview with National Public Radio, he discussed Islamic State, also known as ISIS.

Dave Barry's 2015 Year in Review  —  Was 2015 the worst year ever?  Yes, yes it was. … Sometimes we are accused — believe it or not — of being overly negative in our annual Year in Review.  Critics say we ignore the many positive events in a given year and focus instead on the stupid …

If Trump wins the nomination, prepare for the end of the conservative party  —  If you look beyond Donald Trump's comprehensive unpleasantness — is there a disagreeable human trait he does not have? — you might see this: He is a fundamentally sad figure.  His compulsive boasting is evidence of insecurity.

Gov. Jerry Brown pardons Robert Downey Jr. for 1990s drug offenses  —  Robert Downey Jr. appears in a Malibu courtroom on July 25, 1996, after his third arrest in a month.  —  Actor Robert Downey Jr., who spent time behind bars in the late 1990s on drug convictions, received a Christmas Eve pardon …

Christmas Eve 1955 Was Much Warmer  —  Drudge is touting the “record heat” forecast for Christmas Eve, even though most of the country will be below normal temperature.  The best Drudge could come up with was 86 degrees at Orlando.  —  Christmas Eve 1955 was much warmer.

Minneapolis City Council Member Alondra Cano under fire for posting phone numbers, email addresses of constituents  —  A Minneapolis City Council member is drawing criticism for what some see as an effort to publicly shame constituents who objected to her involvement in Wednesday's Black Lives Matter rally …

The Creaking Joints of Democracy  —  One of my favorite liberals, Philly magazine's Joel Mathis (he's one half of the “Red-Blue America” column with Ben Boychuk), offers up a conciliatory column in the spirit of Christmas today that I take at face value.  A few relevant bits: … So far, so good.

Americans Held Hostage in Iran Win Compensation 36 Years Later  —  WASHINGTON — After spending 444 days in captivity, and more than 30 years seeking restitution, the Americans taken hostage at the United States Embassy in Tehran in 1979 have finally won compensation.

Democrats Turn to Trump Hats to Raise Cash  —  The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is trying to raise money for 2016 House races with its own version of Donald Trump's infamous “Make America Great Again” hat.  —  The DCCC's hat comes in blue, and says “Make Congress Blue Again.”

Ben Carson plans staff shake-up in coming days  —  Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson is seeking to take control of his struggling presidential campaign, saying in an interview that his drop in the polls is the fault of his advisers and that he plans to shake up his staff in the coming days.

This Week in PC Run Amok: School Professor Calls on Students to Say ‘Happy Federal Holiday’  —  A professor for political science at the University of Central Florida recently wrote an opinion piece for UCFToday calling for students to begin wishing one another a “Happy Federal Holiday” …