10 things you need to know today: December 18, 2014

1. Obama announces historic diplomatic thaw with CubaThe U.S. and Cuba announced Wednesday that they would reestablish diplomatic relations after a half-century rift that began in the Cold War. "Isolation has not worked," Obama said. "It's time for a new approach." The decision followed 18 months of secret talks, and Cuba's Wednesday release of U.S. aid contractor Alan Gross, who had been held by the communist Caribbean government for five years. Conservatives in Congress vowed to fight the easi...