--- title: Morning Must Reads: December 7 description: Morning Must Reads: December 7 canonical: https://time.com/4138165/how-the-gop-reacted-to-obamas-speech/ author: Zeke Miller article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-12-07T13:53:57.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-22T13:09:08.064Z article:section: Politics og:title: Morning Must Reads: December 7 og:description: Morning Must Reads: December 7 og:url: https://time.com/4138165/how-the-gop-reacted-to-obamas-speech/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb24c27fcf0ec0da8/6986837dcd6848a30809364f/morning-must-reads1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: Morning Must Reads og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Morning Must Reads: December 7 twitter:description: Morning Must Reads: December 7 twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb24c27fcf0ec0da8/6986837dcd6848a30809364f/morning-must-reads1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # How the GOP Reacted to Obama's Speech > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. Senior correspondent Philip Elliott brings sharp context to the issues driving the capital, connecting the decisions made in Washington to the institutions, industries and people they affect. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=d62b0c16-8dac-4dc1-a28d-4a312b07b3c3&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). ### Newsletter facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 | | Frequency | Monday to Saturday (3x per week) | TIME, August 2026 | | Written by | Philip Elliott, Senior Correspondent | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 | | Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 | ### Readership The policy influence ecosystem. A policy-focused audience spanning government, public affairs, advocacy, law, research, political media, and the institutions that make, interpret and respond to public policy. ### TIME D.C. Brief: key statements * D.C. Brief is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read. * D.C. Brief is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=d62b0c16-8dac-4dc1-a28d-4a312b07b3c3&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). * TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/subscribe?i=d62b0c16-8dac-4dc1-a28d-4a312b07b3c3&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What is TIME's politics newsletter? D.C. Brief is TIME's Washington newsletter, written by senior correspondent Philip Elliott. It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, three times a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. by [Zeke Miller](https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/) ## Zeke Miller Dec 7, 2015 1:53 PM UTC  The early morning sun rises behind the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC. The early morning sun rises behind the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC. Mark Wilson—Getty Images by [Zeke Miller](https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/) ## Zeke Miller Dec 7, 2015 1:53 PM UTC After weeks of watching his political opponents drive a national debate on safety and security, **President Obama** sought Sunday night to reinsert himself into the conversation, warning the country away from fear and division. After a much-maligned response to the Paris terrorism attacks and criticism that he waited too long to address the American people after last week’s shooting in San Bernardino, Obama argued he’d intensified his assault on ISIS, turning up the rhetoric on “thugs” who are “part of a cult of death.” But he largely made the case for staying to his course—with an international coalition and air war, combined with new efforts. Republican presidential candidates were swift to condemn the speech, arguing Obama’s strategy is not working and that his comments were too little too late. While it remains to be seen whether the 2016 election will be defined by foreign policy, it is now clear that it is dominating at least in the lead-up to the Iowa caucuses. Amid a tumultuous presidential primary, no GOP consensus has emerged on policy, save for “toughness” they argue Obama has not displayed. As Obama appealed to quell fears, some Republicans sought to play too them, with **Marco Rubio** retelling stories of people adjusting travel plans in light of new threats, and **Ted Cruz** and **Rand Paul** warning of threats from refugees and other immigrants from Muslim countries. Others, like **Chris Christie** and **Jeb Bush** **,** focused on re-instituting controversial government surveillance programs. **Bernie Sanders** wins the TIME Person of the Year reader poll. Rubio takes aim to halt Cruz’s rise. And **Ben Carson** longs for the days of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Here are your must-reads: **Must Reads** [President Obama: ‘We Will Overcome’ ISIS Threat ](http://time.com/4137956/president-obama-oval-office-isis/)Obama sought to calm the nation amid growing fears about terrorism \[TIME\] [Republican Candidates Respond Harshly to Obama’s Prime-Time Terrorism Address ](http://time.com/4138014/republicans-obama-terrorism-islamic-state/)President Obama’s attempt to rise above politics is challenged by GOP candidates \[TIME\] [Marco Rubio, Switching Focus, Aims to Halt Ted Cruz’s Momentum ](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/07/us/politics/marco-rubio-switching-focus-aims-to-halt-ted-cruzs-momentum.html)Cruz’s conservative consolidation worries his rival \[New York Times\] [Ben Carson on Military: ‘Deal With the Transgender Thing Somewhere Else’ ](http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/ben-carson-military-deal-transgender-thing-somewhere-else-n474936?cid=sm%5Ffb)Fondly recalls ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ \[NBC\] [95,000 Words, Many of Them Ominous, From Donald Trump’s Tongue ](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/06/us/politics/95000-words-many-of-them-ominous-from-donald-trumps-tongue.html?ref=politics)Echoes of the appeals of demagogues of the past century \[New York Times\] **Sound Off** “Our success won’t depend on tough talk, or abandoning our values, or giving into fear. That’s what groups like ISIL are hoping for.” — President Obama in his address to the nation “I ran into someone else who said they’re avoiding stadiums and malls this holiday season because they’re scared. They’re scared not because of these attacks, but the growing sense we have a president that’s completely overwhelmed by them.” — Marco Rubio responding to Obama’s address on Fox News **Bits and Bites** [Bernie Sanders Wins Readers’ Poll for TIME Person of the Year](http://time.com/4137173/bernie-sanders-time-person-of-the-year-poll-win/) \[TIME\] [Former President Jimmy Carter Says He Is Cancer-Free](http://time.com/4137812/jimmy-carter-cancer-free/) \[TIME\] [Trump’s False Claim That the 9/11 Hijackers’ Wives ‘Knew Exactly What Was Going to Happen’](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/12/06/trumps-dubious-claim-that-the-911-hijackers-wives-knew-exactly-what-was-going-to-happen/) \[Washington Post\] [Sanders’s Focus on Inequality Overshadowed as Guns, Terror Grab Headlines](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sanderss-focus-on-inequality-drowned-out-as-guns-and-terror-grab-headlines/2015/12/06/dc578c48-9b6f-11e5-94f0-9eeaff906ef3%5Fstory.html) \[Washington Post\] [Donald Trump and Chris Christie Square Off Over Racial Profiling](http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/12/06/donald-trump-and-chris-christie-square-off-over-racial-profiling/?em%5Fpos=small&emc=edit%5Fcn%5F20151207&nl=first-draft&nl%5Fart=3&nlid=55003713&ref=headline&te=1&%5Fr=0) \[New York Times\] [Posh Hotels And Pricey Airfare: Meet the Senate Candidate Driving Some Democrats Crazy](http://www.nationaljournal.com/s/125536/posh-hotels-pricey-airfare-meet-senate-candidate-driving-some-democrats-crazy) \[National Journal\] [Iowa Caucus Gifts That Can’t Be Found in Any Store](http://www.thegazette.com/subject/opinion/blogs/24-hour-dorman/caucus-gifts-that-cant-be-found-in-any-store-20151206?utm%5Fsource=feedburner&utm%5Fmedium=feed&utm%5Fcampaign=Feed%3A+Gazetteonlinecom24HourDorman+%28TheGazette.com+%C2%BB+24+hour+dorman%29) \[The Gazette\] [Dynasties Thrive on Campaign Staffs](http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/dynasties-thrive-on-campaign-staffs-215801) \[Politico\] [Campaign Problems: Ben Carson’s Glass Jaw, Hillary Clinton’s Glass Curtain](http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/12/07/campaign-problems-ben-carsons-glass-jaw-hillary-clintons-glass-curtain/) \[Wall Street Journal\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4138165/how-the-gop-reacted-to-obamas-speech/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4138165/how-the-gop-reacted-to-obamas-speech/"},"headline":"How the GOP Reacted to Obama's Speech","datePublished":"2015-12-07T13:53:57.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T13:09:08.064Z","description":"Morning Must Reads: December 7","url":"https://time.com/4138165/how-the-gop-reacted-to-obamas-speech/","keywords":["Morning Must Reads"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb24c27fcf0ec0da8/6986837dcd6848a30809364f/morning-must-reads1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Zeke Miller","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb24c27fcf0ec0da8/6986837dcd6848a30809364f/morning-must-reads1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Morning Must Reads","caption":"Capitol","creditText":"Mark Wilson—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4138165/how-the-gop-reacted-to-obamas-speech/","name":"How the GOP Reacted to Obama's Speech"}}]}] ```