TRUMP’S PICKS FOR DHS, AMBASSADOR TO CHINA, EPA The president-elect has chosen retired Marine Gen. John Kelly as Department of Homeland Security secretary, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad as his ambassador to China and Scott Pruitt, who is currently suing the Environmental Protection Agency over climate change, to lead the EPA. [Elise Foley and Jessica Schulberg, HuffPost]

TRUMP REPORTEDLY TRYING TO KEEP A STAKE IN HIS BUSINESS “President-elect Dona ld J. Trump is considering formally turning over the operational responsibility for his real estate company to his two adult sons, but he intends to keep a stake in the business and resist calls to divest, according to several people briefed on the discussions.” [NYT]

THE RNC IS THROWING ITS HOLIDAY PARTY AT TRUMP’S D.C. HOTEL Because of course. [Sam Stein, HuffPost]

‘U.S. LIFE EXPECTANCY DECLINES FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1993’ “Rising fatalities from heart disease and stroke, diabetes, drug overdoses, accidents and other conditions caused the lower life expectancy revealed in a report released Thursday by the National Center for Health Statistics. In all, death rates rose for eight of the top 10 leading causes of death.” [WaPo]

ALL 47 PEOPLE ABOARD PLANE BOUND FOR ISLAMABAD DIED IN PAKISTAN PLANE CRASH Including the “Pakastani Brad Pitt.” [CNN]

TWO JUVENILES CHARGED WITH ARSON THAT STARTED DEADLY TENNESSEE FIRES The blaze killed 14 people and injured over 130 in Sevier County, Tennessee. [Hayley Miller, HuffPost]

THE SENATE PAID TRIBUTE TO JOE BIDEN And kept calling him Mr. President... [Paige Lavender and Michael McAuliff, HuffPost]