By MICHAEL FALCONE ( @michaelpfalcone )

NOTABLES

• EXCLUSIVE - OBAMA DOESN'T RULE OUT PRESIDENTIAL VISIT TO CUBA: 'LET'S SEE.' Marking an abrupt sea change in U.S. policy toward Cuba, President Obama said he is open to visiting the communist Caribbean country before he leaves office. "I don't have any current plans, but let's see how things evolve," Obama told ABC's DAVID MUIR in an exclusive interview for 'World News Tonight.' ABC's DEVIN DWYER has all the details: http://abcn.ws/1AICk3D ABC'S JIM AVILA and SERENA MARSHALL broke the story early yesterday morning: http://abcn.ws/1Abmv7t WATCH AVILA'S debrief live from Havana on "Good Morning America" today: http://abcn.ws/1AidjOJ INSIDE OBAMA'S 'SUBSTANTIVE,' BLUNT CONVERSATION WITH CUBA'S RAUL CASTRO: http://abcn.ws/1wiPO72

• AFTER FIVE YEARS IN PRISON, ALAN GROSS SAYS IT'S 'GOOD TO BE HOME.' For Alan Gross, the American subcontractor released after more than five years in a Cuban prison, "it's good to be home." "What a blessing it is to be a citizen of this country," he said yesterday afternoon, ABC's ERIN DOOLEY notes. Gross praised President Obama's plan to restore diplomatic relations with the island nation, calling the move "a game changer." http://abcn.ws/1Ad1nhj

• HOW HIS RELEASE WENT DOWN. The agreement to release Alan Gross was reached following more than a year of secret back channel talks at the highest levels of both governments. ABC's MICHAEL FALCONE, MARY BRUCE and ARLETTE SAENZ report there were multiple meetings with Cuban officials that took place in other countries as well as pleas from the Pope. http://abcn.ws/1whyrDJ

• THE MOMENT ALAN GROSS ENTERED US AIRSPACE AFTER 5 YEARS IN CUBAN PRISON. ABC News exclusively obtained video of Alan Gross' reunion with his wife Judy after he was released from five years of imprisonment in Cuba. According to ABC's ARLETTE SAENZ and MAE JOO, the video, shot by Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., shows the Gross couple embracing after Gross was released as part of a historic deal between the United States and Cuba. http://abcn.ws/1GtyjUt

THE ROUNDTABLE

ABC's JEFF ZELENY: For decades now, the politics of Cuba has largely been contained to Florida. But by restoring full diplomatic relations to Cuba, President Obama has gone where none of the last 10 American presidents have dared. The historic decision creates a fascinating political dynamic for the 2016 presidential campaign. The rhetoric from several Republican hopefuls was searing, with Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio delivering particularly sharp critiques of the Obama administration. But surely there will be a Republican candidate who takes a more nuanced view, given the broad support that easing restrictions on Cuba has across business and agricultural sectors. Congress now has another issue on its plate for next year: Will the trade embargo and travel bans be fully lifted? The debate will be robust, but Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., told us yesterday after he returned from Havana that he believes the American politics have shifted considerably, with the hard-line stance against Cuba no longer the status quo for many Republicans and some Democrats. The political lines on Cuba will be drawn more by region than party, but it will be an unescapable part of the 2016 race. In Iowa, for example, will Cuba suddenly become the new ethanol as a take-a-stand question for candidates?

ABC's RICK KLEIN: Let us stipulate, for starters, that the next presidential election won't turn on Cuba policy alone. But President Obama's dramatic announcement rejuvenates a debate about his foreign-policy doctrine that's been obscured by the cascading crises of the second half of his presidency. Add to that the presence of one or two Florida Republicans in the 2016 mix and you have the makings of a real discussion about America's role in the world, and postures that - as in the case of Cuba - haven't been seriously rethought in decades. We know where Sen. Marco Rubio and former Gov. Jeb Bush stand. But the more interesting piece of the debate may be where those like Sen. Rand Paul and Rep. Paul Ryan take it, given the generational and regional gaps evident in perceptions of Cuba policy. Beyond that, the president has found another new way to shake off the post-election doldrums with a bold move that resets a long-dormant debate.

ABC's SHUSHANNAH WALSHE: What does possible 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton this of the president's announcement yesterday to normalize relations with Cuba? Late last night she released a statement saying she "support(s) President Obama's decision to change course on Cuba policy while keeping the focus on our principal objective - supporting the aspirations of the Cuban people for freedom." She said she was "deeply relieved" by Alan Gross' release and noted when she was Secretary of State she "pushed for his release" and "stayed in touch" with his wife and daughters, while calling "for a new direction in Cuba." "Despite good intentions, our decades-long policy of isolation has only strengthened the Castro regime¹s grip on power," Clinton said. "As I have said, the best way to bring change to Cuba is to expose its people to the values, information, and material comforts of the outside world. The goal of increased U.S. engagement in the days and years ahead should be to encourage real and lasting reforms for the Cuban people." The night before Clinton condemned the torture revealed in the Senate's interrogation report, and expect her to continue to have to weigh in on the big, pressing stories of the day-whether she's running…or still waiting.

MORE ON GROSS

MARCO RUBIO: ALAN GROSS RELEASE PUT 'A PRICE ON THE HEAD OF EVERY AMERICAN ABROAD.' The release of Alan Gross "set a price on the head of every American abroad," Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, said in an interview with ABC's JEFF ZELENY. According to Rubio, the Obama administration's intention to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba is "terrible for the Cuban people." WATCH ZELENY'S ONE-ON-ONE WITH RUBIO: http://abcn.ws/13aZ55m

THE BUZZ

U.S. SAYS NORTH KOREA RESPONSIBLE FOR SONY HACK. The federal government has determined that North Korea is responsible for the hacking of computers at Sony Pictures Entertainment, according to ABC's JONATHAN KARL and PIERRE THOMAS. The hackers have also threatened to attack theaters screening "The Interview" - a fictional comedy about two Americans who are asked to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un - leading several major chains to pull the film from their lineups and Sony to cancel its Christmas Day release date. The U.S. used painstaking cyber-sleuthing to piece together what happened, the official said, noting that the individual or group behind the hack were not in North Korea. The official said U.S. intelligence and the FBI pulled all the stops out given the unprecedented nature of the attack that destroyed files, shut down work stations and exploited company secrets and strategy. http://abcn.ws/1AIMjWz

OBAMA: SONY HACK PROVES U.S. NEEDS TO DO 'A LOT MORE' TO PROTECT AGAINST CYBER THREATS. The actions of hackers who released a trove of e-mails stolen from Sony Pictures executives indicates the U.S. has not done all it can do to prevent enemies from exploiting "vulnerabilities" in our technology, President Obama said yesterday, ABC's ERIN DOOLEY notes. "We've made progress," Obama said in an exclusive interview with ABC "World News Tonight" anchor DAVID MUIR. "But what we just saw with Sony shows a lot more progress needs to be done. That means, by the way, that Congress also needs to take up cyber security legislation that's been languishing for several years now." The hackers threatened to launch a Sept. 11, 2001-style attack on theaters screening the yet-to-be-released Sony film. Yesterday Sony Pictures announced it was cancelling the film's Dec. 25 release. http://abcn.ws/1C0u4QH

LIBERAL GROUPS KICK OFF THEIR RUN WARREN RUN CAMPAIGN IN DES MOINES. A campaign without a candidate kicked off last night in the all-important state of Iowa, ABC's SHUSHANNAH WALSHE reports. Progressive group MoveOn joined by Democracy for America launched their effort to draft Elizabeth Warren at a coffee shop in Des Moines. Warren wasn't there, but according to reports there were about 80 people there to check out their "Run Warren Run" effort. DFA officially joined the effort at the event pledging $250,000, which is on top of the $1 million MoveOn has already promised to put into the first phase of the campaign. They say they will set up offices in Iowa and New Hampshire, run ads, and assemble a "national volunteer army" on behalf of Warren. A release from DFA said 87.6% of their members are supportive of the draft Warren effort. According to the Des Moines Register, Iowa state senate president Pam Jochum was in attendance at the event and she praised Warren, but told the DMR she isn't ready to back Warren over Hillary Clinton, saying "Not yet." Of course, Warren has said repeatedly she won't run. These supporters are hoping to convince her otherwise, even putting cash where their hopes are, but how many times can she say no? They are hoping a campaign first, a candidate says yes next.

ARIZONA RECOUNT WIN GIVES GOP BIGGEST CONGRESSIONAL MAJORITY SINCE 1929. Six weeks after Election Day, the lone Congressional race left uncalled has been decided. ABC's ALEXANDRIA DUKAKIS writes, Republican Martha McSally, a former Air Force colonel, has defeated her two-time opponent, incumbent Rep. Ron Barber, by a razor-thin 167 votes in Arizona's 2nd district. http://abcn.ws/1AIKusR

POLLING NOTE - OBAMA AND IMMIGRATION: WHAT HE DID VS. HOW HE DID IT. A slim majority of Americans support the immigration program created by Barack Obama's executive action - but divisions on whether he exceeded his authority impede most of the political capital he might have gained, ABC's JULIE PHALEN writes. Overall, 52 percent support Obama's initiative, with 44 percent opposed. http://abcn.ws/1uYMZnl

THROWBACK THURSDAY - SECRETARY CLINTON IN 2011: ALAN GROSS 'UNJUSTLY JAILED.' http://abcn.ws/1GPpqD9

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

-INSIDE DONALD TRUMP'S NEW DIGS ON PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE. Donald Trump is coming to Pennsylvania Avenue, and he's set to arrive in 2016, reports ABC's JONATHAN KARL, JORDYN PHELPS and RICHARD COOLIDGE. Washington's iconic Old Post Office building, located just five blocks away from the White House, is the latest addition to Trump's expansive real estate empire. http://yhoo.it/1BYTETn

- MARCO RUBIO INSISTS JEB BUSH WON'T AFFECT HIS 2016 TIMETABLE. Could the 2016 Republican presidential primary turn into a Sunshine State brawl? Florida Senator Marco Rubio, a potential GOP presidential candidate, responded to Tuesday's announcement by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush that he would "actively explore" running for president. "Bush is someone I admire greatly," Rubio told ABC's JEFF ZELENY. "I think he'd be a very formidable candidate." http://abcn.ws/1uTJRIy

WHO'S TWEETING?

@MittRomney: . @SonyPictures don't cave, fight: release @TheInterview free online globally. Ask viewers for voluntary $5 contribution to fight #Ebola.

@KendallBreitman: Bush: Bye Barclays - http://politi.co/1uWl4na

@nationaljournal: How normalizing relations with Cuba could reshape Florida politics http://trib.al/D4x2ona

@KiritRadia: Putin says "they" want the "bear" to "sit quietly and eat honey." "But they try to chain the bear and… take out his fangs and claws"

@washingtonpost: What to read and watch about North Korea instead of "The Interview" http://wapo.st/1wHJ56A