Holiday break is over and so is a year-end lull in big deal events – besides college football bowl games, that is. In the weeks and months ahead, we’ll read about primary season voting for Republicans and Democrats seeking each party's presidential nomination before the two parties' national conventions this summer. Another big event on our screens that season will be the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In the near future, attention will be grabbed by the Super Bowl on Feb. 7 in Santa Clara, Calif., and by Academy Award nominations on Jan. 14 and the Oscars ceremony on Feb. 28 in Los Angeles.

Political campaigns for the job held by President Obama, who can't try for a third term, are this year's highest-profile domestic news. Hillary Clinton – a former presidential spouse and secretary of state – is running against fellow Democrats Bernie Sanders and John Kasich. She hopes to be our country’s first female leader. Eight men and one woman are running on the Republican side.

Each set of candidates is likely to shrink after voters make the first choices in Iowa's Feb. 1 caucuses (community meetings) and New Hampshire's primary election Feb. 9. Recent polls show business tycoon Donald Trump Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas as the most popular Republican hopefuls in Iowa. Once all other states pick nominating delegates, the focus shifts to televised conventions that will make each side's choice official. Republicans gather in Cleveland from July 18-21, followed a week later by Democrats in Philadelphia.

Politics won't be the only summer drama. The world's best athletes compete from Aug. 5-21 in the first Olympics held in South America. Medal sports include swimming, water polo, soccer, golf, volleyball, track and field, basketball, tennis, judo, gymnastics and canoeing. U.S. stars preparing for the Olympics include teen swimmer Katie Ledecky, golfer Jordan Spieth, soccer player Carli Lloyd and basketball players Steph Curry and Elena Delle Donne.

Democratic candidate says: "Let's win this caucus and let's go forward in making 2016 a year that people for hundreds of years from now will remember as the year we transformed America." – Bernie Sanders at New Year’s Eve campaign party in Des Moines, Iowa

Presidential brother lags: "With just four weeks remaining until voting begins, [Jeb] Bush needs to do something to save his candidacy. It may be too late." – Ashly Parker, New York Times reporter, Jan. 1 article

White House says: "The president will be active on the campaign trail. I would definitely expect the president to be out there campaigning" for the Democratic nominee. -- Eric Schultz, deputy press secretary