memeorandum: ‘Duck Dynasty’ to resume filming with Phil Robertson, A&E announces (Fox News)

7:50 AM ET, December 28, 2013

Top Items:

A&E Welcomes Phil Robertson Back to ‘Duck Dynasty’ — Less than two weeks after his anti-gay remarks prompted an “indefinite hiatus” for the reality patriarch — and a strong fan backlash — the network says he will remain on the series. — Phil Robertson, “Duck Dynasty”

Fox News:

‘Duck Dynasty’ to resume filming with Phil Robertson, A&E announces — FILE: Phil Robertson, the patriarch of the popular series “Duck Dynasty,” was reinstated by the network on Friday, Dec. 27.AP — The A&E Network announced Friday it would resume filming “Duck Dynasty” …

Discussion: PoliticusUSA, The Daily Caller and American Spectator

Stuart Oldham / Variety:

‘Duck Dynasty’: A&E Ends Phil Robertson Suspension; Aims to Turn Controversy into Teachable Moment — A+E chief Nancy Dubuc had lengthy conversations with Robertson family, GLAAD, NAACP in recent days — A+E Networks has maneuvered its way out of the “Duck Dynasty” controversy surrounding …

Discussion: New York Times, Truthdig and NO QUARTER USA NET

Politico:

‘Duck Dynasty’ star to return — Close — Following a political and cultural backlash, the A&E cable network on Friday reversed its decision to suspend the patriarch of the hit series “Duck Dynasty” over inflammatory remarks about gay people. — Phil Robertson will return to the show sooner …

Discussion: Hot Air, CNN, Petition to A&E, Little Green Footballs and americanthinker.com

Matt Wilstein / Mediaite:

A&E Reverses Decision to ‘Suspend’ Phil Robertson — The A&E network has decided not to suspend Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson, after saying they were putting him on indefinite hiatus following his controversial comments about homosexual sex. — In a statement, the network attempted …

Discussion: Hullabaloo and Hot Air

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:

It's Over — Since the Supreme Court ruling in June, the writing has been on the wall for exclusion of marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples in the United States. Since June the number of states with marriage equality has jumped from 12 to 18. But last week's lower Court decisions …

Discussion: Off the Kuff, Salt Lake Tribune, GovBeat, Washington Monthly, New York Times and CNN

New York Times:

Judge Upholds N.S.A.'s Bulk Collection of Data on Calls — WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Friday ruled that a National Security Agency program that collects enormous troves of phone records is legal, making the latest contribution to an extraordinary debate among courts and a presidential review group …

Discussion: Washington Post, ACLU, Prairie Weather, Truthdig, Power Line, The Daily Caller, CANNONFIRE, The Moderate Voice, Mediaite, The Hinterland Gazette, Gawker, Crooked Timber and The Agonist

Jonathan Stempel / Reuters: U.S. judge says NSA phone surveillance is lawful

New York Times:

Libya Holds Four American Military Personnel for Hours — WASHINGTON — Four American military personnel assigned to the United States Embassy in Tripoli, Libya, were detained Friday and released hours later after being held by the country's Interior Ministry, American officials said.

Discussion: The Times of Israel and The Raw Story

New York Times:

Libyan Government Holds 4 U.S. Military Personnel — WASHINGTON — Four American military personnel have been detained in Libya and were in the Libyan government's custody, an American official said on Friday. — The circumstances of their detention were not clear.

Discussion: Fox News and The Gateway Pundit

Timothy Pratt / The Atlantic Online:

‘We Are Creating Walmarts of Higher Education’ — Universities in South Dakota, Nebraska, and other states have cut the number of credits students need to graduate. A proposal in Florida would let online courses forgo the usual higher-education accreditation process.

Discussion: Instapundit

New York Post:

Hundreds of teens trash mall in wild flash mob — Hundreds of teenagers stormed and trashed a Brooklyn mall in a wild flash mob that forced the shopping center to close its doors during day-after Christmas sales, sources said on Friday. — More than 400 crazed teens grabbed and smashed jars of candy …

Discussion: ABC 7 Eyewitness News and Gothamist

James Bright / Chickasha Daily-Express:

Atheist group saves Chickasha woman from Christmas nightmare — CHICKASHA — A group of local atheists saved Christmas for a Chickasha woman after she and her baby were allegedly put through the ringer at a church's toy give away. — Tiffany Wait said she, her husband and their 7-month-old baby went …

Discussion: The Raw Story