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China blasts ‘petty’ Taiwan call with Trump — BEIJING — On Friday, President Xi Jinping told Henry Kissinger that he hoped for “stability” in U.S.-China ties under the new administration. Nobody told Donald Trump. — The president-elect on Friday broke with four decades of diplomatic practice …
Discussion:
Forbes, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Business Insider, The American Conservative, NBC News, France 24, ABC News, New York Times, KTLA and Liberal Values
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China Warns Trump After His Controversial Call With Taiwan — China's foreign minister delivered a stark reminder to President-elect Trump Saturday. There is only one Chinese government to talk to. — The statement from the foreign minister's office came after reports that Trump violated the …
Discussion:
BuzzFeed, Unqualified Offerings, NBC News, The American Conservative, Mediaite and Business Insider


How Trump's Calls to World Leaders Are Upsetting Decades of Diplomacy — Mr. Trump talks to the president of Taiwan, becoming the first U.S. president or president-elect to do so since 1979. — Why it matters — The call with President Tsai Ing-wen risks infuriating China …
Discussion:
Mother Jones, Jezebel and Reuters

Tsai-Trump telephone call scheduled — UNDOING CHEN SHUI-BIAN? Experts said that the conversation could prompt the establishment of a direct communications channel and reduce misunderstandings — President Tsai Ing-wen () was to have a telephone conversation with US president-elect Donald …
Discussion:
The Guardian, The Diplomat, Infowars, Talking Points Memo, Sputnik International, Hot Air, Mediaite and Politico

Trump-Tsai phone call and the One-China policy — Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen had a telephone conversation with US president-elect Donald Trump on Friday. Trump later tweeted, “The President of Taiwan called today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency. Thank you!”
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, Reuters and The Guardian


GOP lawmakers praise Trump for Taiwan call — Republican lawmakers have praised president-elect Donald Trump — following the news that he spoke on the phone with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen. — Rep. Matt Salmon — (R-Ariz.) applauded Trump for “making a strong statement” with the historic conversation.
Discussion:
The Guardian and Business Insider


Trump-Taiwan call: China lodges protest — China's foreign ministry says it has lodged a complaint with the US after President-elect Donald Trump spoke to Taiwan's leader in a phone call. — China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province. US policy set in 1979 cut formal relations with Taiwan.
Discussion:
Washington Post, RedState, Althouse, BizPac Review and Sputnik International


Former Bush spokesman on Trump's Taiwan call: ‘China will go nuts’
Discussion:
Mediaite, The Atlantic, Business Insider and Oliver Willis

U.S. president-elect, in break with practice, speaks to Taiwan's leader
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The Gateway Pundit

Trump risks showdown with China after call with Taiwan
Discussion:
Joe.My.God., New York's PIX11, Reuters, Post On Politics, The Last Refuge, RedState, The Week, twitchy.com, NPR and The Geller Report

Trump speaks with Taiwanese president, a major break with decades of U.S. policy on China
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Business Insider, twitchy.com, Mediaite, The Week, Joe.My.God., Bloomberg, Balloon Juice and Jezebel

Trump's unusual phone call is great for his business, dangerous for America
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Raw Story, Daily Wire, Vox, Mother Jones, Talking Points Memo, Daily Kos, The Hill, twitchy.com, Little Green Footballs, Rare and alan.com

Sarah Palin: But... Wait... The Good Guys Won't Win With More Crony Capitalism — I am ecstatic for Carrier employees! Their bosses just decided to keep shop onshore. What a relief for hundreds of workers. Merry Christmas Indiana! We don't yet know terms of the public/private deal …
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Trump's Carrier deal could permanently damage American capitalism — There are many aspects of the economic policy of the new administration that I find misguided. But I am most troubled by what President-elect Donald Trump did with Carrier to hold on to an extra 700 jobs in Indiana.
Discussion:
The Guardian, The Mahablog, Jezebel, Mises Blog, Hullabaloo and Salon

Sarah Palin: Trump's Carrier deal is ‘crony capitalism’
Discussion:
Oliver Willis, Washington Examiner and TheBlaze


Bergdahl asks Obama for pardon — Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who was held captive for five years and freed in an exchange for five Taliban prisoners, has asked President Obama to pardon him before leaving the White House. — A source told Fox News that Bergdahl wrote a letter to Obama thanking …
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The General Who Should Lead the Pentagon — Nominating a retired general to be secretary of defense is an unusual move in American politics. Since just after World War II, when the Department of Defense was created, only one general has held the post. That was George C. Marshall …


CNN apologizes, disciplines producer after employee was caught on hot mic joking about Trump's plane crashing — CNN on Friday apologized after one of its producers was caught on a hot mic making a joke about President-elect Donald Trump's plane crashing. — “An unfortunate and inappropriate remark …
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Hollywood Reporter, The Gateway Pundit, AOL, The Last Refuge and twitchy.com
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CNN Crew Jokes about Donald Trump's Plane Crashing
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Rare, BizPac Review, twitchy.com, Independent Journal Review, TheBlaze, Daily Wire, Sputnik International, Mediaite and The Gateway Pundit


G.O.P. Plans Immediate Repeal of Health Law, Then a Delay — WASHINGTON — Republicans in Congress plan to move almost immediately next month to repeal the Affordable Care Act, as President-elect Donald J. Trump promised. But they also are likely to delay the effective date …
Discussion:
John Hawkins' Right Wing News and Political Wire


Philly Clout: Turnpike manager rips his bosses in email minutes before retirement — FILE THIS ONE under: “Well, You Asked.” — Michael Stuban, a midlevel manager at the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, retired on Thanksgiving after a 35-year career that started in a tollbooth.
Discussion:
CBS Pittsburgh


The North Carolina GOP Has a New Suppression Tactic: Voter Defamation — As they challenge the results of a governor's race, the state's Republicans lay the groundwork for a Trump-era assault on voting rights. — My neighbor Lucia Foster was surprised when I emailed her on November 18.
Discussion:
Daily Kos and The Atlantic


Federal judge denies quick halt to recount — Madison — A federal judge Friday denied an emergency halt to the recount of the presidential vote in Wisconsin, allowing the process to continue until a Dec. 9 court hearing at least. — There is no need to halt the recount just yet …
Discussion:
The BRAD BLOG, USA Today, FOX6Now.com, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, RedState, The Daily Caller, Hot Air, New York Magazine, Daily Kos, Raw Story, Politico and Associated Press
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Hawaii's forecast: Icy and dangerous conditions. No, really. — The forecast in Hawaii is calling for an entire foot of snow. Patrick Jones (@Patrick_E_Jones) has some details on snow in The Aloha State. Buzz60 — Forget the swimsuits for Hawaii and pack raincoats and winter parkas.


Prominent gay Republican said DeVos stood up for him — Greg McNeilly, political advisor to Betsy DeVos and a prominent gay Republican, spoke Friday of the incoming education secretary saying she stood up for him at a time when his sexual orientation wasn't widely known.