Scott Adams' Blog  —  By now you know that President Elect Trump took a call from the President of Taiwan and simultaneously lit on fire the underpants of the mainstream media and maybe the leadership of China too.  —  Apparently taking a phone call from the president of Taiwan …

Oakland: At least nine dead after massive fire at live-work space party … OAKLAND — In what may be the deadliest structure fire in Oakland's history, at least nine people died in a blaze that broke out late Friday at an electronic music party at a Fruitvale district live-work space, officials said.

Can You Figure Out the Mystery Inside This Remarkable Ad About High School Love?  —  A message deeper than idle sketches  —  Here's a pretty amazing ad from BBDO New York, with a mystery at its core.  —  At the outset, we meet Evan, a high school kid who can't wait for summer break.

Green Party Drops Statewide Pennsylvania Recount  —  HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP/KDKA) - The Green Party is dropping its court case seeking a statewide recount of Pennsylvania's Nov. 8 presidential election.  It had wanted to explore whether voting machines and systems had been hacked and the election result manipulated.

In Trump's Security Pick, Michael Flynn, ‘Sharp Elbows’ and No Dissent  —  WASHINGTON — Days after Islamist militants stormed the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012, Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn reached a conclusion that stunned some of his subordinates at the Defense Intelligence Agency …

He got life without parole for pot.  And he was just denied clemency.  —  This post has been updated to include quotes from The Watch's interview with Ferrell Scott.  —  Ferrell Scott was sentenced to life in prison for possession and conspiracy to distribute marijuana …

Rep. McCaul: Yes, we will build a wall, put Mexico on a “payment plan” and enforce the law  —  FILE: Undated: Unidentified people in Mexico crossing the Rio Grande to enter the United States illegally, in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.  (AP)  —  Donald Trump campaigned on a big promise …

So Far Appalachia: The Myth of the Rural, White Working Class + Voting Against Their Self Interest  —  I'm writing a book about Appalachia.  More specially, I'm writing a memoir of my family, which helped settled what is now the poorest county in the country: Clay County, which The New York Times dubbed …

Trump, Finally Explained  —  Do you remember “50 First Dates”?  It was a Drew Barrymore movie about a woman with short-term amnesia who wakes up every morning with no memory whatsoever of the day that went before.  —  I am thinking it's the perfect Donald Trump analogy.

Iowa Governor Branstad Is Frontrunner for U.S.-China Ambassador  —  People say meetings likely with Trump's transition team  —  Branstad, China's Xi have friendship dating back to 1985  —  Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, a longtime friend of Chinese President Xi Jinping …

Will Ivanka Trump Be the Most Powerful First Daughter in History?  —  Ivanka Trump is about to become the most influential first daughter since Alice Roosevelt Longworth.  But can she do so without damaging her own brand?  —  When Nancy Pelosi, the minority leader of the House of Representatives …

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.

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 …