memeorandum: Madonna Repeatedly Slams Donald Trump, Says She's “Ashamed to be an American” at Miami Fundraiser (Hollywood Reporter)

7:40 AM ET, December 4, 2016

Top Items:

Green Party Drops Statewide Pennsylvania Recount — HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP/KDKA) - Green Party-backed voters dropped a court case Saturday night that had sought to force a statewide recount of Pennsylvania's Nov. 8 presidential election, won by Republican Donald Trump, in what Green Party …

Discussion: Hot Air, Power Line, BuzzFeed, Daily Kos, The Gateway Pundit, The Daily Caller and Law News

Steve Eder / New York Times:

Jill Stein's Pennsylvania Recount Effort Is Dealt a Major Setback — Pennsylvania appears increasingly unlikely to have a statewide recount of its votes, diminishing the last long-shot hope by opponents of Donald J. Trump that a review of the ballots could overturn his election as president.

Discussion: NPR, The Verge and Gothamist

The Eagle:

The Latest: Green Party drops statewide Pennsylvania recount — HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Latest on the Green Party's effort to force a statewide recount of the Nov. 8 presidential election in Pennsylvania: (all times local): — The Green Party is dropping its court case seeking a recount …

Discussion: Associated Press and ABC News

Caitlin McCabe / Philly.com:

Jill Stein campaign drops recount effort in Pa. — Former Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein discontinued her statewide recount effort in Pennsylvania Saturday afternoon after a Commonwealth Court judge mandated the campaign post a $1 million bond to press on with its challenge.

Discussion: Associated Press, Lawyers, Guns & Money and TheBlaze

Mallory Shelbourne / The Hill:

Stein to hold rally outside Trump Tower — Green Party candidate Jill Stein is scheduled to hold a press conference and rally outside Trump Tower in New York on Monday, defending her push for recounts in several states. — “We won't stand down as Donald Trump

Discussion: RedState

Scott Adams' Blog:

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 …

Discussion: neo-neocon, Talking Points Memo and CNN

Jane Perlez / New York Times:
Taiwan Call Gives China a Clue on What to Expect From Donald Trump

NBC News:
Donald Trump's Call With Taiwan President Was No Surprise: Official

Discussion: Bloomberg, John Hawkins' Right Wing News, NBC News, New York Times, CBS New York, CNN, The Guardian, Mother Jones, TheBlaze and BizPac Review

Bloomberg:
Iowa Governor Branstad Is Frontrunner for U.S.-China Ambassador

Discussion: RedState and Political Wire

Art Swift / Gallup:

Americans' Support for Electoral College Rises Sharply — WASHINGTON, D.C. — Americans' support for keeping the Electoral College system for electing presidents has increased sharply. Weeks after the 2016 election, 47% of Americans say they want to keep the Electoral College …

Discussion: Washington Monthly and RedState

Mattie Kahn / ELLE:

Bertolucci Admits He Conspired to Shoot a Non-Consensual Rape Scene in ‘Last Tango in Paris’ — The director said he didn't tell star Maria Schneider because he “wanted her reaction as a girl not as an actress.” — CONTENT NOTICE: This article contains disturbing stories of rape and assault.

Discussion: Lawyers, Guns & Money and Deadline

Tim Nudd / Adweek:

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.

Discussion: Hot Air

Harper Neidig / The Hill:

Trump attends lavish costume party — arrived for an upscale costume party Saturday night on Long Island, according to pool reports. — Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway shared a photo of herself alongside Trump while wearing a Superwoman costume for the “Heroes and Villains” themed party, tweeting, “Honoring the ultimate hero.”

Discussion: Politico, BizPac Review, Raw Story, ABC News and Mediaite

Polina Devitt / Reuters:

Putin says Trump clever, will understand new responsibilities — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is a clever man and will quickly understand his new responsibilities, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with NTV TV. — Putin has spoken previously of his hope …

Discussion: alan.com and AOL

Jenny Stanton / Daily Mail:

At least nine people are killed and another dozen missing after devastating fire breaks out on the second floor during a 100-person late-night rave inside an Oakland warehouse with no sprinklers — Officials say at least nine people died in massive fire in at ‘Rave Cave’ that was held in an Oakland warehouse

Discussion: John Hawkins' Right Wing News and CBS San Francisco

East Bay Times:
Oakland: At least nine dead after massive fire at live-work space party

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, CNN, New York Magazine, NBC News, TheBlaze, CBS San Francisco, Mediaite, New York Times, Washington Post, CBS New York, KTLA, The Guardian, NPR, Independent Journal Review, The Week, Scared Monkeys and KTVU-TV

Hollywood Reporter:

Madonna Repeatedly Slams Donald Trump, Says She's “Ashamed to be an American” at Miami Fundraiser — The musician also kissed Ariana Grande and teased ex-husband Sean Penn, who crawled through her legs at one point as the two tried to coerce the audience to bid higher.

Discussion: Althouse

New York Times:

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 …