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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

DON'T MISS STORIES.  FOLLOW RAW STORY!  —  The announcement that Mall of America was welcoming its first black Santa Claus was greeted in many quarters as a good thing but, as might be expected in a country that has become increasingly more comfortable saying any racist thing that comes to mind, many were highly offended.

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.

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 …