memeorandum: Paladino's son rejects father's controversial comments (Jonathan D. Epstein/The Buffalo News)

2:40 AM ET, December 26, 2016

Top Items:

RNC Message Celebrating Christmas — WASHINGTON - Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus and Co-Chair Sharon Day released the following statement celebrating Christmas: — “Merry Christmas to all! Over two millennia ago, a new hope was born into the world …

Discussion: Raw Story, Hullabaloo, The Week, Jezebel, AOL, CNN, CNBC, alan.com, Independent Journal Review and Mediaite

Tom Boggioni / Raw Story:

Internet ridicules Trump's narcissistic Christmas tweet: ‘No family, no warmth, just a tiny fist and a tree’ — President-elect Donald Trump extended Merry Christmas wishes to his Twitter followers on Sunday morning — with a proper Christmas tree emoji — only to have detractors notice it wasn't the warmest of greetings.

Discussion: alan.com

Rebecca Savransky / The Hill:

Social media erupts over GOP statement about ‘new King’ — A Christmas statement released Sunday by the Republican National Committee (RNC) drew outrage among opponents on Twitter who objected to talk of a “new King.” — “Over two millennia ago, a new hope was born into the world …

Discussion: Politico and RedState

David Mack / BuzzFeed: People Are Arguing About Whether Republicans Just Compared Trump To Jesus

BBC:

Ex-Wham singer George Michael dies — The star, who launched his career with Wham in the 1980s and later continued his success as a solo performer, is said to have “passed away peacefully at home”. — Thames Valley Police said South Central Ambulance Service attended a property in Goring in Oxfordshire at 13:42 GMT.

Discussion: The Guardian, Fox News, The Week, The Gateway Pundit, Independent Journal Review, Los Angeles Times, The Verge, Mediaite, NPR, Mashable, Refinery29 and WREG-TV

Alex Matthews / Daily Mail:

BREAKING NEWS: George Michael dies peacefully at his home in Oxfordshire on Christmas Day, aged 53 — Wham! singer, 53, died at his home in Goring, Oxfordshire this afternoon, his publicist announced — Elton John has led the tributes to the star on social media and called him the ‘kindest, most generous soul’

Discussion: Jezebel

Philip Rucker / Washington Post:

Trump to inherit more than 100 court vacancies, plans to reshape judiciary — Donald Trump is set to inherit an uncommon number of vacancies in the federal courts in addition to the open Supreme Court seat, giving the president-elect a monumental opportunity to reshape the judiciary after taking office.

Discussion: New York Times and Princeton Election Consortium

Sydney Ember / New York Times:

Changes Coming to White House Press Room: Who, Where, When and How — With the naming of Sean Spicer as White House press secretary, Donald J. Trump has selected a Republican Party insider and communications veteran. — But that doesn't mean it will be business as usual for the press corps that covers the next administration.

Discussion: Instapundit

Lenny Bernstein / Washington Post:

Transition adviser's tweets add intrigue to Trump aide Jason Miller's sudden resignation — Twitter messages apparently posted by one of President-elect Donald Trump's aides have added some intrigue to the sudden resignation of Jason Miller, Trump's choice for communications director.

Discussion: The Resurgent

Alex Isenstadt / Politico:

Trump pick backs out of White House job after affair allegations — Donald Trump's newly tapped White House communications director, Jason Miller, backed out of the job following claims that he had an affair with another transition official, according to three sources close to the Trump transition.

Discussion: Daily Mail, Mediaite, Raw Story and New York Daily News, more at Mediagazer »

CNN:

Israel summons US ambassador as Netanyahu hits out at Obama — Jerusalem (CNN)Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned the US ambassador and launched a scathing attack Sunday on the Obama administration after its refusal to veto a UN Security Council resolution condemning Israel's settlements in the West Bank.

Discussion: Washington Examiner, Post On Politics, Liberty Unyielding, The Daily Caller, NPR, The Hill, TheBlaze and Mediaite

Fox News:
Israel accuses Obama administration of helping craft, push UN censure

Discussion: TheBlaze

Jonathan D. Epstein / The Buffalo News:

Paladino's son rejects father's controversial comments — Even Carl Paladino's son wants to distance himself from the former New York Republican gubernatorial candidate's latest controversial remarks about President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. — In what appears to be a family split …

Discussion: 6

Mike Hayes / BuzzFeed:

The Obamas Successfully Beat A Live Action Escape Game On Vacation — Sounds like Malia was the MVP and they broke out with 12 seconds to spare. — President Obama and his daughters showed up unannounced at Breakout Waikiki, a live action escape room site, during their Hawaii vacation …

Discussion: KHON2, AOL and Independent Journal Review

BBC:

Russian military plane crashes in Black Sea, killing 92 — A Russian military plane with 92 people on board has crashed into the Black Sea, Russia's defence ministry says. — The plane disappeared from radar two minutes after taking off from Sochi at 05:25 (02:25 GMT), heading for Latakia in Syria.

Discussion: RT, NPR and Balloon Juice