memeorandum: James Webb Space Telescope Launches on Journey to See the Dawn of Starlight (New York Times)

4:35 PM ET, December 25, 2021

Top Items:

A Dangerous Ruling About The Times, Project Veritas and Press Freedom — The editorial board is a group of opinion journalists whose views are informed by expertise, research, debate and certain longstanding values. It is separate from the newsroom. — Half a century ago …

Discussion: The Hill, The Gateway Pundit and Insider

Jan Wolfe / Reuters:

Judge orders New York Times to return Project Veritas internal memos — A New York state judge on Friday ordered the New York Times to return internal documents to the conservative activist group Project Veritas, a restriction the newspaper said violates decades of First Amendment protections.

Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:

Judge Upholds His Block on New York Times Coverage of Project Veritas — The New York State judge also ordered The Times to turn over physical copies and destroy any electronic versions of documents a lawyer prepared for the conservative group. — A New York trial court judge has upheld …

Discussion: RedState, Power Line, Bloomberg, The Daily Caller and Politico, more at Mediagazer »

Hayes Brown / MSNBC:

NORAD's Christmas Eve Santa Claus tracker needs to end — This Christmas Eve, the United States military will be busy “tracking” Santa Claus' sleigh as it makes its reindeer-powered journey across American airspace. What's today known as the North American Aerospace Defense Command …

Discussion: Deadline, NBC News, Townhall, HotAir and Digby's Hullabaloo

ABC News:

Bidens' Christmas message recognizes those ‘who have lost loved ones’ during pandemic — The message also highlighted the courage and resilience throughout the pandemic. — President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden honored those grieving loved ones lost during the pandemic in their joint message to Americans on Christmas Day.

Discussion: The Hill, Washington Examiner, Politico and UPI

Washington Examiner:

‘They are the blue Grinch that wants to steal Christmas’: Quotes of the week — Sen. Joe Manchin spoiled the Democrats' Christmas pudding when he said he would not vote to approve a social infrastructure bill championed by President Joe Biden, but that didn't stop Majority Leader Chuck Schumer …

Discussion: Politico

Steven Nelson / New York Post:
Biden says ‘I agree’ when dad drops 'Let's Go, Brandon' on NORAD Santa call

Discussion: RedState, Wide World of News, Althouse, Power Line, Political Flare, Joe.My.God., Political Wire and The Hill

Kristen Rogers / CNN:

Why you should upgrade your mask as the Omicron variant spreads — (CNN)As the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus variant continues to spread, some experts say it's past time to reconsider your face mask options — especially if you're still wearing the cloth variety.

Discussion: Ty’s Newsletter

New York Times:

James Webb Space Telescope Launches on Journey to See the Dawn of Starlight — Astronomers were jubilant as the spacecraft made it off the launchpad following decades of delays and cost overruns. The Webb is set to offer a new keyhole into the earliest moments of our universe.

Discussion: Space.com

New York Times:

A U.S. Navy combat ship is stranded in Guantánamo Bay with a virus outbreak. — A Navy combat ship deployed to intercept drug trafficking in the Caribbean and East Pacific is stuck in the port at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, with a coronavirus outbreak among its fully vaccinated crew.

Discussion: Washington Post

Jenni Fink / Newsweek:

Jim Jordan ‘Very Scared’ as 1/6 Committee Seeks Info on Trump Calls, Fellow Lawmaker Says — The January 6 committee wants to speak with Representative Jim Jordan about his communication with former President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021, and a Democratic lawmaker urged him to offer up “everything” he knows.

Gillian Brockell / Washington Post:

Why Christmas was the best time of year to escape slavery — It was the night before Christmas, and as Jarm would remember it later, “though cold, it was as clear and beautiful as Tennessee sky could make it.” — He stood outside the slave cabin with his enslaver's horse, a stolen saddle full of food and a forged travel pass.

Tyler Olson / Fox News:

Trump spokesman cooperating with Jan. 6 committee but fighting subpoena for financial records — Taylor Budowich's bank, JPMorgan, is represented by Obama AG Loretta Lynch — Fox News Flash top headlines for December 24 — FIRST ON FOX: Taylor Budowich, a spokesman for former President Donald Trump …

Discussion: Washington Examiner and New York Post

Daniel Chaitin / Washington Examiner:
Trump suspected of making ‘several’ tapes of Capitol riot response

Discussion: Raw Story, One America News Network, HillReporter.com, Washington Times, New York Post and Politico

Zack Stanton / Politico:

The Worst Political Predictions of 2021 — What did you get totally wrong about 2021? Here's my answer: I was sure — sure — that as soon as the Covid vaccines were widely available, all but an infinitesimally small percentage of American adults would line up to take the shot, crush the pandemic and get back to life as normal-ish.

Discussion: justsecurity.org

Washington Post:

Biden is quietly erasing one of Trump's cruelest legacies — It has been overshadowed by months of Democratic infighting and the searing national debate over Jan. 6, but the Biden administration is quietly erasing one of the cruelest legacies of Donald Trump's presidency.

Discussion: Alternet.org and Common Dreams

Michael Z. Lin / Washington Post:

A new drug to treat covid could create a breeding ground for mutant viruses — Merck's molnupiravir is good at one thing — and that's what makes it scary — On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration made what may be the most momentous drug-approval decision in its history …