The Real Scandal of Our Media Tycoons  —  Quote of the year so far, from Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago yesterday: “In the first term, everyone was fighting me.  This time, everybody wants to be my friend.”  —  Amazing how many friends you can make with just a few well-chosen threats of vengeance against your remaining enemies!

Judge Denies Trump's Bid to Throw Out Conviction Over Immunity Ruling  —  Justice Juan M. Merchan thwarted one of several attempts by Donald J. Trump to clear his record of 34 felonies before returning to the White House.  —  A judge on Monday rejected Donald J. Trump's argument …

Thirteen 2020 fake electors will cast real Electoral College votes for Trump on Tuesday  —  Thirteen Republicans who participated in the 2020 fake electors plot, including some who are facing criminal charges, will cast real Electoral College votes Tuesday for President-elect Donald Trump, as electors in the states finalize his victory.

Scoop: Top editors stiff the Washington Post … - One person involved in the search told us Lewis' pitch was foggy and uninspiring. … Other candidates include current interim executive editor Matt Murray.  But it's hard to imagine this monthslong process unfolding so publicly — only to end with the same guy in charge.

The toxic nature of “debate me, bro” culture  —  Dan Dezner has a good blog about how even if the resistance to things like RFK Jr.'s war on vaccines is able to mostly hold the line — far from a guarantee in itself — there is a huge opportunity cost to pretending there is any legitimate …

Tragedy in Wisconsin  —  A teacher and student were killed by a 15-year old girl in the latest school shooting to rock the nation.  Bitcoin has hit a new high after Trump's plan to create a U.S. bitcoin strategic reserve stoked enthusiasm.  What are the odds of seeing a white Christmas?

AOC loses key vote in House Oversight race to Gerry Connolly … - The House Democratic caucus still has to vote on whether to accept the recommendation - though that ratification is rarely denied.

A bomb killed a Russian general in Moscow.  A Ukrainian official says secret service was behind it  —  Live from Moscow after an explosive device planted close to a residential apartment block killed the head of Russia's Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defence Forces, Lt. General Igor Kirillov, Russia's Investigative Committee said.

Statement from President Joe Biden on Shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Wisconsin  —  Today, families in Madison, Wisconsin, are grieving the loss of those who were killed and wounded at Abundant Life Christian School.  It's shocking and unconscionable.  —  We need Congress to act.

A low, low point for ABC News  —  ABC News not only settled a defamation suit with Trump.  It paid out $15 million.  What?

Trump and SoftBank CEO Announce $100 Billion Investment in US Projects  —  The technology company plans to invest $100 billion in U.S. projects, echoing the multibillion-dollar pledge it made after Donald J. Trump's first election victory in 2016.  —  President-elect Donald J. Trump's …

Dems push drastic move that Mike Lee calls ‘a phenomenally bad idea’  —  Several Senate Democrats are pushing a constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College and replace it with a presidential election system where the winner of the popular vote wins the White House contest.

Trump's Time interview provides a sobering reminder  —  He's staggeringly unfit.  Always has been.  Always will be. … 📰  —  In conjunction with naming him “Person of the Year,” Time Magazine last week published a lengthy interview with Donald Trump.

Meddling for MAGA  —  Patrick Soon-Shiong, the owner of the Los Angeles Times, has dismayed staffers as he curtails critical coverage of Donald Trump.  —  Patrick Soon-Shiong's meddling at the Los Angeles Times has grown more pervasive than previously realized.

Freed prisoner who said he was a victim of the Assad regime was an intelligence officer, locals say  —  A man who was filmed by CNN being released by rebels from a Damascus jail was a former intelligence officer with the deposed Syrian regime, according to local residents …

Americans Pass Judgment on Their Courts  —  Sharp decline in confidence in judiciary is among the largest Gallup has ever measured  —  LONDON — Americans' confidence in their nation's judicial system and courts dropped to a record-low 35% in 2024.  —  The result further sets the U.S. apart …

Elizabeth Warren asks Trump to set conflict-of-interest rules for Musk  —  The letter from the Massachusetts senator comes as the tech tycoon has taken a prominent role inside Trump's orbit  —  Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) wrote a letter to President-elect Donald Trump on Monday …

The Great Capitulation  —  At a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Monday, Donald Trump described recent visits from Tim Cook, C.E.O. of Apple, Sergey Brin, a co-founder of Google, and other tech barons.  “In the first term, everyone was fighting me,” he said.  “In this term, everyone wants to be my friend.”

Hegseth's Guard Left the Army After the Beating of a Civilian During Training  —  John Hasenbein, who has escorted Donald J. Trump's pick for defense secretary to meetings on Capitol Hill, said he was unjustly prosecuted for the 2019 episode.  —  When Pete Hegseth visited senators on Capitol Hill …

12/17/24 ☀️ AM:  —  Tick-tock: The CR is still under wraps, as a House vote slips to Thursday  —  The Vault: Brown's nomination gambit looks shaky  —  RFK Jr. wades slowly into confirmation fight  —  Trump allies start making impoundment moves