Appeals court upholds $5 million award in sexual abuse verdict against President-elect Donald Trump  —  A federal appeals court on Monday upheld a jury's finding in a civil case that Donald Trump sexually abused a columnist in an upscale department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.

From the Grave, Mondale to Eulogize the Man Who Made Him Vice President  —  Walter F. Mondale died in 2021, but he left behind the eulogy he planned to deliver at former President Jimmy Carter's funeral.  —  Former Vice President Walter F. Mondale thought he would still be around to speak …

Trump Endorses Mike Johnson to Continue as House Speaker  —  The question of whether the president-elect would back the speaker for another term has hung over Republicans, especially after recent tensions over an end-of-year spending bill.  —  President-elect Donald J. Trump endorsed Mike Johnson …

Trumpers discover a type of bigotry they oppose (against themselves)  —  Vivek Ramaswamy gives MAGAs a taste of their own medicine.  —  🎊☃️🎁🎇🎄 SUPPORT INDEPENDENT MEDIA THIS HOLIDAY SEASON 🎄🎇🎁☃️🎊

“This is Trump's America now!”:  MAGA diehards jumpstart a new year of political violence  —  There are already calls for vigilantes to round up “brown folks” to imprison in camps  —  Donald Trump isn't in office yet but his fans are already getting excited about hurting and stealing from people of color.

Jimmy Carter's Surprise Parting Gift to Donald Trump  —  The former president added a new layer to Trump's inauguration day.  —  ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ Tops Holiday Box Office Numbers  —  HAKUNA MATATA  —  The Disney prequel had a comeback over the five-day Christmas stretch, while 'Sonic 3′ kept up its brisk pace.

Norovirus outbreaks surging across the US: CDC data  —  Norovirus cases are surging across the country this winter, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data.  —  There were 91 outbreaks reported by state health departments during the week of Dec. 5 …

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter Passes Away at 100  —  Jimmy Carter, 39th president of the United States and winner of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, died peacefully Sunday, Dec. 29, at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family.  He was 100, the longest-lived president in U.S. history.

Why the debt fight is going to get even worse next year  —  On Jan. 1, the limit resumes on the U.S. national debt of more than $36 trillion.  And Republicans are divided on how to handle the cliff, after the House shot down the incoming president's plan.  —  GOP leaders are staring …

Statement from President Joe Biden on U.S. Support for Ukraine's Defense  —  Today, I am proud to announce nearly $2.5 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, as the Ukrainian people continue to defend their independence and freedom from Russian aggression.

The 118th Congress passed the fewest laws in decades … - Every fiscal deadline led to brinksmanship between the Republican House and the Democratic Senate and White House.  — House Republicans were also beset by infighting and palace intrigue, most notably the ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Tesla replaced laid off US workers with foreign workers using H-1B visas that Musk want to increase  —  Tesla has replaced some of its US employees who were let go as part of a big wave of layoffs earlier this year with foreign workers using H-1B visas, which CEO Elon Musk is now campaigning to increase.

Nearly half of GOP voters support using military to put immigrants in camps … - That's more than double that of independent voters (19%) who agree with the idea.  — And that's more than five times as Democratic voters (8%) who supported this policy.

Trump on collision course with conservatives over debt limit  —  President-elect Trump is headed for a battle over the debt limit with conservative lawmakers who are demanding steep cuts to federal spending that will significantly complicate Trump's ability to pass his agenda next year.

On prebunking, community facts, TikTok's last dance, and President Carter  —  Good afternoon from Washington, where I'm adjusting to a nearly 60 degree temperature swing from upstate New York and reflecting on the extraordinary life of Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, who died yesterday at age 100.

Russia rejects Trump's Ukraine peace proposals  —  Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov rejected proposals Monday floated by President-elect Trump's allies to end the war in Ukraine, dealing a major setback for the incoming president's hopes to freeze the conflict.

The Speakership Election in the 119th Congress  — The 119th Congress officially begins at noon on Friday.  For the second Congress in a row, we are faced with the prospect of a contested Speakership election at the outset of the Congress.  Below are (1) some background materials …