77 billion land animals and 2.7 trillion marine animals are killed a year. GO VEGAN. LEAVE ANIMALS ALONE. THEY OWN THE PLANET.
The arrival of John Wall has left All-NBA guard James Harden unmoved and uninterested in pursuing a new partnership and the franchise star continues to push the Houston Rockets for a trade.
http://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1338469547255459840
Good morning from State Farm Arena in Atlanta where voters are voting! Early voting for the senate runoffs begins today
https://twitter.com/i/status/1338477455229788163
https://twitter.com/CHueyBurns/status/1338477455229788163
Giuliani Ignored Covid19 Restrictions Then Received Treatment You Can't Have
https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkd3km/giuliani-ignored-covid-restrictions-then-got-treatment-you-cant-have
Electors will gather in their respective states to formally cast their votes for President and Vice President. Meetings will be held throughout the day as determined by each state legislature. The earliest meeting is scheduled to begin at 10:00 am ET and the latest at 7:00 pm ET. Votes are cast by paper ballot: one for President and one for Vice President. The votes are then counted, and the electors sign six Certificates of Vote. Each Certificate of Vote is attached with a Certificate of Ascertainment provided by the state governor. The six packets are then mailed to state and federal officials as specified by law. The packet that is sent to the president of the Senate will be the official copy used when Congress counts the electoral votes on January 6.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2020/electoral-college-vote-tracker/
Kyrie Irving says after being coached by Steve Nash for a few weeks: "I think I got to take back my comments from a few months ago." Irving is referring to saying on a podcast, "I don't really see us having a head coach."
https://twitter.com/malika_andrews/status/1338538356465152007
Kyrie Irving has thanked every single reporter for their question. Every single one.
https://twitter.com/MattBrooksNBA/status/1338539443381219334
Georgia's 16 electors vote for Democrat Joe Biden for president
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-georgia-vote-idUSKBN28O2I6?taid=5fd7aa8ba006fc0001de2d55
Kris Kobach Once Botched A Case So Badly That A Judge Ordered Him To Take Extra Law Classes. SCOTUS Just Refused To Hear That Case (Kansas voting law requiring proof of citizenship)
https://lawandcrime.com/awkward/kris-kobach-once-botched-a-case-so-badly-that-a-judge-ordered-him-to-take-extra-law-classes-scotus-just-refused-to-hear-that-case/
Florida Senate President Republican Wilton Simpson tests positive for Covid-19, can't vote with Electoral College
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/os-ne-florida-senate-president-covid-20201214-mizjrtvgjvaobf7sbfgvdagxj4-story.html
Pennsylvania's electors have cast the state's Electoral College votes for Joe Biden
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/pennsylvania-electoral-college-vote-biden-trump-20201214.html
The major midweek storm is set to unleash a foot of snow or more across parts of the central Appalachians, upper mid-Atlantic and southern New England, and part of the interior South is expected to get a thick glaze of ice as a drenching rain will pour down along the lower mid-Atlantic coast.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/winter-weather/biggest-snow-ice-storm-in-years-set-to-wallop-eastern-us/865948
National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien and his wife are illegally and unconstitutionally making official government Europe event a holiday vacation
Ron DeSantis sued for withholding White House REPUBLICAN report attacked his non-existent response to Covid19
https://www.salon.com/2020/12/14/ron-desantis-sued-for-withholding-white-house-report-slamming-his-inadequate-response-to-covid/
Illinois electors cast all 20 votes for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris: Mayor Lori Lightfoot wielded gavel as electors cast historic ballots.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2020/12/14/22174386/illinois-electoral-votes-joe-biden-kamala-harris-mayor-lori-lightfoot-presided
Nevada's six electors vote for Democrat Joe Biden for president
https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN28O2DC
The Bills clearly took the Steelers dancing on their logo seriously. Josh Allen before the game: "Let them do all the talking and the f****** dancing... we do all the work."
https://twitter.com/mysportsupdate/status/1338485390953603072
Bills safety Jordan Poyer said they noticed JuJu Smith-Schuster dancing on the Bills logo before the game and that hyped them up. "That turns you up a little bit. Gets you a second itch to play with some extra fire."
https://twitter.com/mysportsupdate/status/1338354948078260229
Matthew Stafford's performance Sunday was a microcosm of his career. He played well, showed his toughness, got banged up, tried to gut it out, and in the end the Lions didn't do enough to win
So yeah, Stefon Diggs was right. The Vikings should've thrown him the ball more.
Down 30-10 at the start of the 4th Quarter, Tua Tagovailo's receiving group was Mike Gesicki, two rookies who played QB in college, and Antonio Callaway, the Dolphins scored 17 points and were a 4th and 1 stop away from having a shot at winning.
Travis Kelce is on pace to become the first TE EVER to lead the NFL in receiving yards.
https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1338492184690106368
Sean McDermott says Daryl Williams did a phenomenal job against T.J. Watt. No argument from anyone who watched that game. A HUGE performance from Buffalo's right tackle.
https://twitter.com/RyanTalbotBills/status/1338354615373471746
Michigan judge allows release of report from Dominion voting equipment forensic audit in Antrim County. Trump 61-38 in Antrim County. If it was supposed to be switching votes to Biden, they were doing a really shit job.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/michigan-judge-dominion-voting-audit-antrim-county
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/14/michigan-judge-allows-release-report-antrim-county-voting/6537394002/
No surprise: Doug Pederson says the Eagles will stick with QB Jalen Hurts as their starter this week against the Cardinals.
Tonight's Cleveland vs Baltimore game will be one of the most consequential games of the season for a lot of teams in the AFC Playoff Hunt.
The Raiders fired DC Paul Guenther with three games to go, though frustration had been building. Las Vegas spent $52M more on offense than on defense -- including more at backup QB than the entire CB position. It left defensive coaches wanting more.
https://twitter.com/rapsheet/status/1338497542569517057
An Arizona group illegally and unconstitutionally and seditiously and treasonously and fraudulently sent the National Archives in Washington, D.C., notarized documents last week intended to deliver, wrongly, the state's 11 electoral votes for him. Copies of the documents obtained by The Arizona Republic show a group that claimed to represent the "sovereign citizens of the Great State of Arizona" submitted signed papers casting votes for what they want: a second term for Trump and Mike Pence. Do these idiots really think people wouldn't double check?
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/12/14/arizona-groups-fake-electors-try-cast-11-electoral-votes-trump/6536056002/
I cannot wait until I never have to think about electors, legislators, or post master generals, ever again.
France's local animal rights party is campaigning for harsher penalties against animal killers, after a man who shot a rooster named Marcel was given a suspended sentence (no punishment for murdering an animal)
https://lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/ardeche-5-mois-de-prison-avec-sursis-pour-avoir-tue-le-coq-marcel-20201207
Covid-19 surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death in the U.S. and is killing almost the same number of Americans each day as those killed in the Sept. 11 terror attacks or the attack on Pearl Harbor.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/12/14/world/covid-19-coronavirus/the-number-of-people-with-the-virus-who-died-in-the-us-passes-300000
It is astounding both how terrible Trump is in private and how quickly we hear about it. Trump attacked Kemp for feeling bad about "low poll ratings" when in fact Kemp was feeling back because his daughter's boyfriend (serious relationship, considered a family member) was killed
https://washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-kemp-election/2020/12/13/d8adc202-3b37-11eb-bc68-96af0daae728_story.html
The head of the White House security office who fell ill with Covid-19 in September is recovering after three months in the hospital, though he lost his right foot and lower leg in his battle against the virus. Crede Bailey suffered the most severe bout of Covid-19 among cases known to be connected to the White House. After three months in the hospital, he's recovering -- but he lost a foot and lower leg. Has a GoFundMe page up (https://www.gofundme.com/f/crede-amp-family) even though he makes several hundred thousand dollars a year and is covered by the TAX-PAYER FUNDED Federal Employee Health Benefits plan AND his plan is a low-cost plan because of his job.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-14/white-house-official-recovers-from-severe-covid-19-friend-says
This is false: "They're trying to do their constitutional duty." They are flouting the Constitution: They said that they were the Republican electors there to cast their vote for president. State police declined to let them enter the building or leave votes offered in a manila envelope
https://twitter.com/i/status/1338568801554747395
https://twitter.com/AmyEGardner/status/1338571622706520065
In "victory" for LGBTQ families, US Supreme Court declines to take up Indiana case seeking to reverse a lower court's ruling that allows both members of same-sex couples in the state to be listed as parents on the birth certificates of their children.
https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/victory-lgbtq-families-supreme-court-denies-indiana-birth-certificate-case-n1251147
June: "RIGGED 2020 ELECTION: MILLIONS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS WILL BE PRINTED BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND OTHERS. IT WILL BE THE SCANDAL OF OUR TIMES!"
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1275024974579982336
November: "The only thing secure about our 2020 Election was that it was virtually impenetrable by foreign powers."
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1328856932011167744
It appears the Trump campaign has filed another election challenge in federal court, this time in New Mexico — it's objecting to the use of drop boxes for voters to return absentee ballots. It was filed today, as the Electoral College is voting. Trump campaign keeps suing because the legislature didn't specifically vote on each and every drop box? Meanwhile, remember in California where the Republican just straight up made their own drop boxes, marked them "official," were told that's illegal, and said they'd do it anyway?
https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/20423922/12-14-20-trump-campaign-v-oliver-complaint-new-mexico.pdf
Reiterating that despite some claims from Trump camp, there are not "dueling" slates of electors. The mock ceremonies by Republican electors in a AZ, GA, NV, PA, WI and MI have no legal force or relevance. What they are doing is sedition and treason.
Imagine if the Democrats did the same in Texas, Florida and Ohio just for fun, Republicans would execute them
If someone had told me back in 2019 that in 2020 a former crack addict who now makes and sells pillows would be getting TV coverage to peddle crackpot (lol) conspiracy theories I would have called you insane yourself
Electoral votes for Biden have been finalized in all 6 of the states where Trump unsuccessfully tried to overturn the results: AZ, GA, MI, NV, PA, WI
Dolan said he would have liked to "pivot" to Tribe as next name, but after speaking with Native American groups realized team needed to completely step away.
https://twitter.com/twithersap/status/1338558216733675525
Rockets' James Harden will play Tuesday vs. San Antonio, coach Stephen Silas says.News
https://twitter.com/shamscharania/status/1338565778061348867
Chicago Bulls forward Noah Vonleh has tested positive for COVID-19 and begins mandatory 10-day quarantine. He will be waived. I'm told he is feeling good overall.
https://twitter.com/chrisbhaynes/status/1338587152632827906
Fucking Hillary-ous and Billiant, been Biden my time to post this, Truman, Hillary and Bill are Electors for NY. Bill has been an Elector before. Should we then Grant a do-over? Let's Nixon that idea. Dat's Trudeau. They sure didn't O-Bomba it. Totally Bush league. Rutherford B. Hayes? Chelsea you in hell! Clinteresting. "I want Trump to know it was me."
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/hillary-clinton-biden-electoral-college-vote-b1773891.html
After a severe MAGA hangover, America could use a nice [vegan....] cup of Joe
Early in-person voting starts today, Georgia
https://iwillvote.com/?state=ga
As the Electoral College is set to seal Trump's loss today, Stephen Miller says on Fox News, "The only date in the Constitution is January 20, so we have more than enough time to right the wrong of this fraudulent election and certify Donald Trump as the winner of the election."
https://twitter.com/kaitlancollins/status/1338495434348703747
Remember when Obama was sworn in but Judge Roberts screwed up the words and didn't do it exactly right or something; Republicans were certain that this meant Obama wasn't officially president. These are the people we are dealing with.
75 infected with Covid-19 after Santa visits nursing home in Belgium, since they refuse to learn the lesson
https://nypost.com/2020/12/14/75-infected-with-covid-19-after-santa-visits-nursing-home/
Iran says it would rejoin nuclear deal within an hour of US doing so
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/14/iran-says-rejoin-nuclear-deal-within-hour-us
Yep GO VEGAN ALREADY: Brazil beef giants linked to illegal Amazon deforestation: Brazil's biggest beef companies have been directly linked to more than 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres) of illegal deforestation in the Amazon state of Pará
https://news.mongabay.com/2020/12/brazil-beef-giants-linked-to-illegal-amazon-deforestation/
Russia 'tried to assassinate opposition leader Alexander Navalny with Novichok nerve agent a second time' after he survived Siberia attack
https://news.mongabay.com/2020/12/brazil-beef-giants-linked-to-illegal-amazon-deforestation/
Covid-19 now kills more than 1 American every minute. And the rate keeps accelerating as the death toll tops 300,000
https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/14/health/us-covid-deaths-300k/index.html
Bird flu spreads to 10th Japanese prefecture
https://www.reuters.com/article/health-birdflu-japan-idUSKBN28O0B3
At least 387 people working in media around world imprisoned by December 1 of this year, German office of press freedom NGO Reporters Without Borders announced in annual report Monday. China led pack with 117 jailed journalists, followed by Saudi Arabia (34), Egypt (30), Vietnam (28) and Syria (27).
https://www.dw.com/en/press-freedom-journalists-end-up-in-jail-for-reporting-on-coronavirus-crisis/a-55929247
An ICU nurse working with the sickest patients, she bore witness to the worst of covid-19's ravages. Now, Sandra Lindsay - a black woman, an immigrant, and the first person in the US to be vaccinated - is the face of what's best about people.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/12/14/sandra-lindsay-first-covid-vaccine/
Three of the most interesting results came in seats Dems won in '18 but the GOP flipped in '20: #CA21, #CA25, and #CA39. Republicans won all three by about 1 pt, but Biden carried each district by around 10 pts, suggesting a lot of ticket-splitting
https://twitter.com/DKElections/status/1338604748237398022
That wasn't the case in the GOP's fourth flip, #CA48, which Biden carried by 2 but Republican Michelle Steel won by 2. Still an overperformance, but not as dramatic. Both parties will want to study these races to understand the crossover vote
https://twitter.com/DKElections/status/1338604749260795904
When you're a state AG sued for retaliating against top employees for reporting your corruption to law enforcement, filing an answer in court saying you actually fired those employees for "disloyalty" is a confession:
https://www.texastribune.org/2020/11/13/whistleblower-lawsuit-texas-ken-paxton/
Barr submits resignation after Biden officially received more than 270 electoral votes. Bill Barr spent nearly two full years lying, distorting the law, and using DOJ as a political shield and weapon for the President. He ultimately refused to investigate Hunter Biden and blocked the DoJ from doing so. Him resigning does not cancel out or balance two years worth of corruption and malfeasance. Barr heaped endless praise on Trump in the letter. He's a TERRORIST. Trump trying to change the narrative and news cycle away from his electoral college defeat with this Barr bs. That was such a backhanded tweet by Trump. "Oh, you're not gonna do what I want? Well ok, you can spend more time with your family"
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1338614499981602819
https://www.npr.org/2020/12/14/811276917/william-barr-to-steps-down-as-attorney-general
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/barr-to-step-down-before-christmas-trump-tweets
I heard you lost again @realDonaldTrump
Announcing Barr is leaving is a blatantly transparent move to take "Biden officially elected President" headlines off the news chyrons.
Legal team hired to defend Attorney General Ken Paxton against whistleblower lawsuit will cost state of Texas $1,100 an hour
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/12/14/team-hired-to-defend-texas-ag-ken-paxton-in-whistleblower-case-will-cost-state-1100-an-hour/
I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest.
While DC gets slop from Wednesday's coastal storm, Philly, New York City and Boston may get walloped with one of their biggest snows in years; a foot or so possible depending on how it plays out:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/12/14/snowstorm-hit-philadelphia-new-york-boston/
The irony of Bill Barr, an executive power fanatic exclusively where Republican presidents are concerned, is that he treated Biden more fairly than Comey treated Clinton, because he cared less what the Republicans thought of him.
To the grandparents, parents, siblings, children, spouses, and fellow broken and healing hearts of Sandy Hook, I know. No matter how long it's been, every time you talk about it, you relive it as though you just heard the news. Eight years later, I know the pain never fully heals. I think about how that day eight years ago was the saddest day we had in the White House. Twenty first-graders. Their six educators. And I think about the time we have spent with each other grieving since then. I remain in awe of you. I have heard from and watched as so many of you turned pain into purpose, working to change our laws and our culture around gun violence and how we protect and nurture our children. I know it can feel like an impossible task. Since this December day eight years ago, your nightmare has been felt by thousands of other families in our country who have lost a piece of their soul in other schools, a shopping mall, a movie theatre, a club, a house of worship, in their neighborhoods, and in their homes. Some of these tragedies make national headlines, so many more do not. Every year, more than 30,000 people die from gun violence across America — a statistic we would associate with war in a far-off place. Countless more are left with a lifetime of injuries and trauma. But in this collective pain, you've helped usher in a collective and growing purpose. You've helped us forge a consensus that gun violence is a national health crisis and we need to address its total cost to fully heal families, communities, and our nation. Eight years later, there have been plenty of thoughts and prayers, but we know that is not enough. Together with you and millions of our fellow Americans of every background all across our nation, we will fight to end this scourge on our society and enact common sense reforms that are supported by a majority of Americans and that will save countless lives. Jill and I send our love to you and we pray for the twenty-six angels in heaven and in our hearts.
https://buildbackbetter.gov/press-releases/statement-by-president-elect-joe-biden-marking-8-years-since-the-shooting-at-sandy-hook-elementary-school/
On Tuesday, December 15, President-elect Joe Biden will receive the President's Daily Brief. After, President-elect Biden will travel to Atlanta, Georgia to campaign on behalf of Jon Ossoff, Rev. Raphael Warnock, and the Democratic ticket in the January 5 runoffs.
https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1338623553915265025
Good riddance [Barr]
And a year later said he said he'd "had the honor" of firing him: Trump's tweet on Barr echoes when he also tweeted that Mattis was "retiring" and praised him, even though the defense secretary had resigned in protest of his troop withdrawal plans. Trump later grew irritated with him and sped up his departure.
https://twitter.com/kaitlancollins/status/1338621476149338118
Sen. Blunt, chair of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, says he'll begin working with the Biden team. Blunt statement as chairman of the joint inaugural committee: ""I will, as Chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, work with President-elect Biden and his Presidential Inaugural Committee to plan for the swearing-in ceremony on January 20."
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EpO_4PdWMAUkDM0?format=jpg&name=small
Vaccine arrives. Biden clinches. Barr leaves. Pretty good. Pretty pretty pretty good.
The times, they are a-changing.
When President-in-exile Trump tweeted 'GET READY!' he was sending a signal to the patriots to call off Biden's order to collectivize all of Iowa's farms, which is why it didn't happen......
I wonder if QAnon in a Biden presidency will flip, and insist that a secret army of deep state operatives are *preventing* the Khmer Rouge-style plans Biden had for America.
Damn, it! 😭 This is the last time Biden can win the election. I wasn't tired of winning yet!
Oh that's right, there's still the Jan 6th congressional certification he can win, and of course the inauguration. Still more to winning enjoy!
Let's all stop and appreciate for a moment that despite Trump's lawsuits and tantrums, that we had a relatively straight forward election and no faithless electors this year.
Larry Hogan giggling when he says Pence will have to read the electoral votes is fucking priceless.
Maga twitter is still in denial, now its the 6th. After the 6th it'll be the 20th, and after the 20th it'll be "any day now" and eventually it will be 2024. They must be jacked from constantly moving the goalposts. 🎶🎅 its beginning to look a lot like delusion ❄🎹
Surprised he hasn't fucked off to Florida for the rest of his term yet.
Biden gets to win the Presidency at least two more times. Once on January 6th and then when he's sworn in on January 20th.
At this time last year the #49ers were 11-2 and celebrating a road victory over the Saints in which Garoppolo threw for 349 yards and 4 TD with a 131.7 passer rating
https://twitter.com/limajuliettango/status/1338510606266150913
Barr's laundry list of praise for Trump does not include criminal justice reform
This Newly Released Letter Details The Criminal Referral On Donald Trump Over His Ukraine Phone Call https://buzzfeednews.com/article/jasonleopold/criminal-referral-on-trump-ukraine
Something that stuck out to me in the Texas electors' debate, in which they condemned SCOTUS for not taking Paxton's case, was one elector citing a story he'd read online. It was a very detailed anecdote about a clerk overhearing Alito and Thomas cite Bush v Gore and Roberts shutting them down. Why is this unlikely? Well, the Supreme Court has not met in person, for a private conference or otherwise, since March. The story is obviously fake. And yet it was cited by a presidential elector to condemn the court.
Attorney General Bill Barr:
Lied to cover for Trump.
Launched political investigations.
Subverted justice and the rule of law.
And violently cracked down on protestors.
So good riddance.
Now, the work of restoring a credible and independent justice system must begin.
https://twitter.com/RepAdamSchiff/status/1338630539922706432
New evidence from Chinese government documents and media reports shows that hundreds of thousands of ethnic minority laborers in Xinjiang are being forced to pick cotton by hand through a coercive state-mandated labor transfer and "poverty alleviation" scheme, with potentially drastic consequences for global supply chains. Xinjiang produces 85 percent of China's and 20 percent of the world's cotton. Chinese cotton products, in turn, constitute an important basis for garment production in numerous other Asian countries. Previously, evidence for forced labor in Xinjiang pertained only to low-skilled manufacturing, including the production of textiles and apparel. This report provides new evidence for coercion specifically related to cotton picking. These findings have much wider implications, affecting all supply chains that involve Xinjiang cotton as a raw material. On Dec. 2, 2020, the United States placed a Withhold Release Order on cotton produced by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. However, this entity only produces 33 percent of Xinjiang's cotton and only 0.4 percent of its highest-quality long-staple cotton. This report provides evidence for coercive labor related to all cotton produced in Xinjiang. The evidence shows that in 2018, three Uyghur regions alone mobilized at least 570,000 persons into cotton-picking operations through the government's coercive labor training and transfer scheme. Xinjiang's total labor transfer of ethnic minorities into cotton picking likely exceeds that figure by several hundred thousand. Despite increased mechanization, cotton picking in Xinjiang continues to rely strongly on manual labor. In 2019, about 70 percent of the region's cotton fields had to be picked by hand – especially the high-quality long-staple cotton predominantly grown in southern Xinjiang's Uyghur regions, where mechanized picking shares are low. State policies have greatly increased the numbers of local ethnic minority pickers, reducing reliance on outside Han Chinese migrant laborers. The intensive two- to three-month period of cotton picking represents a strategic opportunity to boost rural incomes, and therefore plays a key role in achieving the state's poverty alleviation targets. These targets are mainly achieved through coercive labor transfers. Cotton picking is grueling and typically poorly paid work. Labor transfers involve coercive mobilization through local work teams, transfers of pickers in tightly supervised groups, and intrusive on-site surveillance by government officials and (in at least some cases) police officers. Government supervision teams monitor pickers, checking that they have a "stable" state of mind, and administer political indoctrination sessions. Some regions put Uyghur children and elderly persons into centralized care while working-age adults are away on state-assigned cotton-picking work assignments. While not directly related to the campaign of mass internment, these labor transfers can include persons who have been released from internment camps. The data presented in this report provides strong evidence that the production of the majority of Xinjiang's cotton involves a coercive, state-run program targeting ethnic minority groups.
https://cgpolicy.org/briefs/coercive-labor-in-xinjiang-labor-transfer-and-the-mobilization-of-ethnic-minorities-to-pick-cotton/
https://cgpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201214-PB-China-Zenz-1.pdf
The longtime aide to "Putin's Congressman" Dana Rohrabacher died suddenly from a head injury over the weekend. Paul Behrends was found by emergency responders close to his home on Friday night with severe head trauma. Paul Behrends lost his job on the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee after links to Russia were reported.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/paul-behrends-ex-staffer-to-dana-rohrabacher-who-was-linked-to-veselnitskaya-dies-suddenly-after-a-fall
Staff director for Devin Nunes dies after illness
https://www.fresnobee.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/political-notebook/article221549980.html
Lamar 44-yard touchdown pass to Hollywood on 4th and 4 to take
https://streamable.com/acgy0z
Browns' loss to Ravens should''t dampen performance that showed they belong on the big stage. The resilience the Browns showed on Monday night was exactly the next box to check on their journey through the 2020 season. Twice in the second half they trailed by 14 points and each time they came up with the drive and score they needed. It helped keep the door open long enough for Lamar Jackson to leave the game with cramps and the Browns' defense to get the stop it needed. Baker Mayfield, on a day when his interception streak ended and his completion percentage wasn't great for much of the night, was gutsy and made winning plays late. He looked like a quarterback you want to sign to an extension this offseason and it happened against a division rival. The Browns were getting smart game management from the sideline, too. Yes, we'll quibble over the run-pass ratio in spots, but the aggressive call to go for it on fourth down from their own 46 down 34-20 was the right call. The decision to go for two after cutting a 14-point lead to six was straight out of the analytics textbook. It worked. The Browns picked up the two and then took the lead on the extra point. It just didn't hold up. This week, they could have won their 10th game in front of a national audience. They didn't. But they did show they belong on the same field with Baltimore and any other team outside of the Chiefs and maybe the Bills in the AFC.
The Ravens get caught with 15 men on the field
https://streamable.com/7qwamw
Justin Tucker game-winning 55 yard field goal to cap off an epic game
https://www.clippituser.tv/c/pannvw
Lamar Jackson: "I didn't pull a Paul Pierce. I was cramping."
https://streamable.com/y9u5sg
Lamar beat the browns twice tonight
Chuck Clark runs into the goal post on Baker's hail mary attempt
https://streamable.com/t16gum
Baker Mayfield on Lamar Jackson returning from the locker room and throwing a 44-yard TD: "It was like a scene out of a movie."
https://twitter.com/mysportsupdate/status/1338713496553463809
Baker to Hunt to tie it with 64 seconds left
https://streamable.com/uvllh5
That was Justin Tucker's 16th game-winning field goal of his career. Ice in his veins.
The Ravens end the game with a safety on what was a 30-second play
https://streamable.com/31vscl
Baker runs it in on 3rd and goal from the 6 to tie the game
https://streamable.com/f7meau
Browns QB Baker Mayfield is only 6 passing yards away from reaching 10,000
https://twitter.com/BrownsByBrad/status/1338521410130599937
Two great young quarterbacks, Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield, dueling it out on MNF, a fantastic game, and neither team hurt by loss: Browns are still playoff bound despite loss and Ravens on track to make the playoffs thanks to win.
Lamar Jackson Does A Euro Step While Running To The Bathroom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zygTBegsLWI
Lamar escapes from the pass rush and completes a 40-yard pass to Andrews
https://streamable.com/vcrcnu
Lamar the Lambo
https://streamable.com/nyuage
Baker throws a pick to Bowser, ending a five-game streak of not throwing an interception
https://streamable.com/uhc7oc
Lamar 44-yard run
https://streamable.com/oli2e2
Lamar Jackson now has 122 yards rushing, which ties the Monday Night Football record for rushing yards by a QB. He tied Russell Wilson, who had 122 yards rushing in 2014. Jackson is the 4th QB to eclipse 100 yards rushing in MNF history.
https://twitter.com/jamisonhensley/status/1338683562598539265
In the end, Lamar Jackson's runs initially left skid marks all over the Browns, but it was his squeeze to Brown that was ultimately cheeky enough to make us forget he was sidelined by the browns.
Scientists plan mission to biggest iceberg as it drifts towards island
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/15/scientists-plan-mission-to-biggest-iceberg-as-it-drifts-towards-island
LED lights found to kill coronavirus19 efficiently, quickly, and cheaply, a global first in fight against COVID-19. The finding suggests the UV-LEDs can be installed in air conditioning and water systems. It requires less than half a minute to destroy more than 99.9% of coronaviruses.
https://aftau.org/news_item/led-lights-found-to-kill-coronavirus-global-first-in-fight-against-covid-19/
ICC rejects Uighur genocide complaint against China
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20201214-icc-rejects-uighur-genocide-complaint-against-china
"It was just like getting my flu shot every year." Watch @SavannahGuthrie's interview with Dr. Mark Conroy, Dr. Meghana Moodabagil, and emergency medicine nurse Nate Royster, some of the very first health care workers to be vaccinated in the United States. Frontline workers vaccinated.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1338821485406937088
https://twitter.com/TODAYshow/status/1338821485406937088
Precious McKesson was the sole Nebraska elector to cast the vote for Biden. McKesson, who's the 1st woman of color to cast an electoral vote for a Democrat in the state, said she became emotional when she cast a vote for Kamala Harris. "It meant so much."
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/electoral-college-vote-2020-biden-trump/h_06f16be3b3c8daf8a6b39bb4b9632650
The Hunt for the Long Island Serial Killer
https://www.cbs.com/shows/48_hours/video/mFoSSZsCmYaYQNOAB5xa3IvzPRyGra88/the-hunt-for-the-long-island-serial-killer/
48 Hours does a good job of putting together a neat encapsulation of the entire case. They did so with the first show that they produced and they have done it again with this latest episode. This time around, the focus was not on Shannan Gilbert, but rather, they lead off with a discussion of the Gilgo Beach Four. Shannan's disappearance does not appear until almost halfway into the segment and they touch only briefly on the controversy surrounding her, as it relates to the Gilgo Beach 4. They also give a very tidy little summation of Police Chief James Burke's involvement with the case, from his rise in the department to his ultimate fall. That discussion of him nicely sums up why many people feel that the police have bungled this case and where the case is at now. I liked the one newspaper reporter guy they interviewed who said that whether there is any veracity to Burke being the killer or not, such accusations are well deserved by the incompetent SCPD. Those who have been following this case for years will not learn anything new from this latest 48 Hours episode. But I thought that it was very well done and I'm happy that they are helping to keep this case in the public's mind. I go back and forth on 1 vs 2 killers all the time. I definitely think that if there are separate killers, then there's LISK, and there's the Manorville Butcher. I don't believe there are separate killers for the non-GB4 victims. I tend to lean towards there being 1 killer for all of them, mostly due to proximity, and because two victims were found in Manorville AND Gilgo. His MO changed as his life went on. I know that everyone with first hand knowledge of the area says its a perfect dumping ground, so of course serial killers would use it. But that just doesn't sit right with me when I look at a map and see the GB4 literally right in the middle of some of the other victims. And as gruesome as it is, I mean literally...some parts of one victim to the east of the GB4 and some parts of the same victim to the west of the GB4, on the very same stretch of road/beach/Island. It also means that if in fact there's a LISK and a separate Manorville Butcher, then the MB spends his years killing, stops or completely changes his location and then all the sudden LISK steps right in, as if to fill the gap, and begins his "career", if you will, using the same dumping ground and then also either stops or changes his disposal location completely. The drastic change in the disposal method sure does raise some questions, no doubt about that. But that really is the only thing to suggest that there is more than one killer responsible for all of these victims. I tend to see it as one disturbingly long career, and given the length of time the 2 sets of murders would encompass, would make LISK very plausibly age out of killing if indeed one perpetrator is responsible for all of them, explaining why they've seemingly stopped. One can hope.
Brandon Ingram dunks all over KZ Okpala
https://streamable.com/5gy46n
UAE, Bahrain delegations take part in Jerusalem Temple Mount Hanukkah lighting ceremony
https://www.timesofisrael.com/uae-bahrain-delegations-take-part-in-western-wall-hanukkah-lighting-ceremony/
MegaMillionaire Joel Osteen, Worth At Least $50 Million Dollars, Illegally And Unconstitutionally Received $4.4 Million In Federal PPP Loans
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/religion/article/Joel-Osteen-s-Lakewood-Church-got-4-4M-in-15800887.php
Trump is pocketing Georgia Senate runoff donations for his PAC, stripping Republican candidates' campaigns of money
https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-pocketing-georgia-senate-runoff-donations-report-pac-money-2020-12
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/georgia-senate-election-fund-donations-trump-save-america-political-action-committee/
There is no such thing as dueling electors, there are legally chosen electors and then the losing party's denial theater
https://niemanlab.org/2020/10/what-is-the-epoch-times-a-vehicle-for-pro-trump-conspiracy-theories-and-the-culmination-of-all-that-facebook-has-encouraged/
@JoeBiden's @BidenInaugural team "is urging the public to refrain from any travel and participate in the inaugural activities from home." The parade will be "reimagined." Biden & Harris to be inaugurated in a ceremony "that includes vigorous health and safety protocols"
https://twitter.com/edokeefe/status/1338883174840020994
@CBSNews has learned that the Biden-Harris Transition will soon announce when President-elect @JoeBiden and VP-elect @KamalaHarris will be vaccinated against COVID-19. A transition official tells @edokeefe that an announcement is expected soon.
https://twitter.com/finnygo/status/1338905558976491520
482,792 people have voted in the 2021 Georgia Senate run-off election https://electproject.github.io/Early-Vote-2020G/GA_RO.html
https://electproject.github.io/Early-Vote-2020G/GA_RO.html
Total Requests: 1,419,564 Total Accepted Ballots: 314,499
https://electproject.github.io/Early-Vote-2020G/GA_RO.html
Twitter confirms Trump can be banned from inauguration day onwards
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/trump-twitter-ban-inauguration-biden-b1774105.html
A Newsmax spokesperson to TVNewser just now: "As a result of the Electoral College vote Joe Biden is the president-elect and will be referred to as such on Newsmax. We also recognize Trump continues to contest the results and we will cover aspects of that news story."
https://thehill.com/homenews/media/530272-newsmax-says-it-will-refer-to-biden-as-president-elect
New Mexico's Deb Haaland emerges as Biden's top choice to lead U.S. Interior
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-interior/exclusive-new-mexicos-deb-haaland-emerges-as-bidens-top-choice-to-lead-u-s-interior-sources-idUSKBN28P2FJ
Nickelodeon's NFL Wild Card telecast next month will feature superimposed slime in endzones, googly eyes on players during replays and more to give the game a distinctly Nickelodeon look-and-feel.
https://twitter.com/sbjsbd/status/1338856688284094466
Despite kicking 300+ FGs over his 9 year career, Justin Tucker has never attempted a FG under 20 yards.
https://www.nfl.com/players/justin-tucker/stats/career
To put into perspective just how bad the Bears' Quarterbacks situation has been for decades, they have never had a QB throw for 30 Touchdowns or 4,000 yards in a season
Ravens QB Trace McSorley's knee injury doesn't appear to be season-ending, per source. It looks like a sprain at this point, but he will have an MRI later today
https://twitter.com/jamisonhensley/status/1338853806906421248
The first 975 doses of the #Pfizer #COVID-19 #Vaccine arrived in the Cherokee Nation today! Distribution of the vaccines from IHS will begin this week. Phase 1 priority is given to frontline health workers, first responders and Cherokee Speakers, National Treasures and elders.
https://twitter.com/CherokeeNation/status/1338572299100971033
A former Houston police captain has been charged after being accused of holding a repairman at gunpoint in a bogus voter-fraud conspiracy, according to the Harris County District Attorney's Office.
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2020/12/15/dirty-politics-former-hpd-captain-charged-with-holding-repairman-at-gunpoint-in-bogus-voter-fraud-conspiracy/
More of Biden's remarks at the drive-in rally in Atlanta backing @Ossoff and @ReverendWarnock: "Your two Republican Senators fully embraced what Texas was telling the Supreme Court — to nullify nearly 5 million Georgian votes. You might want to remember that come January 5th."
https://twitter.com/KlasfeldReports/status/1338967489905102850
Rep. @MikeKellyPA and others asked the Supreme Court to take up a case in which they want to throw out all of PA's mail-in ballots. The court already denied an injunction, but they're asking it to hear the case on the merits and they wanted a response today. Hasn't happened.
https://twitter.com/bradheath/status/1338968229633470464/photo/1
Bernie Sanders on Nina Turner's bid: "She deeply cares for working families and she has the heart to be an effective, unwavering fighter for them in Congress. She is truly a champion of economic, racial, social and environmental justice. I am proud to endorse her candidacy."
https://twitter.com/daveweigel/status/1338972269192876032
Remember those prescription drug cards Trump promised before the election in an effort to woo seniors? Well, they're finally expected to go out by Jan. 1
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-15/trump-s-200-medicare-drug-cards-expected-to-be-mailed-jan-1
A lot of voting sites in Native American communities lack ADA-compliant infrastructure. They have tried fixing this through curbside voting.
https://www.businessinsider.com/native-american-voters-still-face-widespread-challenges-to-voting-2020-12
Robert O'Brien, Trump's national security adviser, cut short a European trip to return to Washington not to coordinate the government response to the suspected Russian cyber attack but because he and his wife are under investigation for pocketing taxpayer dollars for personal trips, including the European trip, funded by taxpayers but a personal vacation
Villagers identify two elderly men beheaded by Azerbaijani troops in widely-viewed videos, verifying two of the worst atrocities of the Nagorno-Karabakh war. We've spoken with them, viewed a photo of one victim and confirmed with the other's relative.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/15/two-men-beheaded-in-videos-from-nagorno-karabakh-war-identified
One of Democrats' top startups this cycle was a company called Alloy, backed with $35 million in part from mega-donor Reid Hoffman. But then over just 96 hours, Alloy imploded.
https://www.vox.com/recode/22175186/alloy-drama-reid-hoffman-democratic-data-startup
As embarrassing as it is for Sens. Perdue & Loeffler not to know that the data they want is already publicly available from the Secretary of State, it's even worse that they're not aware their own campaigns already have the data they're looking for.
https://twitter.com/GaSecofState/status/1338904667368157187
Early voting has already started but it's not too late for them to call their offices and get their campaigns in order.
https://twitter.com/GaSecofState/status/1338904668345393152
GaSecofState is going too easy on Loeffler and Perdue here. They both knew they had access to that data, they both knew their campaigns had access to it. They're just flat out lying through their teeth to stir anger and mistrust up because they think it will work to their advantage.
It's official! I am running for Congress. I am asking you to join me today as part of a historic grassroots campaign--one that centers the voices of everyday working Ohioans. We have so much to do and I hope we can do it together! Please donate 👇🏾
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/snt-social-dec?refcode=social-201215-launch
https://twitter.com/ninaturner/status/1338916493170511873
Federal Court Rejects Trump's Approval of Offshore Oil-drilling Project in Arctic
https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/federal-court-rejects-trumps-approval-of-offshore-oil-drilling-project-in-arctic-2020-12-07/
USPS Finally Releases Louis DeJoy's Calendar And Everything's Illegally Redacted
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/usps-postmaster-general-louis-dejoy-calendar-redacted_n_5fd9259cc5b663c3759aa5a5
On the night of December 21, the two planets will appear the closest as seen from Earth since 1623
https://twitter.com/NatGeo/status/1338907020133593089
Dodge City, Kansas Mayor Joyce Warshaw has announced her immediate resignation because of threats she received after publicly supporting a mask mandate. Warshaw said she was concerned about her safety after receiving threats via phone and email.
https://www.dodgeglobe.com/story/news/local/2020/12/15/dodge-city-mayor-joyce-warshaw-resigns-effective-immediately/3913222001/
Christopher Krebs: We prepared for more Russian interference. But this year the assault on democracy was from within the US
https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/15/opinions/assault-on-democracy-within-the-us-krebs/index.html
Almost all invitees skip Mike Pompeo's indoor holiday party at State Department. Pompeo cancelled his speech. 70 of the 900 showed up.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/hundreds-of-invitees-skip-mike-pompeos-indoor-holiday-party-at-state-department/2020/12/15/6fe41bf0-3f19-11eb-a402-fba110db3b42_story.html
Trump's neighbours at his Mar-a-Lago private club in Palm Beach, Florida, initiated legal action to stop him from making it his permanent residence once he leaves the White House. The neighbours delivered a demand letter to the town authorities of Palm Beach, addressed to the US Secret Service, which said that Mr Trump lost his legal right to permanently live at Mar-a-Lago due to an agreement he signed in 1993 when he turned his private residence to a private club.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/trump-mar-a-lago-neighbors-dispute/2020/12/15/bc2ce1d0-3ed4-11eb-9453-fc36ba051781_story.html
All people who refuse the covid19 vaccination and test positive need to be bankrupted for the test and banned from all medical treatment for covid19 and all other health issues for the rest of his/her life.
The City of Detroit Is Trying to Get Sidney Powell Fined, Banned from Court, and Referred to the Bar for Filing the 'Kraken'
https://lawandcrime.com/2020-election/detroit-is-trying-to-get-sidney-powell-fined-banned-from-court-and-referred-to-the-bar-for-filing-the-kraken/
Yikes Democrats are Terrorists: Cuomo signs bill banning sale of Confederate flags
https://nypost.com/2020/12/15/cuomo-signs-bill-banning-sale-of-confederate-flags/
Nearly 8 million Americans have fallen into poverty since the summer | Nation's poverty rate has risen at the fastest pace ever this year after aid for the unemployed declined.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/12/16/poverty-rising/
Republicans' impact on Indian Country over four years - From legal decisions to on-the-ground policies, Indigenous lawyers describe the administration's tactics as an "onslaught" removing federal protections of land and wildlife
https://www.hcn.org/articles/indigenous-affairs-trumps-impact-on-indian-country-over-four-years
Billions Spent on U.S. Cyberdefenses Failed to Detect Giant Russian Hack: The broad Russian espionage attack on the U.S. government and private companies, underway since spring and detected only a few weeks ago, is among the greatest intelligence failures of modern times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/16/us/politics/russia-hack-putin-trump-biden.html
House and Senate leaders are on the brink of announcing an economic aid package of about $900 billion, which is expected to add $300 a week to state compensation for the unemployed and provide a one-time direct payment of up to $600.
https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-12-16/congressional-leaders-close-in-on-covid-relief-package
So far, of people who ran in the Democratic primaries, one is the president-elect, another is vice president-elect, another reset Congress into forcing new relief checks into Covid19 relief, another will be the Transportation secretary rethinking American infrastructure
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/direct-cash-payments-under-consideration-lawmakers-near-covid-aid-deal-n1251384
"Democracy in general's fragile," Krebs says. "If a party fails to participate in the process and instead undermines the process, we risk losing that democracy."
https://twitter.com/ericgeller/status/1339255519962402816
Johnson asks Krebs if he's concerned about Trump lawyer's claim that they weren't allowed to see voting machines' source code. Krebs agrees on need for "appropriate...transparency" but says there are "multiple controls in place throughout the system." Johnson interrupts.
https://twitter.com/ericgeller/status/1339257784618061824
DeVos Illegally Directs Education Department Employees To Continue Dismantling The Depart Of Education And Obstruct The Biden Administration
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/devos-urges-education-department-employees-to-be-the-resistance-in-biden-administration
I swear I've read this before: One of Paul's biggest beefs, sources said, was that Harden basically opted not to participate in the Rockets' offense when the ball wasn't in his hands, sometimes barely stepping over half court while spectating when Paul had the ball. Harden quickly tired of Paul barking about his concerns, which included lobbying coach Mike D'Antoni to implement more structure and movement in an offensive system that revolved around Harden's isolations, sources said.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30528130/james-harden-houston-rockets-breaking-point
This whole article feels like déjà vu. It's like a collection of things that have already been reported
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30528130/james-harden-houston-rockets-breaking-point
Harden insisted the Rockets get the [Westbrook] deal done, saying he'd demand a trade if they didn't find a way to bring his childhood friend and former OKC teammate to Houston, sources said. MDA privately expressed his concerns about the Harden-Westbrook fit.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30528130/james-harden-houston-rockets-breaking-point
Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has been demanding $1,200 in checks, said emerging proposal is a "good start" — even though it's expected to be $600-$700. He said he would keep demanding more, but he wouldn't say if he would slow down deal to prevent it from passing by Friday.
https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1339270597558366209
Somebody ought to ask Trump's lawyer Jim Troupis, invited to retry his failed case in Wisconsin, why he only sued the state's most diverse counties: Dane and Milwaukee, even though the forms he complained about were used in whiter counties. Judges asked that question.
https://twitter.com/KlasfeldReports/status/1339270405413081089
"Infants, kids, teens, young people, young adults, middle aged with no conditions etc. have zero to little risk, we use them to develop herd immunity, we want them infected". Top Trump official at HHS pushes for herd immunityTrump appointee demanded herd immunity strategy, emails reveal. Then-HHS science adviser Paul Alexander called for millions of Americans to be infected as means of fighting Covid-19. Alexander also argued that colleges should stay open to allow Covid-19 infections to spread, lamenting in a July 27 email to Centers for Disease Control Director Robert Redfield that "we essentially took off the battlefield the most potent weapon we had...younger healthy people, children, teens, young people who we needed to fastly [sic] infect themselves, spread it around, develop immunity, and help stop the spread." We need trials. Public ones. Jesus Christ.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/16/trump-appointee-demanded-herd-immunity-strategy-446408
TX Doctor Says Half Of Nurses In His Unit Won't Undego Vaccination Because They Are Pro-Trump Conspiracy Theorists
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/tx-doctor-says-half-of-nurses-in-his-unit-wont-get-vaccine-for-politically-motivated-reasons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Bell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huang_Zongying
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanna_Stank%C3%B3wna
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/former-ncaa-womens-basketball-vp-sue-donohoe-dies/2020/12/13/1aa4c5d8-3d7d-11eb-b58b-1623f6267960_story.html
Only a matter of time: Member of Biden's transition press corps tests positive for coronavirus
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/16/biden-transition-press-corps-coronavirus-positive-446466
'Ghost boat' washes up in Marshall Islands with 649 kilos of cocaine on board
https://www.iol.co.za/news/world/ghost-boat-washes-up-in-marshall-islands-with-649-kilos-of-cocaine-on-board-9fd69c15-0591-4320-a4ce-209848d82232
Hundreds of religious leaders from around the world come together to demand ban on gay conversion therapy
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/lgbt-conversion-therapy-ozanne-foundation-b1774837.html
U.K. Vaccinated 137,000 people from Covid19 last week
https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-vaccine-137-000-people-in-uk-get-covid-jab-in-first-week-12163995
A team of 10 international scientists will travel to the Chinese city of Wuhan to investigate the origins of Covid-19
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-55333200
Pfizer's trial in the United States involving more than 40,000 people did not find any serious adverse events caused by the vaccine, although many participants did experience aches, fevers and other side effects. Severe allergic reactions to vaccines are typically linked to the vaccine because of their timing.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/health/covid-vaccine-pfizer.html
Cowboys DC Mike Nolan is not expected to return in 2021. Mike McCarthy will. But the team's defensive scheme mishandle falls on McCarthy, too.
Frank Ragnow fractured his throat on Sunday. He still played all 68 offensive snaps and did not allow a sack, a hit, or even a QB hurry. Clean day. My goodness.
https://twitter.com/kmeinke/status/1339277813980012545
As dusk crept over the nation's capital, the National Cathedral tolled its bell 300 times, to honor 300,000 Americans lost to covid19. People gathered to watch. Some bent their heads. Others held each other silently. It was the most profoundly tragic thing I've ever witnessed.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1338972509358731265
https://twitter.com/hannah_natanson/status/1338972509358731265
Trump's lawyer Jesse Binnall who lost in Nevada: "This is real. This happened. We have to address it." Fact-check: No, it didn't, as a judge found regarding 25 of his bogus theories of fraud.
https://lawandcrime.com/2020-election/a-judge-just-shot-down-25-of-the-trump-campaigns-conspiracy-theories-in-nevada/
The classical music industry had planned to go all out commemorating Beethoven's 250th birthday this week. But when the pandemic hit, Beethoven's birthday party was largely canceled, along with the rest of the global performing arts calendar.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/14/arts/music/beethoven-250-birthday-classical.html
Six months ago today, MIKE PENCE insisted there was no "second wave" of covid19 cases, telling Americans to ignore media "panic." Daily covid19 cases have spiked from 25K then to more than 200K today.
https://twitter.com/ddiamond/status/1339281757078745089
The value of Sen. Kelly Loeffler's mansion dropped by $6.4 million overnight, saving her a bundle on taxes. And no one—not her campaign, not local experts, no one—can explain why.
https://thedailybeast.com/value-of-sen-kelly-loefflers-georgia-mansion-dropped-dollar6m-overnightand-nobody-can-explain-why
The #HumboldtForum in the Berlin City Palace opens today - but only digitally, because of the #coronavirus19 pandemic. Berlin's new museum is at the center of a heated debate, criticized for displaying African art from the colonial era. Here's a look at the rebuilt old city palace.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1339238860698611717
https://twitter.com/dw_culture/status/1339238860698611717
Trump is considering pardons for more than 2 dozen people in his orbit whom he believes were targeted--or could be targeted in the future--for political ends. That's in addition to hundreds of requests from others who have approached the White House directly
https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/16/politics/donald-trump-pardons-lame-duck/index.html
That was the plan even before Covid19 existed: Biden To Have Entire WH East And West Wings Showered With Disinfectant Right After Trump Leaves
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/biden-to-have-entire-wh-east-and-west-wings-showered-with-disinfectant-right-after-trump-leaves
MRI confirmed that Rockets guard Chris Clemons suffered a torn Achilles tendon, and he will undergo season-ending surgery and make a full recovery, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.News
https://twitter.com/shamscharania/status/1339297330424639488
Pete Buttigieg would be the first openly gay cabinet appointee, not Richard Grenell, who is acting head of DNI and never came out as gay
If Biden appoints DisneyStudios Chairman RobertIger U.S. ambassador to China, he would be rewarding the worst corporate kowtowing to Beijing and sending the worst possible signal at this most crucial moment.
https://hollywoodreporter.com/news/bob-iger-jeffrey-katzenberg-in-the-mix-for-biden-ambassadorship-roles
Lamar Jackson on whether the cramping Monday night was related to him recovering from coronavirus19 recently: "Probably. Probably because of the body heat and we're running in the cold. It was so cold out there. That probably had an effect on that as well. I can't call it."
Reminder: It's a Florida HOA. I'd love to see one foreclose on him after a lien: Trump's Mar-a-Lago neighbours initiate legal action to stop him moving there when he leaves White House. Trump signed a deal in 1993 that bars him from using the private club as a permanent residence
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/maralago-florida-trump-white-house-b1774737.html
Hornets' Gordon Hayward has suffered an avulsion fracture of his fifth finger on his right hand.
https://twitter.com/shamscharania/status/1339310741543763968
The Hornets are listing Gordon Hayward as day-to-day after he suffered an avulsion fracture to the fifth finger on his right hand
https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/1339313326304669698
DeMarcus Cousins now a Houston Rocket
Right now, I'm just focused on being here. Today was good. Yesterday felt really good being out there for the first time since the bubble. I haven't really had an opportunity to do a lot of five-on-five work. But for my first time being out there, I felt pretty good.
https://www.nba.com/news/james-harden-says-hes-focused-on-being-here
Biden says he will take vaccine publicly after White House refused to say if Trump would
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/biden-vaccine-trump-covid-b1775150.html
Amazon warehouse workers in Alabama allowed to vote on unionization, setting the e-commerce company up for a major union battle. It will be the first union vote at an Amazon US warehouse since 2014.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/12/16/amazon-union-election-alabama/
Biden would save $2.6 billion if he halts Trump's border wall project on Jan 21 as promised, according to new US Army Corps of Engineers estimates. $700 million would be given for compensation to contractors for work stoppage
https://washingtonpost.com/immigration/stopping-border-wall-save-billions/2020/12/16/fa096958-3fd1-11eb-a402-fba110db3b42_story.html
President-elect Joe Biden is expected to get his first Covid-19 vaccination early next week and plans to get his shot in public.
https://cnn.com/2020/12/16/politics/biden-vaccination-coronavirus/index.html
Pence to receive coronavirus19 vaccine during a public appearance on Friday making him the highest ranking US official to do so
https://www.axios.com/vice-president-mike-pence-televised-vaccine-shot-coronavirus-b185f69c-2080-4631-b40f-efbb8129bd68.html
A Chanukah Hanukkah miracle. We have WAY more Pfizer vaccine doses than we originally thought because health care workers noticed extra in the vials. Crafty pharmacists found that five-dose vials of Pfizer's vaccine contained enough for six or seven doses.
Now, after a whole bunch of confusion, FDA says those extra doses can be used -- boosting supply by up to 40%
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/16/pfizer-vaccine-extra-doses-447117
ICU beds across Southern California are plummeting to critical levels, with capacity falling to 1% in Ventura County and 0% in Riverside County while Los Angeles County — home to 10 million people — had fewer than 100 beds available.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-15/southern-california-icu-capacity-covid-19-surge
New Zealand secures enough vaccine for all New Zealanders and six pacific nations
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/433029/govt-secures-another-two-covid-19-vaccines-pm-says-every-new-zealander-will-be-able-to-be-vaccinated
Researchers Warn of Looming Oil Spill Four Times Larger Than Exxon Valdez If Urgent Action Not Taken
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/15/researchers-warn-looming-oil-spill-four-times-larger-exxon-valdez-if-urgent-action
On plantations and in protected areas, critically endangered Sumatran elephants keep turning up dead: 93% of known elephant habitat in Riau contains commercial activities
https://news.mongabay.com/2020/12/on-plantations-and-in-protected-areas-sumatran-elephants-keep-turning-up-dead/
The media has already done this with Trump because the media cares about money only: "Don't allow him to become a self-styled president in exile, the golf-cart version of Napoleon on Elba. Do not set up a Mar-a-Lago bureau. Don't have entire reporting beats dedicated to what he and his family members are up to." https://washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/journalists-cold-turkey-breakup-trump/2020/12/15/db524e04-3eea-11eb-8bc0-ae155bee4aff_story.html
And there it is. This is bullshit and should be covered as such. It’s an insult to our intelligence to believe that Republicans were gearing up to work with Biden but their delicate sensibilities were offended by Jennifer O'Malley Dillon's Glamor interview so they balked. After the last four years let's not play this game. REPUBLICANS WORKED RELENTLESSLY TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION RESULTS AND NOW THEY'RE SUDDENLY PRETENDING THEY LOVED THEIR NEW PRESIDENT BIDEN AND WERE READY TO WORK WITH HIM UNTIL "THAT WOMAN CUSSED US!"
https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1339375759677411328
His staff cleans Covid19 hospital rooms. He got the vaccine to build trust in the shot: Roy Dunlap became one of the first 7 employees to get the Pfizer vaccine at Howard University Hospital, which hopes to ease the Black community's fear about the vaccines.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/howard-coronavirus-vaccines/2020/12/15/ece3edee-3e59-11eb-8bc0-ae155bee4aff_story.html
Trump's former homeland security advisor, in new op-ed, writes: "The magnitude of this ongoing attack is hard to overstate ... While the Russians did not have the time to gain complete control over every network they hacked, they most certainly did gain it over hundreds of them." The US public is sick, our leaders distracted, and we are under cyberattack. This isn’t about SolarWinds anymore. It hasn’t been for months. The Russians are in our networks at a very fragile time. What are we going to do about it? https://nytimes.com/2020/12/16/opinion/fireeye-solarwinds-russia-hack.html
YES GOOD: Biden picks Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) to be first Native American interior secretary
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/12/17/deb-haaland-interior-secretary-biden/
Bound to happen: French president Emmanuel Macron tests positive for coronavirus19
http://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-french-president-emmanuel-macron-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-12165240
Former Ravens RB Lorenzo Taliaferro has passed away at the age of 28. Taliaferro played for the Ravens from 2014-16. A heart attack at 28 is wild.
https://twitter.com/ProFootballTalk/status/1339421009246470145
Jimmy Dore melts down on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, lying that she voted for The CARES Act: "Fuck you! You already voted for The CARES Act! Fuck you, and fuck anybody who is protecting her! Fuck you!"
https://twitter.com/themattdimitri/status/1339478371214917632
Days After Smartmatic's Legal Threat, Dominion Voting Systems Follows Suit with Demand Letter to Sidney Powell
https://lawandcrime.com/2020-election/days-after-smartmatics-legal-threat-dominion-voting-systems-follows-suit-with-demand-letter-to-sidney-powell/ via @lawcrimenews
Dominion demands that Sidney Powell retract 'baseless and false allegations' about voting machines.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/17/us/dominion-demands-that-sidney-powell-retract-baseless-and-false-allegations-about-voting-machines.html
Secret Emails Show The Dramatic Moment A Top ICE Lawyer Tried And Failed To Get Deported Children Flown Back To The US
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/hamedaleaziz/secret-emails-ice-deportation-flight-guatemala
Steph and Ayesha Curry's Eat. Learn. Play. joins Nationwide Children's Hospital as primary beneficiaries of the PGA Tour's Memorial Tournament founded and hosted by golf legend Jack Nicklaus
https://www.pgatour.com/news/2020/12/17/workday-joins-memorial-tournament-presenting-sponsor-2022-stephen-curry-eat-learn-play.html
6 men indicted in alleged plot to kidnap Michigan governor
https://apnews.com/article/gretchen-whitmer-michigan-indictments-coronavirus-pandemic-traverse-city-10f7e02c57004da9843f89650edd4510
$1.7M for George Strait: Lawsuit forced Texas to release details on inaugural spending
https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/17m-for-george-strait-lawsuit-forced-texas-to-release-details-on-inaugural-spending
A developing story on this morning's ruling from federal judge refusing to change the Georgia runoff rules at the "halftime."
https://lawandcrime.com/2020-election/a-federal-judge-has-already-dismissed-a-republican-lawsuit-aimed-at-senate-runoff-elections-in-georgia/
Matt Robinson, a nurse in the Covid19 unit here in Memphis, also got his vaccine this morning. Then he went back upstairs, suited up in PPE, and went back in the Covid19 ward.
https://twitter.com/ElizLanders/status/1339621333576151042
Just realized that tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of the House vote to impeach Trump. The past year has been a long decade.
Modeling scout Jean-Luc Brunel, one of Jeffrey Epstein's accused recruiters, arrested on sex trafficking charges. https://miamiherald.com/news/local/article238351108.html
A special thank you to Georgia election officials. While many election officials across the country will enjoy a much-earned holiday break, they will still be hard at work
https://twitter.com/ElectProject/status/1339620175868510211
Not surprisingly, Trump is Tweeting more craziness about the election but not a word about the most sweeping, profound cyber attack in U.S. history. It happened on Trump's watch but will fall to President Joe Biden to respond to Russia and deal with the aftermath.
YEP: People who stood by Donald Trump for the last four years are now claiming to be offended that a Democratic campaign manager used a curse word? I don't think so.
https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton/status/1339600151590051843
GOOD: Biden to tap Brenda Mallory to lead White House environment council -sources
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-environment-ceq-idUSKBN28Q2O9
Another GOOD: Nearly 40 states sue Google over search manipulation, marking the third antitrust salvo against the tech giant
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/12/17/google-search-antitrust-lawsuit/
'Republican Party Doesn't Give A Damn About You': McConnell Admits Direct Checks Only Included To Help Republicans Win Senate Races In Georgia
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/17/republican-party-doesnt-give-damn-about-you-mcconnell-admits-direct-checks-only
President-elect Joe Biden has picked an experienced but not widely known state regulator, Michael S. Regan of North Carolina, to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Regan, who is head of North Carolina's environmental agency, was one of several contenders whose name emerged only in recent days. Biden's pick was confirmed Thursday by a person familiar with the selection process who was not authorized the discuss the matter publicly before the official announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/biden-picks-regulator-michael-regan-for-epa-administrator
Biden to Pick Michael Regan, North Carolina Environment Regulator, to Head E.P.A. Mr. Regan, a former air quality specialist at the Environmental Protection Agency, is secretary of North Carolina's Department of Environmental Quality.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/17/climate/michael-regan-epa.html
The time Rocky the Nuggets' mascot passed out while being lowered from the ceiling so it looked like they were displaying his lynching for the entire Pepsi Center. Rocky was checked out by the team's medical personnel before walking off the court on his own.
https://streamable.com/c259lt
Trump has sent 729 tweets since the election. Not a single one was about the Covid19 death toll.
With Regan at EPA, Biden will have the most Black people in his cabinet in American History (assuming they get confirmed).
He's currently at 6 nominees. Bill Clinton had the most at 5.
Top Dems on House Oversight and Homeland Security committees say they've launched an investigation into the suspected Russian cyber campaign, request damage assessments ASAP from Trump officials, and reveal they're getting a classified briefing tomorrow. https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/2020-12-17.CBM%20Thompson%20Underwood%20SFL%20to%20Ratcliffe-DNI%20Wray-FBI%20Wolf-DHS%20re%20Solar%20Winds%20Cyber%20Attack%20%281%29.pdf
Tribal organizers and leaders have been pushing for Deb Haaland to be chosen as the first-ever Native American cabinet secretary, and have highlighted the importance of having a Native American in charge of overseeing the country's public lands. Born in Navajo country in Arizona to a Native American mother who served in the Navy and a Norwegian American father who was an active-duty Marine, Haaland spent summers with her grandparents in a house without running water in Mesita, one of Laguna Pueblo's New Mexico villages. Haaland would become the first descendant of the original people to populate North America to run the department.
https://washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/12/17/deb-haaland-interior-secretary-biden/
Senator Loeffler refused NINE times to acknowledge that Joe Biden is President-elect at a press conference.
https://twitter.com/KlasfeldReports/status/1339653761036406785
We're looking at a minimum 219 seat majority for Dems (at most 221 depending on IA-2 & NY-22) for the first few months of the Biden administration. This will cut further into House Democrats' already-thin majority. And her seat won't exactly be solid-blue territory in a low-turnout special election.
Pfizer says it has shipped all 2.9 million doses of the coronavirus19 vaccine that U.S. govt ordered this week and that it has millions more doses sitting in warehouses awaiting instructions for where to ship.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-17/pfizer-says-no-vaccine-shipments-have-been-delayed
I love transportation policy and know a fair amount about it. Most people who write about politics do not love transportation policy but do have strong feelings about Mayor Pete. That's leading to a lot of bad takes. Secretary of Transportation is a job that very frequently goes to a politician with weak technical credentials, and it's better to have it be an up-and-comer like Pete than an over-the-hiller like Roy LaHood. I am particularly pleased by Buttigieg's transparent ambition. The worst-case scenario for this job is something like Obama's second Transportation Secretary, Anthony Foxx, who was supposed to be a rising star but just parlayed his time in the cabinet into being a lobbyist for Lyft. Pete wants to be president, not to lobby for Lyft. Pete's transportation record as mayor is really good. He was a complete streets guy (established SmartStreetsSB), he improved the commuter rail connection to Chicago, he legalized ADUs, expanded missing middle housing, and reduced parking minimums. I do not love the level of amateurism in the American government and in principle would like to see a subject matter expert do this job. But it's tricky. America is not good at the kinds of things progressives, liberals, leftists are most interested in - rail and transit - and getting a career member of the kind of dysfunctional bureaucracies that don't know how to board a train, have sky-high construction costs, and antiquated commuter rail operations would not be good. It's not a coincidence that Andy Byford, who did a really good job during his brief stint running the MTA, is not an American. He'd probably have been my dream Department of Transportation pick, and if Biden could convince him to leave London to run the Federal Railroad Administration that would be great. Speaking of FRA, the Secretary of Transportation is a weak office. There's not a lot happening at "Main Transportation" - the authorities reside at the Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, etc. HUD has "housing" in the title but to the extent that there is a federal agency that could push for better housing policy, it's DOT which runs various competitive grant programs and could try to make project approvals driven by complementary land use ideas. There is a lot of interest in mass transit in the media but the job is not Secretary of Mass Transit and most of America is a transit desert. Not only is the job mostly not about transit, but even more importantly the federal government is a peripheral player in transit. If you want better transit you need to take it up with Andrew Cuomo or Gavin Newsom or Charlie Baker or whoever else. By contrast, the federal government is a fairly dominant player in aviation policy and there's a lot happening here from the FAA's NextGen project to Boom Aviation trying to make supersonic passenger aircraft great again. Also tons of drone stuff. I hope this is obvious to everyone, but it just can't be stressed heavily enough that social media performative Pete-hatred is not actually about Pete. I'd say most generously it's about an accurate sense that his existence threatens the young socialist left's belief that the future belongs to them. Joe Biden, yesterday's man, is easy to live with. So is the politically clumsy Kamala Harris. But the prospect of a charismatic, talented, ambitious normie Democrat who's not going away any time soon is terrifying. But this is good! Right now Democratic Party politics is largely polarized between an ossified and uninspiring establishment and a group of young, dynamic leftists who are wildly out of touch with political reality. Fresh faces who know how to be interesting while also knowing how to read public opinion surveys are exactly what the country needs. We appear to be on the verge of a breakthrough in self-driving cars as well as a breakthrough in solid-state batteries for electric cars. These are potentially game-changing technologies in terms of quality of life and environmental sustainability, so anything the Transportation Secretary can do to nudge them along is a really big deal.
Congress is the supreme branch of government. It can pass laws, override vetoes, kick presidents out of office, throw judges off the bench, pack or strip courts, and Congress controls the purse strings of government. The idea its hands are tied responding to the pandemic is absurd.
Biden statement: "A good defense isn't enough; we need to disrupt and deter our adversaries from undertaking significant cyber attacks in the first place ... Our adversaries should know that, as President, I will not stand idly by in the face of cyber assaults on our nation."
Restoring Native lands should be a priority of the Biden administration
https://indiancountrytoday.com/opinion/restoring-native-lands-should-be-a-priority-of-the-biden-administration-dfzavTgjTE6kCnm0id7XKw
A rural Japanese town voted its sole female councillor out of her seat after she accused its mayor of sexual assault. The public referendum over whether she had damaged the town's reputation highlighted the backlash against women who come forward with allegations of sexual abuse
https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20201217-ousting-of-councillor-prompts-concern-over-silencing-sexual-assault-victims-in-japan
Russia's ban from all major sporting events after a doping scandal has been cut to two years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The ban still prevents Russia from competing in the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, set to be held next year, and football's 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/55349156
If Haaland is confirmed, along with Rep. Marcia Fudge who was also nominated to the cabinet and Rep. Cedric Richmond who will work in the White House, Democrats will only have 219 members while there are elections to replace them. That is barely a majority.
Francisco turns to standing and timeliness. As to standing, the plaintiffs are: Georgia Republican Party, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Perdue for Senate, and Georgians for Kelly Loeffler. "These parties have a real interest that could be redressed," he says.
https://twitter.com/KlasfeldReports/status/1339672473160331271
Francisco, like the Republican lawyers in the other case this morning, cites Bush v. Gore to argue for their case. A George W. Bush appointed judge rejected that argument this morning.
https://twitter.com/KlasfeldReports/status/1339672143815163904
The Energy Department and National Nuclear Security Administration, which maintains the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, have evidence that hackers accessed their networks, officials directly familiar with the matter said.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/17/nuclear-agency-hacked-officials-inform-congress-447855
Haaland's NM-1 seat isn't a slam dunk for Dems to retain in a special election - it's more like a 7-ft shot in the lane. She won re-election in Nov by 58%-42%. That's compared with Cedric Richmond's 50pt win in LA-2 and Fudge's 60pt win in OH-11
Rand Paul Is "Very, Very Concerned" With Eligible Voters Voting: When more people vote, the Kentucky senator warns, the outcome changes.
https://www.motherjones.com/2020-elections/2020/12/rand-paul-is-very-very-concerned-with-eligible-voters-voting/
A day after 3,611 died from covid19 in the US, setting another record, a panel of independent experts recommends FDA approval of the Moderna vaccine for emergency use. Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine was just greenlit by the FDA's expert panel. It's highly effective and safe — and has some clear advantages over Pfizer's.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/17/health/covid-vaccine-fda-moderna.html
Activists want Biden to be like Trump in only one way: His use of executive power. Put another way: activists want Biden to fulfill his campaign promises.
https://newsweek.com/activists-want-biden-like-trump-only-one-way-his-use-executive-power-1555727
Bob Iger as ambassador to China is genuinely one of the worst ideas I can think of. He would negotiate the sale of the United States to China in a stock-for-stock sale. From an investor standpoint, it's a promising idea.
Today's AntrimAudit examined every ballot cast for president to determine if the machines counted them accurately. Preliminary results show Trump received 9759 votes & JoeBiden received 5959 - a shift of 12 votes out of 15,718 (0.07%), affirming the accuracy of the election
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2020/12/17/antrim-county-audit-shows-12-vote-gain-trump/3938988001/
In a new update, SolarWinds says FireEye informed it of the vulnerability on 12/12, that the backdoor was apparently inserted during the software build process, and that they've hired outside cyber experts to help respond.
https://orangematter.solarwinds.com/2020/12/17/solarwinds-update-on-security-vulnerability/
I will Veto the Defense Bill, which will make Russia very happy. They love it.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1339594787133919239
One word (F//ckers) in an "interview" (Glamor) and one anonymous donor in one article created a day-long outrage boomlet for the Biden transition--which doesn't say great things about Twitter, politics or journalism
3,600 Americans have died of Covid19 in the day since the Glamor interview and Republicans simply do not care. And the biggest security breach ever has virtually no coverage. Meanwhile the fake president pouts and tweets.
For the second time in one day, a federal judge in Georgia rejected a Republican-led challenge against absentee voting for the runoffs. This failed challenge came in part from the Perdue and Loeffler campaigns.
https://lawandcrime.com/2020-election/second-federal-judge-in-one-day-dismisses-georgia-gop-attack-on-absentee-voting-in-senate-runoffs/
And so: Colt McCoy may end up starting against his former team, the Browns , and Freddie Kitchens will call plays against them. A double #revengegame!
https://twitter.com/rapsheet/status/1339568658255908865
#Chargers owner Dean Spanos informed business-side employees recently that a Covid19 Hardship Allowance (bonus) will be deposited into their accounts tomorrow. It is variable and years of service are taken into consideration when determining allocations. A very cool gesture.
https://twitter.com/rapsheet/status/1339634429128544258
Supreme Court denies request to block Covid19 restrictions at Kentucky schools
https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/17/politics/supreme-court-covid-kentucky-school/index.html
In this week's PAY DIRT: a little-noticed email entered into evidence in a federal corruption trial has pulled back the curtain on a shady dark money fundraising operation and shows how huge political donations are laundered and hidden from public view: How a Republican Operative Was Caught Funnelling Untraceable Campaign Cash
https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-a-gop-operative-got-caught-funnelling-untraceable-campaign-cash
An outraged Kemp blasts pro-Trump conspiracy theorists harassing his family. Gov. Brian Kemp is fed up with the unrelenting attacks from conspiracy theorists calling on him to overturn President-elect Joe Biden's victory in Georgia. But he's even more enraged that some of
https://www.ajc.com/politics/politics-blog/an-outraged-kemp-blasts-pro-trump-conspiracy-theorists-harassing-his-family/TNOSVKC5XJERXJ7JKNWPZ7EZX4/
It is stunning how habitually the right-wing misinformation mill treats the docketing of a legal action as some sort of totemic accomplishment: Getting something docketed at the Supreme Court isn't an accomplishment. It means you filled out the forms correctly.
The Republican recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara is an astounding retreat from the principles of international law and diplomacy that the United States has espoused and respected for many years.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/12/17/james-baker-trump-morocco-western-sahara-abraham-accords/
Democrats didn't agree to change the first day of new Congress due to concerns over potential Trump recess appointments you mentally ill terrorist
https://twitter.com/ChuckGrassley/status/1339708540009795584
An estimated 81,000 people died from a drug overdose between June 2019 and May 2020, the highest number ever recorded in a 12-month period, according to a new CDC report. https://axios.com/cdc-overdose-deaths-accelerate-pandemic-60919c88-c5ad-494f-8eae-29798b218753.html
The Supreme Court has been ENTIRELY VIRTUAL for months due to Covid19. There is no "closed room" where the Justices would meet, and where this could be "heard through the wall" because they were not physically there. This is simply a lie. A provable lie.
https://twitter.cMcConnell says that he will be getting the Covid-19 vaccine: "Because of government continuity requirements, I have been informed by the Office of the Attending Physician that I am eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine, which I will accept in the coming days."
The NBA has launched an investigation into the Jerry West/Clippers allegations surrounding the Kawhi Leonard acquisition that were detailed in a TMZ report earlier this week.
https://twitter.com/sam_amick/status/1339706661129211904
A man in a gas mask leaves a note on the door of the Duval County, FL Democrats: "We want blood. You lost the election. Redress our grievances now or we will be back later. We the people."
https://twitter.com/i/status/1339717994319110144
https://twitter.com/SawyerHackett/status/1339717994319110144
A Belgian ban on kosher and halal slaughter of animals without being stunned has been backed by the European Court of Justice, which rejected objections by religious groups.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55344971
Canada floats idea of North American ban on new gasoline-powered cars
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-canada-usa-idUSKBN28R31V
More than 300 schoolboys abducted last week by armed men in northwest Nigeria have been released, the Katsina State governor said Thursday. In an announcement on Nigerian state TV, NTA, Gov. Aminu Bello Masari said the 344 boarding school students were turned over to security officials and were being brought to the capital of Katsina, where they will get physical examinations before being reunited with their families. "I think we can say ... we have recovered most of the boys, if not all of them," Masari said. He did not disclose if the government paid any ransom.
https://apnews.com/article/science-africa-nigeria-west-africa-315870ac3775c13ef8b5e186cd9615e2
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-55357945
In response, 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey tells @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium: "We are not trading Ben Simmons — he is an important part of our future."
https://twitter.com/shamscharania/status/1339730860107554816
Biden announces names on "climate team"—all previously reported by Bloomberg News:
—Deb Haaland, Interior sec
—Jennifer Granholm, Energy sec
—Michael Regan, EPA chief
—Brenda Mallory, Council on Environmental Quality
—Gina McCarthy, climate czar
Biden won Georgia by a 12,000 vote margin and now there are 76,000 new voters there:76K new Georgia voters registered before January's Senate runoffs
https://ajc.com/politics/75k-new-georgia-voters-registered-before-us-senate-runoffs/H3CXAFIKFVCKHJNW5MBFZKQDZU/
The City Council passed sweeping job protections for fast food workers on Thursday, preventing them from getting fired without "just cause." Here's what it means.
https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2020/12/17/council-approves-protections-for-fast-food-workers-?
Microsoft has identified 40 customers hacked by the suspected Russian operatives after the initial SolarWinds compromise. 80% in US, + Canada, Mexico, Belgium, Spain, UK, Israel, & UAE. 44% of victims were in IT, 18% think tank, 18% gov.
https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2020/12/17/cyberattacks-cybersecurity-solarwinds-fireeye/
Which is why you will be gone January 20, 2021
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1339709639584337920
Irradiated, Cheated and Now Infected: America's Marshall Islanders Confront a Covid-19 Disaster: America's Marshall Islanders Confront a Covid-19 Disaster. The United States used their homeland for nuclear test-bombing, then denied them Medicaid. Now, their way of life in the U.S. heartland has left them prime prey for the pandemic.
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/12/17/americas-marshall-islanders-confront-covid-19-disaster-447158
Mitt Romney to SiriusXM on the Russia hack: "Our national security is extraordinarily vulnerable. And, in this setting, to not have the White House aggressively speaking out and protesting and taking punitive action is really, really quite extraordinary."
https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1339751177731387394om/HowardMortman/status/1338607068165656578
Republican-controlled Pentagon illegally and unconstitutionally refuses to provide Biden transition briefings. THIS IS TERRORISM AND TREASON AND SEDITION.
https://www.axios.com/pentagon-biden-transition-briefings-123a9658-4af1-4632-a6e6-770117784d60.html
The Raiders were 6-3 and had the "easiest" remaining schedule in the NFL. They've lost 4 out of 5 and it really should be all 5 if not for Gregg Williams calling a cover zero blitz and gifting them a win. Just an ugly collapse and another disappointing season.
Justin Herbert now has 27 passing TD this season, tying the NFL record for the most by any rookie QB. He still has 2.5 games to go. Absolute stud.
https://twitter.com/fieldyates/status/1339760107765325825
More than 1.1 million ballots cast in early voting for Georgia U.S. Senate runoffs
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-georgia/over-1-1-million-ballots-cast-in-early-voting-for-georgia-u-s-senate-runoffs-idUSKBN28S1KY
https://electproject.github.io/Early-Vote-2020G/GA_RO.html
Supreme Court Tosses Out Challenge to Trump Census Count Plan. SCOTUS said, in a 6-3 decision, that it's too early for them to decide the issue and they would revisit the case if Trump actually follows through on excluding the numbers for minorities and non-citizens. Luckily, the Census Bureau is not likely to send the numbers to the President before Jan 20
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/supreme-court-tosses-out-challenge-to-trump-census-count-plan
https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/02/politics/census-high-complexity-problems/index.html
NYPD City Probe Calls for Sweeping NYPD Reform, Cites Deficiencies in Floyd Protest Response | The Dept. of Investigation, which acts as the city's Inspector General, issued a 20-point list of suggested reforms to NYPD protest response
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/city-probe-finds-several-deficiencies-in-nypd-response-to-floyd-protests-calls-for-sweeping-reform/2788696/
Republicans illegally and unconstitutionally and murderously eliminate protection for threatened monarch butterfly on brink of collapse
https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/trump-endangered-species-monarch-butterfly-b1774609.html
FBI investigating anti-Semitic hack with swastikas, Holocaust references and threats on Jewish school website
https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/equality/530833-fbi-investigating-anti-semitic-hack-with-swastikas
North Korean fishing captain is publicly executed for listening to foreign radio while at sea
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9066977/North-Korean-fishing-captain-publicly-executed-listening-foreign-radio-sea.html
Disastrous oil spill in Mauritius partly caused by crew seeking mobile phone signal
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-19/japan-mauritius-oil-spill-coral-reef-human-error/12999920
Men who dragged Christian woman naked in Egypt are acquitted
https://www.news24.com/news24/Africa/News/egypt-court-acquits-men-who-attacked-elderly-christian-woman-20201218
Trump illegally and unconstitutionally and in an act of terrorism and treason moved cyber security budget to pay for his wall before major hacking assault
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-cybersecurity-fbi-russian-hackers-b1776007.html
Man that would be almost as dumb as getting rid of the pandemic response team just before a global pandemic..... Oh wait nevermind.
Real walls around national borders are signs of failures of diplomacy. This shows a failure of domestic policy as well as foreign policy. It's not all Trump's fault, it's 99% Republicans' fault. Democrats are to blame for propping up Islamic terrorists in Gaza and the West Bank.
I know too many shistain people who that think pure capitalism and its CEOs will protect its customer base. What they fail to realize is that those regulations are in place because they didn't give a shit about their customer base or environment in the first place. Every regulation means someone died. Even at the local level, how do you get a stop light installed in a busy intersection? Well first someone has to die in a wreck, and maybe they'll do a stop sign. 2nd fatality, time to put in the traffic light. Even the most "idiotic" regulations. Why does my work have a no open container policy? Because people kept spilling their coffee on the floor and leaving stains on the carpet as well as spilling coffee on their keyboards and destroying them. With this in mind, one needs only look to OSHA regulations to recognize the horrors of unchecked capitalism. They actually have a regulation saying that companies cannot store radioactive material in employees' living quarters.
"Officials have taken the extraordinary step of closing the Washington Monument starting Friday as a precaution after Interior Secretary David Bernhardt — who had been giving private, nighttime tours to associates — tested positive for the coronavirus."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/12/18/washington-monument-david-bernhardt-covid/
Jared Kushner helped create a Trump campaign shell company that secretly paid the president's family members and spent $617 million in reelection cash
https://businessinsider.com/jared-kushner-trump-campaign-shell-company-family-ammc-lara-2020-12
Today, with confidence in science & at the direction of the Office of the Attending Physician, I received the COVID-19 vaccine. As the vaccine is being distributed, we must all continue mask wearing, social distancing & other science-based steps to save lives & crush the virus.
https://twitter.com/SpeakerPelosi/status/1339993975730651137
Not a shock, Trevor Bauer is too expensive for Reds. So he will be pitching elsewhere next year. Still, they shouldn't have too many regrets. He carried them to the playoffs and pitched a gem when there, and he won the Reds' first Cy Young Award.
Jeremy Lin is finalizing a deal with the Golden State Warriors, pending letter of clearance from Chinese Basketball Association
https://twitter.com/shamscharania/status/1339977916432658441
NBA free agent guard Jeremy Lin will be playing for the Warriors' G-League team
https://twitter.com/marcjspears/status/1339978762650304513
Audio Clip Confirming Jerry West Speaking To Johnny Wilkes: "I do want to get together you with privately and take you to dinner so I can pay my respects to you for being so generous and helpful."
https://streamable.com/x7y8vu
https://twitter.com/sam_amick/status/1339706661129211904
5 1st round draft picks is precedent for circumventing the salary cap. I don't know why I know this. Clippers literally don't have the picks, so forfeiture/voidance of a contract. That's what happened to the Minnesota Timberwolves. 5 draft picks and Joe Smith's contract was voided. That's what should happen if the NBA determines wrongdoing. The Clippers already do not have FRP in 22, 24, or 26. They have outgoing swaps in 21, 23, and 25. If we ignore the Stepien rule and forfeit the worse of the swapped picks, they still don't get a pick until 2029. If we stick to the Stepien rule, five picks would only start in 2028 and continue until 2036. This means the first time the Clippers could trade a FRP without another FRP incoming at some point would be 2038. Voiding Kawhi's contract alone would be enough to slam the window shut and force a Nets-style rebuild immediately. Five FRPs on top of that would be the equivalent of beating the franchise to death with a tire iron.
Adam Silver: "Pack your bags Kawhi. I'm sending you back to Toronto, er, Tampa Bay."
Masai sends his regards. 😎
LeBron: I want Balmer to know... it was me.
It has already been reported that Kawhi asked the Raptors for perks that were outside of CBA before signing with LAC
In terms of congressional COVID-19 infections, 15% of Republicans have contracted the virus. Among Democrats, it's 4%.
https://www.ajc.com/politics/politics-blog/the-jolt-david-perdue-and-the-china-connection/NIYVQNEP6FGZRCVP4XKTEKPARQ/
Seattle Public Schools tells teachers that the education system is guilty of "spirit murder" against black children and that white teachers must "bankrupt [their] privilege in acknowledgement of [their] thieved inheritance."
https://twitter.com/realchrisrufo/status/1339937490954686465
The trainers begin by claiming that teachers are colonizers of Native American "ancestral lands" and that "the United States was built off the stolen labor of kidnapped and enslaved Black people's work, which created the profits that created our nation."
https://twitter.com/realchrisrufo/status/1339937939573227520
The participants identify themselves by both gender pronouns and race labels. While it has become commonplace in academia to use gender pronoun identifiers, this is perhaps the first example of an institution creating the expectation for explicit race-labeling in the workplace.
https://twitter.com/realchrisrufo/status/1339938309246603264
The trainers tell white teachers that they "must commit to the journey" of anti-whiteness, even if their "lizard-brain" makes them "afraid that [they] will have to talk about sensitive issues such as race, racism, classism, sexism, or any kind of 'ism.'"
https://twitter.com/realchrisrufo/status/1339938646745440256
The central message is that white teachers must recognize that they "are assigned considerable power and privilege" because of their "possession of white skin." To atone for this guilt, they must "bankrupt [their] privilege in acknowledgement of [their] thieved inheritance."
https://twitter.com/realchrisrufo/status/1339939060274450433
Next, the teachers hold a discussion about "spirit murder," which, according to Dr. Bettina Love, is the concept that Americans schools "murder the souls of Black children every day through systemic, institutionalized, anti-Black, state-sanctioned violence."
https://twitter.com/realchrisrufo/status/1339939517281619971
The goal of this program is to transform public schools into activist organizations. At the end, teachers must explain how they will practice "anti-racist pedagogy," address "current social justice movements taking place," and become "anti-racist outside the classroom."
https://twitter.com/realchrisrufo/status/1339939883876421632
In recent years, the district has expanded its Department of Racial Equity Advancement and deployed "racial equity teams" in dozens of schools. The stated goal is to "advance educational racial equity," but in practice, this program often serves to enforce an ideological agenda.
https://twitter.com/realchrisrufo/status/1339940496802631683
Seattle Public Schools likes to claim they are "teaching tolerance," but in truth, they are teaching hate. Read my full analysis in the New York Post:
https://twitter.com/realchrisrufo/status/1339940725929066497
"To use our parks as his own personal playground is shameful, and a slap in the face to the American people," said Theresa Pierno, president of the National Parks Conservation Association, a nonprofit group that supports the park system.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/12/18/washington-monument-david-bernhardt-covid/
Joe and Jill Biden will receive their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Monday in Delaware - for the public to see. VP-elect Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, will receive their first doses a week later.
Drew Brees will be the Saints' starting QB Sunday vs. the Kansas City Chiefs, source tells ESPN. Saints believe he is fully healthy and doctors have cleared him to play.
https://twitter.com/adamschefter/status/1339943246357815299
Falcons' WR Julio Jones is out this week
https://twitter.com/adamschefter/status/1339950454416027649
If true, all Wilkes has to provide are the email communications with Jim Gray. That would be the smoking gun: Wilkes also alleges that after Leonard signed with the Clippers he met with West at a Beverly Hills estaurant and West "reconfirmed that he and the CLIPPERS would take care of him and honor their agreement. Jerry then instructed Plaintiff to type his request for payment and email it to his good friend Jim Gray. While at the meeting Jim Gray sent Plaintiff his email address. Plaintiff formalized his request in writing and emailed it to Jim Gray shortly thereafter," according to the lawsuit.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/clippers/2020/12/17/kawhi-leonard-recruitment-jerry-west-clippers-investigation-nba/3951324001/
GOOD: The Warriors have waived forwards Dwayne Sutton, Axel Toupane and Kaleb Wesson.
https://twitter.com/marcjspears/status/1340009179252215809
No matter what Congress does, 12 million jobless Americans will temporarily lose unemployment benefits
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/no-matter-what-congress-does-12-million-jobless-americans-will-temporarily-lose-unemployment-benefits-11608319606
As more women fill America's jails, medical tragedies mount | As the number of women in U.S. jails has risen, so have deaths and medical errors in facilities ill-equipped to handle this growing population.
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-jails-women/
Romney: "The attending physician's office has now informed all senators that for continuity of government purposes, we are to receive vaccination, and that there is no reason to delay. In accordance with this directive, I will receive the vaccine"
We are a country built by immigrants. By families that experienced the horrors of the slave trade. By Native Americans that have been historically undervalued and underserved. America can do better so long as we don't forget.
Washington QB Alex Smith (calf) is OUT for Sunday against the #Seahawks . Dwayne Haskins starts.
https://twitter.com/tompelissero/status/1340005160521773057
The formation of the Biden Cabinet began much earlier and has been far more comprehensively planned than previously known. By Election Day, they had a database of 9,000 potential hires, with 2,500 already vetted. (It now has more than 45,000 entries). The Biden transition team is the most organized, best resourced, most effective transition team ever. Future transition teams, Republican and Democratic will be studying their model. They're just wickedly organized.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-cabinet-transition/2020/12/17/f999d2b8-3c03-11eb-98c4-25dc9f4987e8_story.html
Audio Clip Confirming Jerry West Speaking To Johnny Wilkes: "I do want to get together you with privately and take you to dinner so I can pay my respects to you for being so generous and helpful."
https://streamable.com/x7y8vu
Republican Senator Who Voted For Trump's $1.5 Trillion Tax Cut For The Rich Blocks $1,200 Stimulus Checks
https://www.axios.com/ron-johnson-hawley-stimulus-checks-e5bff298-9207-407e-bcc2-79caa833c37c.html
"Mike, stop. Just stop." - former head of U.S. Special Operations Command to Flynn and his call for using military to overturn the election: Mike, stop. Just stop. You are a former soldier. You know that leveraging the military to "rerun elections" is a totally inappropriate role for the profession. You are also undercutting the extraordinary trust and confidence America has in their military. Stop!
https://twitter.com/TonyT2Thomas/status/1339957204804374528
Good: Trump signed legislation that could kick Chinese companies off of U.S. exchanges unless American regulators can review their financial audits via
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-18/trump-signs-bill-that-could-remove-china-stock-listings-in-u-s
Biden appointing the ceo of dairy export council as secretary of agriculture is disastrous for animals
https://www.peta.org/blog/tom-vilsack-biden-secretary-agriculture-nomineee/#:~:text=Who%20Is%20Tom%20Vilsack%3F,of%20COVID%2D19%20in%20slaughterhouses.
SolarWinds hackers did test-run of spy operation in Oct 2019, when malicious SolarWinds files were first downloaded by customers. That version didn't have backdoor in it, however. Indicates hackers were in SolarWinds network in 2019, if not earlier.
https://news.yahoo.com/hackers-last-year-conducted-a-dry-run-of-solar-winds-breach-215232815.html
Capitol will soon have Zombie Congressmen. Seriously: 45 House members retiring (defeated/retiring). They lose offices any day now (if they haven't already). Staff lose access to email and such. Even 5 retiring senators essentially lose staff as of Monday.
At the recommendation of the Office of the Attending Physician, I received the COVID-19 vaccine. This vaccine is the culmination of decades of scientific research applied to a new virus that has claimed the lives of so many. I trust it and you should too. This is how we win.
https://twitter.com/RepKarenBass/status/1340049031255486464
Republican Rep. Chip Roy blocked the House from passing by voice vote a 2 day government funding bill. The House has to conduct an actual recorded vote now because of that objection.
Reuters: U.S. House passes, sends to Senate two-day extension of federal funding to avert looming government shutdown
https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1340070646940889088
From the Montgomery Advertiser an hour ago: Alabama's next Pfizer vaccine shipment cut by 40% amid continued COVID-19 spread
https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/2020/12/18/alabamas-next-pfizer-vaccine-shipment-cut-40-amid-worsening-covid-19-spread/3956228001/
The Trump administration could not handle masks and paper gowns (ppe), not sure why anyone thinks they can handle a complex distribution. The Trump family has one goal, making a personal profit.
Zoom statement to me after DOJ announces former employee charged with working with the Chinese government: "Zoom is dedicated to the free and open exchange of ideas and supports the U.S. Government's commitment to protect American interests from foreign influence.": China-Based Executive at U.S. Telecommunications Company Charged with Disrupting Video Meetings Commemorating Tiananmen Square Massacre. Defendant Coordinated with the People's Republic of China to Target Dissidents and Disrupt Meetings
https://justice.gov/opa/pr/china-based-executive-us-telecommunications-company-charged-disrupting-video-meetings
I'm genuinely confused by this. The former Alabama governor is one of the first in the state to get the vaccine? The one who resigned from office as part of plea deal involving campaign finance and ethics violations and is back to practicing dermatology?
https://twitter.com/GovRBentley/status/1340048779446284288
The New York Times said it had offered to return the Peabody Award given to its award-winning pro-podcast Caliphate, an offer that was accepted by the Peabody Awards' executive director on Friday. After an internal review that took more than two months, The New York Times has determined that "Caliphate," its award-winning 2018 podcast, did not meet the standards for Times journalism. The 12-part audio documentary featuring Rukmini Callimachi, a Times correspondent who has frequently reported from conflict zones, sought to shed light on the Islamic State terrorist group. The Times found that "Caliphate" gave too much credence to the false or exaggerated accounts of one of its main subjects, Shehroze Chaudhry, a resident of Canada who claimed to have taken part in Islamic State executions. The Times started its review of "Caliphate" after Canadian authorities arrested Mr. Chaudhry on Sept. 25 and charged him with perpetrating a terrorist hoax. In an Editors' Note on Friday, The Times said its investigation had "found a history of misrepresentations by Mr. Chaudhry and no corroboration that he committed the atrocities he described in the 'Caliphate' podcast. As a result, The Times has concluded that the episodes of 'Caliphate' that presented Mr. Chaudhry's claims did not meet our standards for accuracy."
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/18/business/media/new-york-times-caliphate-podcast.html
Republicans Are Trying To Block Mandatory Paid Sick Leave For Workers Who Test Positive For Covid19 https://buzzfeednews.com/article/paulmcleod/mcconnell-blocking-paid-sick-leave-coronavirus
How The New Yorker Fell Into the "Weird Japan" Trap. Elif Batuman was duped by a source's fabrications about the country's rent-a-family industry. What went wrong?
https://newrepublic.com/article/160595/new-yorker-japan-rent-family-fabricated
In order to protect the Democrat majority in the House, Biden may stagger the timing of confirmation votes for several House Democrats he's selected for administrative positions:
https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-elections-nancy-pelosi-f1fc23845d49b1a2824c9416a80445e2
AG Barr said that he ultimately decided that the CIA "stayed in its lane" and didn't spy on the Trump campaign before the FBI opened Crossfire Hurricane
https://www.wsj.com/articles/william-barr-one-standard-of-justice-11608318832
320-60, House votes to keep government open for two days to give more time for covid19 relief talks. Senate is up next where they need 100 senators to agree to allow for passage to avoid shutdown by midnight
Kyrie burns some sage in his first return to TD Garden since signing with the Brooklyn Nets
https://streamable.com/mh0djf
In 2000, the Timberwolves were stripped of 5 first round picks for cap circumvention and Joe Smith's deal was voided due to evidence discovered in a lawsuit. With the same penalty, Kawhi's deal would be voided and the Clippers left with no first rounder until 2029.
This is remarkable to watch. After a legal threat from Smartmatic, LouDobbs tonight ran a stunning point-by-point fact check debunking claims made about the company by himself and guests he's invited on his program. https://mediaite.com/tv/lou-dobbs-airs-stunning-fact-check-of-his-own-election-conspiracies-after-company-threatens-legal-action/
Mike Pence and wife Karen deserve enormous credit for getting the shot today and allying public fears about the safety of the vaccine.
Democrats in the House and Senate have introduced bills to establish a Justice Department office to help ensure that poor and underrepresented people have access to legal representation and legal aid.
https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1340091979162521602
If Tom Brady and the Bucs beat the Falcons this weekend, the Falcons will fall to 28-34 since they lost to the Patriots 28-34 in the Super Bowl
Raiders QB Derek Carr suffered a significant groin injury and it's expected to have a 10-to-14 day timeline. Carr, who has been having one of his best seasons, will fight to be in the lineup against the Dolphins if he somehow can.
https://twitter.com/rapsheet/status/1340044433371389953
Michael Thomas has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Chiefs
https://twitter.com/nick_underhill/status/1340039592330850304
U.S. FDA authorizes Moderna Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use, adding a second vaccine to the country's arsenal to fight the coronavirus19 pandemic.
https://twitter.com/NBCPolitics/status/1340095523466981376
Turkeys brutally kicked hundreds of times at farms supplying Sainsbury and Asda
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/turkey-christmas-sainsbury-asda-bird-supermarket-b1776255.html
Deb Haaland's Cabinet Appointment Will Give Native Youth The Hope They Need
https://nativenewsonline.net/opinion/deb-haaland-s-cabinet-appointment-will-give-native-youth-the-hope-they-need
Republican-controlled Michigan House illegally votes to repeal 1945 emergency law used by Whitmer to legally and constitutionally issue coronavirus19 orders
https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2020/12/michigan-house-votes-to-repeal-1945-emergency-law-used-by-whitmer-to-issue-coronavirus-orders.html
Yes, farmers feed cows Skittles. But it gets a lot weirder than that -- Inside the world of "alternative feed"—from donuts and citrus pulp to feathers and Kool-Aid mix
https://thecounter.org/alternative-feed-not-alternative-facts/
Rudy Giuliani has separately pressed the Department of Homeland Security to seize possession of voting machines as part of a push to overturn the results of the election. Giuliani was told the department does not have the authority to do such a thing. In a meeting at the White House on Friday, Trump weighed appointing Sidney Powell, who promoted conspiracies about rigged voting machines, to probe voter fraud as special counsel. Most of his advisers opposed the idea. Even Giuliani was against it.
https://nytimes.com/2020/12/19/us/politics/trump-discussed-naming-campaign-lawyer-as-special-counsel-on-election-fraud.html
New coronavirus19 strain spreading faster than previous variant, UK government scientists warn ministers
https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-new-coronavirus-strain-spreading-faster-than-previous-variant-government-scientists-warn-ministers-12166858
https://www.businessinsider.com/london-on-lockdown-and-christmas-canceled-new-covid-19-variant-2020-12
Sensitive US military equipment given to local forces goes unaccounted for in Afghanistan
https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/sensitive-us-military-equipment-given-to-local-forces-goes-unaccounted-for-in-afghanistan-watchdog-says-1.655610
More Than 1.2 Million People Have Been Vaccinated: Covid-19 Tracker
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-vaccine-tracker-global-distribution/?fbclid=IwAR0RCsB3rsfgJQomK-9oteR_0oC-bLPY7uBJ0eZpZ8oQMnDY-xwAf7okVzM
Lebanese Officials Try to Limit Inquiry Into Deadly Beirut Blast
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/19/world/middleeast/beirut-explosion-investigation-arrests.html
The Timberwolves are waiving forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
https://twitter.com/shamscharania/status/1340369756747132936
Employers Are Allowed To Require Employees To Get Coronavirus19 Vaccine, Government Says. Being required to get vaccinated for work could be the deciding factor for the many Americans who have expressed skepticism of it
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/employers-require-coronavirus-vaccine_n_5fde2107c5b6e5158fa762d3
Saturday in America is the president sitting in the White House, inquiring about staging a military coup, and Congress still unable to pass a relief bill that has been stuck since May
"Mr President, this plan is high-risk, high reward."
"What are the rewards?"
"You overturn the election, remain as president, and avoid prosecution for tax and bank fraud."
"Sounds great! What are the risks?"
"You might have to do a little work."
The Executive Director of Fake Antisemitic Sunrise Movement called Biden's enviro team "an older, whiter, male-er group in general" ... but only 1 of the 7 top people named so far is a white male
https://buildbackbetter.gov/nominees-and-appointees/climate/
Trump addressed the ongoing cyber hacks of the U.S. government for the first time on Saturday, seeking to turn blame away from Moscow in defiance of mounting evidence while downplaying how devastating the intrusions appear to be.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/russia-is-behind-the-broad-ongoing-cyber-spy-campaign-against-the-us-government-and-private-sector-pompeo-says/2020/12/19/8c850cf0-41b3-11eb-8bc0-ae155bee4aff_story.html
#Ravens CB Marcus Peters was fined $12,500 for unsportsmanlike conduct — spitting at #Browns WR Jarvis Landry on Monday night
https://twitter.com/rapsheet/status/1340379970808516610
In a dramatic turn, #Lions QB Matthew Stafford (ribs) is now preparing to play tomorrow vs the #Titans, sources say. What seemed improbable early on should be reality tomorrow. It's why no one ever wants to rule him out...
https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1340337044711743490
He did it in Helsinki, and he's doing it again. The President of the United States is minimizing an attack against our nation and defending Russia at the expense of protecting our country and security. It's as astounding and dangerous as it is expected from this President.
https://twitter.com/SpanbergerVA07/status/1340386046081642502
Known White Supremacist, Pedophilia Advocate, Nathan Larson Arrested At DIA
https://denver.cbslocal.com/2020/12/19/nathan-larson-denver-airport-pedophilia/
Bills win first AFC East title since 1995, before Josh Allen was born.
There are so many things to criticize the Chinese government for, when Trump points the finger at them falsely, it undermines all the other, valid criticisms.
Trump's chief of staff Mark Meadows attempted to hide his Covid-19 diagnosis and the White House outbreak and wanted the WH doctors fired to shut them up
https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-meadows-tried-hide-threat-covid-19-public-report-says-2020-12
Good, he has destroyed the Eagles: Carson Wentz not interested in being backup QB, will want to move on from Philadelphia Eagles if Jalen Hurts remains starter
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30562357/sources-carson-wentz-not-interested-being-backup-qb-want-move-philadelphia-eagles-jalen-hurts-remains-starter
#49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo won't play next week and is unlikely to play again in 2020, but TE George Kittle's situation is more complicated.
https://www.nfl.com/news/niners-qb-jimmy-garoppolo-unlikely-to-play-again-this-season-george-kittle-has-c
Despite his torn rib cartilage, right thumb injury and questionable game status, Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford plans to play Sunday against the Tennessee Titans
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30560060/detroit-lions-qb-matthew-stafford-attempt-play-rib-pain-source-says
Anti-vaxxers should also forgo ventilators and intensive care treatment should they become ill. They should be stripped of all health care coverage and banned from using doctors and hospitals.
Reminder: Giuliani, WHO IS NOT A LAWYER - STOP CALLING HIM THAT, HE LOST HIS LAW LICENSE DECADES AGO AND HAS LEGAL PENALTIES AGAINST HIM FOR COURTROOM MISCONDUCT - pressured an ILLEGAL AND UNCONSTITUTIONALLY APPOINTED government official to take actions so lawless that even this illegitimately and unconstitutionally Trump-installed midian balked and refused.
Rev. Raphael Warnock is campaigning for a Georgia U.S. Senate seat with an unabashedly liberal stance that may galvanize some voters but poses risks in a state that hasn't sent a Democrat to the Senate in 20 years.
https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-georgia-rev-raphael-warnock-jeremiah-wright-atlanta-9649a065ddf8d3625f9f18187dcec137
The Republicans seem hellbent on doing everything they can to hamper the effectiveness of a Biden Administration.
We want the next Administration to be able to get us beyond this pandemic irrespective of who may or may not be credited for it.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1340678365083217921
https://twitter.com/AndrewDesiderio/status/1340682968721977344
Kyle McGowan, who resigned as CDC COS in August: "A series of multiple decisions ... showed a lack of desire to listen to the actual scientists and also a lack of leadership in general, and that put us on this progression of where we're at today."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/politics/trump-covid-pandemic-dark-winter/
Like hijackings in the 1980s and terror attacks in the 1990s, cyber attacks like this will keep happening as long as there is no cost to their state sponsors. Nuke Russia and Iran off the map. That would end ALL Islamic terrorism and cyberwarfare.
The idea that Chief Justice Roberts shut down the Texas lawsuit by warning the associate justices of "riots" is, again, based on a 4Chan hoax that quickly traveled through fringe media and was echoed by a Texas Trump elector
Missed this yesterday, but Microsoft said it discovered "an additional malware that also affects the SolarWinds Orion product but has been determined to be likely unrelated to this compromise and used by a different threat actor." https://microsoft.com/security/blog/2020/12/18/analyzing-solorigate-the-compromised-dll-file-that-started-a-sophisticated-cyberattack-and-how-microsoft-defender-helps-protect/
The Maricopa County, Arizona Board of Supervisors has voted to sue state Republicans rather than comply with their subpoena for election-related materials. "There is no legislative authority to audit election results."
https://tucson.com/news/local/maricopa-county-supervisors-sue-rather-than-comply-with-senators-subpoenas-for-election-materials/article_d8182783-1452-5773-9da1-11d1edf9db4c.html
The Bucs really collapsed over the past several weeks - AB curse strikes again
Bruce Arians need to be fired.
The Bucs want TB to throw deep but literally don't have the line to do it. These coaches need to get that through their head
Tantalising radio 'signal' appears to have come from Proxima Centauri, the closest star to the sun - The narrow beam of radio waves was picked up during 30 hours of observations by the Parkes telescope in Australia in April and May last year, Guardian sources say
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/dec/18/scientists-looking-for-aliens-investigate-radio-beam-from-nearby-star
In a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and in a full-page ad published in Sunday's New York Times, criminal justice advocates are calling on the league to force Gores to sell the Detroit Pistons and step down from the NBA board because of his ties to Securus Technologies Inc.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-20/tom-gores-s-prison-investment-drags-nba-into-controversy
Tua turnsdaballova in the red zone
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1340726139904348161
And there it is. Dez Bryant just scored his first TD since 2017. Time to throw up the ❌!
https://twitter.com/FieldYates/status/1340737194999361545
I wonder what Matthew Stafford thinks when he suits up through broken stuff in his ribs and his hand, and he still leads a long TD to open the game - only to sit down for 5 seconds, watch Tennessee score a second straight TD, and have to put his helmet back on down 14-7.
Nov 3rd: Dolphins trade Isiah Ford to Patriots. Dec 7th: Patriots cut Isiah Ford. Dec. 8th: Isiah Ford signed to Miami PS. Dec 20th: Isiah Ford is active at WR for the Dolphins vs the Patriots.
Beautiful camera shot by Fox in the Seahawks vs Washington game
https://twitter.com/barstoolsports/status/1340731636330147841
The NFL's three Florida teams are all at halftime and they've combined for exactly ZERO points today.
Cam Newton trucks his own offensive lineman to get the first down
https://twitter.com/picksixpod/status/1340728862209093638
Nasty Derrick Henry stiff arm
https://twitter.com/i/status/1340731194674192384
The Buccaneers just punted in every single drive against the Falcons in the first half
Deshaun Watson in a 20-27 defeat to the Indianapolis Colts: 33/41, 373 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 Interceptions. He also ran the ball 6 times for 25 yards
Deshaun Watson, in loss to Colts, finished 33 for 41 for 373 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, 120.8 passer rating. Was sacked five times. David Johnson caught 11 passes for 106 yards on 11 targets
https://twitter.com/AaronWilson_NFL/status/1340763902368477186
Brady to Criminal Sexual Assaulter And Stalker AB for a 46-yard touchdown to give the Bucs the lead
https://streamable.com/iw1qjy
The Dolphins hook and ladder their way to a 2pt conversion
https://twitter.com/nfl/status/1340755192988332032
Crazy but true: Dez Bryant will finish the 2020 season with more TD receptions (1) than Michael Thomas (0)
https://twitter.com/NFLonCBS/status/1340745970582233097
The New England Patriots will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins have eliminated the New England Patriots from postseason contention.
The Seahawks vs Washington game has the best cinematography I've ever seen in a NFL game
Tom Brady in the first half: 10-16 for 70 yards | Tom Brady in the second half: 307 yards and 2 TDs
Including playoffs, Tom Brady now has 4 career wins when trailing by 17+ points at halftime, most in the Super Bowl era. The last 2 wins have come against Atlanta.
For the first time since 2000, the New England Patriots will not have a winning season.
Matt Ryan Has Now Thrown For 4,000 In 10 Consecutive Seasons
This is a quote from a conservative Republican justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, an appointee of Scott Walker who refused to disenfranchise the state's two most diverse counties to hand Trump an election that he lost: Yes, I've been called a traitor. I've been called a liar. I've been called a fraud. I've been asked if I'm being paid off by the Chinese Communist Party. I've been told I might be tried for treason by a military tribunal. Sure, I've gotten lots of interesting and sometimes dark messages. | Maybe members of the public forget this because their civic culture really just doesn't know how to debate issues in a very healthy way right now. And there is sort of this tribal understanding that either you're with us or you're against us. I've got five young kids and, sure, there's certain uncomfortableness, too, when your child asks you whether it's OK to play in the front yard or whether they should just stay in the backyard.
https://nytimes.com/2020/12/20/us/politics/wisconsin-justice-brian-hagedorn.html
MyPillow CEO tweets call for Trump to "impose martial Law" in 7 states to invalidate election results so Republican can remain in power
https://www.newsweek.com/mypillow-ceo-tweets-then-deletes-call-trump-impose-martial-law-7-states-1556218
White House coronavirus19 advisor Deborah Birx bucked her own guidance and traveled during Thanksgiving holiday weekend
https://www.businessinsider.com/birx-went-against-her-own-guidance-and-traveled-during-thanksgiving-2020-12
Rupert Murdoch gets vaccinated as his media outlets spread lies, attack essential workers
https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/rupert-murdoch-gets-vaccinated-as-his-media-outlets-spread-lies-attack-essential-workers-98048581636
Without a FIBA Letter of Clearance, Golden State could not go through with its plan to sign and waive Lin before 11 PM ET last night, but I'm told the Warriors "will explore all avenues" to acquire Lin's rights if he chooses the G League route after spending last season in ChinaNews
https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/1340759143955750912
Frank Gore has now played in 240 games, the most played by a running back in NFL history.
https://twitter.com/BrianCoz/status/1340770407650123776
And just like that, CeeDee Lamb returns a kickoff for touchdown He's the first Cowboy to do so since Felix Jones VS Eagles in 2008
https://twitter.com/TommySledge/status/1340770442047578117
Trump campaign once again files Supreme Court nullify Biden's Pennsylvania win
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/20/trump-files-long-shot-supreme-court-challenge-over-biden-win-in-pa.html
Don't blink or you'll miss this Mahomes TD pass
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1340782627578494976
Drew Brees has started a game 0-5 for the first time in his career
Tom Brady went 21-of-29 passing for 320 yards and 2 TDs in the second half. That's the most pass yards in the second half by any QB this season.
https://twitter.com/jennalaineespn/status/1340771202797867011
Back in November I wondered what the chances are that Trump will declare martial law. Now I wonder what the chances are that he won't.
Bernie Sanders to me on emerging deal: "I think at the end of the day the amount of money in total is not adequate to address the enormous economic crisis facing this country." "I look forward to the Biden administration coming in and doing a lot more than the current people."
https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1340784349021687809
Like it or not, Dallas Cowboys (5-9) are still in the playoff hunt
https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas-cowboys/post/_/id/4772796/like-it-or-not-dallas-cowboys-5-9-are-still-in-the-playoff-hunt
Saints stop chiefs on forth down. Chiefs get a penalty and are now punting on 4th down. How does that make any sense
Andy Reid out here playing 9D Chess
What about the students who just want to, you know, learn biology, who I am guessing represent a very sizable major-super-majority but who are afraid to speak up about it because they don't want mentally ill leftists accusing them of being racist for wanting to study biology: The Bio Department at Haverford College has cancelled all classes in response to student demands. They are now redesigning the curriculum around equity and inclusion. Students who need class hours for visas can now take a seminar on "Crafting an Inclusive Biology" instead.
https://twitter.com/jessesingal/status/1340805258994397184
Just before Obama left office, he made it easier for students defrauded by for-profit colleges to apply for federal debt relief. The Trump admin allowed a massive backlog of more than 200,000 claims to pile up. Borrowers now hope Biden fixes the mess.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/19/politics/student-loan-relief-devos-trump-biden/index.html
Frank Gore seals the win for the Jets
https://streamable.com/bnf2o2
Probably a good time to mention that the Jaguars currently hold the Strength-Of-Schedule tiebreaker over the Jets (Jax's slate is slightly easier—.554 to .595) for the first overall pick. Drama is BUILDING.
Mecole Hardman with the incredible TD catch in the back of the end zone to put the Chiefs back on top
https://twitter.com/nfl/status/1340804609124626433
The #Jets in the first half vs. the #Rams... - Scored a TD - Kicked a FG - Blocked a punt - Picked off Jared Goff - Kicked another FG
https://twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1340777590148239363
Just noticed the Rams lost to the permanently injured 49ers and winless tanked Jets LOL. Any. Given. Sunday.
(13:50) (Shotgun) L.Bell right end for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN. TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. P.Mahomes pass to T.Kelce is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameId/401220325
Sen. Ron Wyden: "Republicans are nickel-and-diming benefits for jobless workers, while at the same time pushing for tax breaks for three-martini power lunches. It's unconscionable." The draft language of the relief package includes a tax break for corporate meal expenses pushed by the White House and strongly denounced by Democrats.
Trump has for months talked about securing the deduction —derisively called the "three-martini lunch."
https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1340833155842895872
Jalen Hurts in a 26-33 loss against the Cardinals: 24/43, 338 Yards, 3 Touchdowns, 0 Interceptions. He also had 11 rushes for 63 yards and 1 touchdown
Cam Jordan gets ejected
https://streamable.com/6pllqy
Jalen Hurts starts at Alabama, loses his job to Tua Tagovailoa, transfers to Oklahoma to replace Kyler Murray. Now all three are some of the most exciting quarterbacks in the NFL, a league that 10 years ago would have tanked all three of them because they weren't tall enough.
"Jalen Hurts finished with over 300 yards, 3 TDs, zero INTs and a passer rating over 100; Carson Wentz has put up those numbers just once in his 68 career starts."
https://twitter.com/tbagleysports/status/1340819854341918721
Baker Mayfield just broke a Browns record for completion percentage in a game. Mayfield went 27 of 32 tonight (84.3%) besting besting the previous Cleveland record of 82.9% set by Kelly Holcomb in 2003.
https://twitter.com/jake_trotter/status/1340872823489908736
Parkey doinks the 48 yard extra point
https://twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1340848063682928643
Look, I get it. Trevor Lawrence is amazing. But y'all realize there are other great quarterbacks in this class too, right? It's not like the Jets are doomed to get some scrub. If you look at the top ten QBs in the league, at minimum 80% of them were NOT the first QBs taken.
https://twitter.com/brettkollmann/status/1340866945223049216?s=21
Baker Mayfield (22-21 as a starter) now has the same number of wins with the Browns as Tim Couch did in his entire career (22-37)
Margin of victory for the @Chiefs in their last 6 games: 2, 4, 3, 6, 6, 3 They are the first team in NFL history to win 6 straight games by 6 points or fewer. #ChiefsKingdom
https://twitter.com/StatsBySTATS/status/1340829429858234368
The Titans are the highest scoring team in the league through 15 weeks.
https://twitter.com/mikemiracles/status/1340822680426188800
Baker Mayfield This season: 260-406 (64%) - 3,083 yards - 25 TD - 8 INT Over his last 7 games: 156-235 (66%) - 2,077 yards - 15 TD - 2 INT #Browns
https://twitter.com/H_Grove/status/1340871490217140225
No look touchdown pass from Stafford to Marvin Jones Jr
https://twitter.com/nfl/status/1340724923472379905
Ryan Tannehill last 16 games: 477 passes 36 TDs 5 INTs 3,952 yards (8.3 Y/A)
https://twitter.com/fbgchase/status/1340835905431597057
Andy Reid said the X-Rays came back negative on Clyde Edwards-Helaire. He will be day-to-day for now.
https://twitter.com/NPNowZenner/status/1340827524662738945
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