The Conversation -- December 27, 2023

Luke Broadwater of the New York Times: "House Republicans said Wednesday they were investigating whether President Biden was involved in his son Hunter Biden's decision to defy a congressional subpoena in their latest attempt to link the White House to accusations against the president's son.... 'In light of an official statement from the White House that President Biden was aware in advance that his son, Hunter Biden, would knowingly defy two congressional subpoenas, we are compelled to examine as part of our impeachment inquiry whether the president engaged in a conspiracy to obstruct a proceeding of Congress,' Mr. Comer and Mr. Jordan wrote in their letter [to White House counsel Ed Siskel]."

Julie Bosman, et al., of the New York Times: "The Michigan Supreme Court on Wednesday gave Donald J. Trump an important victory in the legal battle over his eligibility to return to the White House by allowing the former president to appear on the state's primary ballot in February. But in a narrow ruling, the court left the door open for a new challenge to bar Mr. Trump from the general election ballot in the key battleground state over his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. The decision was the latest in the high-stakes efforts to block Mr. Trump from returning to power.&"

Alan Feuer of the New York Times: "Federal prosecutors asked a judge on Wednesday to keep ... Donald J. Trump and his lawyers from claiming to the jury in his upcoming election interference trial that the case had been brought against him as a partisan attack by the Biden administration. The move by the prosecutors was designed to keep Mr. Trump from overtly politicizing his trial and from distracting the jury with unfounded political arguments that he has often made on both the campaign trail and in court papers related to the case. Ever since Mr. Trump was charged this summer with plotting to overturn the 2020 election, he and his lawyers have sought to frame the indictment as a retaliatory strike against him by President Biden. Mr. Trump has also placed such claims at the heart of his presidential campaign even though the charges were initially returned by a federal grand jury and are being overseen by an independent special counsel...."

Neil Vigdor of the New York Times: "... Donald J. Trump on Tuesday fired off a new attack against Representative Debbie Dingell, the widow of John D. Dingell Jr., the longest-serving member of Congress in American history, calling her a 'loser' and suggesting that she had not been grateful for funeral honors granted by Mr. Trump for her husband. The salvo from Mr. Trump, the Republican front-runner in the 2024 presidential race, followed an appearance by Ms. Dingell, a Democrat from Michigan, on CNN earlier on Tuesday in which she criticized Mr. Trump's increasingly incendiary language on social media.... Ms. Dingell had been reacting to a grievance-filled Christmas message on Truth Social from Mr. Trump. Referring to his political opponents as 'deranged' and 'thugs' and accusing them of trying to destroy the country, he wrote, 'MAY THEY ROT IN HELL. AGAIN, MERRY CHRISTMAS!'" ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: For every person who has behaved badly in public, for every person who chafes under criticism that s/he is ill-mannered, there is a potential Trump voter, a person who feels vindicated knowing that a person who is even more boorish than s/he can be president*. Trump is indeed their retribution.

** William Grimes of the New York Times: "Tom Smothers, the older half of the comic folk duo the Smothers Brothers, whose skits and songs on 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour' in the late 1960s brought political satire and a spirit of youthful irreverence to network television, paving the way for shows like 'Saturday Night Live' and 'The Daily Show,' died on Tuesday at his home in Santa Rosa, Calif., a city in Sonoma County. He was 86." The Hollywood Reporter's obituary is here. Thanks to RAS for the lead. ~~~

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Philip Bump of the Washington Post: "Instead of using his majority to methodically flesh out the existing allegations against the president, [Rep. Jim] Comer [R-Ky.] and his allies -- including Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee -- found themselves offering up baseless or debunked allegations to a conservative media ravenous for them. Throughout 2023, Comer, Jordan and their allies made little progress toward Comer's stated target [to nail President Biden] -- but did manage to significantly erode their credibility." Bump reviews their hilariously inept efforts to frame Biden.

Heather Knight of the New York Times: "A federal appeals court tossed out the conviction of former Representative Jeff Fortenberry, a Nebraska Republican, on Tuesday.... Mr. Fortenberry, 62, was convicted by a jury in March 2022 on three felony charges related to lying to the federal authorities about illegal campaign donations he received at a 2016 fund-raiser in Los Angeles.... In the opinion on Tuesday, a three-judge panel determined that Mr. Fortenberry should not have been tried in Los Angeles because he had made his statements about the campaign contributions to federal agents in Nebraska and Washington, D.C. Mr. Fortenberry was charged with and convicted of making false statements, not the receipt of the illegal contributions. 'The constitution plainly requires that a criminal defendant be tried in the place where the criminal conduct occurred,' Judge James Donato wrote on behalf of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The court said Mr. Fortenberry could be retried in a proper venue."

Larry Neumeister of the AP: "Federal prosecutors on Tuesday urged a judge to reject U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez's request to delay his bribery trial scheduled for next spring by two months, until July.... Four defendants, including Menendez, have pleaded not guilty to a bribery conspiracy charge that alleges that Menendez and his wife accepted bribes of cash, gold bars and a luxury car from three New Jersey businessmen who wanted the senator';s help and influence over foreign affairs."

Robert Jimison of the New York Times: interviews Sen. Laphonza Butler, whom Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) appointed to the Senate to replace Dianne Feinstein. Butler is not standing for election to the post.

Revoke Trump's Bail. Colleen Slevin of the AP: "Police said Tuesday they are investigating incidents directed at Colorado Supreme Court justices and providing extra patrols around their homes in Denver following the court's decision to remove ... Donald Trump from the state's presidential primary ballot.... The FBI said it is working with local law enforcement on the matter." (Also linked yesterday.)

The Most Dangerous Man in the U.S.A. Eric Bazail-Eilil of Politico: "Voters surveyed by the Daily Mail described ... Donald Trump's political goals as 'corruption,' 'revenge' and 'dictatorship.' On Tuesday..., Trump shared a word cloud with the results of a Daily Mail survey released Tuesday that prominently displayed the words 'corruption,' 'revenge,' 'dictatorship' and 'power,' indicating that those answers were provided by a large number of participants asked about Trump's plans for a second term in office. There was no caption or comment attached to the post.... It's not the first time Trump has called himself a dictator or hinted at his authoritarian desires, but it's the first time he's embraced the label via word cloud.... [President] Biden's word cloud contained the words 'nothing' as well as 'peace,' 'economy' and 'democracy.'" ~~~

     ~~~ The Daily Mail's report of its survey, which includes pictures of the Biden & Trump clouds, is here.

NEW. Danny Hakim of the New York Times: "One of the Republicans in Michigan who acted as a fake elector for Donald J. Trump expressed deep regret about his participation, according to a recording of his interview with the state attorney general's office that was obtained by The New York Times. The elector, James Renner, is thus far the only Trump elector who has reached an agreement with the office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, which brought criminal charges in July against all 16 of the state's fake Trump electors. In October, Ms. Nessel's office dropped all charges against Mr. Renner after he agreed to cooperate. Mr. Renner, 77, was a late substitution to the roster of electors in December 2020 after two others dropped out. He told the attorney general's office that he later realized, after reviewing testimony from the House investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, that he and other electors had acted improperly."

Presidential Race 2024

Melania Trump is reportedly ready for her moment in the spotlight. The former first lady, who's made only a handful of public appearances since Donald Trump left office, was reportedly encouraged by her 'positive reception' at Rosalynn Carter's funeral. She's 'feeling more sure of herself -- as both her husband's representative and her own position as a diplomatic figure,' a Trumpworld source told Page Six. -- Daily Beast report, cited in Balloon Juice ~~~

~~~ Melanie Rising. Betty Cracker of Balloon Juice: "The report strikes me as weird on two levels, firstly because it implies the Third Lady thinks she earned a 'positive reception.'... The Carters and former first ladies who interacted with the wife of The Beast at the funeral were gracious because they have class and dignity, and they have some respect for the roles they play in national life. Maybe Melania Trump doesn't understand that, having spent years among garish rich people.... Maybe she never saw what Michelle Obama said publicly about putting aside her personal feelings of dismay, anger and disgust during the 2016 transition to be pleasant to Mrs. Trump for the good of the country.... Reason #2 that this is weird: the Third Lady wasn't interested in the job when she was in the White House, so why now?... Perhaps [Donald's] awful other half sees [another presidential* term for him] as a second opportunity to renegotiate the prenup, and this is her way of angling for a higher payout."

Palliative Care. Marie: I missed this quote from a New York Times story published December 24 because I don't read many of the GOP Who's-on-Third? stories, but it is another data point in Ron DeSantis' faltering campaign: "Ryan Tyson, Mr. DeSantis's longtime pollster and one of his closest advisers, has privately said to multiple people that they are now at the point in the campaign where they need to 'make the patient comfortable.'..."

Larry Neumeister of the AP: "Criminal prosecutors may soon get to see over 900 documents pertaining to the alleged theft of a diary belonging to President Joe Biden's daughter after a judge rejected the conservative group Project Veritas' First Amendment claim.... The documents were produced from raids that were authorized in November 2021. Electronic devices were also seized from the residences of three members of Project Veritas, including two mobile phones from the home of James O'Keefe, the group's since-fired founder." Project Veritas is considering appealing the decision.

That Boring Tie You Got Boosted the Economy. Rachel Siegel & Aaron Gregg of the Washington Post: "On Tuesday, fresh retail sales data from Mastercard showed that consumers spent big on gifts, meals and apparel in November and December despite inflation's lingering bite. Add on strong consumer confidence, and the S&P 500's approaching an all-time high, and it's clear that the U.S. economy is in a far better place than just about anyone expected, zapping any hints of a recession and bolstering hope that people will keep opening their wallets in 2024."

Capitalism Will Kill You. Reed Abelson & Margot Sanger-Katz of the New York Times: "The rate of serious medical complications increased in hospitals [link fixed] after they were purchased by private equity investment firms, according to a major study of the effects of such acquisitions on patient care in recent years. The study, published in JAMA on Tuesday, found that, in the three years after a private equity fund bought a hospital, adverse events including surgical infections and bed sores rose by 25 percent among Medicare patients when compared with similar hospitals that were not bought by such investors. The researchers reported a nearly 38 percent increase in central line infections, a dangerous kind of infection that medical authorities say should never happen, and a 27 percent increase in falls by patients while staying in the hospital."

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Israel/Palestine. The Washington Post's live updates of developments Wednesday in the Israel/Hamas war are here: "Israel said it is expanding combat operations in refugee camps as it targets Hamas, as a hospital director said the toll from a strike on a residential block in a central Gaza in Maghazi camp rose to 80. At the White House, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan held talks with Ron Dermer, a senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, about 'the transition to a different phase of the war to maximize focus on high-value Hamas targets' as well as 'governance and security in Gaza' after the war, an official said.... The United Nations appointed Dutch politician Sigrid Kaag to the new role of senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, responsible for facilitating and accelerating aid deliveries. The position was mandated as part of the U.N. Security Council's resolution last week to expand aid to civilians in the enclave." ~~~

     ~~~ The New York Times' live updates for Wednesday are here. CNN's live updates are here: "Israel's military chief said the war against Hamas in Gaza will continue for 'many more months,' echoing comments from Israeli leaders including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the conflict is far from ending. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also said Israel is in a 'multi-arena war' in the region."

The Conversation -- December 26, 2023

Colleen Slevin of the AP: "Police said Tuesday they are investigating incidents directed at Colorado Supreme Court justices and providing extra patrols around their homes in Denver following the court's decision to remove ... Donald Trump from the state's presidential primary ballot.... The FBI said it is working with local law enforcement on the matter."

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Several entries posted late this morning.

Helene Cooper of the New York Times: "The United States conducted a new round of airstrikes early on Tuesday in Iraq, most likely killing militants and destroying three facilities used by Iranian proxies that had been targeting American and coalition troops, U.S. officials said. The American strikes were in retaliation for a series of assaults, including a drone attack hours earlier by members of Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups on Erbil air base in Iraq, according to Adrienne Watson, a National Security Council spokeswoman. The drone attack injured three American service members, one of them critically, she said." ~~~

     ~~~ ABC News: "Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the strikes were carried out at the direction of President Joe Biden and in response to attacks carried out by the groups against coalition forces in the region."

THEY SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN, LIED TO CONGRESS, CHEATED ON FISA, RIGGED A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, ALLOWED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, MANY FROM PRISONS & MENTAL INSTITUTIONS, TO INVADE OUR COUNTRY, SCREWED UP IN AFGHANISTAN, & JOE BIDEN'S MISFITS & THUGS, LIKE DERANGED JACK SMITH, ARE COMING AFTER ME, AT LEVELS OF PERSECUTION NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN OUR COUNTRY??? IT'S CALLED ELECTION INTERFERENCE. MERRY CHRISTMAS! -- Donald Trump's Christmas Eve message ~~~

So forget that "peace on earth, goodwill to men" crap. -- Marie ~~~

~~~ Still Crazy. Stephen Collinson of CNN: Donald Trump "unleashed an online torrent of fury and bitterness, largely over his legal plights, spanning Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, previewing the discord and personal obsessions he will inflict on the nation in a pivotal election year in 2024. Trump raged at President Joe Biden and special counsel Jack Smith, making expansive and false claims that his attempts to stay in power after losing the 2020 election represented a vital defense of American democracy and were thus perfectly legal. In a tide of invective in block capitals on his Truth Social network, Trump escalated extreme rhetoric on immigration that has drawn comparisons to Nazi demagoguery in the 1940s and reprised his view of unlimited presidential power that has critics fearing autocracy if he wins the next election.... And his tirades, at a time when Americans who celebrate Christmas gathered with loved ones and sought a moment of peace, hint at a furious state of mind and extreme denialism."

Presidential Race 2024. Jonathan Swan, et al., of the New York Times: "Since beginning his 2024 presidential campaign, Donald J. Trump has said the 'termination; of the Constitution would have been justified to overturn the 2020 election, told followers 'I am your retribution' and vowed to use the Justice Department to prosecute his adversaries -- starting with President Biden and his family. Beneath these public threats is a series of plans by Mr. Trump and his allies that would upend core elements of American governance, democracy, foreign policy and the rule of law if he regains the White House."

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Israel/Palestine. The Washington Post's live updates of developments Tuesday in the Israel/Hamas war are here: "The World Health Organization said it is concerned about 'unbearable' strain on the few hospitals that remain open in Gaza as Israel steps up strikes on Hamas. At least three areas in central Gaza were hit this weekend, including the Maghazi refugee camp, where at least 80 people were killed on a residential block, the director of a nearby hospital said.... An airstrike killed an Iranian commander in Syria on Monday, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency. Brig. Gen. Seyed Razi Mousavi, a senior adviser to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was killed outside Damascus. The Revolutionary Guard Corps attributed the strike to the Israeli military, which declined to comment." ~~~

     ~~~ The New York Times' live updates for Tuesday are here. CNN's live updates are here.

Russia. Ivan Nechepurenko & Anton Troianovski of the New York Times: "The Russian opposition leader Aleksei A. Navalny has been moved to a remote Arctic prison and 'is doing well,' his spokeswoman said on Monday, ending a 20-day mystery over his whereabouts that had many supporters fearing the worst. 'We have found Aleksei,' the spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, said on social media. 'His lawyer saw him today.' Ms. Yarmysh's announcement marked the end of a frantic search through Russia's vast prison system for Mr. Navalny, who disappeared on Dec. 5. Mr. Navalny's exiled allies said that they had found him in the remote penal colony in the Arctic after sending more than 600 requests to prisons and other government agencies." ~~~

     ~~~ Update. Ivan Nechepurenko of the New York Times: "Aleksei A. Navalny, Russia's most prominent opposition leader, published a letter on Tuesday describing an arduous transfer to his new penal colony in the Arctic.... Mr. Navalny's comments, posted on his social network accounts and written with a heavy dose of irony and humor, highlighted his good spirits and seemed intended to assuage concerns among allies who had grown anxious about his health and status since his sudden disappearance from the public eye on Dec. 5."

Ukraine, et al.

Constant Méheut of the New York Times: "The Ukrainian military said on Monday that it had shot down five Russian fighter jets in three days, one of the biggest weekly losses for the Russian air force since the war began and a rare bright spot for Ukraine, whose forces have faced setbacks since its failed monthslong counteroffensive this year. But the news could be offset if Russia's claim that it had seized full control of the eastern town of Marinka is true. Russian forces have gradually advanced over months of battle against Ukrainian troops there, but Ukraine denied that the town was entirely under Russian control.... Early Tuesday morning, Ukraine's Air Force claimed another victory, saying it had destroyed a Russian ship, the Novocherkassk. The account could not be independently verified. Sergey Aksyonov, the Russia-installed head of Crimea, said that Ukrainian forces had attacked the Crimean Black Sea town of Feodosia, starting a fire in its port." A related CNN story is here.

Andrew Kramer of the New York Times: "Of Ukraine's many Western-oriented changes, put in place bit by bit since independence and accelerated during the war, one brought special joy this year: Christmas came early. After centuries of marking the holiday on Jan. 7 under the Julian church calendar, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church this year formally switched to celebrating on Dec. 25 with most of the rest of Europe -- and pointedly not with Russia." MB: Now all they need are weeks of Christmas special sales beginning in November and some tinsel trees.

U.K. Karla Adam of the Washington Post: "King Charles III's annual festive address saw the British monarch posing next to a replantable tree festooned with dried oranges while delivering a message that acknowledged the 'growing awareness' of the need to protect the planet. The monarch's Christmas message has long been a fixture in Britain -- like wearing silly Christmas sweaters or colored paper hats. The speeches are uncontentious -- and this year's was no exception. But it's also one of the few times the monarch delivers a speech they write themselves, without government guidance, meaning royal watchers pay close attention. The address is normally viewed by millions in Britain and Commonwealth countries." ~~~

~~~ Stephen Fry's Alternative Christmas Message: "I am a Jew":

Vatican. Nicole Winfield of the AP: "Pope Francis on Monday blasted the weapons industry and its 'instruments of death' that fuel wars as he made a Christmas Day appeal for peace in the world and in particular between Israel and the Palestinians. Speaking from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica to the throngs of people below, Francis said he grieved the 'abominable attack' of Hamas against southern Israel on Oct. 7 and called for the release of hostages. And he begged for an end to Israel's military campaign in Gaza and the 'appalling harvest of innocent civilians' as he called for humanitarian aid to reach those in need. Francis devoted his Christmas Day blessing to a call for peace in the world, noting that the biblical story of the birth of Christ in Bethlehem sent a message of peace. But he said that Bethlehem 'is a place of sorrow and silence' this year."

Joe & Jill Biden read "A Visit from St. Nicholas":

Some excellent comments in yesterday's thread. As I read them, my droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow. Ho ho ho.

News Lede

New York Times:"Despite lingering inflation, Americans increased their spending this holiday season, early data shows.... Retail sales increased 3.1 percent from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24 compared with the same period a year earlier, according to data from Mastercard SpendingPulse...."

The Conversation -- December 25, 2023

Marie: Say what you will in the Comments; here's something of a realist's view of Christmas from the ridiculous to the ordinary to -- if you click on the King's College Choir playlist -- the sublime.

Loudon Wainwright III looks forward to Christmas:

~~~ Then It's Here:

Merry Christmas from the Family in Houston:

And from Boston:

All Is Not Lost: Maybe the Best Popular Christmas Song Video Ever:

If you prefer something a tad more traditional, a YouTube playlist of carols performed by the King's College, Cambridge, Choir is here.