Investigation into Trump’s inauguration

Grifters! Sad!

Trump’s campaign. Trump’s transition. Trump’s inauguration. Trump’s presidency. Plus Trump & family. All are now under state and federal criminal and civil investigations. This is much more damning than Watergate, and it is just getting started.

— John Dean (@JohnWDean) December 14, 2018

NEW: Federal prosecutors are investigating the $107 million raised by Trump’s 2017 inaugural committee, including whether any donors gave money to influence official administration positions.

Scoop by @rebeccadobrien @rebeccaballhaus @aviswanatha https://t.co/MroTpIDPHD

— Nicole Hong (@nicole_hong) December 13, 2018

New: Trump's inaugural committee fundraising was a mess from the start. Here are some big questions still unanswered that the feds could shed light on. https://t.co/egYSvMME1r

— Christina Wilkie (@christinawilkie) December 14, 2018

Analysis: How money flowed into — and out of — Trump’s inaugural committee https://t.co/88Bw1xB9ON

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 15, 2018

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say Ivanka’s probably not going to be the first female president now. https://t.co/4RwPy0MXNz

— Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) December 14, 2018

After months of reporting, we have an answer: some of the money went to the Trump Organization. Ivanka Trump personally connected inauguration planners with her family’s DC hotel. We know, because we have emails. https://t.co/vAD0DDoZSa

— Ilya Marritz (@ilyamarritz) December 14, 2018

Great cartoon about outsourcing Santa

I’m more worried about white nationalism than ISIS

White nationalists are the ones killing people in the US. They’re Trump supporters so he won’t do anything to stop them.

update 12/16/18

Republican leaders refuse to state the obvious: Trump's hateful rhetoric emboldens violent extremists. https://t.co/bjqjIFwA87 pic.twitter.com/o25SfI1HfY

— The New Republic (@newrepublic) December 16, 2018

Don’t condemn white nationalists, Veterans Affairs’ diversity chief was told after Charlottesville, emails show https://t.co/MiDzy4g8No

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 6, 2018

Despite repeated warnings over the past two decades, federal law enforcement officials in the United States have ignored the threat of violence from far-right extremists. Now, they have no idea how to stop it. https://t.co/xPKiJ30XLy

— The New York Times (@nytimes) December 13, 2018

Congress must reject white nationalism and recognize it as a threat to the rights & safety of all people, and our democracy too. That’s why we’re joining @bend_thearc in calling on them to #RejectWhiteNationalism before Jan 3.

Learn more and take action: https://t.co/nJa2MU2BlT pic.twitter.com/2Llz2eRwoX

— Southern Poverty Law Center (@splcenter) December 15, 2018

Few American communities have been spared the violence of racism, hatred & bigotry this year. That’s why we must unequivocally reject white nationalism in all forms – threatened, written, verbal, or physical – and restore decency and justice in its place. https://t.co/XjkxQxj7rW

— Rep. Joe Kennedy III (@RepJoeKennedy) December 10, 2018

“The parents, the neighbors, the friends—they always seem to say they don’t think this stuff is racist, their son, their friend isn’t a white nationalist. But … the stuff the Columbia student said, those are absolutely standard tropes of white nationalism.”—SPLC's Heidi Beirich pic.twitter.com/8Pv3Jmkq88

— Southern Poverty Law Center (@splcenter) December 13, 2018

Republicans blame death of a child on her family – I blame the Trump administration

She died in US custody. I blame the Trump administration.

LATEST: Seven-year-old girl who died at border did not receive medical care for 90 minutes.

Our report, with @JuliaEAinsley and @CalNBC. https://t.co/8kopVdCegk

— Jacob Soboroff (@jacobsoboroff) December 14, 2018

Modern GOP is a death cult. https://t.co/SYgHzkcB0e

— robneyer ⚾️🧗‍♂️🗽 (@robneyer) December 15, 2018

The government bears responsibility for the health and welfare of people it takes into custody — especially children. https://t.co/i9Cvo0c0gY (via @latimesopinion)

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) December 15, 2018

A seven-year-old girl from Guatemala died in Border Patrol custody early Saturday morning.

Three days later, CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan testified before the Senate Judiciary committee. The Senators questioning him did not know about the death. https://t.co/4o2uzEaPzv

— Mother Jones (@MotherJones) December 14, 2018

I joined @chrislhayes to discuss the tragic death of a seven-year-old girl under @CBP's watch. This culture of cruelty has got to stop.

My colleagues and I have a lot of questions. You can bet I will be asking them when @SecNielsen comes before @HouseJudiciary next week. pic.twitter.com/ywj4seFLdi

— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) December 15, 2018

The girl was transported to an El Paso hospital by helicopter but could not be saved. https://t.co/npoxrzBuF0

— Slate (@Slate) December 14, 2018

There are no words to capture the horror of a seven-year-old girl dying of dehydration in U.S. custody. What’s happening at our borders is a humanitarian crisis. https://t.co/8KZeynGjIv

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) December 14, 2018

Good riddance to Zinke

I am sure he would have been gone once Democrats did real oversight in 2019. He sure seems to be a crook.

SCOOP: A grand jury examining whether former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke lied to federal investigators in connection with a Connecticut casino deal. Via @eilperin and @reinlwapo https://t.co/aqiGDbWM1f
— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) February 22, 2019

Bottom line is that while Zinke left office, prosecutors and IG investigators are aggressively pursuing what could be a criminal case. https://t.co/oboQonyszS
— Lisa Rein (@Reinlwapo) February 22, 2019

Scoop: Ryan Zinke has notified the White House he intends to step down as interior secretary.

Concern about legal costs and scrutiny of his travel, political activity and potential conflicts of interest were factors in Zinke’s decision, I’m told.

Plan is to announce Wednesday.
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) December 15, 2018

With Zinke out, it’s a good time to reup one of the great stories of the Trump administration — @Reinlwapo on Zinke making aides fly a special flag at Interior when he is “in garrison” https://t.co/D2HSHXBeUu
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) December 15, 2018

10 of Trump’s original Cabinet-level picks will be out by next year, with Zinke next per Bloomberg sources.
ZINKE❌
PRICE❌
KELLY❌
SESSIONS❌
TILLERSON❌
SHULKIN❌
PRUITT*❌
HALEY*❌
PRIEBUS*❌
PUZDER**❌
*Cabinet-level
**Didn’t make it to confirmation
— Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) December 15, 2018

Quite a turn for Zinke. He had been weighing challenging Tester in 2018, where he would have been the favorite. But Don Jr successfully lobbied he get Interior. Now he leaves Interior under ethical cloud and GOP lost Montana Senate race despite heavy Trump campaigning
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 15, 2018

WH official tells me Zinke's exit necessary. Why? Grijalva (D-Ariz.) will soon take gavel at Natural Res. Cmmte.

Since Zinke has taken personal shots at Grijalva for his struggles w/ alcoholism, official says the WH, already embattled, wants to avoid brutal/newsy Zinke hearings.
— Robert Costa (@costareports) December 15, 2018

In early 2018, Zinke created a new outdoor recreation panel whose members included insiders from the oil, gas, and mining industries, as well as people with ties to trophy huntinghttps://t.co/v3Gsk3M3Tj
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 15, 2018

Cannot-Make-It-Up Department. Interior Secretary under investigation for allegedly trying to enrich himself in office wouldn't leave job until he could have Christmas party with lobbyists and take pictures in front of stuffed polar bear https://t.co/SLfl8ZYtnl
— Carol Leonnig (@CarolLeonnig) December 15, 2018

Zinke out at end of the year. Here’s our list of the investigations he faces: https://t.co/MtH6lUxr4Q https://t.co/RjyqyX4NaN
— Lisa Friedman (@LFFriedman) December 15, 2018

Ryan Zinke has racked up 17 federal investigations in under two years as Secretary of the Interior https://t.co/3ThUtTBl3J
— Robert Maguire (@RobertMaguire_) December 15, 2018

Ryan Zinke resigned under pressure as administration officials concluded he was the most vulnerable Cabinet member to congressional investigations when Dems take over in January, @eilperin & @jdawsey1 report. His tenure was plagued by ethics scandals. https://t.co/kdyl9l3seA
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) December 15, 2018

Republicans lied about Obamacare

Many Republicans, including Trump, claimed they wanted to preserve the popular Obamacare provision to protect people with pre-existing conditions. At the same time, they supported a court case to kill Obamacare.

Now, a judge made a far-reaching decision that goes beyond even what some Republicans wanted but that was always a risk. Trump tweeted praise for the decision which kills all of Obamacare. This will wind up in the Supreme Court.

The GOP know that they can’t repeal the ACA in Congress. So they’ve continued their crusade through the courts — and a right-wing judge in Texas ruled in their favor. Let’s be very clear: the ACA is still the law of the land. https://t.co/ddjSJsXWkc

— Elizabeth Warren (@elizabethforma) December 15, 2018

States Involved in ACA Lawsuit #AMJoy #Obamacare pic.twitter.com/oCH75rF2tH

— AM Joy w/Joy Reid (@amjoyshow) December 15, 2018

Two legal experts who were on opposite sides of challenges to ACA at SCOTUS in 2012 and 2015 agree this time on how flawed last night's ACA ruling was: "this decision makes a mockery of the rule of law and basic principles of democracy." https://t.co/XUHgmPvQnV

— Indivisible Guide (@IndivisibleTeam) December 15, 2018

Judge Reed O'Connor, appointed by George W. Bush, previously blocked other Obama protections including another ACA rule, transgender rights, native American children's rights. You get the picture. https://t.co/p66AbF3wsJ

— Kevin B. Blackistone (@ProfBlackistone) December 15, 2018

I have a lot of friends who will try to downplay this ACA decision – "it's totally unsound logic!" "It will be appealed!" – but it actually should be a mass freakout moment about how vulnerable our hard-won progressive gains remain due to the fact we ceded the courts to the GOP

— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) December 15, 2018

Researchers find roughly one additional death per year for every 800 people who lose insurance. So if the result of the GOP suit is that ACA falls and millions of Americans lose insurance, the consequence is also clear: More Americans will die. https://t.co/Xz01FYJBQT

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) December 15, 2018

Short answer: Every legal attack on ACA has been focused on the market-based aspects. Mandate, subsidies. No court has suggested that expanding existing government programs would violate the Constitution. https://t.co/1HkpcQ1odp

— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) December 15, 2018

Analysis: With ACA in peril, Republicans get to show if they really want to protect people with preexisting conditions https://t.co/0CwwlsLuni

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 15, 2018

Tonight’s absurd ruling exposes the monstrous endgame of the GOP’s all-out assault on people w/ pre-existing conditions & the ACA. When @HouseDemocrats take the gavel, the House will swiftly intervene in the appeals process to #ProtectOurCare!

— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) December 15, 2018

This is exactly why Cruz argued that the ACA needed to be killed in 2013 — once the benefits were locked in, it would be politically impossible to take them away. 40 House Republicans, when they finish updating their resumes, will tell you he was right. https://t.co/wk43aJFgCw

— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) December 15, 2018

The case, seemingly bound for the Supreme Court's new conservative majority, now threatens to complicate a wide array of policies. https://t.co/6jt0XpYS5a

— POLITICO (@politico) December 15, 2018

update

There was not enough coverage of this lie at the time. https://t.co/ySUNr1lTKb

— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) December 15, 2018

update 12/16/18

Former President Barack Obama responded to a federal judge's ruling that core aspects of the Affordable Care Act were unconstitutional. https://t.co/JtTQnNLAmW

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) December 16, 2018

Cutter’s Way

This is a very unusual film that is well worth seeing.

https://twitter.com/JonathanRosenba/status/1073809346872700928

R.I.P. Ivan Passer. A great filmmaker – and such a funny cool guy. We got to know him through his childhood friend Milos Forman (they also collaborated on “Loves of a Blonde” and ‘Fireman’s Ball”). This is one of his most unappreciated films – worth seeking out. pic.twitter.com/tfS2T96cGl
— Larry Karaszewski (@Karaszewski) January 10, 2020

The director of Cutter’s Way

Ivan Passer, a leading director of the Czech New Wave who went on to direct CUTTER’S WAY (1981), has died. He was 86.@Variety — https://t.co/sC5s6es0sa pic.twitter.com/X3Hxm7SQg1
— The Daily (@CriterionDaily) January 10, 2020

#Noirvember read:

I wrote about CUTTER’S WAY, a beachbummed post-Nam noir as psychologically grisly as any cathode-tubed war footage, a detective story of such absolute horror as to be almost Lovecraftian in its depiction of unimaginable human emptiness.https://t.co/gY1nYJVZd7 pic.twitter.com/8WIsz74nR6
— Travis Woods (@aHeartOfGould) November 21, 2023

Covers: Back Door Santa

The original version of “Back Door Santa” was by Clarence Carter in 1968.

songwriters: Clarence Carter and Marcus Daniel.

Darlene Love – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) over the years

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

was originally performed by Darlene Love on Phil Spector’s 1963 A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records

Darlene Love performed it 28 times on David Letterman shows. This is a mashup of various performances.

This is the final one (when she was 73 years old):

This is the original recording – 51 years earlier!

The sax solo was performed by Steve Douglas.

Here are more versions from Letterman shows:

1986 (The first one) – it is so stripped down compared to the later ones!

2010

2001

2011

There are even more versions of this great performance on YouTube.

A late night holiday tradition returns! Reunited after 9 years, Dave, @paulshaffer, and the Queen of Christmas, Darlene Love, come together for a special performance of 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)'
WATCH: https://t.co/7tsC9FazMk pic.twitter.com/aZ6tOeECNL
— David Letterman (@Letterman) December 19, 2023

Watch David Letterman and Darlene Love reunite for the first time in eight years https://t.co/eEPvNfAUNp pic.twitter.com/T8odlVPB7J
— The A.V. Club (@TheAVClub) December 20, 2023

John Nelson:

Darlene Love and Cher while recording "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" …Cher sang backup vocals on this iconic Christmas song. (1963) pic.twitter.com/KFXJ2xSn2E
— Edward Elderman (@edwereddie) December 17, 2023

Politifact lie of the year

Our Lie of the Year: the online smear machine that tried to take down the Parkland students: https://t.co/HGWTSOksMA #LieOfTheYear2018 pic.twitter.com/eJeGnd6scg

— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) December 11, 2018