Jared Kushner and Stephen Miller with seats at the table at Mar-a-Lago meeting with Zelenskyy.

It's always a smart idea to check in with your boss after a strategy meeting

Trump invites the press into the meeting in violation of the agreed protocol. Then he kicks them out. Pure chaos, as usual.

Trump's black hand is painted up today (Joe Raedle/Getty)

One of the things about Zelenskyy being an actor is he knows how to say something without saying something.

Putin spending all week screaming from the rooftops that he does not want peace and has no intentions of backing down from his maximalist aims in Ukraine. Meanwhile world’s most perceptive, people-savvy empath:

I followed Aaron before he started PN, so I jumped on and have never regretted it. If you have the money do yourself a favor and subscribe.

Shaking hands with his left hand.

This is the Russia/Ukraine equivalent of "there are very fine people-on both sides"

Trump invites the press to his Mar-a-Lago meeting with Zelenskyy, then kicks them out of the meeting as soon as it starts.

Trump tells the press as he meets with Zelenskyy, "I think you could sit outside and have some food. Would you like to have food or do you consider that a bribe, and therefore you cannot write honestly? ... Margo, take them outside and tell the chef to serve them good lunch."

What

Performative public lying is a hallmark of far right authoritarian parties

Soon DOJ will start redacting them

Q: Some are saying Russia's recent attacks show Putin isn't serious about peace TRUMP: Ukraine has made some very strong attacks also. I don't say that negatively. There have been explosions in various parts of Russia. I don't think it came from the Congo. I don't think it came from the USA.

Trump on a Russia-Ukraine deal: "There are great economic benefits for Ukraine also. They have a lot of rebuilding to do. There's a lot of wealth to be had."

Trump snaps at a reporter: "What a dumb question. Nobody even knows what the security agreement is going to state."

Trump says he's going to talk to Putin on the phone *again* after he meets with Zelenskyy

Trump greets Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago and says, "I've settled 8 wars and this is the most difficult one. I thought it would be in the middle of the pack."

Trump says he thinks Putin is serious about peace

not only was Trump's right hand discolored on Christmas Eve, but it appears his left hand is now discolored too (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty)

So, is he saying that "heritage Americans" are the experts at fleecing the government?

Step right up folks. Aaron's subscriptions are very reasonable and well worth it.

This is wild. Pure gaslighting. I guess the play here is that like 93% of Americans do not own a business, so they can say, "who you gonna believe, MAGA Jesus or your mean old boss?"

Ron Johnson: "Understand, Somalis have just been in this country a few years. They're amateurs when it comes to fleecing the federal government."

The mad oaf-king's court is entirely supplicants and jesters praising his absent clothing, all plotting for his throne and for plunder but not a genuine wise but scheming vizier in sight.

One of the best decisions I made this year was to subscribe and follow @atrupar.com and his Substack, #PublicNotice. It’s truly a brilliant way to stay informed.

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Kelly Loeffler: "I don't think small business owners have ever been so excited to pay their taxes thanks to President Trump."

Scott Turner: "More research needs to be done on a 50 year mortgage and the other ideas that are being put forth ... the 50 year mortgage and other ideas that have been circulated to the public are being discussed, are on the table."

Turner: "When you look at Biden administration & the weak immigration policies, tens of millions of illegal immigrants came across unchecked & that caused housing supply to go down & costs to go up. With secure borders & our fiscal house getting in order, this is a step toward housing affordability"

Pelosi: "January 6 was really sad in itself. But the sorrow of it also springs from the fact that this president is trying to rewrite history."

Pelosi: "Right now, Republicans in Congress have abolished the Congress. They just do what the president insists that they do. That will be over as soon as we have the gavel."

KARL: What side of Russia-Ukraine is Trump on? GOP REP. MIKE TURNER: I, you know, clearly, ummp, Trump is on the side of peace

Bernie Sanders: "We need to be thinking seriously about a moratorium on data centers. You gotta slow this process down. It's not good enough for the oligarchs to tell us 'you adapt.' Are they gonna guarantee healthcare to all people? What are they gonna do when there are no jobs? Make housing free?"

How are these fits of presidential incontinence never covered as their own news events in NYT? Hours of sick hateful bile from the curdled joyless leader of the Christian nationalists sitting in the ruins of the tinsel trimmed White House he’s demolishing — seems like a story to me.

Aaron, when this is all over

Here’s an easy way for DOJ to cut time redacting the Epstein files: waive any claims that information in the files is privileged. Stop hiding behind attorney/client, deliberative process, and work product privileges. Protect the victims. Release the rest of the files.

I wasn’t familiar with Michael McDonald’s Christmas song game until this year. Good stuff

Trump: “Now 1,000,000 more pages on Epstein are found. DOJ is being forced to spend all of its time on this Democrat inspired Hoax. When do they say NO MORE, & work on Election Fraud etc. The Dems are the ones who worked with Epstein, not the Republicans. Release all of their names, embarrass them”

The third paragraph reads as if the Russians wrote it. Maybe they did. In any event, it is an atrociously big lie; 1984-grade, as Aaron Rupar rightly says.

Trumpers are *still* scheming to overturn the 2020 election www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-geor...

Trump’s comments and accompanying lawsuits aren’t simply about proving non-existent fraud in 2020; they’re part of an actual sprawling plan to sow doubt in future elections — specifically, any important elections that Republicans lose. @justinglawe.bsky.social writes in @atrupar.com latest PN:

Trump and his DOJ are again making noise about the ghosts of 2020. At the epicenter—Georgia and Fulton County, which next year will once again play a major role in deciding the balance of power in Washington. More at today’s PN with @atrupar.com: www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-geor...

New in PN: Trumpers are *still* scheming to overturn the 2020 election "Trump’s conspiracy theories, threats, & endless lawsuits aren’t simply about proving non-existent fraud in 2020. They’re part of an *actual* sprawling plan to sow doubt in future elections — specifically, ones Republicans lose"

Absolute dogfight between Wolves and Nuggets, but a gutting loss for Minnesota. Another game where Wolves lost poise with a big lead in & collapsed. The comeback in the 4th was special stuff from Anthony Edwards. The mental mistakes in OT are why Wolves remain a 2nd tier team.

Trump talking Epstein so much is called by prosecutors “consciousness of guilt”

Sorry did he just threaten Democrats with death again? Not sure what else “enjoy your last Christmas” means

This reminds me of the 2004 Bills, the best DVOA team to ever miss the playoffs, losing in Week 17 to the Pittsburgh backups when they needed a win. Tommy Maddox was better than Max Brosmer, but yeah.

Unfathomable that the Lions are about to lose a season-ending game to a Vikings team that cannot execute a forward pass