A mountain gorilla has given birth to twins in war-ravaged eastern Congo, a national park said, in what it described as “a major event” for the endangered subspecies. https://cnn.it/4pv5KAu

This would be an important expansion of the Senate playing field. Still an uphill fight for Democrats in Alaska and nationally, but a big development.

I don't think this will work, but truly pathetic that this is even an issue. Trump is the world's oldest child.

The suspiciously lucky account, created on December 27, has only bet on two things: the U.S. invading Venezuela, and its president, Nicolás Maduro, being forced out of leadership by January 31. In less than a day, the mysterious user made over $400,000. trib.al/4rnJbxR

I frequently criticize the Times on various fronts. With great size/power comes great responsibility. But it's always important to remember that really only they have the resources and capacity to put stuff like this together. These are like genome maps of the Trump corruption machine.

Every installment of this MTG rehabilitation tour feels like “Nice Scorpion Regrets Past Stings, Needs Help With River Crossing!”

There really is a difference between Trump's first term and this one and a lot of it is the personnel.

The Christian right’s deification of Donald Trump amounts to idolatry. Trump’s malignantly narcissistic response to the murder of Rob Reiner reveals a deeply demonic figure: one callously indifferent to any life but his own, the antithesis of a true Christian.

GOP operatives Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, convicted election fraudsters, were paid $960,000 in the second quarter to secure a pardon for a former nursing-home operator who defrauded the government of $38 million. Trump pardoned the man, Joseph Schwartz, last month.

Even people living above 400% of the poverty line will be affected—particularly older enrollees and those living in higher-premium locations—as they will lose their credits entirely. Around half of those who would lose eligibility are between the ages of 50 and 64. trib.al/ZZVapV0

A new lawsuit filed in Washington, DC's federal court challenges the Kennedy Center board of trustees' move to add President Donald Trump's name to the cultural institution. https://cnn.it/4sfV5fS

BREAKING: Huge loss for Trump administration at Supreme Court, which rules that the Trump administration had lacked authority to federalize and deploy the National Guard to execute laws in Illinois. s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

On a deep level, Trump does not EVEN UNDERSTAND the concept of right and wrong applying to anything other than what he deserves. He just doesn't. He has boundless personal grievance and that's it.

Running for Governor never made sense and wasn't going to work out. She was plainly unhappy in the House, despite having a leadership post.

10 years later Trump has "concepts of a plan".

Yes. Bush spent a long time selling the Iraq War. He did it in the post-9/11 context and we had already fought Iraq once. He got a lot of Democratic buy-in and even some European countries went along. Trump would have NONE of that in the case of a real war with Venezuela.

Those two have burned bridges with Trump already. In Massie's case, maybe on principle. In MTG's case only because he wouldn't back her in a Senate bid. But in any case, almost all the other Rs are ducking, as usual.

What was she thinking doing this Vanity Fair interview? It's no puzzle that she stuck with Trump despite -supposedly- thinking he was wrong in many cases. She's a political hack, a careerist and partisan. But really, why go on the record? You can court the press with not for attribution leaks.

When Tim Pool is trying to give you lessons on being a better person.

Disgusting. A new low and that's saying something.

Rob Reiner, who directed such beloved Hollywood classics as 'This Is Spinal Tap,' 'Stand by Me' and 'When Harry Met Sally' after starring in the trailblazing sitcom 'All in the Family,' died Sunday along with his wife, Michele, in their Brentwood home. bit.ly/48UWXSi

Reupping my prediction that she resurfaces either in further-right media, where they have few standards and are always looking for blondes, or some apolitical grift, because in the end she is just an adventurer.

It's not clear if he is "the most incompetent", but he is just a Trump subordinate, which is not the historical relationship of Presidents and Speakers at all. That's the main thing.

Even if these people were drug smugglers, they were not "in a fight". They could be arrested and even attacked if they resisted arrest and threatened personnel, but there was no attempt to arrest them. Were they detained and eventually convicted they could not have been sentenced to death.

[[Insert Ham Sandwich Joke Here]]

Noting the story about Pete “Kill ‘Em All” Hegseth is from the reporters of the Washington Post, who continue to do important work, esp about this Pentagon.

Happy Chompsgiving!

Indiana GOP Will Soon Make ‘Final Decision’ on Redistricting After Relentless MAGA Threats talkingpointsmemo.com/news/indiana...

This is actually a relatively benign interpretation of his activity. But if it were the whole story, I think he'd put more pressure on Russia.

Democrats are going to flip the House easily. They will gain in the Senate, although it's early to call a flip there. All the "what makes you think we're ever going to have another election?" people will be disappointed.

Prediction: If Olivia Nuzzi is canned by Conde Nast, she resurfaces with a right-wing media gig. They don't have ethical standards and she is an attractive blonde, so a good fit for Fox and the many outlets beyond. She clearly doesn't believe in anything and is just an adventurer, so she'll do it.

Yes. MTG is leaving her constituents without representation because she is unhappy in Congress now. It's not that she's a positive force there, of course, but others have also recently selfishly quit in the middle of a term just to take a private sector job. Their ethos=no sense of duty or shame.

Under 50% of those voting, but this is one of the results, yes.

Hard to imagine a Court to the right of this one, so if they didn't do it, it's not going to happen.

Cat in Temple Hills MD/Eastern DC area needs rescue placement ASAP. Midnight was a cat who lived at the same complex as Ellie. The people who were feeding him moved away recently & left him behind. He turned up thin & injured. Ellie’s adopters took him in & got him med attention but he can’t stay—

A horrific mass murder is unfolding in Sudan, where no one can see it. The RSF are murdering civilians in El Fasher, having finally defeated the Sudanese army forces holding out in the city. The BBC has managed to speak to some who escaped www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7fC...

Anti-incumbent vote transcending party lines in general elections basically doesn't happen.

It wasn't fake. It was edited. But Reagan really did spend a five-minute speech – an April 25, 1987, national radio address that the Reagan Library has published on YouTube – to rail against tariffs. It was a full-throated expression of support for free and fair trade. https://cnn.it/4o5pBGv

Dogs name toys while elephants name each other. Animal language is more complex than we imagine | Helen Pilcher