Frank D. Russo

Grand jury declines to reindict Letitia James | CNN Politics A grand jury declined to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James after being asked to look at the mortgage fraud case against her a second time, 10 days after a federal judge threw out the init...

Breaking: Grand jury declines to reindict Letitia James
CNN

10 days after a federal judge threw out the initial charges against her

But, DOJ could try to seek the indictment a third time

This is a developing story

bit.ly/4awB2TK

25A608 Order

Read today's Supreme Court decision, concurring opinion, and dissent in ruling on Texas reapportionment with suggestion same result may apply to other states including California

bit.ly/48khJM5

Supreme Court gives Texas OK to use House map drawn to boost GOP The decision bolsters Trump’s attempt to tilt the playing field toward Republicans before the midterms.

Breaking: Supreme Court gives Texas OK to use House map drawn to boost GOP
Politico

Apparent 6-3 vote

Ruling also took note of recent Democrat-led redistricting in California signaling justices may not be inclined to interfere with those efforts or similar drives in other states
bit.ly/4oHkbRH

Prosecutor who subpoenaed Letitia James could be disqualified, judge suggests The New York attorney general argued in court that U.S. Attorney John Sarcone III wasn’t legally appointed.

Prosecutor who subpoenaed Letitia James could be disqualified
Politico

Federal judge suggested she may disqualify Trump loyalist as top federal prosecutor in Albany region extending a string of losses in Trump admin’s gambit to circumvent Senate confirmation process across 5 states
bit.ly/3XDnYo5

Life during wartime in New Orleans as feds terrorize Latinos who saved a city | Will Bunch The first day of long-feared federal immigration raids across Greater New Orleans exposes the Big Lie of mass deportation.

Life during wartime in New Orleans as feds terrorize Latinos who saved a city
by Will Bunch
Philadelphia Inquirer

When the day New Orleans had feared for weeks finally came it began with a lie as wide as the meandering Mississippi River

A blitzkrieg of untargeted SUV caravans
bit.ly/3MgU5HL

FBI arrests suspect in Jan. 2021 pipe-bombing case Authorities say the suspect placed viable explosive devices outside the RNC and DNC offices the night before the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

FBI arrests suspect in Jan. 2021 pipe-bombing case
MS NOW

Authorities say suspect placed viable explosive devices outside RNC and DNC offices night before Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot

A little bit more info but still murky

Has been subject to conspiracy theories

Expect spin

bit.ly/4awHZEl

UPDATE: Trump Jr.-backed startup receives $620 million Pentagon loan In October, Popular Information reported that the Pentagon awarded a contract to Unusual Machines, an obscure drone company that President Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., joined as an advisor in Novemb...

Trump Jr.-backed startup receives $620 million Pentagon loan
Popular Information

He screened candidates for Pentagon top jobs on behalf of his father

Advises obscure drone company & received massive stock shares despite having no real experience with drones or military contracting
bit.ly/4izOTL4

ICE's messy hiring spree brings in unfit and illiterate recruits ICE recruits with no experience are being fast-tracked into the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia, where instructors are astounded at their incompetence.

Kristi Noem's ICE hiring chaos laid bare as fat, illiterate and violent misfits 'not ready to tie their own laces' are recruited
Daily Mail, UK

Frantic push to hire 10,000 new deportation officers a national embarrassment - with lax vetting and signing bonuses up to $50,000
bit.ly/4iHeZfg

How a man convicted of running a Latin American narco state landed a pardon
Wall Street Journal: read

Trump announcement stunned his allies & members of his admin

400 tons of cocaine to U.S.!

Pardon of former Honduran President Hernández pushed by Roger Stone and Matt Gaetz
bit.ly/4phyopo

The President Who Never Grew Up Instead of focusing on governing, Trump spends his days chasing entertainment, attention and renovation projects that reflect a presidency stuck in adolescence.

The President Who Never Grew Up
by Jonathan Martin, Politico

Instead of focusing on governing Trump spends his days chasing entertainment, attention & renovation projects that reflect presidency stuck in adolescence

Turned office into an adult fantasy camp

Gotta read this-nails it
bit.ly/48I18Rs

Trump has granted clemency to more than 1,800 people – and some have been arrested again President did not follow the usual review process, experts say, making it more likely they would commit other crimes

Trump has granted clemency to more than 1,800 people and some have been arrested again
Guardian

He did not follow usual review process making it more likely they would commit other crimes

Soft on crime should be major issue as he excuses bribery, drug smuggling, assault on officers
bit.ly/3Y7T6Mx

Economic Confidence Slips; Holiday Spending Plans Plummet Americans' economic confidence has fallen to its lowest level in over a year, accompanied by a historic drop in planned holiday spending.

Economic Confidence Slips; Holiday Spending Plans Plummet
Gallup

Consumers' holiday spending estimate shrunk

Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index (ECI) fell to -30 in November lowest since -35 reading in July 2024

21% describe economy as excellent or good

Labor market view craters
bit.ly/44PkSkF

Poll: Trump's own voters begin blaming him for affordability crisis Americans continue to say affordability is out of control, and they place the responsibility on Trump, The POLITICO Poll found.

Poll: Trump's own voters begin blaming him for affordability crisis
Politico

46% cost of living is the worst they can ever remember it being, 37 percent of 2024 Trump voters

46% it's his economy now and his administration is responsible for costs they struggle with

Survey of 2098
bit.ly/4rEkOht

Some House Republican women are in open revolt against Speaker Mike Johnson Female lawmakers in the House GOP conference have had some high-profile splits with leadership in recent weeks. Some are heading for the exits.

House Republican women in open revolt against Speaker Mike Johnson
NBC News

Female lawmakers in House GOP have had high-profile splits. Some heading for the exits

MTG & Elise Stefanik also Anna Paulina Luna R-Fla. launched discharge petition

They aren't taken seriously

About time
bit.ly/445Ln5b

Trump disparages Somali immigrants for the second straight day, saying they've 'destroyed our country' The president also continued his verbal attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., saying the first Somali American elected to Congress "shouldn’t be allowed to be a congresswoman."

Trump disparages Somali immigrants for second straight day, saying they've 'destroyed our country'
NBC New

Also continued his verbal attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., saying she "shouldn’t be allowed to be a congresswoman."

He should talk!

How was he allowed to become President?
bit.ly/4piUXub

Live updates: Trump says he would release video of Sept. 2 boat strikes; Democrats release new images and videos from Epstein's private island Get live updates and the latest news as the Trump administration halts immigration from 19 countries and Republican Matt Van Epps wins the Tennessee special congressional election.

Trump release video of strikes; Dem release images & videos of Epstein isle
NBC News

House Reep women open revolt against Speaker Johnson

VA Speaker floats map 4 new Dem seats

Trump name added to sign Institute of Peace building

Mike Lindell files paperwork for Minnesota gov

WOW
bit.ly/4rAFvuL

Trump’s Former Campaign Manager Assisted Honduran Presidential Candidate

Trump’s Former Campaign Manager Assisted Honduran Presidential Candidate
NYT gift article

Brad Parscale advised campaign of right-wing Asfura now in razor-thin contest endorsed by Trump

Asfura announced the pardon of Juan Orlando Hernández
who flooded US with cocaine

Connect dots
bit.ly/447Pei7

Republicans begin to tighten screws on Hegseth’s Pentagon
WAPO

GOP frustration with Trump’s defense secretary intensified with some questioning confidence in him as committees pursue aggressive oversight campaign

Reeps in classified briefing appeared frustrated

You confirmed him!
bit.ly/49VJDiI

Pentagon Report: Hegseth Risked Endangering Troops With Signal Messages The inspector general finds that the defense secretary violated his department’s policies.

Pentagon Report: Hegseth Risked Endangering Troops With Signal Messages
The Atlantic Gift Article

Inspector general finds the defense secretary violated his department’s policies

It was classified at the time he received it. )Trump officials had tried publicly to argue otherwise)
bit.ly/4pj6wBu

‘I’m a U.S. citizen.’ Agents pull woman from car in Keys. Feds said she wouldn’t show ID In Key Largo, in front of Pink Plaza at mile marker 103.4, agents stopped a woman driving a white Toyota Corolla and surrounded the vehicle.

‘I’m a U.S. citizen.’ Agents pull woman from car in Florida Keys. Feds said she wouldn’t show ID
Miami Herald

A woman in medical scrubs driving on U.S. 1 was stopped by federal immigration agents and forcibly removed from her car, later released

There is video

No probable cause

bit.ly/48xxttM

Understanding Deer Rut: When is Deer Rutting Season and What is The Ru The cycle of nature is an enthralling melody with various rhythms, one of which is the deer rutting season. This natural phenomenon is a crucial part of the deer's reproductive cycle, shedding lig...

There's a saying that an old friend of mine, Joe Close, who passed away in 1985 had for this time of year: "Political rutting season"

A close observer of Oakland politics with a keen wit

To run statewide in California requires a lot of bucks, that will winnow out the herd
bit.ly/48sGt3y

Skelton: A Republican governor? It could happen It’s a long shot, but a packed field could push out Democratic hopefuls.

A California Republican governor? It could happen
by George Skelton, LA Times

There are similar pieces that with a dozen or so Dems running we could split the vote and two Republicans could be finalists in November

I doubt it. Primary is in June, plenty of time for drop outs
bit.ly/48ns5JG

5 Years After His Death, John Prine Gets a Cinematic Send-Off
NYT Gift Article
ICYMI

The singer and songwriter died in April 2020 of Covid-19 delaying proper tributes. Now he is the subject of a new documentary “You Got Gold”

Prine, a countryish Dylan with great lyrics and big heart
bit.ly/4rB8IFZ

Dow rises 400 points as weak ADP jobs report spurs rate cut hopes: Live updates Stocks ended higher across the board on Tuesday as several tech stocks and bitcoin gained.

Dow rises 400 points as weak ADP jobs report spurs rate cut hopes
CNBC

Bad news about jobs causes market to go up on speculation about Fed interest rate cut

The divide between the real economy (workers) and stock speculation is jarring

Bubble anyone?

bit.ly/4rs6IQe

Bipartisan group set to meet with Bill Cassidy on possible ACA fix The Senate HELP chair has been working on a party-line alternative to Democrats’ straight subsidy extension.

Bipartisan group set to meet with Bill Cassidy on possible ACA fix
Politico

Senate HELP chair working on alternative to straight subsidy extension with Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho)

New “CommonGround 2025" endorsed by over 30 members of both parties in the House
bit.ly/3KyiCr7

Read the lawsuit Costco has filed to get illegal tariff money back from the U.S. Government

bit.ly/3KbllXD

Costco Is Coming for Trump. It Wants Its Money Back. The wholesale retailer has devised a clever legal argument against the president’s big tariff scam.

Costco Is Coming for Trump. It Wants Its Money Back
TNR

The wholesale retailer has devised a clever legal argument against the president’s big tariff scam and filed suit in the U.S. Court of International Trade

Hundreds of billions of our dollars at stake
bit.ly/4rBDRsM

Family of Colombian fisherman killed in U.S. boat strike files complaint, alleging murder The family of 42-year-old Alejandro Carranza Medina, who was killed on Sept. 15, insisted he was a fisherman just doing his job on the open sea.

Family of Colombian fisherman killed in U.S. boat strike files complaint alleging murder
CBS News

Lodged complaint against the U.S. with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)

Insisted he was a fisherman just doing his job on the open sea

A "good man" with 4 kids
bit.ly/49Paj4B

Don Jr.’s Venture Fund Set to Cash In on $620M Magnet Deal With Trump Administration
The Daily Beast

“Presidents are expected to avoid even the appearance that they are using their office to financially benefit themselves or their family”

Well, take a look here--read the article
bit.ly/4pQiKBy

Kushner’s Moscow mission wasn’t just corrupt. It was unconstitutional. Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law, has been traveling the world to participate in high-stakes foreign policy negotiations on behalf of the president.

Kushner’s Moscow mission wasn’t just corrupt, it was unconstitutional
by Judd Legum

Similar role he played in Gaza negotiations violates the law

He is at least a Special Government Employee and Emoluments Clause of the Constitution applies

If not, the Logan Act forbids this

Read
bit.ly/3MgJGvB