Here’s What You Need To Know About The Dominion V. Fox News Trial That Starts This Week
Already, the case has given people an unprecedented look inside Fox News and the chaos behind the coverage of the 2020 election and the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Donald Trump Cancels Second Mainstream Interview in Days
Donald Trump pulled out of another mainstream interview Thursday–this time nixing a sit-down with NBC News.
The interview, CNN reported, would be in Philadelphia with NBC News’ senior business correspondent, Christine Romans. CNN’s Brian Stelter said one source suggested that it had only been “postponed.”
It was the second time in a week that he had canceled a scheduled appearance outside the conservative news sphere, CNN’s Reliable Sources reported Thursday. He had canceled an in-studio appearance on the CNBC flagship show, Squawk Box, which was due on Friday.
How did Washington end up on another shutdown precipice?
This week’s dysfunction over government spending and a possible government shutdown is the latest in a series of conflicts over federal dollars on Capitol Hill.
An Australian’s Take on ‘President’ Musk
It has been said that it may be difficult for someone too close to a particular event or issue to objectively assess the situation.
About a year ago, I wrote about a witty English writer, Nate White, who penned “the best description of Trump I’ve read.”
Answering the question, “Why do some British people not like Donald Trump?” White wrote a great “analysis.”
He begins with “[Trump] has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honour and no grace…”
It only gets more objective, and better, after that.
I concluded the review of White’s accurate piece with the comment that “the British have a great sense of humor and are exceptional judges of character.”
Australians are not far behind.
Today, in the wake of the GOP “fiasco” in – thus far — passing a Continuing Resolution to fund the government, Australian correspondent for News.com.au, Samuel Clench, has an equally sharp-witted assessment of the man who on Wednesday “set to work killing [a bipartisan funding bill.]… threatening to ensure any Republican who voted in favour of the bill would be turfed out of office at the next election.”
Clench’s “short version”
[A]n unelected billionaire from South Africa, who has never held public office and is, in fact, ineligible to be the American president, appears to have seized effective control of the US government. And he’s done it under the very nose of the guy the American people actually chose, quite recently, to lead that government.
Musk gloated over his victory by tweeting “Your elected representatives have heard you and now the terrible bill is dead. The voice of the people has triumphed!”
According to Clench, Musk used the Latin phrase “VOX POPULI, VOX DEI,” meaning “the voice of the people is the voice of God.” Clench adds that the phrase appeared first in an eighth-century letter written by the Saxon scholar Alcuin to the emperor Charlemagne, in which Alcuin wrote: “Those people should not be listened to who keep saying the voice of the people is the voice of God, since the riotousness of the crowd is always close to insanity.”
Referring to Musk having “more money than a lone man could ever spend,” Clench writes:
If the government shuts down over Christmas, he’ll be fine. He can hop on his private plane, fly off to some delightful hotspot and enjoy a holiday while workers are not being paid their salaries, and millions of people can’t visit their families because the public airports have stopped functioning.
He adds:
• The sheer callousness of Elon’s attitude, regarding this nightmare scenario, is galling to an extent almost beyond words.
• This is a person who seems to care more about adulation from the sewers of the internet than how his actions affect people in their real lives.
• He’s a guy who ignores information from official sources, but believes whatever patently nonsensical crap shameless rage-baiters and engagement farmers like LibsofTikTok, Catturd, or EndWokeness tweet at him.
• And all of a sudden he is the guy dictating government policy, and dictating to Congress, and overriding the person he spent more than $US200 billion to get elected as president.
How does Trump feel about Musk being his “co-president”?
Clench writes, “It’s hard to imagine Mr. Trump putting up with this interference, from Elon, for long. In his mind, he’s already rewarded the man for his financial support, by appointing him to co-lead a new government department aimed at cutting waste.”
Yet, “[w]hat actually happened was this: Elon lobbied Republicans to ditch the bill, while Mr. Trump said nothing. Once it became apparent that Elon had succeeded in killing it, Mr. Trump belatedly came out to echo his position.” Clench adds, “That is not authority. It’s a last-minute scramble to save face.”
Clench concludes:
[Trump] surrounds himself with loyalists, and those loyalists do believe vehemently in what they say, and they are going to try to use the power that comes with his office to achieve their aims. So we end up with people like Elon, and Stephen Miller, running the government while Mr. Trump watches cable television until 11am every morning.That is the style of government Americans elected. Now they get to enjoy the consequences.
And that is the view from Australia, from a website owned by News Corp Australia, owned by…Rupert Murdoch.
The post An Australian’s Take on ‘President’ Musk appeared first on The Moderate Voice .
Senate set to approve 235th judge of Biden’s term, beating Trump’s tally
President Joe Biden is expected to soon secure the 235th judicial confirmation of his presidency
Senate Democrats find many ethical lapses by Supreme Court justices
A 20-month investigation by Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee found that Justice Clarence Thomas failed to report jet and yacht trips.
Daily Horoscope for December 22, 2024
General Daily Insight for December 22, 2024
The path forward may seem to zig and zag as the day moves along. The Moon in analytical Virgo will trine change-maker Uranus in stable Taurus before opposing mystical Neptune in dreamy Pisces, encouraging us to think outside the box and follow our intuition. The Moon will then move into equalizing Libra at 2:08 pm EST, followed by a square to the Capricorn Sun. There are two sides to every story, and we should acknowledge both — not just the side that furthers our ambitions.
Aries
March 21 – April 19
Achieving balance requires ongoing effort. It’s perfectly natural for your life to occasionally fall a little out of whack, but with the Moon entering your fair-minded 7th house, you’ve got a chance to get everything back on an even keel. Whether it’s a close relationship of some kind or a work situation that needs some smoothing over, do what you must to make sure everyone is doing their fair share. No one — including you — should be overburdened while someone else takes it easy.
Taurus
April 20 – May 20
There is a rhyme and reason to everything. You can tap into this understated efficiency as the Moon enters your 6th House of Procedure, aligning your energy with that of the universe for maximum efficiency. Your to-do list could greatly benefit from this, though you can also use this transit to check in with yourself and make sure you’re feeling your best. It’s possible that working up a sweat would actually be the best thing for you, so go ahead and hit the ground running.
Gemini
May 21 – June 20
Kick back and enjoy yourself. Today is the perfect time to do as you please while the Moon skips into your playful 5th house. This is an innately creative sector, so if you’ve got an artistic side, let it out to play! That said, the galactic focus is on the process and not the results, so even the least artistically inclined among you should enjoy messing around creatively. Trust in your intuition to lead the way, and regardless of the results, be proud of your effort.
Cancer
June 21 – July 22
Hunker down and get comfortable. The Moon is spending the day drifting into your protective 4th house, so you can feel most at home by literally keeping close to home. Feel free to use this time to putter about and fold that pile of laundry or do those dishes, though you could be more ambitious and host a last-minute party! Either way, you can’t go wrong with domestic matters. Lean into your homemaker side in order to get the most satisfaction out of today.
Leo
July 23 – August 22
Keep your eye on the ball. One thing after another will be demanding your attention as the Moon stumbles into your busy 3rd house, so you’ll want to try and maintain some sense of organization — or else you might wind up feeling like you haven’t had a very productive day. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily need to be a productive day. If you’re in no mood to roll up your sleeves, why not call up a friend or two and hit the town?
Virgo
August 23 – September 22
Heed the danger of throwing your money around like confetti. It’s certainly tempting to indulge your senses by way of your wallet while the Moon is whirling into your 2nd House of Manifestation. It’s not technically bad to do a bit of spending, but you can also use this transit to build up your net worth, so consider either saving or earning as an alternative. A terrific money-making opportunity could appear all but out of the blue, so keep your eyes open.
Libra
September 23 – October 22
It’s all systems go for you today. Your turn to go has arrived, just like the Moon is arriving in your motivational 1st house. This sets you up for a fresh lunar cycle and an opportunity to pursue your goals with fresh fire in your tank. Set aside time to ponder what you might like to manifest in your life before the Moon returns to your sign in a month. Then embark on whatever adventures are necessary in order to achieve those ambitions!
Scorpio
October 23 – November 21
Clocking out from reality, even if only for a little while, is a great idea. The Moon is settling down in your restful 12th house, where it’s giving you the cosmic cue to take it easy. You can wrap up projects or tidy your space if you’re feeling especially productive. Otherwise, leave ambitious aims and project initiations for another day, when you should have an easier time summoning the necessary energy. There is no need to push for the time being.
Sagittarius
November 22 – December 21
Life is better lived together. It’s time to get everyone together as the Moon leads the way into your outgoing 11th house, highlighting a certain social vibration in the stars. You’re more than allowed to kick back and do as you please with your friends or other acquaintances, but you’re additionally encouraged to team up and tackle a task that might be a bit too much for you to handle by yourself. No matter your skill level, don’t attempt it solo.
Capricorn
December 22 – January 19
Go for gold, Capricorn! You’re in your element as the Moon strides into your magnificent 10th house, wherein your responsible sign can do great things. Let this transit motivate you to contemplate your ambitions and work seriously toward them. It doesn’t matter if you’re simply plotting out your next moves or you’re gunning it all the way to the finish line. A supervisor or other VIP could have some useful words of wisdom, so be willing to ask them for advice.
Aquarius
January 20 – February 18
Look beyond what you presently know. The Moon is flitting into your high-minded 9th house, offering you a guiding light toward broader horizons and explorations of all things fresh and new. This sector is all about furthering your education, literally and metaphorically. Think about signing up for an online course, cracking open a unique book, or embarking on some whirlwind travels! Simply put: make an effort to see the world in a different way. The experience will be incredibly rewarding.
Pisces
February 19 – March 20
There is no room for quibbling, Pisces. The Moon is entering your all-or-nothing 8th house, so you may find yourself in situations that require the utmost serious commitment to achieve your aims, while simultaneously acknowledging what others want, as well. Compromise is not always fun or satisfying, but it is the best way forward, so don’t be shy about approaching the negotiating table and giving your two cents. Any ongoing nebulous conversations can get properly hammered out in short order if you’re patient.
Ohio State routs Tennessee 42-17 in the CFP — setting up a rematch with top-seeded Oregon in the Rose Bowl
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Will Howard threw two touchdown passes to freshman Jeremiah Smith and Ohio State routed Tennessee 42-17 on Saturday night in a first-round College Football Playoff game, setting up a New Year’s Day rematch with No. 1 Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson rushed for two touchdowns apiece as the Buckeyes (11-2) gave their fans an early Christmas present that should quiet some of the outcry following the devastating fourth straight loss to Michigan three weeks ago.
Howard finished 24 for 29 for 311 yards, his second 300-yard game of the season. Smith had six catches for 103 yards, the sixth freshman to have over 100 receiving yards in a CFP game.
Eighth-seeded Ohio State scored on its first three drives while forcing three straight Tennessee punts. The ninth-seeded Vols (10-3) finally got on the board with a second-quarter field goal and touchdown but couldn’t generate anything in the second half until getting a meaningless touchdown late in the game.
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava was 14 for 31 for 104 yards and rushed a career-high 20 times for 47 more.
The 473 yards gained by Ohio State was the most surrendered by the Tennessee defense all season.
The game-time temperature was 25 degrees and dropping in the first college football game played in December in 102-year-old Ohio Stadium.
Takeaways
Tennessee: Star running back Dylan Sampson was hampered by a hamstring injury and had just two carries for 6 yards. Receivers Squirrel White and Dont’e Thorton Jr. also were banged up, limiting the Vols offense.
Ohio State: The Buckeyes did what they didn’t do against Michigan: get the ball on the boundary and throw deep to their most explosive players. Now they get a second chance against Oregon. Ohio State lost to the Ducks 32-31 on Oct. 12 in Eugene, Ore.
JuJu Watkins and No. 7 USC hold off Paige Bueckers and No. 4 UConn 72-70
HARTFORD, Conn. — JuJu Watkins scored 25 points, and No. 7 USC recovered from blowing a 18-point lead in the second half to beat Paige Bueckers and No. 4 UConn 72-70 on Saturday night.
The game was a rematch of last season’s Elite Eight contest that the Huskies won and featured two of the best players in women’s college basketball with All-Americans Bueckers and Watkins. The pair guarded each other for most of the game.
Bueckers finished with 22 points.
With the game tied at 67, Watkins passed the ball to Rayah Marshall for a layup with 1:21 left to give USC the lead.
After a Huskies miss, Watkins was fouled with 31 seconds left. She missed the first of two free throws as the ball sat on the rim for a few seconds before falling off. She made the second to give the Trojans (11-1) a 70-67 advantage.
UConn (10-2), which trailed 51-33 in the third quarter before rallying, answered with a basket by Sarah Strong to get within one four seconds later.
Watkins then hit two free throws with 19.5 seconds left to make it 72-69.
The Huskies had one last chance to tie when Strong was fouled shooting a 3-pointer with 5 seconds left. She made the first free throw but missed the second. The freshman missed the third intentionally and UConn got the rebound. It eventually went out to Strong, whose desperation heave at the buzzer was off.
Takeaways
USC: This was the Trojans’ first test since losing to Notre Dame on Nov. 23. Now they face three ranked Big Ten teams in their next four games.
UConn: The Huskies are 0-2 against top-10 teams this season after also falling to Notre Dame .
Key moment
Earlier in the third quarter, Watkins blocked Bueckers’ shot , then took the ball to the other end and scored after a going through her legs with UConn’s star guarding her.
Key stat
A game after hitting a school-record 20 3-pointers, UConn was just 6-for-23 from deep.
Up next
USC: Hosts Michigan on Dec. 29.
UConn: Hosts Providence on Dec. 29.
Fetterman joins Maryland governor at Ravens-Steelers game in Baltimore
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) attended the Baltimore Ravens NFL game on Saturday alongside the state’s Gov. Wes Moore (D) against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The two Democrats sat next to each other at the game.
“Great to welcome my friend @JohnFetterman to Maryland to catch a @Ravens victory,” the Marylander wrote in a post on the social media platform X .
The Ravens won with a score of 34 to 17, earning them a spot in the playoffs. Fetterman recognized the team in a follow up post.
“If I gotta lose (again), at least it’s to Maryland’s kick ass Governor @iamwesmoore,” the Pennsylvania Senator and Steelers fan wrote .
This is the Steelers second loss in two weeks. Last week, Fetterman pulled for the Pittsburgh team against the Philadelphia Eagles, losing a bet to Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker (D)
“Between tonight and last week, I’m losing to some *serious* talent (looking at you @PeopleforParker),” Fetterman added in the post.
After a hectic day on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Fetterman circled the Capitol in an Eagles hat as a punishment.
Moore, an Army veteran, suffered a similar football loss last Saturday after the Navy beat Army in their annual rivalry match up, which lawmakers, tech billionaire Elon Musk and President-elect Trump attended.