Just One Thing: Laken Riley's murderer's free ride
Nobody should be surprised but it was still somewhat shocking to learn yesterday in the trial of the illegal alien who murdered nursing student Laken Riley, that the killer, per testimony of another illegal alien who knew him and traveled with him, got a taxpayer-funded stay in the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City and then a so-called “humanitarian” flight, meaning paid for by taxpayers, probably New York City taxpayers in this case, to Georgia. Meanwhile, the case is circumstantial in the sense that there’s no living witness other than the killer but as one attorney said on TV, it’s the strongest circumstantial case he’s ever seen including the killer’s fingerprint on her phone and his DNA under her fingernails. The election is over but don’t forget that this crime happened because of Joe Biden’s policies.
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Today's Guest
Andy McCarthy is a former federal prosecutor, and currently a contributing editor at National Review and Fox News contributor. We'll discuss the simmering conversation in Congress about the potential use of recess appointments to place President Elect Trump's cabinet appointments into positions they otherwise would not be confirmed for.
Trump Recess Appointment Scheme Is Unconstitutional | National Review
If you care to understand your government and, specifically, the "advise and consent" function of the Senate from the perspective of one of our Founders, read this (slowly, carefully, and more than once): The Avalon Project : Federalist No 76
.Ed Whelan: "Mike Johnson must block Trump’s scheme on recess appointments" - Election Law Blog
Other Stuff
"Big, if true": Lebanon, Hezbollah accept US ceasefire proposal in Israel conflict
Offered without comment: UPS to shut down Denver facility, lay off 400 workers | Business | denvergazette.com
With final vote tally now in, CO Springs did NOT approve a ban on recreational marijuana. while they did pass a measure that allows currently licensed medical marijuana facilities to also get recreational licenses. Initially it looked as if both measures passed and it was likely that the proposed ban, as a modification of the city charter, would control. But when all votes were counted, that modification failed even though the mayor supported it. BUT the city council has passed zoning restrictions that will make it almost impossible for dispensaries can actually open, such as not being permitted within a mile of a school or daycare...and most locations in the city probably are within a mile of one of those things. Colorado Springs voters legalize recreational marijuana - Axios Denver
https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/El_Paso/122621/web.345435/#/detail/64
I haven’t read all the details yet but this is a move in the right direction: Denver tweaks its ADU standards to allow for easier construction - Axios Denver
Read this when you have time to sit and think for a while: AI Can Save Humanity—Or End It - The Atlantic
One of the things I wonder about from that article: They suggest training AI to understand fundamental right and wrong based on how humans actually interact, but what if an AI trains on watching human interaction in Yemen or Syria or Venezuela or even the wrong neighborhood in Chicago?
The rapid increase in the power of AI is truly amazing: A Powerful AI Breakthrough Is About to Transform the World - WSJ
AI Just Created A Glowing Protein Molecule Similar To One Found In Jellyfish
EvolutionaryScale (the company that made the protein noted above)
Breaking the law, breaking the law: Pennsylvania Supreme Court rules against counting undated ballots
Follow-up from a story we covered yesterday about Catherine Herridge: A Legal Showdown Over Press Freedom | The Free Press
I know some listeners will disagree but I'm happy about this. That said, it wouldn't be shocked if the judge is overturned even though I think she's right: Judge strikes down Wyoming abortion laws, including an explicit ban on pills to end pregnancy | CNN Politics
I wondered where they would go: Hamas officials booted by Qatar last week, now hosted in Turkey, diplomat says | The Times of Israel
Have you ever thought that you might not want to live for absolutely as long as you can? Why I Hope to Die at 75
I think the article is sort of interesting but definitely not as interesting as the writer probably thinks. I also think he misses a key part of the understanding of life expectancy, which is that generally your total life expectancy (i.e. the age at which statistically you're most likely to expire, though to be clear it's a group average and not about any one person) increases. For example, the remaining life expectancy of a 40-yr-old man is around 36.5 years (to about 76 years old) but if that man actually reaches 76, on average he would expect to live another 10 years. Also note that life expectancy for the nation is dragged down by the unfortunate fact that some groups (Native Americans and blacks, especially young black men due to crime, and, to a lesser degree, Hispanics) have lower life expectancy than other groups (whites and Asians). Actuarial Life Table
A terribly sad story. Parents, please talk to your kids frequently and make sure they're OK. Bullying is much worse than in the past because of the ability (and willingness) of kids to use social media and other forms of electronic communication to hurt each other. Teenager known for helping the homeless dead at 14 | News | denvergazette.com
Pete Hegseth appears to be a guy who’s TV version of character is different from his real character. Matt Gaetz doesn’t even pretend not to be a slimeball. Similar to what I said about Hegseth, I don’t know whether accusations about Gaetz are true but what we know for sure combined with what’s been accused should make him withdraw, or be withdrawn, from nomination for a cabinet post.
Two women testified that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, lawyer says - The Washington Post
This is NOT OK: Lindt disputes US lawsuit claims, stands by 'excellence' labelling | National | dailygazette.com
Interesting business story, not least because the new CEO of Red Lobster is only 35 years old:
A few political stories I owe you from yesterday:
Interesting data from Bruce Mehlman re “change” and 3 Congresses in a row with single-digit majority: Six-Chart Sunday (#43) – The New Gilded Age Revisited
Andrew Sullivan is an interesting thinker: The Energizing Clarity Of Democracy - by Andrew Sullivan
Actress Justine Bateman speaks out against the psychological tyranny of the Biden-Harris years: The Case of Justine Bateman—And Why Gen X Broke for Trump | The Free Press
And a little econ that I didn't get to yesterday, about how the Fed is rightly afraid of cutting rates before really crushing inflation:
Exclusive | Boston Fed President Says December Rate Cut Isn’t a ‘Done Deal’ - WSJ
CBOE Interest Rate 10 Year T No (^TNX) Stock Price, News, Quote & History - Yahoo Finance
This will be an interesting experiment: Colorado prepares rollout of psychedelic-assisted therapies in 2025
Blame the government, again: How Spirit Airlines Went From Industry Maverick to Chapter 11 Bankruptcy - WSJ
What's the weirdest phobia you've heard of, and do you have a weird phobia yourself? Swedish Minister’s Bizarre Banana Phobia Makes International News Headlines
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Today's Video
Do you know the Haka dance from the Maori people of New Zealand that some of their sports teams do before matches? Well, here's some Maori politics in New Zealand:
Here's a great one from a Rugby World Cub...the New Zealand All Blacks national team, almost always one of the best in the world
The Trump Dance is taking over