Our family growing up never really talked about Santa Claus much. I don’t know why. Part of me is kind of proud that my parents didn’t try to dupe me into thinking there was a Santa Claus (sorry), but part of me feels like I was gypped. What a wonderful story! But when I heard that there was this idea of kids sitting on Santa’s lap, it absolutely terrified me. Adults in general terrified me, to be honest: but this? Speaking of adults to be terrified about: At Turning Point USA's convention this weekend, Vance said (it’s at 2:03 in the video below): “In the United States of America you don’t have to apologize for being white anymore.” It’s not a secret that he is a racist, so it doesn’t surprise me— but it surprises me that he says it’s so blatantly, and so many people are happy about it. Trump knows that he won't have a third term; aside from the illegality of a such an idea, he's not well enough. So MAGA is in a frenzy trying to take control of his legacy. Vance thinks he's the leader, and it wouldn't surprise me if he ends up marrying Erica Kirk. There continues to be outrage about the meager release of files from the Epstein Files on Friday. More were released Saturday, but they continue to be heavily redacted. But Chuck Schumer is doing something about it. “I am introducing a resolution directing the Senate to initiate legal action against DoJ for its blatant disregard of the law in its refusal to release the complete Epstein files. The American people deserve full transparency, and Senate Democrats will use every tool at our disposal to ensure they get it. This administration cannot be allowed to hide the truth.” If passed, the resolution would authorize the Senate to file a lawsuit seeking a court order forcing the justice department to release all documents. Congress does possess mechanisms to enforce compliance, but significant obstacles exist. The Department of Justice, Bondi and Blanche, could be held in contempt of court. But then it goes to the justice department to enforce and they won’t enforce it. But they could be forced by a Judicial order to release all the files. Impeachment of Bondi is another option. More evidence that CBS News is clearly not the independent news network that it once was. A segment of 60 minutes was pulled at the last minute, it had been legally approved and fact checked. The segement is an investigation into the harsh prison in El Salvador where the Trump administration deported hundreds of Venezuelans from the US earlier this year. The correspondant who repored the story, Sharyn Alfonsi “said her team had requested comment from the White House, the state department, and the Department of Homeland Security. “If the administration’s refusal to participate becomes a valid reason to spike a story, we have effectively handed them a ‘kill switch’ for any reporting they find inconvenient,” she said. “We have been promoting this story on social media for days.” I just came upon this wonderful story in the Guardian, I can't believe I'd never heard of this woman, Betty Reid Soskin was an inspiration, and sadly just died at 104. “I found my feet in midlife, became a park ranger at 85 – and retired happily at 100.” Soskin worked at the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front national historical park, where she shared with visitors her experiences working on the US home front in the second world war; she sought to shed light on the experiences of women of color during the second world war. I’m heading out to a holiday party, which I look forward to— I hope your Monday is going okay! Thanks so much for being here. See you tomorrow! You're currently a free subscriber to Seeing Things. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription. |