The Movement to Redirect Billions of Taxpayer Dollars to Private Religious Schools Private letters reveal the strategy behind the decadeslong quest — successful in 12 states and counting — by politicians, church officials and activists to make taxpayer-funded school vouchers…

Letters reveal a decadeslong strategy — starting with targeted programs for needy kids then expanding benefits to all families — by politicians, church officials, and activists who all believe that the separation of church and state is illegitimate.

By @alecmac.bsky.social

Washing greens is the bane of my existence

Black student enrollment at Harvard Law drops by more than half The number of Black students entering Harvard Law School dropped sharply this fall after last year's Supreme Court decision banning affirmative action in college admissions, according to enrollment da...

Harvard Law enrolled 19 first-year Black students this fall, the lowest number since the 1960s, following last year's SCOTUS decision banning affirmative action

Text reads: "Elon Musk, SpaceX Face U.S. Reviews After Violating Security Reporting Rules" over a photo of Musk posing for a portrait. Photo by Amir Hamja.

Elon Musk and his company SpaceX failed to comply with federal reporting protocols aimed at protecting state secrets, including by not providing some details of his meetings with foreign leaders, people familiar with the matter said. nyti.ms/4iG0ojK

Elon Musk and SpaceX Face Federal Reviews After Violations of Security Reporting Rules Federal agencies have opened at least three reviews into whether the company and its leader complied with disclosure protocols intended to protect state secrets, people with knowledge of the matter sa...

Big scoop from @kirstengrind.bsky.social, @ericlipton.nytimes.com and @sheeraf.bsky.social: There are at least 3 federal reviews into Elon Musk for failing to report the details of his foreign relations as required by his security clearance

www.nytimes.com/2024/12/17/t...

Screenshot of dismissal motion

Sean "Diddy" Combs has given up on getting out of jail before trial.

His lawyers today asked to dismiss their notice of appeal.

"Mr. Combs does not seek to appeal the district court's denial of his renewed motion and hereby moves to voluntarily dismiss the appeal."

Why aren’t Black women in the conversation to lead the Democratic Party? As the Democrats choose a new chair, Black women want to be valued not just for their output, but for their input.

“There should never be a conversation in the Democratic Party that does not include a Black woman,” Marcia Fudge, an ally of Harris’ who worked on her campaign.

@errinhaines.bsky.social's latest column for @19thnews.bsky.social.

19thnews.org/2024/12/blac...

Daniel Penny Trial: Jury Struggles to Agree on Manslaughter Charge in Chokehold Case In response, the judge in the case granted the prosecution’s motion to dismiss the manslaughter charge against Daniel Penny. The jurors will begin deliberating a lesser charge on Monday.

Breaking News: A judge dismissed a manslaughter charge against Daniel Penny in the choking death of Jordan Neely, after a jury deadlocked. A lesser charge will be considered.

Elon Musk Bankrolled the Pro-Trump Troll Campaign RBG PAC The Super PAC spent $20 million claiming Trump won’t support a national abortion ban. Now we know Musk funded it

RBC PAC’s $20 million last-minute spending spree boosting Trump on abortion was one of the most brazen stunt campaigns in recent memory, designed to evade basic transparency rules.

Turns out it was 100% funded by Elon Musk. @rollingstone.com.web.brid.gy

www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

California Democrat Flips Seat in the Last House Race to Be Decided Adam Gray, a former state lawmaker, defeated Representative John Duarte, a Republican, in a reversal of their 2022 race.

Democrats won the final House race after the Republican incumbent conceded in California’s 13th District, giving the GOP a 220-215 advantage.

The 'magical' advent calendar that's as big as a town hall A small town in Germany turns its town hall into the 'world's largest' advent calendar each December. It started as a way to boost businesses in the winter, but it's grown to mean much more.

A small town in Germany turns its town hall into the 'world's largest' advent calendar each December. It started as a way to boost businesses in the winter, but it's grown to mean much more.

this is incredibly stupid

Come for the roller coaster, stay for the shops: Can malls be fun again? Mall of America's recipe for success includes an amusement park, pop-up stores, weddings and raves. Can local malls take a page from the country's largest shopping center?

Mall of America's recipe for success includes an amusement park, pop-up stores, weddings and raves. Can local malls take a page from the country's largest shopping center?

Workers’ union criticizes Elon Musk for posts identifying federal employees.

Elon Musk identified obscure federal employees by name as he questioned the value of their jobs in recent social media posts, alarming the largest union representing federal workers.

U.S. Investigating Political Action Committee Tied to Mayor Adams (Gift Article) Prosecutors and the F.B.I. are examining an organization founded by the Rev. Alfred Cockfield II, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

And then there were six...

Federal authorities have opened a corruption investigation into a Queens pastor and a political action committee he formed to support Mayor Eric Adams, according to people with knowledge of the inquiry.

Israeli security cabinet approves Lebanon ceasefire deal, official says, after 11th-hour strikes on central Beirut | CNN The Israeli security cabinet on Tuesday voted to approve a ceasefire deal in Lebanon, an Israeli official told CNN, potentially bringing an end to more than a year of cross-border skirmishes with Hezb...

JUST IN: The Israeli security cabinet has voted in favor of a ceasefire deal to end the fighting with militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, an Israeli official told CNN.

You’re doing the Lord’s work!

Wanted to give a shoutout to those who've followed recently- thanks for joining me here. I share data/insight/analysis on oil and refined products. I've long learned that being biased by politicians leads to poor analytical outcomes aka being wrong, so I focus on facts, not politics.

Finally gave in about bought a WaterPik. The things you care about as an adult is crazy.

very excited to see what happens to grocery prices when we impose large tariffs on our two largest agricultural trading partners

Judge delays decision on The Onion's Infowars acquisition against Alex Jones A Houston judge on Monday said he would hold a hearing in December to hear arguments about the Onion's bid to puchase Infowars.

A federal judge Monday said he would not immediately step in to stop The Onion, the satirical news website, from buying Infowars, the right-wing website run by provocateur Alex Jones.

I saw an expert say that as much as we wanna let folks mess around and find out — drinking raw milk will start a PUBLIC health issue. And we’ve seen how well we do with that 🙃🙃🙃

NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart becomes the latest - and biggest - company to pull back back on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Dan Schneider Allowed To Go Forward With Defamation Suit Against 'Quiet On Set' The former Nickelodeon producer and screenwriter claims that the documentary's "portrayal of Schneider is a hit job.”

My latest: Producer and screenwriter Dan Schneider can proceed with his lawsuit against the makers of “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV,” a judge in Los Angeles ruled on Friday.

His suit claims that “‘Quiet on Set’s’ portrayal of Schneider is a hit job.”
www.huffpost.com/entry/dan-sc...

'This town is not for them.' Residents react to white Christian nationalists moving to Tennessee In an impromptu meeting, the town of Gainesboro joined together after a NewsChannel 5 investigation showed that Christian nationalists wanted to come to their town and make it their own.

VIDEO POSTED: 'This town is not for them.' Residents react to white Christian nationalists moving to Tennessee www.newschannel5.com/news/newscha...

I asked @gasbuddyguy.bsky.social for a back-of-the-envelope estimate for how much these tariffs would affect US gas prices. His response:

Listen to this guy. He/Gasbuddy have been my go to on any gas story I’ve done since like the beginning of my news career.

I’m officially turning in my Stan card. I ain’t really listened to a project since Certified Lover Boy. But if it’s not music he made in 2021 or before — issa no for me.