Welcome to The Breakfast Club! We’re a disorganized group of rebel lefties who hang out and chat if and when we’re not too hungover we’ve been bailed out we’re not too exhausted from last night’s (CENSORED) the caffeine kicks in. Join us every weekday morning at 9am (ET) and weekend morning at 10:00am (ET) (or whenever we get around to it) to talk about current news and our boring lives and to make fun of LaEscapee! If we are ever running late, it’s PhilJD’s fault.
This Day in History
The Christmas poem ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’ is first published; Former Japanese premier Hideki Tojo is executed; Mormon religion founder Joseph Smith, Jr. is born; North Korea releases the 82 U.S. Seamen.
Breakfast Tunes
Something to Think about over Coffee Prozac
The only normal people are the ones you don’t know very well.
Breakfast News
US News
US close on deal with Pfizer for millions more vaccine doses
California health system buckling under COVID-19 pandemic
A season of fear, not cheer, as virus changes Christmas
Police kept Black man naked in yard while looking for teens
Mayor: Body cam not activated in police killing of Black man
Oregon case reflects extremists’ need of online presence
Feds sue Walmart over role in opioid crisis
FBI: White supremacists plotted attack on US power grid
NYT’s ‘Caliphate’ podcast withdrawn as Pulitzer finalist
Lava lake forms as Hawaii volcano erupts after 2-year break
US Politics
Trump threatens to torpedo COVID relief with new demands
A look at pardons, clemency in waning weeks of Trump tenure
Writing off more of that 3-martini lunch is causing a stir
The Latest: Biden says months to fix Trump border policies
Biden picks Connecticut schools chief as education secretary
California’s 1st Latino US senator brings cheers, anger
Dominion worker sues Trump campaign and conservative media
Biden: Trump ‘failed’ to shore up nation’s cybersecurity
Iowa Democrat asks House to review 6-vote race, cites errors
International News
Pandemic reaches Antarctica, last untouched continent
Global virus rules for Christmas: Tough, mild or none at all
The Latest: 60% of Belgians want vaccine shot right away
In France, a pandemic dilemma over holiday rights for elders
After months of calm, Thailand grapples with virus outbreak
Isolation of UK eases but backlog could take days to clear
5 to midnight on Brexit talks? No pressure! says France
Turkish court convicts journalist Dundar on terror charges
German regional newspaper group hit by cyberattack
Mexico alleges Luz del Mundo, 4 other groups laundered money
Sports
Braun carries No. 3 Kansas past No. 7 West Virginia 79-65
Auburn hires Boise State’s Harsin to lead football program
Struggling Steelers in midst of historic collapse
Behind the screen: How networks have adjusted to airing NFL
George scores 33, Clippers beat Lakers 116-109 on ring night
Durant returns with 22 and a 125-99 Nets rout of Warriors
Breakfast Blogs
Republican Leaders in Congress Could Stop This at Any Point. They Choose Not To. Charles P. Pierce, Esquire Politics
The Next Gang of Thieves and War Criminals emptywheel aka Marcy Wheeler, emptywheel
What happens if Trump orders the military to do what Michael Flynn says? digby aka Heather Digby Partonm[, Digby’s Hullabaloo
Extreme Makeover: Republican Edition Tom Sullivan, Digby’ Hullabaloo
US Attorney Blames Violent Crime Spike In Austin, Texas On Police Budget Cuts That Haven’t Even Been Implemented Yet Tim Cushing, Techdirt
Pardongate 2.0: Prosecutors and Congress Investigated Clinton’s Pardons. The Same Should Happen to Trump. Jared Davidson and Aditi Juneja, Just Security
A Judge Fast-Tracked Martin Shkreli’s Grilling in Case That Could Get Him Banned for Life from Drug Industry—Here’s Why the Timing Matters Adam Klasfeld, Law & Crime
Women File Lawsuit Alleging Non-Consensual Gynecological Procedures at ICE Detention Center: ‘The Most Medical Way of Being Raped You Could Possibly Experience’ Jerry Lambe, Law & Crime
Reflections on the SolarWinds Breach Herb Lin, Lawfare
The last days of Donald Paul Campos, Lawyers, Guns and Money
The Haaland Agenda Erik Loomis, Lawyers, Guns and Money
Our grifter problem Scott Lemieux, Lawyers, Guns and Money
Today In “Republicans Walking Away From Explosions”: Charlie Sykes driftglass, at his blog
What a Relief Yastreblyansky, The Rectification of Names
BANNON’S REVENGE? Steve M., No More Mister Nice Blog
Trump Mulling Immunity For Mohammed bin Salman, Because Is Murdering US Journalists Even A Crime? Jamie Lynn Crofts, Wonkette
All The Kool Konservative Kids Are At Charlie Kirk’s Palm Beach Superspreader Party Evan Hurst, Wonkette
Proud Boys Don’t Want Any Ladies Joining Their He-Man Woman-Haters Club Robyn Pennacchia, Wonkette
Rand Paul’s Brain Is Full of Spiders. There’s Also Garlic In His Soul. Stephen Robinson, Wonkette
Rudy Giuliani Can’t Out-Crazy Sidney Powell, But He’s Trying Liz Dye, Wonkette
Suspicious Lack Of National Guard As ‘Patriots’ Storm Oregon Lege For Some Dumb F*cking Reason Doktor Zoom, Wonkette