- Steve Benen @ The Maddow Blog: Mike Johnson re-elected as House speaker on first ballot
The Louisiana Republican hoped and expected to prevail on the first ballot. Following a dramatic and highly unusual process, he succeeded.
- David Badash @ The New Civil Rights Movement: January 6 Rioters Are ‘Political Dissidents’ Declares Spouse of Trump Cabinet Nominee
Conservative Fox News personality Rachel Campos-Duffy on Friday referred to January 6 rioters as “political dissidents,” a term traditionally reserved for individuals persecuted for opposing authoritarian or oppressive governmental authority or policies.
- Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern @ Slate: How Clarence Thomas Got Away With It
The past two years have brought a flood of shocking revelations about Justice Clarence Thomas’ acceptance of lavish gifts, loans, and vacations from his billionaire buddies. But the justice has faced remarkably little accountability for his flagrant violations of federal ethics laws: Despite multiple congressional probes into his misconduct, he still faces no legal or institutional repercussions from any branch of government.
- Gideon Taaffe, Jack Winstanley, Jane Lee and Helena Hind @ Media Matters: Fox News keeps linking the New Orleans truck attack to border security despite no apparent link
The network featured future Trump officials who emphasized border security, even when they noted the suspect was American.
- Matthew Chapman @ Raw Story: 'Nobody wants to see this!' Trump vents fury over flags being half-staff for inauguration.
President-elect Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform on Friday to complain that the American flag will be flown at half-staff for his inauguration due to the period of mourning for the recently deceased former President Jimmy Carter.
