December 31, 2016

Election watchdog group finds evidence of voter suppression, voter registration tampering, illegal voter purging and inaccurate or fraudulent voting machine tabulations in 2016 primary elections.   http://www.election-justice-usa.org/Democracy_Lost_Update1_EJUSA.pdf

Governor of New York commutes sentence of leftist get-away driver Judith Clark from 75 to 35 years, making her eligible for parole in 2017.   http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/30/nyregion/cuomo-commutes-sentence-of-judith-clark-driver-in-deadly-brinks-robbery.html?_r=0

California separatist group opens embassy in Moscow.   https://news.vice.com/story/california-secessionist-movement-opens-first-embassy-and-its-in-moscow   UPDATE: Yes California says photos of foreign leaders featured in Vice News article were hung in the building’s conference room used for their press conference, not in their office. Vice News has not responded.

Milwaukee police reportedly make arrests, confiscate weapons at Black Panther food distribution event.   http://fox6now.com/2016/12/29/weapons-were-taken-illegally-black-panthers-say-child-elbowed-by-officer-during-confrontation-caught-on-camera/

Gay activist reportedly commits suicide after losing lawsuit against San Diego police over his indecency arrest, after racking up $1 million in legal expenses. Will Walters claimed his arrest was discriminatory since the city “essentially allows thongs, g-strings, and other skimpy bathing suits to be worn by participants and attendees at straight special events, but not by attendees and participants at the one gay special event, Pride.”   http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/man-charged-with-indecency-over-pride-parade-outfit-takes-own-life-after-losing-discrimination-suit/

Black Houston man’s SUV is reportedly torched, vandals painted hate slogans on the vehicle and his house.   http://www.click2houston.com/news/car-burned-house-spray-painted-with-n-word-in-highlands

New Mexico convenience store allegedly posts sign reading, “Obama and other Muslims not welcome here”.   http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/obama-and-other-muslims-not-welcome-new-mexico-convenience-stores-racist-signs-outrage-community/

NPR station in New York ridiculed for “false balance” in coverage of protests against Carl Paladino after he reportedly said that Michelle Obama should be set free in Africa to live with a gorilla. WNYC  reported that protesters were “… demanding Paladino step down for what they say are racist comments.”  http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/npr-just-offered-a-shocking-and-disgusting-example-of-balanced-reporting/

More U.S. troops fighting IS have died from suicide than from combat.   http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/12/29/suicide-kills-more-us-troops-than-isil-middle-east/95961038/

Brazilian police officer reportedly arrested for murder of Greek ambassador.   http://www.wsj.com/articles/brazilian-police-say-military-police-officer-confessed-to-killing-greek-ambassador-1483151992

December 30, 2016

35 Russian diplomats and their families expelled from U.S. over election hacking allegations.   http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38463025

Co-chair of New York Trump campaign Carl Paladino reportedly tells alternative newspaper one of his wishes for 2017 is that he’d like to see Michelle Obama “…return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe where she lives comfortably in a cave with Maxie, the gorilla.”   http://artvoice.com/2016/12/23/want-2017-lot-different-opinions/

British prime minister Theresa May reportedly planning to withdraw U.K. from European Convention on Human Rights. “We urge the prime minister to spend her time trying to protect our rights, not do away with them.”  http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/12/29/theresa-may-seeks-pull-uk-european-convention-human-rights

Trump Foundation reportedly made a $7 donation to the Boy Scouts “…at a time when it cost $7 to register a new Scout. Trump’s oldest son was 11 at the time.”  http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/12/29/damning-investigation-finds-trumps-philanthropy-largely-facade

Incoming President Trump will have almost unlimited power to declare war. “There are few limits on what he can do.”  http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/congress-trump-military-force-232815

2016 law enforcement deaths: 135 officers killed in the line of duty, at least 1,058 suspects killed during encounters with police.   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/29/police-killed-2016-average

Guardian accused of misrepresenting Italian journalist’s interview with Julian Assange. “Ever since the Guardian article was published and went viral, Maurizi has repeatedly objected to the false claims being made about what Assange said in their interview.”  https://theintercept.com/2016/12/29/the-guardians-summary-of-julian-assanges-interview-went-viral-and-was-completely-false/

Federal judge orders government to provide copy of Senate’s “torture report” and to preserve evidence “relating to the torture, mistreatment, and/or abuse of detainees held in the custody of the Executive Branch”.   http://www.mcclatchydc.com/article123605214.html

Russian embassy in Syria hit repeatedly by mortar shells.  http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-russia-syria-diplomacy-idUSKBN14I1MH

Turkish media blaming CIA for assassination of Russian ambassador.  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/turkey-russian-ambassador-shooting-anti-west-conspiracy-theories-andrey-karlov-a7486901.html

Internet Archive to build Canadian server to protect politically sensitive information from deletion during Trump administration. “The campaign promises that have been made in the past, or policies and the like, can be changed by anybody that controls the current website. So those who control the present control the past.” https://www.democracynow.org/2016/12/29/facing_possible_threats_under_trump_internet

December 29, 2016

Democratic party leaders, Bernie Sanders, want people to protest on January 15th against Republican party plans to cut Medicare, replace Obamacare.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/12/28/sanders-democratic-leaders-announce-day-of-action-to-preempt-health-care-cuts/

South Korean investigators probe alleged 9,000 artist government blacklist.  http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/12/29/world/asia/ap-as-skorea-politics.html

New York will reportedly be allowing its Sikh police officers to wear beards and turbans on duty.   https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/nypd-to-allow-sikhs-to-wear-turbans-grow-beards/2016/12/28/d11b9b12-cd7d-11e6-85cd-e66532e35a44_story.html

On Russian hacking allegations, Trump reportedly says, “I think we ought to get on with our lives.”   http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-don-king-florida-2016-12

Video shows Fort Worth police officer shoot black suspect who was walking away from him.   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/28/police-shoot-black-man-video-david-collie-texas

Expert says many industrial accidents involving California prison labor could be avoided. “…there’s something going on in terms of not providing the training and equipment that they need.”   https://theintercept.com/2016/12/28/california-blames-incarcerated-workers-for-unsafe-conditions-and-amputations/

Trump’s secretary of labor nominee allegedly  mocked California law that requires giving employees breaks.    http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/trumps-secretary-of-labor-pick-believes-workers-are-overprotected-and-shouldnt-get-breaks/

President Duterte of the Philippines reportedly tells crowd that he has thrown suspected criminals from a helicopter, and will do it again if he has to.   http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38456419

Japan’s defense minister reportedly visits shrine honoring Japanese war criminals after accompanying prime minister to Pearl Harbor.   http://mobile.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSKBN14I025

Arizona prisoner doesn’t get birthday card from his mother due to one digit error when writing his prisoner number on the envelope, but he receives a notice from the prison telling him the card was returned. So they were not able to find him to deliver the card, but they were able to find him to deliver the rejection notice. [Correction: Original story said “Christmas card”.]

Former Israeli defense minister says army “could wind up looking like ISIS” if soldiers are allowed to shoot captured suspects.   http://www.haaretz.com/misc/article-print-page//.premium-1.761910

Leads on state support for 9/11 hijackers were reportedly being pursued as late as 2012 according to FOIA documents release by FBI, despite 9/11 Commission’s claim that there was no substance to allegations of Saudi government involvement.   http://whowhatwhy.org/2016/12/29/911-fbi-coverup-evidence-emerges/

December 28, 2016

White nationalist group in Montana reportedly threatens to hold armed protest, which “will be against Jews, Jewish businesses and everyone who supports either”.     http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/white-supremacist-site-offers-to-call-off-armed-march-in/article_44676a15-fcb9-5f0f-8140-68aaf9c26e50.html  and  http://fusion.net/story/377937/richard-spencer-whitefish-montana-nazi-jews-march/

Bag of toys in lobby sparks evacuation of Trump Tower “lion’s den”.  http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/suspicious-package-report-prompts-trump-tower-evacuation-article-1.2925879

Frontiers of neo-liberalism: Los Angeles to sell naming rights to metro stations and bus routes to companies (but not to political or religious organizations).    http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-metro-corporate-naming-policy-20161227-story.html

Falling groundwater levels may cause food shortages in the future.  http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/12/groundwater-depletion-global-food-supply/

Professor receives “hundreds of death threats” after satirical tweet in favor of the so far mythical and highly unlikely wiping out of the white race.   http://fusion.net/story/377992/drexel-professor-tweet-george-ciccariello-maher/

Failing to learn any lessons from the election about the divisiveness of “identity politics” when trying to build a mass, progressive coalition, a “Women’s March on Washington” is planned for the day after Trump’s inauguration.   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/27/womens-march-on-washington-dc-guide   But men ARE reportedly allowed to attend, even if it sounds as if they aren’t.

Trump’s nominee for director of Homeland Security has allegedly claimed 500,000 Americans have died as a result of narco-terrorism. “The real number of Americans who have died of post-9/11 terrorism in all its forms is well under 1,000, according to a 2014 study that was supported by the Department of Homeland Security.” https://theintercept.com/2016/12/27/trumps-homeland-security-pick-falsely-claimed-narcoterrorism-has-killed-500000-americans/

Frontiers of neo-liberalism: Cinnabon reportedly deletes Carrie Fisher tweet – “RIP Carrie Fisher, you’ll always have the best buns in the galaxy.”   http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/go-fck-yourself-corporate-bakery-internet-erupts-over-cinnabons-tasteless-carrie-fisher-tweet/

Personal details connected with flight reservations, which include travel dates, itinerary, ticket details, phone and email contacts, travel agent, credit card numbers, seat number and baggage information, are an easy hack say experts.  http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/flight-booking-systems-lack-basic-privacy-safeguards-researchers-say/

The power of fake news: 60% of Trump supporters reportedly believe millions voted illegally, 46% believe Clinton emails discussed pedophilia and human trafficking.  http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/nearly-half-of-all-trump-supporters-think-leaked-e-mails-from-the-clinton-campaign-talked-about-human-trafficking/

Facebook allegedly buying details of user’s personal lives from data brokers.  https://www.propublica.org/article/facebook-doesnt-tell-users-everything-it-really-knows-about-them

Elections integrity group says North Carolina is no longer a functioning democracy.   https://www.democracynow.org/2016/12/27/headlines/report_north_carolina_no_longer_a_fully_functioning_democracy

December 27, 2016

Hidden in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act that President Obama signed just before Christmas is a section establishing a national anti-propaganda center to counter “foreign state and non-state propaganda and disinformation”.   http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/12/26/under-cover-christmas-obama-establishes-controversial-anti-propaganda-agency

New York’s attorney general says Trump can’t shut down his foundation until their investigation is completed.   http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/trump-shutter-namesake-foundation-probed-ag-article-1.2924863

Fights and disturbances at malls around the country after Christmas.   http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/12/26/fights-at-malls-across-us-trigger-arrests-evacuations.html

Newt Gingrich reportedly tells conservatives that Trump administration will be “the third great effort to break out of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt (New Deal) model”.   https://www.salon.com/2016/12/26/rendezvous-with-destiny-newt-gingrichs-long-war-against-fdr-and-the-new-deal-enters-its-final-stage/

Democrats in Congress gear up for pay back. “The United States Senate has a rich, bipartisan tradition of vetting nominees to the president’s Cabinet.”   http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/12/26/new-party-no-dems-prepare-for-battle-with-trump-on-cabinet-picks-agenda.html

Psychologist theorizes that Trump supporters are people who are angry about being treated like objects. “…when our social milieu is indifferent to our needs and inattentive to our suffering, widespread damage is done to our psyches, causing distress, anger, and hopelessness.”   http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/a-psychologist-explains-how-a-nationwide-breakdown-of-empathy-has-created-todays-toxic-gop/

Fired Versace employee claims a code word was used to alert staff when black customers were in the store.   https://www.tmz.com/2016/12/26/versace-sued-discrimination-black-man-fired/

Turkish cafeteria manager is reportedly arrested, his home raided, after being accused of insulting the country’s president. According to the man’s lawyer, his client “…was detained after a police officer… said he heard him use a derogatory term to describe Erdogan and say he would refuse to serve the president tea if he ever visited the cafeteria…”    http://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/turkey/1.761498

Government discovers its estimates on the number of people killed during encounters with the police were far too low. “Extrapolating the data, and correcting for the police-reporting disparity, the bureau estimated there were about 1,900 arrest-related deaths in the 12 months ending May 2016.”   http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/12/bjs-data-deaths-police-custody

Minnesota man who was charged a $25 “booking fee” when jailed and a $7.25 debit card charge to withdraw the rest of the money he had on him when he was arrested, loses his case for a refund in court.   http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2016/12/police-departments-find-yet-new-ways-steal-peoples-money

New York Times accused of helping Republicans flim-flam the public on health insurance. “The phrase “universal access” sounds nice, but is a meaningless slogan clearly aimed to confuse the status quo, in which healthcare is a commodity, with everyone actually being able to get the medical treatment they need.”   http://fair.org/home/media-legitimizing-gops-universal-health-plan-that-doesnt-exist/

Democracy Now! celebrates 20 years of “real news” reporting.  “While CNN, MSNBC and ABC News iced out Sanders and appeared to cover Donald Trump 24/7, “Democracy Now!” held substantive debates between Sanders and Hillary Clinton supporters that illuminated the differences between the two Democratic candidates.”   https://www.salon.com/2016/12/10/a-hero-of-real-news-amy-goodman-and-democracy-now-celebrate-20-years-of-fearless-journalism-in-the-age-of-lies/

December 26, 2016

Fake news story about Israeli threat to destroy Pakistan leads country’s defense minister to issue real threat of nuclear retaliation against Israel .  https://www.yahoo.com/news/pakistan-threatens-nuclear-attack-israel-194124079.html

Republican Senators accused of “running out the clock” on Obama judicial appointments. “Republican tactics have been shameful and will forever leave a stain on the United States Senate.”   https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-to-inherit-more-than-100-court-vacancies-plans-to-reshape-judiciary/2016/12/25/d190dd18-c928-11e6-85b5-76616a33048d_story.html

Trump reportedly tells morning news anchor, “Let it be an arms race. We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all.”  https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/23/donald-trump-nuclear-weapons-arms-race   Are the Russians going to pay for it?

Walmart and Amazon apparently bow to police union pressure, pull “Bulletproof: Black Lives Matter” shirts.    http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/12/26/fraternal-order-police-demands-amazon-remove-black-lives-matter-merchandise.html

Edward Snowden and his lawyer blast House intelligence committee report. “It combines demonstrable falsehoods with deceptive inferences to paint an entirely fictional portrait of an American whistleblower.”  https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/22/edward-snowden-russia-spy-agency-contact-us-house-report

California reportedly fines gas company $5.45 million for using unqualified pipeline inspectors.  http://patch.com/california/sanrafael/san-francisco-based-pg-e-fined-5-45-million-gas-inspections

1.5 million Florida residents are banned from voting for life, 25% of the state’s black population is not allowed to vote, due to felony convictions.   https://theintercept.com/2016/12/22/a-quarter-of-floridas-black-citizens-cant-vote-a-new-referendum-could-change-that/

A&E cancels KKK “documentary” series after public outcry.  http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/24/arts/television/ku-klux-klan-documentary-canceled-cash-ae-network.html

National security agencies reportedly manipulating the press. “We have built a national security state worth billions of dollars that is trampling our civil liberties and we are living with a fear of threats that are not there.”   http://whowhatwhy.org/2016/12/26/spooked-cia-manipulates-media-part-1/

If you are on the run after committing a heinous crime, try not to accidentally leave your ID behind at the crime scene, like all these terrorists have.   http://whowhatwhy.org/2016/12/21/berlin-truck-terror-suspect-curious-matter-id-papers-left-behind/

Nuclear weapons states are allegedly in violation of Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty by not disarming.   http://whowhatwhy.org/2016/12/22/classic-iran-not-biggest-nuclear-cheater-guess/

Republican Party chairman reportedly tweets, “Just as the three wise men did on that night, this Christmas heralds a time to celebrate the good news of a new King.” http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/twitter-makes-merry-over-rncs-bonkers-christmas-greeting-welcoming-their-new-king/   SMH… Please look up “republican” in the dictionary. Now hand write the “Declaration of Independence” 25 times. Scary.

Green Party candidate Jill Stein asks Justice Department to investigate election system.  http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/24/jill-stein-urges-doj-probe-integrity-election-syst/

Alec Baldwin reportedly offers to perform “Highway to Hell” at the Trump inauguration.   http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/alec-baldwin-perfectly-trolls-trump-and-offers-to-sing-highway-to-hell-at-his-inauguration/

Blogger from Singapore who went to jail for upsetting people with his harsh YouTube videos is reportedly seeking asylum in U.S.   http://thehill.com/policy/international/311764-singapore-blogger-in-immigration-detention-in-us   and   http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/amos-yee-singapore-jails-teenager-youtube-blogger-insulting-christians-muslims-videos-quran-bible-a7345856.html   Sorry, dude, they are policing Facebook comments in the U.S. now, too, but you are probably ok as long you aren’t a jihadist and don’t criticize the police.

Cambodian social justice activist Kem Ley reportedly assassinated.  https://www.yahoo.com/news/cambodias-explanation-killing-activist-draws-doubt-044938360.html

Turkish government reportedly investigating the social media accounts of 10,000 of its citizens for possible connections to terrorism.   http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Turkish-authorities-investigating-10000-social-media-users-476400

Bernie Sanders says corporate media are a threat to democracy. “…there are a lot of people hurting in this country. And their pain doesn’t get on CBS or NBC.”   https://www.democracynow.org/2016/12/26/bernie_sanders_corporate_media_is_a

December 25, 2016

U.N. votes to start negotiations in 2017 to ban all nuclear weapons. 113 countries approved the resolution, while 35 – including the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, France, Germany, Norway, Spain, Greece, Russia, Israel, and Japan – voted against it.  http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/24/16/un-general-assembly-backs-resolution-on-nuke-abolition-talks   and   http://www.icanw.org/campaign-news/voting-on-un-resolution-for-nuclear-ban-treaty/

U.S. border police begin asking foreign visitors for their social media account information, ACLU claims no guidelines in place to limit the use of personal information and contacts.  http://fusion.net/story/377860/the-u-s-government-asking-foreign-visitors-social-media-profiles/

Justice Department sues Barclays Bank over “billions of dollars worth” of faulty residential mortgage-backed securities.  http://www.jurist.org/paperchase/2016/12/us-department-of-justice-files-civil-suit-against-barclays-bank.php

Pharmaceutical company agrees to pay $519 million to settle foreign bribe payment charges.  https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-12-22/teva-agrees-to-pay-519-billion-to-settle-u-s-bribery-probe

Kansas deputies reportedly tased and handcuffed 91 year-old man in nursing home for resisting transport to a  doctor appointment. Family claims man’s wrist was broken.   http://www.kwch.com/content/news/Body-cam-video-shows–407962085.html

 

December 23, 2016

Security forces reportedly kill 40, arrest 460 at protests in Congo after president refuses to leave office at the end of his term.   http://www.reuters.com/article/us-congo-politics-casualties-idUSKBN14C126?il=0

Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse agree to pay $12.5 billion to settle “toxic” mortgage-backed securities fraud allegations. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-12-23/deutsche-bank-credit-suisse-settle-u-s-probes-as-barclays-sued

White Fort Worth police officer reportedly arrests a black mother and two of her daughters after she reported a white neighbor who had allegedly choked her 7 year-old son for littering.   https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/12/22/a-black-mother-told-police-a-white-man-assaulted-her-child-they-arrested-her-instead/

Trump transition team reportedly asks State Department for list of employees working on gender issues and funding allocated for that purpose.   http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/12/22/506629695/trump-team-asks-state-dept-to-name-those-working-on-gender-equality

Trump tweets that the United States needs more nuclear weapons after Obama calls for $500 billion upgrade. “At a certain point, you are just making the rubble bounce higher.”   http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-tweets-apparent-call-more-us-nuclear-weapons-n699221   Can’t think of anything better to spend that money on…..

TSA Global Entry expedited screening customer reportedly caught with more than $195,000 in cash when redirected to regular security line after technical glitch.   http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/12/23/commercial-pilot-admits-to-smuggling-15k-in-cash-into-us.html

Eric Trump reportedly requesting permission to hire foreign workers at his Trump Winery in Virginia.   http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-winery-add-foreign-workers/story?id=44345340

 

December 22, 2016

Government anti-terrorism “fusion centers” have reportedly tracked suspects in categories such as “third party voters”, “Muslim lobbyists”, Tea Party supporters, death penalty opponents and 2nd amendment supporters.  http://www.utne.com/politics/fusing-california-zm0z16wzsel

Two men reportedly removed from Delta Airlines flight after other passengers complained about them speaking in Arabic.  http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-adam-saleh-youtube-delta-flight-arabic-20161221-htmlstory.html

Final popular vote count shows Clinton received 2.87 million more votes than Trump.  http://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/21/politics/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-popular-vote-final-count/

Government reportedly deducting student loan payments from Social Security checks of retirees.  http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/12/21/older-americans-pushed-poverty-feds-garnish-social-security-student-debt

Top European court says bulk storage of citizen data is illegal, governments should only collect personal data for investigations into serious crimes.   http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/12/21/eus-top-court-delivers-major-blow-mass-surveillance

Four top Flint, Michigan officials face charges in water scandal.   http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/12/20/austerity-trial-flint-emergency-manager-slammed-criminal-charges

Trump phasing out “drain the swap” theme says key ally. “He now says it was cute, but he doesn’t want to use it anymore.”  https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/12/21/newt-gingrich-says-trump-is-done-with-drain-the-swamp/

Lawyer says newly-released FBI warrant for Abedin emails on Anthony Weiner’s computer fails to provide evidence of probable cause that there was classified material.   http://www.11alive.com/news/nation-now/lawyer-appalled-by-fbi-warrant-that-shook-clinton/376352604

Trump appoints Carl Icahn as deregulation advisor. “Voters who wanted Trump to drain the swamp just got another face full of mud.”   http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/markets/2016/12/21/trump-gives-carl-icahn-surprising-role/95717604/

Workers at Las Vegas Trump hotel win union contract, while workers at D.C. Trump hotel win right to organize by collecting signature cards.   https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/12/21/trump-organization-moves-avoid-possible-labor-conflicts/v3i5vI2JcPg7zYihRhxKHM/story.html

6.4 million enroll for Obamacare through federal exchange for 2017, breaking previous record.   https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/enrollment-for-affordable-care-act-insurance-running-ahead-of-last-year/2016/12/21/1d720dec-c7a3-11e6-bf4b-2c064d32a4bf_story.html

An estimated 40% of young Americans are reportedly living with their parents, more than at any time since 1940.   http://denver.cbslocal.com/2016/12/21/study-finds-young-americans-living-home-highest-since-wwii/

After 147 days without a press conference, Trump talks to reporters for 74 seconds.   http://www.msnbc.com/brian-williams/watch/147-days-since-a-presser-trump-talks-to-reporters-for-74-seconds-839117379857

White nationalist groups have collected millions through  “educational” charities, received tax breaks.   http://www.cbsnews.com/news/feds-let-white-nationalist-groups-raise-millions-claiming-theyre-charities-ap-says/

Man released from prison 90 years early goes straight, officials discover their mistake six year later and send him back to prison.   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/22/robber-freed-90-years-early-by-mistake-says-he-reformed-while-free

Exxon Mobile accused of delaying government ban on phthalates in consumer products.   https://theintercept.com/2016/12/20/exxonmobil-is-fighting-to-keep-its-dangerous-chemicals-in-childrens-toys/

Government officials accused of trying to loosen 4th amendment restrictions on collection of private data.   http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/us-intel-official-the-fourth-amendment-doesnt-apply-to-robots-searching-your-emails/

Homeless couple reportedly charged with child neglect after five malnourished children were found living with them in a car parked in a Walmart parking lot.  http://www.wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/greenacres/5-malnourished-children-found-living-in-car-parked-at-greenacres-walmart

Birthrate in California hits lowest rate ever recorded, even lower than during the Great Depression.   http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-ln-birth-rate-20161220-story.html

U.N. official urges Philippine authorities to investigate President Duterte. “…unthinkable for any functioning judicial system not to launch investigative and judicial proceedings when someone has openly admitted being a killer.”   http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/12/20/1655416/un-rights-chief-investigate-duterte-killings

Future national security advisor Mike Flynn allegedly met with leader of Austrian Nazi-linked political party.   https://www.democracynow.org/2016/12/21/headlines/trump_pick_for_national_security_adviser_met_with_austrias_far_right_nazi_founded_party

Security forces reportedly kill 26 pro-democracy protesters in Congo.   https://www.democracynow.org/2016/12/21/headlines/congo_security_forces_kill_26_protesters_demanding_president_step_down

More than 500 pro-independence protesters reportedly arrested by Indonesian police in West Papua area of New Guinea.   https://www.democracynow.org/2016/12/21/headlines/indonesian_police_arrest_500_in_west_papua_calling_for_self_determination

December 20, 2016

Most Electors ignore appeals from voters and protesters, elect Donald Trump as president.   https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2016/12/19/electoral-college-vote-final/pYSqGLfLUw5zV5DmeDjbdN/story.html

Russian ambassador gunned down in Turkish capital by off-duty policeman.  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38376987

Armed Uber driver in Florida reportedly kills car-jacking suspect with a gun in each hand.   http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/aventura/article121628207.html

Atlanta area postal worker charged for allegedly dumping 4,500 pieces of mail in woods.  http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/postal-worker-charged-undelivered-mail-found-woods-44298157

Trump claims Christians are being “continually slaughtered” by Islamic extremists.  https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trump-christmas-market-berlin

Obama commutes sentences of 153 more prisoners, mostly being held for drug offenses.   https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/12/19/obama-just-granted-commutation-to-more-than-150-people-here-are-their-names/

Trump reportedly planning to keep his private security guards in addition to  Secret Service protection.  http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/donald-trump-security-force-232797

In response to probes by state attorney generals, more large retail firms vow to stop using on-call scheduling of workers.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2016/12/20/disney-store-and-other-retailers-ditch-on-call-scheduling/

New Orleans agrees to pay $13.3 million to settle fatal beating before, and police shootings after, Hurricane Katrina.  https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/19/new-orleans-reaches-settlements-for-police-shootings-after-hurricane-katrina

300 Indiana jobs reportedly moving to Mexico, former U.S. employees have to train their Mexican replacements to receive severance deal.  https://theintercept.com/2016/12/19/factory-near-carrier-sends-jobs-to-mexico-but-trump-just-tweets/

Almost 3,000 U.S. cities have tap water with more lead than Flint, Michigan.  http://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-lead-testing/

Only 40% of those polled have a favorable opinion of President Trump, the lowest approval rating ever recorded for an incoming president.  http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/joy-reid-trumps-favorability-ratings-are-lower-than-any-incoming-president-in-history-of-poll/

Frontiers of neo-liberalism: Trump’s sons reportedly offering face time with the President in return for donations.  http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2016/12/19/trump-kids-selling-access-to-dad-for-1m.html

Homeland Security and Justice Department have a reported 400+ cellular tower simulators for diverting and monitoring cell phone traffic.  http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/19/house-oversight-doj-dhs-have-more-than-400-cell-si/