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Judge Tosses James Comey, Letitia James Cases - Rules Prosecutor Was Illegally Appointed
What's covered: Federal judge Cameron Currie dismissed indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, ruling that Lindsey Halligan's appointment as interim U.S. Attorney was invalid and unlawful. Halligan, hand-picked by Trump to prosecute his political enemies, had no prosecutorial experience. The DOJ says they'll appeal, but the statute of limitations on Comey's case has expired.
Trump's revenge tour hits a brick wall. When you appoint unqualified loyalists to prosecute your enemies, turns out judges notice. This is what happens when incompetence meets malice.
MAGA Civil War Explodes as Marjorie Taylor Greene Resigns
What's covered: Marjorie Taylor Greene announced her resignation from Congress effective January 5th, 2026 - one day before the January 6th anniversary. Trump immediately attacked her on Truth Social, saying she's quitting because "plummeting poll numbers" meant she couldn't survive a primary challenge after backing Tom Massie. Her resignation weakens the already-narrow Republican House majority ahead of 2026 midterms.
The MAGA loyalty test claims another casualty. When you demand absolute fealty and punish any deviation, even your loudest defenders eventually break. This is chaos masquerading as discipline.
Senator Duckworth Gets GOP to Turn on Trump in Military Hearings
What's covered: Senator Tammy Duckworth forced Republican colleagues to commit to hearings on Trump's deployment of National Guard troops into American cities for ICE operations. She placed a rare hold on the defense budget - her first in nine years - to pressure Republicans. The hearings will examine the politicization of the military, costs to military readiness, and the dangerous conflation between legitimate National Guard forces and ICE's mask-wearing agents.
Finally, a Democrat using actual power instead of just tweeting about norms. Duckworth's military credentials make this impossible for Republicans to dismiss. When the Guard signed up to help with floods, not intimidate neighbors.
New Poll Shows Prices Skyrocketing and Americans Blaming Trump's Tariffs
What's covered: New polling shows overwhelming majorities - including 71% overall and even a majority of Republicans - believe tariffs are raising prices right now. Groceries up 85%, utilities 78%, healthcare 67% compared to a year ago. Treasury Secretary's claims that prices will come down "in weeks" aren't landing - voters "think he's full of it."
When you lose Republicans on your signature economic policy, you're in trouble. The American people can feel this in their wallets, and no amount of spin from Bessent changes reality.
George Conway: The Grand Jury Never Even Saw It
What's covered: George Conway breaks down how Lindsey Halligan's incompetence went beyond her illegal appointment - the grand jury never actually saw the final indictment they supposedly approved. After voting down one charge, Halligan allegedly retyped the indictment and only showed it to the foreman, not the full grand jury. Conway also explains the evidence of prosecutorial misconduct, including telling grand jurors they didn't need to see all the evidence because there would be "more at trial."
The legal sloppiness here is staggering. This wasn't just Trump's revenge - it was revenge prosecuted by people who don't know how grand juries work. Embarrassing.
Trump's Russia Plan - The Playbook Podcast
What's covered: Politico breaks down the chaotic Ukraine peace negotiations, including Marco Rubio telling senators the 28-point plan was Russian (then denying it), Army Secretary Dan Driscoll (JD Vance's friend) leading negotiations instead of the Secretary of State, and the original plan's Russian-friendly provisions being revised after international outcry. The reporting reveals significant tensions between Rubio's more hawkish instincts and Vance's isolationist positioning for 2028.
When your Ukraine policy is this messy and your Secretary of State is denying things he clearly said, it's not inspiring confidence. Watch the Vance-Rubio dynamic here - it matters for 2028.
Ukraine and U.S. Revise Peace Plan as Origins Questioned
What's covered: PBS NewsHour reports U.S. and Ukrainian officials are revising the controversial 28-point Ukraine peace proposal from 28 points down to 19. The original document sparked bipartisan concern that the U.S. was imposing Russia's demands - including capping Ukraine's military, surrendering territory, and abandoning NATO ambitions. Secretary Rubio told senators the document was Russian, then his office called that "a blatant lie," creating confusion about who's running Ukraine policy.
PBS confirms what we already suspected: the original plan was a Russian wish list. Good reporting cutting through administration spin. Zelenskyy's careful optimism suggests they've clawed back some ground.
Candace Owens Is Now Fully Delusional - and Her Audience Doesn't Care
What's covered: The Bulwark's Tim Miller and Will Sommer break down Candace Owens' increasingly unhinged conspiracy theories, including her claim that French and Israeli assassins are targeting her for her commentary about the Macrons and Charlie Kirk. She's pulling 1.5-2+ million views per livestream despite promoting completely fabricated assassination plots involving "French legionnaires" and calling for "patriots of France" to uncover paper trails.
This is what happens when there's no penalty for just making things up. Candace has an enormous audience, and they're getting fed pure fiction. The pipeline from legitimate Gaza criticism to full-on conspiracy is real.
Oy, There's Too Much News - The Commentary Magazine Podcast
What's covered: John Podhoretz, Abe Greenwald, Christine Rosen, and Eliana Johnson discuss the Trump-Mandani meeting, the Muslim Brotherhood terror designation, social media bot accounts revealed to be foreign operators, and the Ukraine peace plan confusion. The panel analyzes how foreign bot networks (many revealed to be in Nigeria, Turkey, Egypt) have been stoking American political division while posing as domestic accounts.
Commentary brings the intellectual heft on the foreign bot revelation - it's not just progressives getting played, it's everyone. The Tik Tok discussion particularly sharp given GOP reluctance to enforce existing law.
Happy 100th to William F. Buckley
What's covered: A brief tribute to William F. Buckley, who would have turned 100 today. The founder of National Review in 1955, Buckley's wit, composure, and intellectual brilliance shaped modern conservatism. The clip shows his famous response to being asked why he always sits: "It's very hard to stand up carrying the weight of what I know."
We could use more Buckley and less performative outrage these days. His conservatism had ideas, not just grievances.
What's covered: Army Secretary Christine Wormuth discusses writing condolence letters for soldiers lost to suicide - approximately 30 letters per week counting family members. She's implementing a new policy inspired by Alaska's 11th Airborne: every single soldier will receive a daily check-in from an NCO or officer over the next 45 days asking "Is there anything I can do to help?" The goal is to combat the spike in military suicides during the holiday season.
Thirty letters a week. Let that sink in. Finally seeing leadership try something different rather than just throwing money at the problem.
Your Children Are Too Online - Interview with Dr. Jean Twenge
What's covered: The Dispatch interviews psychologist Dr. Jean Twenge about her book "10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World." Twenge advocates waiting until age 16 (when kids get their driver's license) before giving them smartphones, keeping all screens out of bedrooms, and using parental controls as double guardrails. She discusses how school-issued Chromebooks with Disney Plus and YouTube access undermine parents' efforts to limit screen time.
Parents are drowning here, and Twenge offers actual practical rules instead of vague anxiety. The "wait until 8th grade" pledges are smart - collective action beats individual willpower.
They Are Forcing Men Into Women's Prisons
What's covered: Candace Owens reports on Minnesota's Shakopee Women's Facility, where Governor Tim Walz's administration has allowed transgender-identifying men to transfer to the all-women's prison. Former female inmates are protesting the policy, describing it as both unjust and disturbing to have men showering in women's prison facilities. Owens argues women maintain human dignity regardless of their criminal records.
This is where progressive ideology collides with common sense and women's safety. The fact that Walz greenlit this tells you everything about how far left Minnesota's gone.