Source: Fox News
“Two theme parkgoers were trapped more than 100 feet in the air for more than 30 minutes this week after a roller coaster in Texas malfunctioned. The Circuit Breaker roller coaster at the Circuit of the Americas near Austin unexpectedly stopped at the first drop, leaving Matthew Cantu, 24, and Nicholas Sanchez, 20, dangling at a 90-degree angle Wednesday night, KXAN-TV reported, citing a publicist representing the two men. ‘For more than 30 minutes after the ride stopped, family members reported receiving no clear updates, while witnesses said staff provided conflicting explanations, including comments that the riders ‘weren’t strapped in currently,’’ the publicist’s news release said, People magazine reported. ‘A sensor triggered a ride delay,’ the Circuit of the Americas told Fox News Digital in a statement Saturday. ‘It was resolved, and the ride proceeded without incident.'” (12/20/25)
https://www.foxnews.com/travel/two-riders-trapped-dangling-100-feet-air-after-texas-roller-coaster-malfunctions-circuit-americas
Source: The Weekly Dish
by Andrew Sullivan
“You very rarely see President Trump address the nation the way presidents used to. You know the drill: seated at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, talking candidly and intimately to the American people. Trump tried it with Covid in 2020 and it didn’t quite work. Stiff, awkward, rote, interspersed with sniffs, it’s a bit sad in retrospect. He just can’t do intimacy. He can’t do reassurance. His fireside manner has always been gasoline. This is a real weakness for a president, who may, from time to time, be required to comfort — as Clinton did after the Oklahoma bombing, Bush after 9/11, and Obama after the church mass shooting in Charleston. It’s also a serious flaw if you need to rally people in tough or challenging times. But Trump just can’t do that. He can do other things. But not that.” (12/19/25)
https://andrewsullivan.substack.com/p/the-trials-of-an-unpopular-populist-e64
Source: United Press International
“Republican U.S. House Rep. Elise Stefanik on Friday announced she was ending her run for New York governor after 1 1/2 months and won’t seek another term in Congress. On Nov. 7, Stefanik launched a campaign bid in an effort to challenge Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in November 2026. ‘While spending precious time with my family this Christmas season, I have made the decision to suspend my campaign for Governor and will not seek re-election to Congress,’ Stefanik, 41, wrote on X. … Stefanik has represented the rural conservative upstate New York district since 2014, becoming the youngest woman ever elected to Congress at that time.” (12/19/25)
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/12/19/NY-Elise-Stefanik-drops-out-governors-race/5811766183265/
Source: The Bulwark
“Epstein Files Released, Elise Stefanik Quits.” (12/19/25)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlwhFD0NTdA
Source: Law & Liberty
by Titus Techera
“Reiner deserves to be remembered because he inspired great affection in millions and millions of people, for, as of now, two generations. Since it’s Christmas, it would be best to remember him by going back to The Princess Bride, which is less of its time than the other movies and more fitting for a family viewing. … More than the funny dialogue or the irony of pointing out the structure of a fairy tale, what makes The Princess Bride such a clever story is the skill with which it brings out what it feels like to be a boy.” (12/19/25)
https://lawliberty.org/remembering-rob-reiners-masterpiece/
Source: Niskanen Center
by Solitaire Carroll
“Capability-based budgeting is not a wholesale reorganization. It’s a way of making the budget legible: first to yourself, then to leadership, then to oversight. Capability-based budgeting is an approach to budgeting that can apply to any kind of team — whether or not you are providing direct support to public facing or mission critical work. You can begin with a single portfolio, a single project, or even a single conversation about what outcomes your team is truly accountable for. Below is a practical roadmap for getting started, based on real federal implementations and the lessons learned along the way.” (12/19/25)
https://www.niskanencenter.org/capability-based-budgeting-a-practical-roadmap-for-getting-started/
Source: SFGate
“Waymo halted service in San Francisco as of Saturday at 8 p.m., following a power outage that left approximately 30% of the city without power. The autonomous cars have been causing traffic jams throughout the city, as the vehicles seem unable to function without traffic signals. ‘We have temporarily suspended our ride-hailing services given the broad power outage in San Francisco,’ Suzanne Philion, a Waymo spokesperson told SFGATE via email Saturday night. ‘We are focused on keeping our riders safe and ensuring emergency personnel have the clear access they need to do their work.’ Pedestrians posted videos on X Saturday of Waymo cars stuck at intersections with their lights flashing. The widespread power outage is affecting around San Francisco 130,000 customers and began as early as 9:40 a.m. in parts of the city.” (12/20/25)
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/waymo-temporarily-suspends-service-sf-amid-power-21254917.php
Source: CounterPunch
by Jeff Bryant
“The letters started coming in October 2025. In the first wave, according to the Florida Policy Institute (FPI), “at least 22 school districts in Florida” got letters alerting them that charter school operators, including a for-profit charter school management company based in Miami, intended to use a state law recently enacted to open new charter schools on the campuses of existing public schools beginning August 2027. … With school enrollments in steep decline in nearly every district in the state, fear of a potential mass charter school industry takeover of public school spaces—along with the costs local districts will incur—looms over district leaders across the state and strikes them as a clear existential threat.” [editor’s note: Not sure how this is a bad thing. It exposes “charter schools” as what they are (part of the “public education” monopoly), meaning that monopoly might die off more quickly – TLK] (12/19/25)
https://www.counterpunch.org/2025/12/19/how-the-charter-school-industrys-newest-scheme-could-be-the-death-of-public-schools/
Source: The American Prospect
by David Dayen
“Last week, I reported on concerns that House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) was discouraging support for a bipartisan discharge petition to finally advance the exceedingly popular policy of ending congressional stock trading. Discharge petitions signed by a majority of House members get a guaranteed floor vote. The speculation was that Jeffries would rather keep the concept of a trading ban alive for campaigning (and maybe protect Democrats who want to keep trading) than take advantage of the ongoing rebellion against House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to make tangible progress. I would say this is wholly confirmed now. The Democratic leadership is filing their own discharge petition on a stock trading ban, countering one from Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) that has 74 signatures, including 15 Republicans, more than enough for a House majority if all Democrats sign on.” (12/19/25)
https://prospect.org/2025/12/19/jeffries-undercuts-congressional-stock-trading-ban/
Source: Deutsche Welle [Germany]
“A Paris court on Friday rejected the French government’s request to suspend Chinese online platform Shein. The government made the request for a three-month suspension after public outcry sparked by the presence on the platform of child-like sex dolls and other illicit items. Besides child-like sex dolls, illegal weapons and banned medications were also found on the platform. The court said in its Friday ruling that suspending Shein would have been ‘disproportionate,’ as the offending products had been removed from the platform.” (12/19/25)
https://www.dw.com/en/france-court-rejects-request-to-suspend-shein/a-75247011
