Former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush will not attend President-elect Donald Trump's traditional inaugural lunch.

Former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush will not attend President-elect Donald Trump's traditional inaugural lunch.

Obama received an invitation but declined to attend, according to a source familiar with the matter. Clinton also was invited but does not plan to attend, according to a second source familiar with the matter, while Bush's office said it was not tracking an invitation to the luncheon.

Perfect. Trump didn't show up for Biden's inauguration, let alone the lunch.

The World Is A Safer Place Without Trump

• 'We Need Help!' Local LA News Anchor Slams 'Disgusting' Politicization Of Devastating Fires
• Firefighters make progress on Los Angeles blazes as winds weaken, but forecast shows 'dangerous' conditions next week
• New York sends forest rangers to aid the California wildfires
• NASCAR Driver Garrett Smithley’s Dad Fighting California Wildfires Piloting DC-10 Air Tanker
• Blinken Heckled By Reporters at Gaza Briefing — One Forcibly Dragged Out: 'Why Did You Allow My Friends to Be Massacred?'
• GOP Senator Blasts Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal As Trump Praises It
• 'Media Fantasy!' Iran Rejects NY Times Claim Elon Musk Helped Secure Italian Journalist’s Release
• Economist Editor-in-Chief Warns the 'Trump Doctrine' Could Result in 'Chaos on a Global Scale'

Hegseth Offers to Connect Breathalyzer to Nuclear Arsenal. - Andy Borowitz

Pete Hegseth Furious That Confirmation Hearing Conflicts with Happy Hour. - Andy Borowitz

Nyet from Netanyahu as He Stops The Hostages' Release
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is tapping the brakes on claims of success by President Biden, President-elect Trump and partners in the Middle East that a ceasefire and hostage release deal has been achieved to pause 15 months of war.

Fact: Netanyahu met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago and that's when they agreed to extend the war in Gaza for political gain. - Liam Nissan

Republican Shenanigans

• What The...? Trump Adviser Says Kash Patel Will Take 'Democrats To Pound Town' 
• Dana Perino Savages Biden’s Farewell Address: ‘The Speechwriters Have Already Left the Building’
• Trump Trashes Pence, Cheney, and Other Republicans 'Suffering From Trump Derangement Syndrome'
• Speaker Johnson Removes Intel Committee Chair Over ‘Concerns From Mar-a-Lago’
• Trump Reportedly Now Wants Vivek Ramaswamy To Replace JD Vance In The Senate
• Giuliani reaches tentative settlement with Georgia election workers
• ‘You’re Also a Catholic, Are You Not?’ Marjorie Taylor Greene Badgers Witness With Irrelevant Questions in Committee Hearing
• Michael Flynn files request for Florida Supreme Court to hear defamation lawsuit vs. Rick Wilson

I cannot think of a better metaphor for America right now than the Washington Post's mission statement changing from “Democracy Dies in Darkness” to “Riveting Storytelling for All of America.” - Randi Mayem Singer

What's Next? A Trump Produced Docudrama On Himself?
The Trump-Vance transition team has released new official portraits of Donald Trump and JD Vance. The president-elect’s pose is strikingly similar to his mug shot from when he was charged in Fulton County, Georgia, in 2023.

FUN FACT: Trump is a month and a half behind on his promise to "end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours after I'm elected." - Tea Pain

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Rock The Voter News

• Biden touts record of upholding democracy in farewell speech
• Biden makes last big move to protect US networks from hackers from China and elsewhere
• Democrats press for long-delayed plaque to honor Jan. 6 victims, police heroes
• Longtime House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Joins Michelle Obama in Saying She Will Not Attend Trump's Inauguration

In four days the United States will enter formally into an era of oligarchy without the rule of law.

Americans have been prepared extensively for this transformation: bad education, deliberate ignorance, disinformation and hate propaganda have irrevocably poisoned civil society. - Michael McKay

Republicans: Crashing the economy since Taft
President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Treasury Department, billionaire hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, warned during his confirmation hearing on Thursday that Americans are “barreling towards an economic crisis at year-end.”

Racing to a financial crisis but we want to pass a trillion dollar billionaire tax cuts

no more talk about debt, budget or inflation, egg prices, gas, or housing

now priority is

billionaire tax cut

deportation

billionaire tax cut

golfing

billionaire tax cut

executive time

billionaire tax cut. - We are in trouble

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Business/Tech News

• State Farm cancels Super Bowl ad as LA wildfires continue
• UnitedHealth, employer of slain exec Brian Thompson, found to have overcharged cancer patients for drugs by over 1,000%
• Trump Eyes Executive Order to 'Save TikTok' From Ban, WaPo Reports
• Sam Harris Says Elon Musk Reneged on $1 Million Bet, Describes Falling Out With Former Friend

A President with absolute immunity to commit crimes and an Attorney General who can't say no.

What could possibly go wrong? - Sen. Adam Schiff

Oo, Oo, Is Mel Gibson Going To Direct A Movie About Trump, With Jon Voight Portraying Trump?
President-elect Donald Trump is hoping to make Hollywood “stronger than ever before” by naming Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson and Jon Voight as “special ambassadors,” whose goal will be to bring back business lost to “foreign countries.”

Everything is dumb and terrible, and it's gonna be dumb and terrible for a while. It’s important to do what you can to make it less dumb and terrible, and it's important to find a way make some contentment for yourself in spite of everything being dumb and terrible. - Joe Katz

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Odd News

• Two lunar landers are on the way to the Moon after SpaceX’s double moonshot
• For Possibly The First Time Ever, A Meteorite Was Captured Hitting The Ground On Video And Audio
•  Early Humans Adapted To Extreme Deserts More Than A Million Years Ago
• Octopus Arms Are Controlled by a Nervous System That's Like No Other
• Rice fields turned into art in northern Thailand
• Massive new bug species found — and it's so horrifying, it's been named after Darth Vader

Time To Deflate Photo

 The Wuppertal suspension railway is an elevated railway in Wuppertal, Germany that opened in 1901.

Peace.

'Is That a Joke?' Biden Retorts When Asked If He or Trump Deserve Credit for Ceasefire Deal

'Is That a Joke?' Biden Retorts When Asked If He or Trump Deserve Credit for Ceasefire Deal
President Joe Biden delivered remarks from the White House Wednesday afternoon regarding the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in which he thanked President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration for working as “one team,” but also made it clear that he felt he deserves the bulk of the credit for the agreement.

I support a cease fire in Palestine.  I support Palestinian nationhood.  I support holding Israel accountable for war crimes.

But I DO NOT support any of those things MORE than I support saving MY country & this democracy! - Pam Keith

The World Is A Safer Place Without Trump

• Israel and Hamas Agree to Ceasefire and Hostage Release, Officials Say
• Trump: My presidential win led to Israel-Hamas ceasefire
• Israel supplied Iran with centrifuge platforms containing explosives, top official acknowledges
• US ramps up Russia sanctions, targeting Moscow’s business partners
• Half in US say Greenland takeover a bad idea: Survey
• Gavin Newsom Pleads For Trump To Tour Wildfires With Him In Psaki Interview: 'You Will Be Elevated, Mr. President'
• 'Free Luigi!' Bill Burr Blasts CNN and Fox News Focusing On 'Looting' And Not Insurance Payout Shortfall After LA Wildfires

Gov. Newsom: What's not helpful or beneficial is these wild eyed fantasies that somehow there's a magical spigot in California that just can be turned on. And all of a sudden there will be rain or water flowing everywhere. It's not helpful.. amplified by Elon Musk

The Fires Continue...😓

Fires across the Los Angeles area have killed at least 25 people, destroyed more than 12,000 structures and charred more than 60 square miles. The largest by far — the Palisades and Eaton wildfires — continue to burn out of control, officials said.

The National Weather Service L.A. office says winds "underperformed" Tuesday, but one more winds "enhancement" could sweep in on Wednesday. It kept a rare "Particularly Dangerous Situation" Red Flag Warning in effect for 3 a.m. local time until 3 p.m. "We are not out of the woods yet," the office said about the latest winds worries.

Dear Canada, please send an arctic blast to Washington DC on Jan. 20. Bitter cold with enough wind to blow his hair around. Thank you. - eastendjoe

Republican Shenanigans

• 'Disturbing!' Senate Democrat Floored By Trump AG Pick Pam Bondi's Long, Awkward Silence When Asked Who Won in 2020
• Musk may get office space in Eisenhower building: NYT
• Energy Secretary Pick, Chris Wright, Has Been an Evangelist for Fossil Fuels
• Pam Bondi claims justice department ‘targeted’ Trump but says she won’t pursue ‘political’ prosecutions – US politics live
• ‘He’s Extremely Sophisticated’: Marc Andreessen Heaps Praise on ‘World-Class’ Communicator Trump
• Newsmax Host Says 2028 Olympics Should Be Moved Out of Los Angeles ‘To a Red City’ Where ‘Things Are Gonna Be Run Properly’
• Tommy Tuberville Says He Hasn’t Seen Anyone Drunk in the Senate After Colleague Accuses Senators of Drinking on the Job

So why did the FBI refuse to do a thorough background check on Hegseth? They didn't interview most of his colleagues who had spoken out, nor did they interview the women who accused him? Are they obeying in advance? Or just all in on Team Trump? - URockLive1

Sounds Like A Drunk Defending A Drunk...
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) offered an unusual defense of Pete Hegseth, whom President-elect Donald Trump has nominated as Secretary of Defense...During the hearing, Mullin defended Hegseth by claiming unnamed senators “have shown up drunk to vote at night.”...“I was in that room today,” she noted...how is the bad behavior of a sitting senator a defense of someone who wants to run the Pentagon?”

“The truth is the average enlisted soldier, marine, airman would be judged harshly if they committed adultery, which is a violation of the uniform code of military justice, if they were drinking on the job, if they were lying to their subordinates or superiors, so this really cuts to the question of character,” says infantry vet Paul Rieckhoff .

So, to summarize: If a man cheats, Carrie Underwood will take a baseball bat to his car. But if a man cheats and rapes, she’ll sing at his inauguration. - Jen

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When they go low, first we try going high. Then we skip the second inauguration. Thank you Michelle Obama. I wish your husband would join you. - Joan Walsh

Rock The Voter News

• Biden to deliver farewell address
• Biden to lift Cuba's designation as terror sponsor
• Biden Leaving Office With Dismal Approval Rating — But It’s Still Better Than Trump’s
• Jeffries? Newsom? AOC? No consensus, but Democrats want a new generation - Poll
• Whitmer to call for compromise between GOP ‘friends’ and ‘fellow Democrats’

FOX News: For Feudal Lords, and the Serfs that love them. - John Fugelsang

Unlike Republicans, Democrats Aren't As Loyal

...In her interview with the Post, the First Lady reflected bitterly on Pelosi’s betrayal.

“Let’s just say I was disappointed with how it unfolded,” said Biden about her husband’s sidelining. “I learned a lot about human nature.”

Asked specifically about Pelosi, Biden said “I’ve been thinking a lot about relationships.”

“It’s been on my mind a lot lately, and-” she continued. “We were friends for 50 years. It was disappointing.”

Maybe we should fly our flags at half staff for the next 4 years? - Heidisplace2

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Business/Tech News

• TikTok Plans Immediate US Shutdown on Sunday
• Hundreds Of Washington Post Staffers Sign Letter to Jeff Bezos — Pleading With Him to Restore 'Trust That Has Been Lost'
• The ‘StopAntisemitism’ Account Loses It Over Airport Worker's Keffiyeh: ‘This Poses a Safety Concern’
• Coca-Cola CEO Awards Trump ‘First Ever Presidential Commemorative’ Diet Coke
• Elon Musk Says His Boring Company Could Dig The $20 Trillion Tunnel Connecting America With Europe For '1000X Less Money'

Straight up oligarchy.

Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg will all attend Trump’s inauguration—and will be seated on the platform with cabinet officials and elected lawmakers.

The next four years will be a massive grift for the wealthiest people in the world. - Sawyer Hackett

Can Trump Save Musk From The SEC?

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against tech billionaire Elon Musk, accusing him of failing to disclose his ownership of Twitter stock in a timely manner in early 2022.

According to the SEC, the omission allowed Musk to save “by at least $150 million” on shares he purchased after surpassing the 5 percent ownership threshold.

Want to hear a sick joke?

Just two men are responsible for the two presidential terms of Donald Trump.

Jim Comey and Merrick Garland.

I'm here all week. Try the veal. - Seth Abramson

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Odd News

• China plans to build enormous solar array in space — and it could collect more energy in a year than 'all the oil on Earth'
• NASA lab and historic observatory narrowly escape LA fire damage
• University of Oregon researchers discover massive aquifer under central Oregon Cascades
• UK pizzeria reignites pineapple debate with $120 charge
• Gen Z shockingly admits they don't know how to change a lightbulb in startling new poll

Time To Deflate Photo

Lomanstraat, Amsterdam, where city planning is delightful.

Peace.

Jack Smith rebuts Trump's claims of "exoneration," details campaign to overturn the 2020 election

Jack Smith rebuts Trump's claims of "exoneration," details campaign to overturn the 2020 election
Special counsel Jack Smith's final report on Donald Trump’s attempts on and before January 6 to overturn the 2020 election states that the case against the president-elect would’ve been strong enough to convict him if he hadn’t won his re-election bid.

Striking juxtaposition in Jack Smith's final report: While the riot raged, the TV where Trump was sitting showed a rioter saying Pence was Trump's last hope. *Then* Trump issued his tweet directing the mob to target Pence. When informed Pence's life was in danger, he shrugged.

The World Is A Safer Place Without Trump

• Trump claims California had the chance to ‘maintain their forests’ amid Los Angeles wildfires
• Sen. Tuberville Says Californians ‘Don’t Deserve Anything’ After Wildfires – Until They Enact Different Policies
• Speaker Johnson Bashes California ‘Mismanagement,’ Says There ‘Should Probably Be Conditions’ on Federal Aid for Fires
• Celebrity fitness expert Jillian Michaels: Wildfires will push California toward Republicans
• 'What the F*ck Is Wrong With You?!' Jon Stewart Rips Republican Critics of California Fire Response
• Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages, officials say
• Ukraine strikes Russia overnight, claiming largest attack of war so far

Reading through Jack Smith’s report makes me sick. Our system of justice failed. It is a failure. Trump was able to run out the clock, then win an election to stay out of jail. The system is a f--king joke. - emzorbit

Naming A U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier After A President Who Started Two Failed Wars and Tortured People Is Just Wrong, President Biden.
President Joe Biden announced on Monday that the next two nuclear-powered U.S. Navy aircraft carriers would be named after former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

Today is not a test of Pete Hegseth. 

He’s already failed. Wholly unfit. 

It is a test of the US Senate, and checks and balances. - David Pepper

Republican Shenanigans

• Mazie Hirono Takes Pete Hegseth Through Lightning Round of Sex and Booze Questions: ‘Will You Resign’ If You ‘Drink on the Job?’
• Senate Republican Blows Up at His Democratic Colleagues for Grilling Hegseth: 'How Many Senators Have Shown Up Drunk To Vote At Night?'
• 'You WILL Shoot Protestors!' Senator Grills Hegseth on Whether He'd Refuse Trump Orders As Predecessor Did
• 'A Change Agent': Pete Hegseth Admits He Doesn't Have 'The Right Credentials' in Confirmation Hearing Opener
• Steve Bannon Declares MAGA Victory Over Elon Musk on Immigration: 'We Are Winning This Round'
• Texas governor orders state’s flags raised to full-staff for Trump’s inauguration
• Johnson says flags will be flown at full-staff at Capitol on Trump’s Inauguration Day
• Trump Snubs Elon With Decision on White House Digs

Just so everyone is clear

Los Angeles is under duress

Mexico sends help

Canada sends help

Ukraine sends help

Americans send help

Trump elect sends insults

Republicans send threats

MAGA sends conspiracies

MTG sends insanity

Who exactly loves America

Who is the enemy of the people - Russ Fraley

Donald Trump is quid pro quo’ng wildfire disaster aid.

Unf--kingbelievable. - JoJoFromJerz

And So The Big UnDoings Begins...

President-elect Trump on Tuesday asked a federal appeals court to reconsider a jury’s verdict finding him liable for sexually abusing and defaming advice columnist E. Jean Carroll, insisting the trial was tainted by improper evidence.

Trump asked the full 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to rehear the case after a three-judge panel on the court upheld the $5 million verdict late last month. 

1. Blue States give more than they take. 

2. Red States take more than they give. 

3. During a crisis, this should be the United States. 

4. Republicans are assholes.

It’s as simple as that. - Andrea Junker

Hi, I’m God.

I created sunshine and weed. I’m not mad at  California libruhls. - GodPod

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Rock The Voter News

• Biden: Govt. to give $770 to each resident affected by LA wildfires
• Michelle Obama to skip Trump inauguration
• Harris declines to invite Vance for courtesy visit to vice president's residence before inauguration
• Minnesota state House Democrats to stage walkout to bar new GOP speaker

To Mike Johnson,

Thou shalt not ‘impose conditions’ on disaster aid to California. 

California is the 6th largest economy in the world.  

If thou f--k around, thou shalt find out. - GodPod

Funny how the flag worship crowd suddenly doesn’t care about the flag code.

U.S. flags at President-elect Donald Trump ‘s private Mar-a-Lago club are back to flying at full height.

Flags are supposed to fly at half-staff through the end of January out of respect for former President Jimmy Carter, who died on Dec. 29. A large flag on Trump’s property in Palm Beach was initially lowered to half-staff according to protocol but has since been raised in the days after Carter was buried Thursday in his hometown of Plains, Georgia.

Both President Joe Biden, a Democrat, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, directed that U.S. flags be flown at half-staff for 30 days from the date of Carter’s death — or through Jan. 28.

We had a politician in Norway that stole a couple of sunglasses and his entire political career was over.. in America you can be a Russian operative and a rapist pedophile convicted felon racist nazi traitor and become president. Where did ethics in American politics go?? - Glenn Tunes

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Business/Tech News

• Consumer bureau sues Capital One for ‘cheating’ customers on savings account interest
• Trump says he’s creating ‘External Revenue Service’ for tariffs
• O’Leary: Activity at Mar-a-Lago covered by ‘off-the-record social media policy’
• US Supreme Court rebuffs Meta bid to avoid advertisers' lawsuit
• Star Washington Post Columnist Torches Bezos on Her Way Out the Door

Bezos Offers WaPo Journalists $50 Amazon Gift Cards not to Quit. - Andy Borowitz

The guys who idolize Musk and Bezos are the exact same guys who think the stripper really likes them.

TikTok & Musk?
Chinese officials are evaluating a potential option that involves Elon Musk acquiring the US operations of TikTok if the company fails to fend off a controversial ban on the short-video app, according to people familiar with the matter.

Trump should be in jail.

Instead  - he's about to get handed the keys to the White House.

America is absolutely f--ked I'm afraid. - Otto English

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I’m going to wear all black on

Jan 20. It’s a Day of Mourning.

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Odd News

• Comet and planets visible in the night sky tonight
•  Milky Way’s Black Hole Just Lit Up in a Way We’ve Never Seen Before
• Cosmic first: supermassive black hole caught "turning on" in real-time
• SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral
• French woman faces cyberbullying after falling for fake Brad Pitt
• Bungling arsonist in Australia sets pants on fire

Time To Deflate Photo

Thridrangar Lighthouse, Southern Iceland. I wonder if drones deliver.

Peace.