the *DON* JONES INDEX…
		GAINS POSTED in GREEN LOSSES POSTED in RED 1/8/24... 15,032.37 1/1/23... 14,932,82
	6/27/13… 15,000.00
*(THE DOW* JONES INDEX: 1/8/24... 37,466.11; 1/1/24... 37,385.97; 6/27/13… 15,000.00)**

LESSON for JANUARY EIGHTH, 2024 – “BACK to WORK, JERKS!”

Christmas has come and gone,

New Years’ Eve, too, balls dropped or whatsoever passed for transition in towns and cities across the United States; resolutions made (some already broken), auld acquaintances remembered and, too, then forgot. We kicked off the first week of 2024 with kickoffs, punts and passes in what was (by more standards), an exemplary weekend of gridiron;

Taylor watched Travis play football, then they held what ET called “an intimate celebration.” Some rang in the New Year in Iowa, others in prison. And it seemed that anybody who was anyone else was celebrating Christmas, NewYears’ and points within and beyond on some small, Caribbean island

President Biden in the White House. DefSec Lloyd Austin in the Pentagon (well, maybe not). Pope Francis in the Vatican deployed the Feast of Mary on New Years’ Day by reminding the faithful of “the central role women have played in salvation history and that they still have for bringing peace to the world of the 21st century. (America, the Jesuit Review, 1/1, Attachment One).

Francis spoke about the role God gave to women in the history of the world, and the important role women have to play today in both the church and society during his Angelus sermon in St. Peter’s Basilica.

He began by reminding the exalted faithful (cardinals, bishops, women and men religious, lay people, and ambassadors from the 184 countries), that “God becomes man, and he does so through a woman, Mary. She is the means chosen by God, the culmination of that long line of individuals and generations that ‘drop by drop’ prepared for the Lord’s coming into the world. She stands at the very heart of the mystery of time. It pleased God to turn history around through her, the woman.”

“The church needs Mary in order to recover her own feminine face” which means making “space for women and [being] ‘generative’ through a pastoral ministry marked by concern and care, patience and maternal courage.”

The poor and powerless shivered in their alleys and tent cities; the great middle class roasted hams and turkeys and guzzled champagne amidst the droning condemnations of the Health Nazis, shaming America with fearful prophecies of certain death by calories and good cheer and, atop that, reminders that it was never too early to start calculating your taxes. The rich and famous partied on their private islands, mansions and opulent hotels – the infamous celebrated on the run or in their cages. All was calm, all was bright (especially amidst the Icelandic volcanoes). Out the door and to the street went 2023’s Christmas trees – some few were saved by the climactically and oceanographically ko-rect to throw in the lakes and the rivers and oceans into whose carcasses small fish could hide from larger fish.

Big boxes piled up on curbsides.

Our first full Index of the New Year tracked a few of the most prominent features and foibles of 2023 so now... with the Congress still enjoying an extra week of vacation (and, most likely, fundraising), while President Joe and the Bidens fly back from St. Croix – facing impeachment, a lumpy outhouse of debt still hostage to the ordure at the border, wars growing old and older and, of course, Mother Nature and Father Time counting down the weeks and hours; and with the business of America rolling back into the saddle and the foreign persons doing their foreign things... well, it’s all too much, and the muchness of it could start breaking New Years’ resolutions as soon as they fly off the tips of tongues.

Nonetheless, honored or not, honorable or not, the Joneses of America are making their statements and taking what measures they can to hold on to them for a little while, at least... and so are the business and political leaders, the athletes, the atheists and believers and celebrities. And the media reporting them.

Let’s see what they have to say... beginning with the aforementioned President Joe (who confounded and irked the haters and the hardworking) spent more than a third of the past year at a getaway spot — either one of his Delaware residences, a posh vacation site or Camp David, where he enjoyed, according to numerous sources, Christmas with the family... Hunter included. (Attachment Two) and reaped a stocking stuffed with fossil fuel and bestial waste the day after from the New York Post, its irascible commentator Bob McManus and the always right and ready Post Peanut Gallery.

When “pro-terrorist demonstrators tried to cancel Christmas at Rockefeller Center Monday,” there were scuffles, some arrests, and a cop was injured — “all in all, just another day in post-October 7 Gotham,” the Post roasted the Prez. (Attachment Three, December 26^th)

What’s going on? McManus asked and answered... summoning up the shade of the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who “saw things sooner than most, and (was) among the first to note America’s growing tolerance for aberrative behavior.

“Defining deviancy down” is what he called it — and that was three decades ago.

Equating the Biden administration with Hamas, asking: “Who targets Christmas Day for a celebration of coldly calculated mass murder, torture, hostage-taking and rape?” or hard-left Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announces that Jesus was Palestinian, or when “a gaggle of city councilors shows up wearing pro-Hamas T-shirts,” or when iconic city celebrations are flamboyantly disrupted, you know whose side they are on... well, McManus concluded, “that’s how depravity is defined down.”

And then it was time for the Post Peanut Gallery to weigh in and voice their approval – beginning with Moynihanesque denunciations of the pro-Hamas, hence anti-Semitic (or specifically Jewish) protests. “The irony here is those decrying what they deem excessive violence have no problem acting out and disrupting other people's lives, exhibiting the same type of bigotry they supposedly deplore,” opined GC. “A weak willed and weak kneed response will only yield more of these type of demonstrations.”

“Defining deviancy down” = exactly what is happening in our society, from the streets to the schools to the White House, agreed K.A. “Thank you, the late Sen. Moynihan, for coining this term, which we should all be talking about right now.”

And then it was time for the cages to be opened and red (partisan) meat to be thrown to the wolverines.

(Wait) until the people snap, forecast CL, “...then the protesters will become remnants of gaza.”

“Violence is what the demonstrators are asking for, and I think their request should be granted,” wrpte HD.

And, according to BR, “...(b)oth NYS & NYC are "governed" by a collection corrupt, immoral & outrightly dishonest people. You cannot expect a just outcome when those in charge know nothing of honest justice.”

“You can replace all those adjectives by "Democrats" corrected GJ, and OS suggested they... presumably the Pelosis, Schumers, etc... be deported “on the first available plane to the land that is so worth living for.”

One Party, one Truth, one America! Under Trump!

And the Post returned on New Years’ Afternoon with some mathematics as to Evil Joe’s vacationing with a few more fluffernutters arising out of its Gallery.

After that hazy, crazy lazy POTUS followed suit by migrating... not to Gaza, Iran or back in time and space to Nazi Germany but, rather south to his “land worth living for”... the small, Caribbean island of Saint Croix for the remainder of 2023. marking an absence from America (according to the always hostile New York Post) of 138 days in 2023 — or 37% of the people’s paid-for time. (Attachment Four)

George H.W. Bush was his closest competitor, spending 36% of his presidency at a getaway spot, according to calculations reprinted by the Posties.

Former President Donald Trump, who liked to spend time at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, was out of town 26% of his time in the White House.

Joe and Jill stayed for free in the US Virgin Islands at the three-bedroom luxury villa owned by billionaire Democratic donors Bill and Connie Neville of Calabash Real Estate. Jimmy Durante was not present, being deceased.

“The President has taken 16 days of vacation this year, and even on those days, he has worked,” Deputy Press Secretary Olivia Dalton insisted to The Post in an e-mailed statement. “Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Americans saw the President hold a slew of foreign head of state calls before announcing a deal to release hostages from Gaza the very next day. The fact is: the President works every single day of the week whether he is in Washington, Delaware, Camp David, or anywhere else — and those around him and reporters who cover him closely know that.”

Their free stay is valued at over $6,000, according to the rental listing on VRBO.

Dalton also pointed to Republicans in Congress.

“These fictitious attacks on the President are all the more absurd coming from Republicans in Congress, who left down in December without doing their job to fund the government or our national security priorities,” the rep said while the Post proclaimed a relatively rare plague on both partisan houses by comparing his free rides to “the trips taken by conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas with real estate billionaire Harlan Crow, sojourns which drew ire from Democrats.”

The Post peanut gallery called for Biden’s beheading... or, at least, impeachmet.

“Missing Trump yet everyone???” ventured that certain peanut called Mr. S.

“I have never witnessed an administration that could chalk up DISASTER AFTER DISASTER AFTER DISASTER AFTER DISASTER,” raged CL. “He has not delivered on anything positive for this country IN 3 YEARS!! This is one for the record books. And to think I thought Jimmy Carter was bad!”

“Its amazing how Biden can be the laziest but yet the most destructive POTUS of all time,” LG concurred. “Doing nothing on the border except watching an invasion of future Democratic voters who will demand financial assistance for decades and generations to come.”

“Even when he’s at work…” LB scoffed, “...he’s not there. The lights are on but nobody’s at home.”

But PC rationalized Joe’s absences by declaring that, “(s)ince he's not really the person pulling the strings, it doesn't matter where he spends his time,” to which JM responded that “100% of the WH staff's and his cabinet's time was spent implementing Obama Shadow Govt policies. That's why we are where we are.”

“He’s committing crimes,” opined SM. “If he wasn’t then there’d be transparency. Anybody with a tiny bit of common sense knows this, and nothing will be done about it. why are the worst people our elected officials? I wish we could start over. This version of America is in its last days.”

But ML found sunshine amidst the snowflakes, “He hid in his basement throughout the entire 2020 election and never holds a real press conference. He is incapable of stringing together two coherent sentences. The more time he spends away the better off we all are.”

Not to forget VeePee Kamala Harris, the likewise MAGAlicious WashXaminer who interviewed University of Wisconsin, Madison political science professor and Elections Research Center Director Barry Burden. By demonstrating her "unwavering support" for Biden he reported (Attachment, is amassing "a national network of allies" within the Democratic Party who might back a second presidential campaign of hers in the future, (January 2^nd, Attachment Five)

For the present time, who can forget, let alone ignore, what the surviving Republican five-for-fighting candidates have to say for themselves and for 2024... the two forgotten men, Chris Christie and Vivek Ramaswamy, the two serious contenders for second place... Saint Ron and Nikki Haley and the fattest frog in the pond, Donald Trump rang in the New Year, primed and ready to tackle (or exploit) what NBC called its ferocious five issues: the interlocked, commingled border, war and debt crises, the lesser publicized tussles over FISA surveillance, the FAA and lingering, languishing farm bill – upon which see more as Attachment Six.

Oh yeah... there’s also Joe’s pending Impeachment.

“In 2024, they’ll have to decide whether to actually impeach him or back off,” proclaimed the Peacock given that “(t)he White House and Democrats have torched the inquiry as a partisan stunt by a GOP majority that has nothing meaningful to offer voters and is seeking retribution on behalf of Donald Trump.

(Today, it was disclosed that both partisan propaganda party people hailed agreement (sort of) on a debt resolution that failed to mention the wars or the border. Still, it’s a start for a debt shutdown solution (and, perhaps, a fast and brutal finish for Speaker Mike Johnson at the hands of an angry contingent of Freedom Caucus Republicans whose American Icon, Djonald UnChained Trump, lumbered out of his Mar-a-Lago miasma, boarding a jet from Miami to meet and greet in Iowa amidst the scurrying of his four remaining competitors.

First, taking to Twitter (or X, if you will), the former president “had a little time before his figgy pudding to go off on his election interference trial,” according to the Daily Beast back on Christmas Eve.

“JOE BIDEN’S MISFITS & THUGS, LIKE DERANGED JACK SMITH, ARE COMING AFTER ME,” Trump said. “AT LEVELS OF PERSECUTION NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN OUR COUNTRY???”

Trump “typically takes to Truth Social to roll out a series of grievances in all-caps,” the Beast reminded its beastlings. (Attachment Seven)

Shortly thereafter, the Beast reported “the Supreme Court rejected Smith’s request that the court urgently consider Trump’s claim that he is immune from prosecution for his alleged attempt to subvert the 2020 presidential election. The decision was a major win for Trump and his legal team.” (Attachment Eight) The lesser Supremes of Colorado had evicted him from its primary ballot, declaring that “President Trump's direct and express efforts, over several months, exhorting his supporters to march to the Capitol to prevent what he falsely characterized as an alleged fraud on the people of this country were indisputably overt and voluntary,” the justices said.

And then, while Ol’ Forty Five denounced Jack Smith and tweeted yet more denials of his defeat in 2020 before departing for Des Moines and other places where the corn grows tall – there to tell the shot children of nearby Perry to “get over it”, silenced Speaker K-Mac stuck to his word, stuck his own pistol of resignation into his ear and fired.

The Fox News’ Houston Keene called it McCarthy’s “least merry Christmas”, but the gloom seems also to be settling across the rest of the elephant pride months after Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fl) “dropped a privileged resolution to remove the now-former speaker after the House passed a continuing resolution to fund the government.

“Seven other Republicans joined Gaetz on the move, leveraging the slim GOP majority in the House with Democrats in the chamber joining them to oust McCarthy from his job.” (Attachment Nine)

It was an even more cruel and chaotic Christmas for the most visible and audible Republican Congressthing.

Unlike the Congress, the Federal, State and local courts have been busy little beavers – SCOTUS already mapping out their agenda for the battles on amnesty, abortion and the acidic Djonald UnConvicted (not to mention certain personal problems involving generous friends in high places), so their celebrations were muted, their resolutions clean and sober – quiet exchanges of gifts for promises in the case of some, cash for others.

The passing of another Christmas (and, all right, Hanukkah) season over, those who were watched screwed up their courage and publicized their Chrismas blessings and New Years’ resolutions (some of which have even survived the week).

The former President (not Trump but Barack Obama, remember?) d his favorite movies, books and music with the sheeple and proved... if the matter needed further proof... that he is an intellectual elitist far, far more bright and shiny than your run-of-the-mill American drudge (which is why Drudges and Hannities and Tuckers hold to the view that he is really the puppetmaster pulling Old Whtie Joe’s strings as the incumbent slides into senescence.

The athletes and the actors have agendas too. For the surviving ballers (college football finalists Michigan and Washington tonight, a slew of NFL aspirants, hoopsters, tracksters... even horses... their objectives are simple... win. And get paid.

And in a sad coda to a bad year, deposed, disgraced and diminished K-Mac made good on his promise to quit – leaving his party pros one final lump of coal, his almost certain replacement by a Democrat… thus slicing the Republican majority salami even thinner.

“McCarthy (had) taken parting shots at Gaetz as he headed for the exit door,” telling Fox News' Brian Kilmeade that history will not look back fondly on the Florida man's move.

"History will judge him," McCarthy said. "And history will judge all of us."

Kilmeade then brought up the "very real math problem" for Republicans as arrived with his departure, but the now-private-citizen dodged the question and slithered off into the sunset, leaving Republicans counting off the particulars on their shrinking House majority.

Another famous fellow having a terrible year “72 hours into 2024.”

Elon Musk was iced by You Tube influencer Mr. Beast (relationship with the attachment above doubtful) who “rejected an appeal by Musk to post his “incredibly popular videos” to X, saying it made no financial sense.” (Fast Company, Attachment Ten)

Perhaps of more fiscal, as opposed to emotional angst, was Tesla’s second-rate second-place electric vehicle sales – Elon trumped by China’s BYD and its secret saucier, Warren Buffet.

At least, the fiscal rag disclosed, Musk’s personal fortune continued to rise. One year ago, Musk’s net worth was valued at $137 billion by Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index.

As of today, it stands at $229 billion—a 40% improvement.

While Musk was sulking, the world’s third-richest man (Bernard Anault still occupies the second slot between the two) sported the world’s tightest pants at his New Year’s Eve “crazy disco party” the Daily Beast reported (Jan. 1, Attachment Eleven).

In St. Barths (another of those tiny, rich islands, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos “showed off his spicy new physique in a half-buttoned shirt and sheath-like jeans. He rocked a pair of heart-shaped sunglasses to complete the ensemble.”

But, back in America, billionaire and tech titan turned charity champion Bill Gates spent New Years Eve by his fireplace, doing what he says he loves to do best... working on a jigsaw puzzle.

"The last thing I have to finish before 2024," Gates wrote in the caption, alongside the image of his cozy setup at a table by a fireplace. (People, January 1, Attachment Twelve)

By now, polls are showing that a majority of Joneses of the other-than-billionaire classwish that November would bring something better than a Trump – Biden jigsaw (the psycho killer) puzzle... yes, there are other candidates already and there will be more to muddy up the frog pond... but serious Americans – Senators, Congressmen, Governors, Ambassadors, Attorneys and judicial, Cabineteers and the such – have to be writhing in sleepless nights, worrying but wondering what might happen if they burst out of their comfortable bubbles and attempted to do something heroic (or, at least, to strike a heroic pose in the doing). An Associated Press/NORC poll conducted between Nov. 30 and Dec. 4 found 56 percent of adults would be very or somewhat dissatisfied with Biden as the Democratic nominee, while 58 percent of adults said they would be very or somewhat dissatisfied with Trump as the Republican nominee.

The BLA (not the Black Liberation Army but the business leaders of Americas) may be a little out of sorts over the chaos and confusion emanating out of Washington, but most of these have their corporations to console and to console them as they bow their heads and keep on keeping on doing what they have enough practice in doing... making money and keeping out of jail.

Onwards, then, to the dozing legislative and judicial branches of the barren American tree... the former, having driven, flown or apparated from their home districts into Washington last night, are now rubbing their eyes, running their showers and straightening their hair (or hairpieces to get bacl to the jobs at hand – beginning with a “don’t ask, don’t tell” budget compromise before moving on to sterner goblets of the stronger stuff.

Speaker Mike Johnson may have saved Christmas on Capitol Hill, but Congress will be paying for it in the new year, Politico reported (Attachment Thirteen) and Johnson’s own Christmas got off to a “terrible start” according to Newsweek.

Facing his first full term as third in line to the Presidency, the Man from G.O.D. passed a “stopgap spending measure” after Thanksgiving (Newsweek, Attachment Fourteen), then brokered a deal which may or may not survive the confirmation process, but which has earned him the enmity of more of the MAGA squad.

Perhaps fortunately, one of the fiercest harpies of Team Trump has found herself under fire... sort of... from anonymous gangs of presumably left-wing “swatters” who keep summoning police to her Rome (Georgia) home – “calling in a fake emergency to draw armed officers to her home.” (PBS, Attachment Fifteen)

A man in New York called the Georgia suicide hotline just before 11 a.m. Monday, claiming that he had shot his girlfriend at Greene’s home and was going to kill himself next, spokesperson Kelly Madden said.

“I was just swatted. This is like the 8th time. On Christmas with my family here. My local police are the GREATEST and shouldn’t have to deal with this,” Greene wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Past calls claimed that dead bodies (presumably Democrats) had been found in the bath tub and in other areas of her home, which is located about 70 miles (113 kilometers) northwest of Atlanta. Police also responded last year to false reports of shootings outside her residence.

The Christmas swatting was also reported upon by CNN, by NBC, by the T-G friendly) New York Post (Attachment Sixteen) and by the Fox News Atlanta outlet.

In the interests of fairness, persons unknown also swatted special counsel Jack Smith and officials involved with any of the four criminal and numerous civil trials of he who may not be convicted (until, perhaps, after the election).

But while Marj was shivering and quivering, the unimpeachable and unconscionable mastermind of American destruction (according to MAGA) was gifting his community of grafters and grafters and traitors with lists of his favourite music, books and movies. (Attachment Seventeen) Hello Beyonce, the “Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” and and Oppenheimer (but not Barbie, of course, for Obama is a serious criminal with high-profile East Coast elitism.

More high-profile but slightly lower intellectual pretensions garnished ABC’s cruise through the rivers of celebrity Christmas fun – not with Tom Cruise, exactly, but the next best disciple of Dianetics, John Travolta, who celebrated the holiday by going on ski trip with his kids. Also on the slopes at Park City, Utah, "Dancing with the Stars" pros Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson took their son, Rome out for his first Christmas – “but the 11-month-old didn't look too happy for his first meeting with Santa,” a wandering eye reported. (Attachment Eighteen)

The Hollywood strike now over and a glut of product flooding the market, bean-counters are massaging their worry beads while the talent draws a deep breath and makes ready for the awards season... which began with the Golden Globes last night (a sweep for Oppenheimer, but a bleep for Barbie), escalates through the Grammies and Grannies, the Tonys and Tommies, the assorted foreign press awards and reaches a crescendo on Oscar Night on March 10^th.

It wasn’t the Oscars, but the GGlobes had a red carpet and the gathered shutterbugs saw a lively bunch – freed from the shut in strictures of plague and strike - and what with the work and wealth now rolling in, found it high time to flounce and flaunt their fashions and hairdos and brand new ventures. Oprah wore purple to celebrate the new version of "The Color Purple" which she produced (afer starring in the 1985 version) and she's a producer for the 2023 movie, while the "Queen of Christmas," Mariah Carey, marked the holiday with a wintry sleigh ride and a visit to President Joe... taking her twins to the White House to view the Christmas decorations and meet Biden and Vice President Kamala.

As already noted above, Taylor Swift attended the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Las Vegas Raiders game on Christmas Day to support boyfriend Travis Kelce in his resolution to not eat bacon anymore, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend took their four kids to New York for the holiday and, in case the Joneses were wondering, Lance Bass took some silly inspiration from the "Barbie" movie to convince his husband, Michael, that they "absolutely need 35 Christmas trees and new decor every year."

The New York Post made a statement that the despised, the derelict and just out-of-date strived for and, in some cases, enjoyed their day off from infamy. George Santos, speaking from a nail salon, called out for peace and clarity. “I just really want 2024 to be the absolute opposite of 2023.” (December 30, Attachment Nineteen) Fired CNN anchor Don Lemon vowed: “If you thought I was outspoken before, you ain’t seen nothing yet” and Kellyanne Conway, former counselor to President Donald Trump said she hoped for: “A new president, more volunteering, to fall in love, learn how to play golf.”

If she’s really looking for a mate, Tom Arnold’s available. “I haven’t had a date in seven years so my New Year’s resolution is to find my soulmate. A woman of appropriate age, 30 to 80, who’s looking for a 64-year-old single dad with two little kids, not much money and four ex-wives.”

Some resolved to improve their health. Mandy Moore said she’d “love to get my immune system in balance and a little stronger so I can fight colds a little better because I just feel like I have been taken down systematically every time my kids get sick. And my mental health, like, all of it.”

Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino, “Jersey Shore: Family Vacation” star and Knicks and Rangers owner James Dolan resolved to stay clean and sober after eight yeas of white-knuckling it (Mike) and thirty one for Dolan.

And Matthew (“Awright, awright”) McConaughey kept any political plans private, but just said that: “Just because we got things we want to change, does not mean that we can’t also look back and appreciate some of the things that maybe we pulled off in the past.”

The Post did not solicit resolutions from Governor Abbott (R-Tx) but, if they had, they’d probably have something to do with immigration. Or buses.

Blogger Jennifer Zhan sought out more persons of notoriety for Vulture (Jan. 1, Attachment Twenty) including Swift, of course, and Mariah (who went for a New Year’s swim).

John Mayer called Anderson Cooper from a cat café, “inspiring some of Cooper’s best drunken giggles yet,” The Golden Bachelor’s Gerry and Theresa braved the cold and the terrorists to watch the big ball drop in Times Square and others d selfies of themselves with themseives and sometimes with the tabloids

And with the work of the world forthcoming on the other side of the big, blass ball, all of these making their resolutions, hoping not to have to break them too soon were noted, too... well, at least a thousand of them who co-operated with YouGov’s poll of American New Years’ resolutions. Results included the usual... lose weight, be kind to animals and children, maybe get a better job (or any job), do their taxes before April 13^th... and save money. (Attachment Twenty One)

Among Americans who are making New Year’s resolutions, 36% think it’s very likely they’ll keep their resolution through 2024. Another 53% think it’s somewhat likely; relatively few say it’s not very likely (6%) or not likely at all (1%) that they will keep their resolution. Denial is not only a river in Egypt!

YouGov reported that respondents over sixty five were “also largely not setting resolutions” but, if President Joe had any, one would have to be to pray... perhaps to Pope Frank... for more hours in the day.

Hurrying round and about St. Croix in the American Virgins, Joe and Jill attended mass on Saturday, taped a New Year’s Rockin’ Eve interview with Ryan Seacrest and ventured out to a local seafood restaurant. Asked by reporters for his New Year’s resolution as he left the restaurant, Biden said it was “to come back next year.” (New York Times, Attachment Twenty Two) The remark was also picked up by Fox News who also reported that former Biden communications director Kate Bedingfield told CNN’s Dana Bash that, since it’s “absolutely going to be a rocky and challenging and close campaign,” we all love "a New Year's resolution we can keep." (Attachment Twenty Three)

But with polls showing the President trailing the Ex, Biden pointedly evaded answering any questions about Hunter, the Impeachment or other national and world affairs - although Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Ala., chairman of the House GOP Policy Committee, complained to the Fox that Joe’s entire presidency “has been a vacation from reality — 760,000 illegal immigrants encountered at the border since October," and the Judiciary Committee... soon to be tasked with what most see as a retribution Impeachment inquiry... mocked the president last week, calling him “beachfront Biden.”

Gobspacking the grinches, President Joe told Seacrest that he hoped that Americans (and particularly the voters) realized “that we’re in a better position than any country in the world to lead the world,” Biden said. “And we’re coming back, and it’s about time.” (The Hill, Attachment Twenty Four).

A WashPost correspondent... sycophant, Republicans scoffed... penned an opinion piece contending that the U.S. economy in 2023 “was a lot stronger than what many experts predicted.” Heather Long called it “the economic equivalent of an underdog athlete winning gold.” (December 29^th, Attachment Twenty Five)

Long wrote that there were a number of factors that explain why the U.S. did well last year even as other countries struggled: Americans spent more than they did pre-Covid; there’s been a surge in wealth across income levels; and home values have soared, among other reasons. “While spending will likely slow in 2024, be careful betting against the U.S. consumer. As for Biden, he deserves more credit than he’s getting,” she concluded, as opposed to Politico’s Gavin Bade’s contention that the incumbent has “failed to sell” his schemes, leading to the Trumptastic polling data emerging from the womb of 2024.

Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that Homeland Security Secretary ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS, Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN and Biden’s homeland security adviser LIZ SHERWOOD-RANDALL all trekked to Mexico over the holidays – not to enjoy sun and fun and a recreational toot or three, but to negotiate with “Mexican officials” about their own lazy response to the caravans of caravans winding their way north from the Republic and points south while, according to CNN, Joe’s “younger campaign aides” are pressuring the President to instead focus on moments when Trump goes “full Hitler,” said moments becoming increasingly frequent, while occasionally alternating with other episodes of full Jefferson Davis.

And just in case, mind you, just in case the age issue goes ballistic before November, the usually hostile WashXaminer (see above and Attachment Five) interviewed “vice presidential scholar”Joel Goldstein, the Saint Louis University School of Law professor emeritus who predicted that she is on the "upswing" and will be a help rather than hindrance for Biden next year.

"More than most of her recent predecessors, she has embraced a role as public spokesperson for the administration regarding issues of importance, such as reproductive rights, climate change, gun violence, [and] inclusivity," Goldstein told the WashXaminer, "and she has played an important diplomatic role, handling presidential assignments regarding central global and bilateral issues, most recently at the ASEAN meetings, in London at the [artificial intelligence] meetings, and in Dubai regarding climate change, and in her meetings there with Mideast leaders and public statements..." as she “has appeared to start looking past 2024 to 2028, and beyond, as she tries to differentiate herself from Biden while still supporting him.”

So – while Kamalala defended Fort Democracy from the evil, crawling, greedy fingers of foreign and domestic enemies, President Joe, having wrapped up his party phase in St. Croix with Jill and Hunter and, like America, as he hoped, also coming back home to ring in the New Year with a pair of stirring speeches in Pennsylvania (including a Valley Forge tribute to Washington... the President... the flag and the diminished... small “D”... democratic ideal, under fire worldwide) and while security staffers Mayorkas, Blinken and Liz negotiated with Mexicans, Politico took a hard, perhaps jaundiced, look at the insecurities and resolutions of Joe’s non-security cabinet and found something lacking in their resolutions (Attachment Twenty Six) – to wit...

GINA RAIMONDO, Secretary of Commerce

In the New Year, I’m hoping to drink less diet soda.

DEB HAALAND, Secretary of the Interior

This year, I hope to run my first ultra-marathon! I plan to do everything I can when I have spare time to train.

TOM VILSACK, Secretary of Agriculture

In 2023, I spent time studying the ancient sages, who urged people to look for the supernatural, or the extraordinary, in the natural and ordinary events of life — in a sense, looking for God or for acts reflecting God in the day-to-day.

The ancient sages believed by doing this we would grow to appreciate life more and to be more grateful for simple acts of kindness and compassion. In 2024, my resolution is to put this into practice in my own daily life and work.

JULIE SU, acting Secretary of Labor

I resolve to create more space in policy decision making for people who have historically been left out of those decisions. I also resolve to learn to ice skate as well as [Veteran Affairs Secretary] Denis McDonough.

MARCIA FUDGE, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

I really enjoy the theater, and with my travel schedule, I don’t always get a chance to go as often as I’d like. In 2024, I am planning to catch a few more shows.

MICHAEL REGAN, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

In 2024, I resolve to try my hand at baking! I will join forces with my 10-year-old son Matthew to learn how to bake a homemade, gluten-free poundcake.

ISABEL GUZMAN, Administrator of the Small Business Administration

Next year my son will go off to college. I want to spend 2024 sharing more time with him, together with his grandparents, to learn more oral family history.

EVAN RYAN, White House Cabinet Secretary

This year I want to make sure that when I am with my children I am present and am conscious of my phone use around them.

KATHERINE TAI, United States Trade Representative

Adopt a cat. Maybe two. Because everything is a negotiation. Including with my husband.

Bouncing between Iowa’s caucus-goers and his various civil and criminal legal destinations, the once and (if polls may be believed and Supremes grateful) future President Djonald UnDiminished voiced a few simple resolutions to the friendly animals in the WashXaminer zoo... the overriding duo being winning the 2024 campaign and his trials.

Trump is at his strongest point now, according to University of Wisconsin-Madison political science professor and Elections Research Center director Barry Burden.

"He is easily dispatching his Republican competitors, thriving on right-wing media, and relishing in Biden's troubles," Burden told the Washington Examiner. "All of this will change in the new year as Trump is forced to undergo criminal prosecutions and direct criticism from the Biden campaign." (December 31^st, Attachment Twenty Seven)

Cesar Conda, former chief of staff to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), remained adamant Trump first needs to win the Republican nomination against former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who is doing well in New Hampshire. But the founding partner of the GOP lobbying firm Navigators Global conceded the onetime president's "greatest strength is the fact that he looks like an older man full of vitality in contrast to Biden’s largely incoherent way of communicating."

"Assuming Trump is the nominee, his challenge will be to focus on a winning policy agenda of closing the border, reducing living costs, and restoring American strength internationally amidst what will be an unprecedented negative campaign by Joe Biden," Conda said – a negative potentiality potentiated, this week, by Djonald’s remarking about “his desire to be a "dictator" for "one day" and his "poisoning the blood" rhetoric related to immigrants.

Democratic strategist Stefan Hankin was realistic about Biden's election prospects since "he's not going to get younger" and there is no "magic messaging bullet" concerning the economy. The Lincoln Park Strategies president praised the campaign for its early outreach and spending on base persuasion, quipping the president should joke, "'I might be old, but I'm not crazy; which one do you want?'"

Other campaign professionals solicited by the WashXaminer agreed that turnout would be the key – especially with so many voters disliking either candidate

Where President Joe spewed happy talk, the vehemently anti-Trump Guardian U.K. declared that “the likely candidates in the 2024 presidential match-up issued two starkly different new year messages to voters, with Joe Biden striking a note of cheerful optimism as his almost certain challenger, Donald Trump, lashes out” in what the doggedly liberal GUK calls his social media posts “laden with lies and conspiracy theories.,” notwithstanding his simple and inoffensive (if redundant) New Years’ greeting on his Truth Social platform”“Happy New Year. It will be a historic one. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”. (Jan. 1, Attachment Twenty Eight)

Trump and former first lady Melania Trump welcomed 2024 with a concert by the 90s rap star Vanilla Ice, and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle “rock-out”, featuring Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo, at his Mar-a-Lago home and private club, according to the Palm Beach Post.

But on the Eve before New Years’ Eve, the Ex- was in former fine fettle – posting more of his retributive resolutions. “As the New Year fast approaches, I would like to wish an early New Year’s salutation to crooked Joe Biden and his group of radical left misfits and thugs on their never-ending attempt to destroy our nation through lawfare, invasion and rigging elections.”

Happy New Year!

Elsewhere in the world, however, it was a grim, un-merry Christian Christmas in Bethlehem (as also to Orthodix, Jewish and Islamists and extending onward towards an unhappy New Year), given the decision by the Palestinian Christians of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church to side with the people of Gaza (and their duly elected... if coercive... governing body, Hamas) by installing a manger scene where “the newborn Jesus is swaddled in a kaffiyeh amid rubble” to protest the atrocities committed by Israel in this now months-long war.

“This year there will be no tree. No parades, bands or music. No lights. No markets, no feasts, no carols. No Santas handing out candy to the children.

“And no pilgrims. No tourists.

“In place of traditional holiday decorations, one church here has created a simple Nativity scene for Christmas 2023: Jesus enters the world amid a pile of Gazan rubble.” (NPR, December 23^rd, Attachment Twenty Nine)

In his annual Christmas message, Bethlehem Mayor Hanna Hanania spoke this year of mourning — and condemned Israel’s prosecution of the war in Gaza as “ethnic cleansing” and “genocide.”

So did the head of the chamber of commerce. “I am sad and upset at the moral failure of the West” to stop the killing of civilians in Gaza, Samir Hazboun said.

Christian clergy here use similar language, blaming the failure to protect the innocent on world leaders including President Biden.

“If Jesus were born today,” said he Rev. Munther Isaac, “he would be born in Gaza amid the rubble.”

“Who can sing ‘Joy to the World’ today?”

With war, hunger and brutality raging – not only in the MidEast, Ukraine and the failed states sending millioss of migrants towards the American border, but in lesser-known hellholes across the globe, America’s enemies sent especially warm greetings... perhaps even hymns of appreciation of the worldwide drift towards dictatorship.

His Russian Orthodox Christmas delayed until yesterday, Euronews reminded us of Christmas, 2023... the Orthodox version of January 7^th, when Mad Vlad Putin attended Christmas mass alone... “Russia's most secure cathedral was ordered to stage a midnight Orthodox Christmas service so President Vladimir Putin could worship alone.” (Attachment Thirty)

Footage released by the Kremlin showes him standing alone as Orthodox priests in golden robes conducted a ceremony holding long candles while, in Kyiv's Pechersk Lavra Cathedral, hundreds attended the Christmas Day service - despite below-freezing temperatures in Ukraine's capital. Many heard it spoken in Ukrainian for the first time, a demonstration of independence from the Russian orthodox church.

This year, Putin addressed Russians in a video that ran under four minutes long, significantly shorter than the New Year’s speech he gave last year, according to state news agency RIA Novosti describing 2023 as a year marked by “high levels of unity in Russian society.” (A.P. Attachment Thirty One)

As he enters 2024, Putin is wagering that the West’s support for Ukraine will gradually crumble due to political divisions, war fatigue and other diplomatic demands, such as China’s menacing of Taiwan and war in the Middle East.

Putin is seeking reelection in a March 17 presidential election that he is all but certain to win. Under constitutional reforms he orchestrated, the 71-year-old leader is eligible to seek two more six-year terms after his current term expires, potentially allowing him to remain in power until 2036.

Across the tundra to Beijing – where President Xi rang in 2024 with”a rare admission that China’s economy is in trouble,” according to CNN (Attachment Thirty Two)

This is the first time Xi has mentioned economic challenges in his annual New Year’s messages since he started giving them in 2013. It comes at a critical juncture for the world’s second largest economy, which is grappling with a structural slowdown marked by weak demand, rising unemployment and battered business confidence.

Acknowledging the “headwinds” facing the country, Xi admitted in the televised speech: “Some enterprises had a tough time. Some people had difficulty finding jobs and meeting basic needs.”

“All these remain at the forefront of my mind,” Xi said in remarks which were also widely circulated by state media. “We will consolidate and strengthen the momentum of economic recovery.”

But economy be damned... Xi also promised that the Chinese mainland would be “reunified” with Taiwan, by force or by fear or by American fumbling... reiterating Beijing’s long-held stance on the self-ruled island democracy, with a strongly worded comment ahead of a crucial election there on Saturday where current Vice President Lai Ching-te, “a candidate openly loathed by Beijing, has been seen as a frontrunner.”

Read the full text of his message/diatribe as Attachment Thirty Three.

And further out there in Pyongyang, Dictator Kim vowed to launch additional military spy satellites and attack drones, as reported by the Daily Mail on New Years’ Eve (Attachment Thirty Four)

Kim, who also appeared to designate that his daughter would succed him in the event of some unfortunate NoKo development, called for his country to have 'overwhelming' war readiness to cope with US led confrontational moves, state media reported – saying that 'viscous' anti-North Korea moves by the US and its allies had 'reached the extremes unprecedented in history,' pushing the Korean Peninsula to the brink of a nuclear war.

Experts believe if Kim decided to boost his nuclear capability it could give him another chance for high-stakes diplomacy with the U.S. to win sanctions relief if his apparent good friend, former President Donald Trump. returns to the White House.

Other saints, scoundrels and statesmen worldwide celebrated (or, in the MidEast and Ukraine) survived the holidays. In a theological, as well as political repudiation of Russian hegemony, Ukrainians celebrated the Western Christmas on December 25^th, scrapping their former Orthodox holiday.

“The change reflects Ukrainians’ dismay at the 22-month-old Russian invasion and their assertion of a national identity,” declared Al Jazeera (Attachment Thirty Five).

The change was enacted in a law signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in July, reflecting both the Ukrainians’ dismay with the 22-month-old Russian invasion and their assertion of a national identity.

“We are separating ourselves from the neighbour who is currently trying to destroy our state, who is killing our people, destroying our homes, and burning our land,” said Oksana Poviakel, the director of the Pyrohiv Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine.

Even Hamas hellraiser Yahya Sinwar acceded to tradition and granted... or, rather, imposed... his blessings on the world and on his followers in Palestine, Tehran and New York.

“Hamas is facing a “fierce, violent and unprecedented battle” against Israel, Sinwar acknowledged in a message to Hamas’s political leadership. But he also claimed that the terror group was on its way to crushing the Israel Defense Forces, and, referring to Israel, said Hamas will not submit to “the occupation’s conditions.” (Tunes of Israel, December 25^th, Attachment Thirty Six)

Egypt, however, met with Hamas leaders to discuss a “a two-week truce that could become a permanent ceasefire if Hamas agrees to allow a Palestinian technocratic government to take control of Gaza, and to gradually release all Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of a certain number of Palestinian prisoners.

“The three-stage plan would begin with a two-week halt to the fighting, extendable to three or four, in exchange for the release of 40 Israeli hostages — women, minors, and elderly men, especially sick ones.

“In return, Israel would release 120 Palestinian security prisoners of the same categories.

But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday evening bitch-slapped Cairo as well as wandering diplomat Blinken byreiterating his longstanding position that the Gaza offensive will not stop until Hamas is destroyed. He has repeatedly stressed the three pillars of Israel’s campaign are to destroy Hamas, remove it from power in Gaza, and release the hostages.

“We are deepening the war in the Gaza Strip,” Netanyahu said in a video statement. “We will continue to fight until complete victory over Hamas. That is the only way to bring back the hostages, to eliminate Hamas, and to ensure that Gaza will no longer be a threat to Israel.” Somewhat like the American Congress, he is both bolstered and threated by Israelis of an even further right-wing belief... some of whom propose occupation and dominion over Gaza, perhaps as a prelude to genocide.

And lastly, the holiday greetings everybody was waiting to receive and appreciate... Iran!

Mollycoddling the monsters, the muggles and mullahs and, for that matter, the wizards of Ould Persepolis, Mehr News reported that some 300,000 believers (i.e. infidels) celebrated a joyful and unobstructed Christmas with music, including traditional hymns and carols, as well as prayers and sermons and readings from the Bible.

Decorating the Christmas tree is the most fun part of preparing for the holiday, Mehr added. Just like everywhere else, decorating a pine Christmas tree is an old tradition, which is held by Christians.

“The pine trees get covered with all sorts of decorations, like ornaments, colorful strings of lights, tinsels, and other desired stuff by their owners. Edible items such as gingerbread, candy canes, and other sweets are also popular to get tied to the tree’s branches with ribbons.

“The last touch that needs to be added to the Christmas tree is hanging the shiny star at the top. You can see the Christmas designs behind the windows or at the entrances of different shopping malls and hotels being displayed around the Christian neighborhoods of Tehran and Isfahan.”

This holiday highlights the universal themes of peace, joy, and community, uniting Iranians and visitors in the festive spirit. It’s a time when the true essence of Christmas – harmony, diversity, and unity – shines brightly across Iran.

And lastly, the work to get back to. Those responsible know what awaits, and those not responsible have plenty of pollsters and pundits and prying and peeping eyes to tell them what will matter and what won’t... one of the favorite fancies of the talking class has been and will be to single out the two or five or twenty most important issues that Don Jones will watch over the year to come... from war and debt, from weather and gas prices and, too, from the primaries, caucuses and chaos in Iowa and New Hampshire all the way to the Presidential Superbowl in November (and after, given the near certainty of a close race, vengeance for the winners, denial for the losers and accusations of fraud that will, more than likely, go back to the courts)...

Foreigners will watch with shock and awe... disgust deepening for America’s shrinking roster of alternatives and allies, greed and gloating for our enemies, resentment and beggary for the left behinds of the world.

Many Joneses will retreat to their basements of despair and denial and distractions – and, before hard reality must be faced (beginning with the inexorable and inexorably punted debt crisis arriving on America’s doorstep on Groundhog Day that Republicans insist will not... not... be punted away again) we’ll kick the can-kick away one last time next week with the tabloid terror as might (or might not) impact the fortunes of Mister Jones... the swelling and suppurating disclosures as are being doled out regarding Jeffrey Epstein, his accomplices, friends and victims.

Even Pope Frank (above and Attachment One) swerved to the gynecological right only days after his Marian sermon... condemning the sin of surrogacy for the infertile and expressing hope that the police would enforce his restrictions – telling women who want to be mothers, but can’t, to just shut up, obey and pray. Or lose themselves in the spectacle.

But hope abides. This morning, a tentative beginning of the debt crisis resolution was announced – in hope that America might wake up, deal with the wars and the border, the inflation, climate and other problems.

You just can’t wait, can you? But you will. Enjoy the Goblin... er, Golden... Globes, bid the Golden Newlyweds adieu, enjoy (if you can afford ESPN or that streamer the dog with the human hands wants to sell you) the NCAA college football finals next week, the NFL playoffs to come, a few more Hollywood sequels and spectacles to come and the rest of the wonderful noise before the final whistle as the Fiscal, (small-D) Democratic and Humanitarian Clocks toll for America.

Our Lesson: January First through Eighth, 2024

Monday, January 1, 2024

Dow: Closed

New Years’ Day, 2024 erupts out of the magma bubble of 2023 with the usual suspects suspending their usual things to welcome the season (above). Don Jones counts down the firsts; as often is the case there are twins – one born at 11:58 Sunday, the second at 12:04 AM today.

Both will enter a world of increasing insecurity, anxiety and war. The physical wars show no layoffs for the holidays – Russia and Ukraine shelling each other’s civilians, Israeli PM Netanyahu promising a full year of war. President Joe begs him to de-escalate the prophecies, Bibi tosses him a shekel and tells him to find someone who cares.

The seers and soothsayers, of course, are careing much and scrying the entrails. In the crystal ball... more terror; after the bad guys slack off for Christmas (and Hanukah and Kwanzaa), police and the media warn of imminent danger on New Years Eve, which again fails to materialize except for a few isolated incidents in out-of-the-way places.

The serious action is over in Japan where a 7.5 earthquake kills dozens and raises threats of tsunamis. This is followed by a plane crash on a Tokyo runway where a passenger jet collides with a military plane... all 300 passengers are saved by quick thinking, quick acting flight crew (but the fireball kills five on the Coast Guard plane).

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Dow: 37,715.04

The world goes back to work after a final repast... it’s National Buffet Day and the gluttons are bellying up to the tables before succumbing to their resolutions to lose weight, stay sober, be afraid of hidden dangers and, at all costs, avoid fun. Dieting, fear and exercise are second nature to the warstruck – food is scarce, fear is plentiful and you can lose even more weight running from the bombs.

Virtuous millenials and pro-Hamas demonstrators march around – but at airports, not Times Square, And such terror as manifests in New York does so upstate... in Rochester where a white SUV loaded with gas cans rams and kills pedestrians for a cause still unknown.

Harvard’s embattled black female President resigns after bungling an interview question about anti-Semitism; woke leftist students and racist Republicans battle for credit. The latter are also on fire about illegal migrants as the numbers arrive: 302K in December, up from November’s 270K.

For the good news, go to Michigan where the Wolverines beat Alabama in the Rose Bowl to gain the final playoff spot against Washington (the state) in the brawl for it all today. Further, one lucky gambler holds the winning $840M Powerball lotto ticket.

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Dow: 37,430.19

It’s “Women Who Rock” Day...

And none of you bitches rocked harder than Mother Nature – tossing her hair down and ripping off her top to storm and squall and snow... the slut! January came a knockin’ like... well... January; albeit a little warmer than usual to begin with, generating downpours, floods and landslides from Monterey across America to Manhattan (where the weatherpeople predicted a cold snap would snap the ungodly string of snowless days that extended back two years).

At least Don Jones was not in Japan, where the earth was still rocking with aftershocks and airplanes rolling under the scrutiny of disgraced air traffic controllers as are now being blamed for the fatal crash that killed five Coast Guardsmen but spared some three hundred fortunate souls.

And time stood still again and the old movies played again: the wars... Russia exchanging missile and drone strikes with Ukrainians worried that American elephants would cut off their arms and ammunition; Israel venturing into Lebanon to terminate a top Hamas official and perhaps start a wider conflict; Iranians fleeing for their lives after someone bombed the memorial service for a dead terrorist princeling – the politics (Saint Ron and Nikki storming through Iowa, Djonald UnConcerned dispatching angry tweets, mostly focused on Jack Smith, the D.A. overseeing two of his four criminal cases – the rest of the legal issues (a yawning SCOTUS rising from sleepytime to face abortion and insurrection cases, Alex Murdaugh and Carolina Panthers’ billionaire owner David Tepper fined $300,000 for throwing a drink at a Jacksonville fan during another shutout loss) – disorder on the border, debt (now over $300,000 for every Jones in Jonestown – no drink either) and the return of The Mask as the tripledemic boogies up.

Thursday, January 4, 2024

Dow: 37,754.52

And now, for women who cook: it’s National Spaghetti Day.

The red stuff was flowing in Iran and it wasn’t marinara... the mullahs reflexively blamed Israel but up stepped John Kirby to respond that it was Isis (or maybe Al Qaeda) blowing up the Hamas/Hezbollah pity party. Are the Islamic Jihadists as petty as American political parties with the infighting and jealousy? And if so, is that good or bad?

Anger grows over disqualification of The Donald from The Ballots in Maine and Colorado and, in Nevada, an insurrectionist jumps over the bench to beat the judge to sentenced him to prison. He wasn’t MAGA, nor Hamas, nor Isis... just a chronic criminal... but states and cities are looking to call in the Justice League to protect their justices. Courts are fielding threats, from SCOTUS on down, but no overt political actions.

Trump facing more trouble before his court cases begin – reporters tracking the financial dealings of Donald, Don Junior and Eric report that Trump Towers and other ventures, while he was President, raked in big bucks from foreigners like the Saudis and ChinaChinaChina.

The Golden Bachelor has a TV Golden Wedding with the golden girl of his dreams and... out there and up where in Oregon, a Golden Retriever falls off a cliff and is rescued by heroic rescuers.

Friday, January 5, 2024

Dow: 37,466.11

President Joe kicks off his campaign with public speeches in Pennsylvania – hailing the heroes of Valley Forge and denouncing his presumed rival Trump. There’s good news in the final jobs report of 2023... America added 216K new hires, better than the predicted 170K and the Fed’s rumbling of more interest rate hikes is diminishing.

Back to work for SCOTUS and their first order of business is to fast-track a hearing and decision on Colorado’s kicking Trump off the primary ballot. They’ll start hearing arguments on February 8^th and, hopefully, make their decision before Super Tuesday. They also uphold the Idaho courts’ decision to ban all abortions, even when the mother’s life is otherwise doomed.

In other legal news, Paralympian and killer Oscar Pistorius is released on parole in South Africa and Gypsy Rose Blanchard is paroled for killing her mother, who abused her with Munchausen’s-by-proxy and cut out her salivary glands to gain sympathy and money. Her agenda – go on TV, write a book and sell merch (and supporters launch a “Tipsy for Gypsy Tik Tok site.

Saturday, January 6, 2024

Dow: Closed

It’s the third anniversary of the One Six and, while Djonald UnChained praises the rioters as “hostages”, the Supremes for quickly taking up his Colorado case and massages the gun lobby by saying that the children shot in Perry, Iowa shound “move on and get over it.” Biden denounces his “dereliction of duty”, calling Jan. 6, 2021 “the day we almost lost America”. Eric Trump calls reports that the family raked in millions from the Chinese, Saudis and other foreigners a non-issue because Daddy gave the money to charity.

Convicted felon who jumped the podium and started beating the sentencing judge in Nevada draws cries from law enforcement to improve courtroom security. Two thirds of Republicans approve of the One Six violence and says Trump is right and rioters/hostages should be pardoned – from Saint Ron and Nikki.... crickets.

Another jumper is the naked man who jumps into the fish tank at the Bass Pro Shop franchise in Alabama. Maybe he was hungry, or following the Mediterranean Diet – all the rage of late.

Sunday, January 7, 2024

Dow: Closed

The first full week of 2024 ends with the long-awaited (or dreaded) superstorm crossing America from the soggy Pacific (with Seattle’s first blizzard in a decade expected next week) to the BosWash Corrider - where the first blizzard in two years has lazy chaingangers hauling out the chains and snowshovels while municipal governments haul the sand and the salt out of storage to deal with the stalled cars and jackknifed trucks on the highways.

Friends and foes of former President Trump flock to the Sunday talkshows to their opinions on Ol’ 45 after his latest round of tweets and tirades. Being somewhat to hard leftists, the reckonings are denunciatory in tone, despairing in aspects as the majority of Americans who care are determined to show the world their middle fingers. Nancy Pelosi expresses shame and horror that Team Trump is challenging the electoral legitimacy... not only 2020’s but 1860’s... and waving Confederate flags. The ABC round table knights (three liberals and a Trump traitor) claim that he is poisoning America’s blood, but gives the devil his due for his reshaping of the Jan. 6^th narrative. All agree that SCOTUS, not the people, will decide 2024’s election and that Chief Justice Roberts will decide the direction of the Court.

But Americans, the smart people sneer, are more interested in the price of bacon and in distractions like football, the Golden Globes (where “Oppenheimer” wins best drama, as expected, but “Barbie” is upset by “Poor Things” in the comedy/musical category) and the ongoing posthumous adventures of Jeffie Epstein.

The first full Index of 2024 rocketed upwards almost a hundred points as Americans’ income finally began to catch up with inflation. There was also an increase in government revenues (taxes), a favorable balance of trade

THE DON JONES INDEX

CHART of CATEGORIES w/VALUE ADDED to EQUAL BASELINE of 15,000

(REFLECTING… approximately… DOW JONES INDEX of June 27, 2013)

Negative/harmful indices in RED. See a further explanation of categories here…

ECONOMIC INDICES (60%)

CATEGORY	VALUE	BASE	RESULTS			SCORE		OUR SOURCES and COMMENTS
INCOME	(24%)	6/17/13 & 1/1/22	LAST	CHANGE	NEXT	LAST WEEK	THIS WEEK
Wages (hrly. Per cap)	9%	1350 points	12/25/23	+0.38%	1/24	1,477.19	1,477.19	https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/wages 29.30
Median Inc. (yearly)	4%	600	12/25/23	+8.7%	1/15/24	613.40	666.75	http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 39,317
Unempl. (BLS – in mi)	4%	600	12/25/23	-5.41%	1/24	616.55	616.55	http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000/ 3.7
Official (DC – in mi)	2%	300	12/25/23	-3.3%	1/15/24	242.47	250.46	http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 6,373
Unofficl. (DC – in mi)	2%	300	12/25/23	+0.71%	1/15/24	290.01	287.96	http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 11,180
Workforce Particip. Number Percent	2%	300	12/25/23	+0.49% +0.72%	1/15/24	301.92	304.09	In 162,311 Out 99,469 Total: 261,780 http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 62.00
WP % (ycharts)*	1%	150	12/25/23	-0.48%	1/24	151.67	150.95	https://ycharts.com/indicators/labor_force_participation_rate 62.50
OUTGO	15%


Total Inflation	7%	1050	11/23	+0.1%	1/24	973.14	973.14	http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm +0.1 nc
Food	2%	300	11/23	+0.2%	1/24	274.62	274.62	http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm +0.2
Gasoline	2%	300	11/23	-6.0%	1/24	247.04	247.04	http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm -6.0
Medical Costs	2%	300	11/23	+0.6%	1/24	294.01	294.01	http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm +0.6
Shelter	2%	300	11/23	+0.3%	1/24	269.20	269.20	http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm +0.3

WEALTH	6%
*Dow* Jones Index	2%	300	12/25/23	+0.21%	1/15/24	308.68	309.34	https://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/index/ 37,466.11
Home (Sales) (Valuation)	1% 1%	150 150	12/25/23	+0.79% -1.07%	1/24	123.97 279.71	123.97 279.71	https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics nc Sales (M): 3.82 Valuations (K): 387.6
Debt (Personal)	2%	300	12/25/23	+0.24%	1/15/24	270.31	269.67	http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 75,104
NATIONAL	(10%)
Revenue (trilns.)	2%	300	12/25/23	+4.86%	1/15/24	372.94	391.06	debtclock.org/ 4,600
Expenditures (tr.)	2%	300	12/25/23	-2.65%	1/15/24	332.80	323,98	debtclock.org/ 6,344
National Debt tr.)	3%	450	12/25/23	+0.15%	1/15/24	396.54	395.95	http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 34,016 *(The debt ceiling... now kicked forward to next year.. had* been 31.4. Of late, there have been rumblings and mutterings from Congress, that it should be addressed sooner… like now?)**
Aggregate Debt (tr.)	3%	450	12/25/23	-6.59%	1/15/24	383.16	408.41	http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 97,362

GLOBAL	(5%)
Foreign Debt (tr.)	2%	300	12/25/23	-2.21%	1/15/24	316.73	323.72	http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 7,611
Exports (in billions)	1%	150	11/23	-0.88%	12/23	160.74	160.74	https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/current/index.html 258.8 nc
Imports (bl.)	1%	150	11/23	+0.09%	12/23	169.60	169.60	https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/current/index.html 323.0
Trade Deficit (bl.)	1%	150	1123	+4.65%	12/23	325.85	325.85	https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/current/index.html 64.5

SOCIAL INDICES (40%)
ACTS of MAN	12%
World Affairs	3%	450	12/25/23	+0.4%	1/15/24	455.62	457.44	The world welcomes 2024 with festivities and fireworks from New Zealand west to Maui U.S. state department gives Xmas gift to America - says passport delay being addressed so tourists can soon travel to exotic foreign places, like... uh...
War and terrorism	2%	300	12/25/23	+0.3%	1/15/24	296.94	297.83	Israel crosses into Lebanon to kill the Hamas #2 man and widen the war. 95 killed, hundreds injured as Iranian mastermind memorial service – they blame Israel, CIA says it’s ISIS in intra-terrorist feud. Rich, young pro-Hamas students march around in circles and then lay New Years Eve siege to airports, not Times Square (too many Kops n’ K-9s). Vehicular terror strikes the state, but in... Rochester?
Politics	3%	450	12/25/23	nc	1/15/24	482.84	482.84	St. Ron and Nikki march ‘round Iowa, but Trump still dominates the polls. Get ready for a sleazy 2020 rerun? GOP attacks President Joe as migrant crossings rise from 270K in November to 320K in December. SCOTUS rewards Trump by fast-tracking his Colorado ballot ban.
Economics	3%	450	12/25/23	+0.2%	1/15/24	441.49	442.37	Minimum wage increases in 22 states... highest is Washington, up to $16.25. Lowest is still the $7.25 Federal minimum and inflation be damned. And debt? There’s a post-Christmas drop (above) but Republicans complain that the average load is $330K for every American.
Crime	1%	150	12/25/23	-0.3%	1/15/24	243.81	243.08	School shooter bags seven in Perry, Iowa – Trump tells shot students to “get over it.” Rich You Tube clown off to jail for crashing plane to get social media “likes”. Cyberhackers target foreign exchange students. Pastor accused of attempting to plunge boyfriend’s face into a McDonalds’ fry pit. Grinch steals $44K worth of Legos from warehouse holding them for poor and sick children.
ACTS of GOD	(6%)
Environment/Weather	3%	450	12/25/23	-0.3%	1/15/24	394.62	393.43	Weatherpeople warn of massive snowfall in NE after almost two years of snow drought and, in the next round of storms, once-in-a-decade Seattle blizzard. Tides are still high in California, but surf’s up in Maui where, unfortunately...
Disasters	3%	450	12/25/23	-0.5%	1/15/24	422.96	420.85	... so are the sharks, one of which kills and eats a surfer. Bad times in Japan – an earthquake with aftershocks and threats of tsunamis, followed by a fatal air crash that could have been worse, but for the heroics of the crew. Dozens injured but nobody killed as NYC subway trains collide.
LIFESTYLE/JUSTICE INDEX			(15%)
Science, Tech, Educ.	4%	600	12/25/23	-0.3%	1/15/24	634.67	632.77	Virtue signaling ascendant. Protesters protest bullying left/right coalition that hectors Harvard president Gay to resign for ambiguous response to anti-Semitism questioning that has left and right factions united in chaotic, confused hate,.
Equality (econ/social)	4%	600	12/25/23	-0.3%	1/15/24	636.82	634.91	Gay is a black female, but so what? And what was the Civil War but a needless and costly distraction according to Nikki Haley and Donald Trump, somrthingthat should have just been negotiated away.
Health	4%	600	12/25/23	-0.2%	1/15/24	471.51	470.57	Hospitals bring back masking after tripledemic surge. TV doctors say drinking a beer causes mouth cancer. Lowe’s recalls pressure washers that catch fire.
Freedom and Justice	3%	450	12/25/23	nc	1/15/24	470.56	470.56	2024 ushers in New Laws: Indiana bans books, Illinois bans bans and, further, legalizes fuzzy dice hanging from the rear view mirror. Old criminals who broke old laws still on trial.
MISCELLANEOUS and TRANSIENT INDEX					(6%)
Cultural incidents	3%	450	12/25/23	+0.2%	1/15/24	515.88	516.91	Awards season kicks off with Golden Globes... Cedric the Entertainer’s CEDY awards honor homemade viral videos. In sports, God and mercy are missing as Grambling tops the College of Bible Studies ballers 159-18 while, in football, playoff-excluded Georgia makes a 63-3 statement against Florida State. In the games as matter, Washington upsets Texas and Michigan outlasts Alabama and they’ll meet tonight. Among the pros, Carolina owner Dave Tepper fined $300K for throwing a drink at a taunting fanboy as the Panthers are shut out again. RIP:“Mary Poppins” actress Glynis Johns,
Misc. incidents	3%	450	12/25/23	+0.2%	1/15/24	499.45	501.45	Lawsuit forces release of Jeffrey Epstein documents that will ensnare numberous celebrities in valid or invalid webs of deceit. World’s largest venomous spider found in Australia. Another Michigan win: lucky gambler cops the $800M Powerball. Comet the Shih-Tsu wins Dog of the Year.

The Don Jones Index for the week of January 1st through 7^th, 2024 was UP 99.55 points

The Don Jones Index is sponsored by the Coalition for a New Consensus: retired Congressman and Independent Presidential candidate Jack “Catfish” Parnell, Chairman; Brian Doohan, Administrator. The CNC denies, emphatically, allegations that the organization, as well as any of its officers (including former Congressman Parnell, environmentalist/America-Firster Austin Tillerman and cosmetics CEO Rayna Finch) and references to Parnell’s works, “Entropy and Renaissance” and “The Coming Kill-Off” are fictitious or, at best, mere pawns in the web-serial “Black Helicopters” – and promise swift, effective legal action against parties promulgating this and/or other such slanders.

Comments, complaints, donations (especially SUPERPAC donations) always welcome at feedme@generisis.com or: speak@donjonesindex.com.

ATTACHMENT ONE - FROM AMERICA, the JESUIT REVIEW

POPE FRANCIS BEGINS 2024 HIGHLIGHTING THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH AND PEACEMAKING

By Gerard O’Connell January 01, 2024

Pope Francis opened the new year by highlighting in his homily for the Jan. 1 feast of Mary, Mother of God, and his Angelus message the same day, the central role women have played in salvation history and that they still have for bringing peace to the world of the 21st century.

Addressing a congregation of seven thousand Catholics from all continents gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica on New Year’s Day, including cardinals, bishops, women and men religious, lay people, and ambassadors from the 184 countries that have diplomatic relations with the Holy See, Francis spoke about the role God gave to women in the history of the world, and the important role women have to play today in both the church and society.

He began by reminding them, “God becomes man, and he does so through a woman, Mary. She is the means chosen by God, the culmination of that long line of individuals and generations that ‘drop by drop’ prepared for the Lord’s coming into the world. She stands at the very heart of the mystery of time. It pleased God to turn history around through her, the woman.”

“The Mother and Child mark a new creation, a new beginning,” the pope said; “the Lord, a tiny child in his mama’s arms, has united himself forever to our humanity, to the point that it is no longer only ours, but his as well.”

Pope Francis, speaking in a strong voice after recovering from bronchitis, said, “The church needs Mary in order to recover her own feminine face” which, he said, means making “space for women and [being] ‘generative’ through a pastoral ministry marked by concern and care, patience and maternal courage.” His words echoed the increasingly pressing call that has come from Catholics around the world through the synods on the family, the Amazon, and the ongoing Synod on Synodality, asking church leadership to open up greater spaces and roles of responsibility for women in the church of the 21st century.

In his homily, Pope Francis emphasized the role women play in a world that is suffering from violence and, as he often says, a “third world war” that is being waged “piecemeal.”

“The world, too, needs to look to mothers and to women in order to find peace, to emerge from the spiral of violence and hatred, and once more see things with genuinely human eyes and hearts,” he said.

He continued, “Every society needs to accept the gift that is woman, every woman: to respect, defend and esteem women, in the knowledge that whosoever harms a single woman profanes God, who was ‘born of a woman.’”

His defense of women comes at a time in Italy when violence against women has been increasing, and several brutal femicides have sparked outrage across the nation. The pope also closely follows situations of war, in which women have suffered: more than 6,500 women have already been killed as a result of the Israeli bombardment in Gaza, while others were killed or suffered violence in the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, and in the wars being waged in Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and other places.

“Our times, bereft of peace, need a Mother who can reunite the human family. Let us look to Mary, in order to become artisans of unity,” the pope said. He added, “For she unites them and consoles them; she listens to their troubles and she dries their tears. Let us entrust this coming year to the Mother of God.”

"Let us entrust this coming year to the Mother of God.”

Speaking to tens of thousands of pilgrims at the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square at midday, including many participants in a march for peace organized by the Sant’Egidio lay community, Pope Francis again urged believers to turn to Mary in this new year and ask her to intercede for peace in the world.

He told them: “let us look to Mary and, with a grateful heart, let us also think of and look at mothers, to learn that love that is cultivated above all in silence, that knows how to make room for the other, respecting their dignity, leaving the freedom to express themselves, rejecting every form of possession, oppression and violence. There is a great need for this today.”

He recalled that his message for this year’s World Day of Peace, which is celebrated Jan. 1, reminds us that “freedom and peaceful coexistence are threatened whenever human beings yield to the temptation to selfishness, self-interest, the desire for profit and the thirst for power.” Love, on the other hand, Francis said, “consists of respect and kindness: in this way, it breaks down barriers and helps us to live fraternal relationships, to build up more just and humane, more peaceful societies.”

The pope urged believers, “Let us pray to Mary, mother of God and our mother, that in the new year we may grow in this meek, silent and discreet love that generates life, and open paths of peace and reconciliation in the world.”

He also called on those in St. Peter’s Square and worldwide to pray for peace in countries suffering from war, and especially “the martyred Ukraine, Palestine and Israel.” He also asked them to pray for the bishops and priests in Nicaragua “who have been deprived of their liberty in recent days.” He expressed his closeness to them, and to the entire church and people of Nicaragua, and appealed “for a dialogue that can overcome the problems.”

He concluded by wishing everyone Happy New Year and asked them not to forget to pray for him.

ATTACHMENT TWO – FROM THE WHITE HOUSE

WHERE DID BIDEN SPEND CHRISTMAS?

U.S. President Joe Biden and several family members headed to Camp David, the presidential retreat in nearby Maryland, for the Christmas holiday. Biden and family members, including daughter Ashley Biden, son Hunter Biden and grandson Beau Biden, left the White House Saturday.Dec 24, 2023.

ATTACHMENT THREE – FROM THE NEW YORK POST

DEPRAVED PRO-TERRORIST PROTESTERS TRY TO CANCEL CHRISTMAS AS POLITICIANS CODDLE THEM

By Bob McManus Published Dec. 26, 2023, 12:10 p.m. ET

MORE ON:JOE BIDEN

· Team Biden hinders Ukraine victory, politicians clueless on AI and other commentary

· The growing lunacy of free health insurance for migrants

· Democrat vying for Santos seat blames feds for New York migrant crisis, begs Biden for help

· Charlemagne Tha God feels ‘burned’ by Biden endorsement, says Kamala Harris ‘disappeared’

President Biden spent more than a third of the past year at a getaway spot — either one of his Delaware residences, a posh vacation site or Camp David, according to a Post review of public records.

The 81-year-old commander in chief was away at one of the relaxing locations or famous retreat 138 days in 2023 — or 37% of the time.

Delaware was a favorite spot for the president, who spent 90 days, including frequent weekends and one prolonged vacation, at either his personal residence in the tony Wilmington suburb of Greenville or his sun-and-sand hideaway in Rehoboth.

He spent 22 days, including travel time, on official vacation in all in 2023. That time was enjoyed at either his Delaware homes or in St. Croix, Lake Tahoe or Nantucket.

He also was at Camp David 26 days, not including the two days he was prepping and getting ready for a trilateral summit.

Biden’s number of getaway days in 2023 was only slightly down from 2022, when he spent more than 38% of that year at the same locations.

The data involves full or partial days that the president spent at the sites.

The White House has maintained the president can work from anywhere and does not have to stay in Washington, DC, to do his job.

Dalton also pointed to Republicans in Congress.

Biden — who historically rode Amtrak to get out of DC when he was a senator — outpaces all recent presidents in terms of days away from Washington. George H.W. Bush was his closest competitor, spending 36% of his presidency at a getaway spot, according to calculations.

Former President Donald Trump, who liked to spend time at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, was out of town 26% of his time in the White House.

The Bidens stayed for free in the US Virgin Islands at the three-bedroom luxury villa owned by billionaire Democratic donors Bill and Connie Neville.Calabash Real Estate Groucho!

Biden went on five notable vacations in 2023, frequently staying at luxurious estates thanks to his Democratic benefactors.

The first family started off 2023 at a swanky compound in St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands owned by billionaire Democratic donors Bill and Connie Neville. The Bidens enjoyed the Nevilles’ stunning $4 million property free of charge.

In August alone, Biden spent 20 days either in Delaware or vacationing at his 2020 Democratic rival Tom Steyer’s $20 million Lake Tahoe estate.

The White House said the Bidens were renting the property from Steyer for “fair market value.”

Joe and Jill Biden eventually jetted off to Hawaii from the Lake Tahoe estate to survey the damage caused by the Maui wildfires before soon returning to Nevada.

Some vacation days let Biden exercise and relax and also take a break from the happenings of the Oval Office. Biden admitted in August that he did not “know enough” about the details surrounding the death of Russian mercenary leader Yevgeney Prizoghin because he was in a spin class for an “hour and a half.”

For Thanksgiving, Biden’s family stayed at David Rubenstein’s Nantucket estate for the third year in a row. The private equity mogul’s property is valued at $38.9 million, is situated on nearly 14 acres and features a private pool, hot tub and tennis court.

The president’s aides refused to disclose to The Post whether the first family paid for their six-day stay at the Massachusetts mansion.

Biden then went to St. Croix again to finish off 2023, staying for free with his “friends,” the Nevilles. The first family stayed at the resort for six days free of charge.

Their free stay is valued at over $6,000, according to the rental listing on VRBO.

The multiple free vacations during Biden’s presidency have raised questions from ethicists after he failed to disclose the trips on his annual financial forms. The gifts have been compared to the trips taken by conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas with real estate billionaire Harlan Crow, sojourns which drew ire from Democrats.

Peanut Gallery

Trulylatino

2 days ago

If President Donald 👱‍♂️ Trump would have done the same thing, spent 37% at a getaway spots, he would have been criticized by the 💻 fake 📰 media 📺 24/7.

But the vegetable, 👉 👴🏻 🥦 they leave alone, and barely mention it.

o Centrist Cynic

2 days ago

Agreed, and G W Bush as well.

o Mr. Nice Guy

2 days ago

He did at his resorts and the taxpayers paid for it.

· Mike S

2 days ago

He’s committing crimes. If he wasn’t then there’d be transparency. Anybody with a tiny bit of common sense knows this, and nothing will be done about it. why are the worst people our elected officials? I wish we could start over. This version of America is in its last days.

o MrBrew33

1 day ago

Committing crimes? tRump is on trial accused of 91 felonies and has several upcoming trials.

· Norrin Grisbane

1 day ago

Biden has broken his oath of office to defend the citizens and the country from harm. He has done this purposely, by giving aid and comfort to the enemy. For context, here is the definition of enemy from the American Heritage Dictionary:

One who feels hatred toward, intends injury to, or opposes ano...

· Bonnie Lee

2 days ago

Even when he’s at work….he’s not there. The lights are on but nobody’s at home.

o Chilli Palmer

1 day ago

Since he's not really the person pulling the strings, it doesn't matter where he spends his time.

· Leftistsarehypocrites

2 days ago

And 25 percent of the time, he's wondering how he got somewhere or where he even is. And the rest of the 38 percent of the time, he spends falling asleep at important events.

· Mark Jones

2 days ago

Biden spent 37% of 2023 at a getaway spot.

Doesn't matter. 100% of the WH staff's and his cabinet's time was spent implementing Obama Shadow Govt policies. That's why we are where we are.

Rotten Johnny

2 days ago

Too bad he didn't spend 100% of his presidency in a getaway spot. The country would be in much better condition than it is now.

Sarge

2 days ago

And people like me couldn’t afford to take even 1 vacation within my state’s boundaries because of inflation and unable to find a job. I cannot believe people vote for Joe Biden and THIS

o Lionel Devereau

2 days ago

Keep looking! You’ll find one!

o Hedwig and the Angry Inch

1 day ago

Sarge is correct. There are probably millions of people who could not afford the holidays; gifts, food, travel because what pantload has done to this country. He is our Chavez!

· Sarge

2 days ago

If Joe & Jill Biden wanted to be retired or semi-retired then why did he run for president? Should they not have let someone else run who was willing to put in the time and effort? This is beyond pathetic. Walk away from all democrats now

o Rudy Radio

2 days ago

Jill never worked a day in her life ..

o Jasper Bob

1 day ago

They needed someone they knew would beat Trump and he agreed. He won the popular vote by slightly over 7 million votes and the electoral College vote by 306 to 232. A SLAM DUNK!

· RB

2 days ago

Don’t forget. He works 10am to 5pm. He rarely talks to the press and public. He skips dinners with the leaders of our allies.

What a deal. Reads from a teleprompter. If he ad libs he says “ I might get in trouble “.

Ladies and gentlemen, Our President of the United States!

o Iruntheshow

2 days ago

na he starts to sundown around 1400

· LosMetsNC

2 days ago

He hid in his basement throughout the entire 2020 election and never holds a real press conference. He is incapable of stringing together two coherent sentences. The more time he spends away the better off we all are.

· Are You Sure

2 days ago

Oh, anybody else have 5 different FREE places you can spirit off to for a weekend jaunt?

So much for the little guy, right?

o Gary LaVallee

2 days ago

I really wonder if Biden knows where he is at any given time. He is on vacation away from the WH 40% of the time. How many hours, Tuesday - Thursday, does he actually work while in the WH? My bet is no more than 2 hours a day working, if you could call it working while in the WH.

o John Laperuta

1 day ago

Well Joe made all his money as a truck driver, a professional wrestler , a coal miner , a train engineer and whatever else he claims to have done.

· Don Jr 2028

2 days ago

Well when he was at the White House he was working to destroy the country via the southern border, not standing up to Putin, not standing beside Israel, and doing bidenomics. I say let's keep him away from the White House

o Gary LaVallee

2 days ago

I have never witnessed an administration that could chalk up DISASTER AFTER DISASTER AFTER DISASTER AFTER DISASTER. He has not delivered on anything positive for this country IN 3 YEARS!! This is one for the record books. And to think I thought Jimmy Carter was bad. My hope is no one will ever top ...

See more

o Maurice McClough

2 days ago

A). Remember when the media went on non-stop about Trump going golfing on the weekends?

B). This is our ‘leaders’ in a nutshell. I have to seriously believe they think they are the noble classes of ages past. They think they don’t have to do anything, everyone should suffer for them, they have no ...

See more

· Hunters Gun

2 days ago

What does anyone expect? He’s a frail 81 year old man with the very least, dementia. He’s feeble on his feet and let’s not forget his bike. My dad is 85, also with dementia but he’s not feeble, he can run loops around FJB, should he? No

Lowcountry1

2 days ago

its amazing how Biden can be the laziest but yet the most destructive POTUS of all time. Doing nothing on the border except watching an invasion of future Democratic voters who will demand financial assistance for decades and generations to come.

· Gary LaVallee

2 days ago

This is NOT a problem. Clearly Barack Hussein Obama is running this government and personally responsible for running it into the ground AGAIN!! IT APPEARS 8 YEARS JUST WASN'T LONG ENOUGH.

o wife defined

2 days ago

You are so correct. Sleepy Joe serves as the talking head for Obama. NY Post's AI censors will not let me state more.

o Lily Butt

2 days ago

Medication will help with the delusions but you can't go back to ninth grade and learn Civics.

· Tony Mazzola

2 days ago

Funny how a life-long politician that never had a real job is able to live like Hollywood elites. I would trade my hard earned yearly salary for the Big Guy’s 10% any day!!! No joke!

o Richard Miller

2 days ago

Yep.

Joe, how’d you get so rich?

· Lindseywoman

2 days ago

At least Donald Trump OWNED the mansions that he

vacationed at.

o MrBrew33

1 day ago

I doubt it. They were probly in forclosure.

· Plain truth

2 days ago

Undisputably, THE worst president in the history of the republic. Posterity will view him as the president who actively transitioned the nation into Third World status.

o RB

2 days ago

100% agreed . The scary thing is history books are getting rewritten!

· 12345

2 days ago

Only 37%?

· Mr. Shy

2 days ago

Missing Trump yet everyone???

ATTACHMENT FIVE – FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

HARRIS'S NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS: HOW SHE CAN USE 2024 TO BECOME A TRUSTED SUCCESSOR TO BIDEN

by Naomi Lim, White House Reporter January 02, 2024 05:00 AM

Wayne LaPierre resigns as NRA leader days before his civil corruption trial starts

By: Eden Villalovas

Claudine Gay's ouster won't break higher education's DEI addiction

By: Jeremiah Poff

Biden decries 'loser' Trump and warns of damage to democracy in Jan. 6 anniversary speech

By: Haisten Willis

Bowser's blunders: Four times DC's Democratic mayor courted controversy

Trump calls on Supreme Court to reverse Colorado ruling removing him from ballot

Vice President Kamala Harris had a steadier 2023 as she and President Joe Biden prepare for the 2024 election, but being a steady hand for the president is different from reasserting herself as his heir apparent before the next Democratic presidential primary.

Harris has been under a political microscope as the first woman and minority woman vice president, in addition to being Biden's apparent successor. But some of the instincts and tendencies that undermined her own presidential campaign in 2020 returned when she arrived at the White House.

BIDEN BEAT TRUMP 'CHAOS' IN 2020 — NOW NIKKI HALEY WANTS TO DO THE SAME

Three years later, although she continues to be criticized, she has appeared to start looking past 2024 to 2028, and beyond, as she tries to differentiate herself from Biden while still supporting him.

Harris has received "insufficient" recognition for how she has fulfilled her two "consequential" functions, according to vice presidential scholar Joel Goldstein, the Saint Louis University School of Law professor emeritus predicting she is on the "upswing" and will be a help rather than hindrance for Biden next year.

"More than most of her recent predecessors, she has embraced a role as public spokesperson for the administration regarding issues of importance, such as reproductive rights, climate change, gun violence, [and] inclusivity," Goldstein told the Washington Examiner, "and she has played an important diplomatic role, handling presidential assignments regarding central global and bilateral issues, most recently at the ASEAN meetings, in London at the [artificial intelligence] meetings, and in Dubai regarding climate change, and in her meetings there with Mideast leaders and public statements."

Harris also broke former Vice President John Calhoun's record this month when she cast her 32nd Senate tiebreaking vote as the chamber's president.

Nevertheless, Harris still requires "a complete public relations make-over" in 2024, according to Cesar Conda, former chief of staff to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and a founding partner of Republican lobbying firm Navigators Global.

"She is perceived as not ready to take over if Biden steps aside and the VP needs to make a resolution to do better when called on to communicate a message," Conda said. "She has been widely made fun of for her lackluster communication skills and may need some work with a communications specialist to rehabilitate her image amongst American voters."

Democratic strategist Simon Rosenberg disagreed, underscoring how he is "heartened" by Harris appearing more comfortable as 81-year-old Biden's vice president, responding to the root causes of immigration to spearheading space policy.

"Our system requires the vice president to be ready to go, if anything were to happen with the president, regardless of the age of the president or the physical condition of the president," Rosenberg said. "It's been great to see her expanded responsibilities and her seeming adroit management of it this year, and so, for next year, she just needs to keep taking on more and more — and keep doing a good job on her portfolio."

By demonstrating her "unwavering support" for Biden, Harris is amassing "a national network of allies" within the Democratic Party who might back a second presidential campaign of hers in the future, according to University of Wisconsin, Madison political science professor and Elections Research Center Director Barry Burden.

"Because in-person campaigning by Democrats was largely suspended in 2020, she was unable to do this in the first Biden-Harris effort," Burden said.

Goldstein, of Saint Louis University, added: "She also has championed issues and perspectives of importance to many voters, including important Democratic constituencies, and has discharged high-level assignments as public spokesperson and diplomat in a visible and effective way, factors which should enhance her appeal to the Democratic base, as well as strengthen appreciation of her as a trusted successor."

But the problem for Harris is Democrats have a "deep" bench of potential presidential candidates, according to Democratic strategist Stefan Hankin, citing Govs. Andy Beshear (D-KY), Gavin Newsom (D-CA), and Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), even Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), for whom Hankin worked in 2020.

"I cannot imagine that people are going to be like, 'Well, it's her turn. I might wait another eight years,'" the Lincoln Park Strategies president said. "If Biden wins, and regardless of what her standing is, I just can't imagine that she's going to get a pass and just waltz into the nomination in 2028."

Simultaneously, Harris's support of Biden has been increasingly tested, for example, by disputed tensions over her portfolio and the president's approach to the Israel-Hamas war as Democrats scrutinize the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip after the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks.

Nonetheless, the Biden campaign remains confident the president and Harris will "continue building" a winning bid that amplifies "the enormous stakes" concerning "our personal freedoms, our economy, and our democracy," according to spokesman Seth Schuster.

"Next year, you'll see a campaign laser-focused on the real issues that matter to the American people and aggressive efforts to meet voters where they are — undistracted from the beltway pundits who've counted us out before," Schuster said.

ATTACHMENT SIX – FROM NBC

FIVE BIG FIGHTS FACING CONGRESS IN 2024

Negotiations over immigration restrictions and Ukraine aid; a government funding battle; deadlines for FISA surveillance, the FAA and a farm bill; and an impeachment clash.

By Sahil Kapur Jan. 1, 2024, 7:00 AM EST

WASHINGTON — From confrontations over government funding and foreign aid to Republican threats to impeach President Joe Biden despite the lack of an impeachable offense, a divided Congress is entering the new year facing a slew of big fights.

And it will do so against the backdrop of an election year, with the White House and Congress up for grabs in November. One question mark hanging over these fights is the still-nascent speakership of Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., who is trying to navigate a wafer-thin majority and familiar pressures from conservative hard-liners who overthrew his predecessor.

The year ahead for the Republican Party

DEC. 27, 202309:01

Here are five big fights that await Congress in 2024.

Immigration and Ukraine funding

A high-stakes clash over immigration policy caused Congress to punt Biden’s national security package into next year, with Senate Republicans demanding tougher immigration laws as the price of winning their votes for additional U.S. aid to Ukraine and Israel.

Senators insist they’re making progress, and Democrats have offered serious concessions on raising the standards for asylum-seekers and expanding the president’s power to quickly remove migrants who cross the border. But thorny issues remain in a debate that has bedeviled Congress for decades.

And Ukraine will struggle to hold off Russia without U.S. help.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., the party’s top negotiator, has said the “fate of the world” is at stake in the talks. He issued a Christmas Day plea to Republicans not to let Vladimir Putin conquer Ukraine.

Even if the Democratic-led Senate reaches a deal, secures the requisite 60 votes and passes a bill, there’s no guarantee it’ll get through the Republican-led House. Some of Johnson’s hard-liners say he should kill a compromise that falls short of their goals to close the border. He has not revealed where he’ll draw the line.

Preventing a government shutdown

Having passed a couple of short-term bills to keep the lights on, Congress now faces a two-part deadline of Jan. 19 and Feb. 2 to prevent a government shutdown. But this time, Johnson has indicated he doesn’t support another stopgap bill — and he’s said that if Congress fails to reach a deal, he will support a full-year continuing resolution.

CONGRESS GOP puts immigration front and center with border visit and a new impeachment push

2024 ELECTION Republican candidates hit the campaign trail in final weeks before Iowa: Highlights

That has been met with heavy pushback from Democrats as well as Senate Republicans, in part because it would impose significant cuts to domestic and military funding compared to levels Congress and Biden agreed to in mid-2023, meeting the needs of prior years, not this one. They say the House GOP must stick to their agreement.

“You don’t get to negotiate how much of your word you’re going to keep. This is the very basics of lawmaking,” said Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray, D-Wash. “So to avoid a shutdown come Jan. 19, we need to push House Republicans to get serious about the deal they pushed for in the first place.”

Unlike Johnson, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said a stopgap bill “is simply unacceptable for a year.”

When the House returns, it will have just eight legislative days before the first deadline and another four before the second. And there’s still no agreement on how much to spend, much less how to allocate that funding across the federal government.

That leaves a lot to resolve in little time.

A Biden impeachment battle

House Republicans closed out 2023 by voting unanimously to formalize their impeachment inquiry into Biden, giving them power to enforce their subpoenas. In 2024, they’ll have to decide whether to actually impeach him or back off.

But it continues to be an inquiry in search of an impeachable offense, as many Republicans admit they still don’t have direct evidence that connects transgressions by Hunter Biden to his father. The White House and Democrats have torched the inquiry as a partisan stunt by a GOP majority that has nothing meaningful to offer voters and is seeking retribution on behalf of Donald Trump.

A key group will be the vulnerable GOP lawmakers fighting to keep their seats next fall, including 17 of them who represent districts Biden won in 2020. Will they be prepared to cast a vote that could backfire politically if they’re seen as overreaching?

Surveillance powers

Congress temporarily extended warrantless surveillance authorities under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act until next April. But there’s still a core dispute to resolve on the parameters of the government’s spying power between security hawks and civil libertarians that has scrambled the partisan divide.

FBI Director Christopher Wray has urged Congress to renew the powers, describing them as “key” to combating foreign terrorism and containing threats from Iran and China. His belief that letting the authorities lapse would amount to a “form of unilateral disarmament” is d by various lawmakers in both parties.

But in a case of strange bedfellows, progressive Democrats and conservative Republicans are demanding changes to the law, including new privacy protections that require law enforcement to secure a warrant to search for collected data on Americans and people in the U.S.

FAA and farm bill deadlines

Lawmakers punted a reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration until March 8 after failing to resolve some disagreements about a full extension before leaving for the holidays.

And they’ll have to pass a farm bill — a collection of agriculture subsidies and nutrition programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, previously known as food stamps. The current legislation was slated to expire last fall, but Congress extended it through next September to buy more time.

Both reauthorizations come up every five years and will need to be addressed in 2024.

“We’ve got an FAA reauthorization, we’ve got an ag bill. We’ve got a continuing resolution right now that cannot continue on,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D. “And all of this is going to come due in January. ... So we’ve got our work cut out for us and a limited amount of time to do it. We’re gonna have to cut through the stuff and actually get some things done in fairly short order.”

ATTACHMENT SEVEN – FROM THE DAILY BEAST

TRUMP SPENDS CHRISTMAS EVE RANTING ABOUT ‘DERANGED JACK SMITH’

The former president had a little time before his figgy pudding to go off on his election interference trial.

By Shannon Vavra Updated Dec. 25, 2023 2:58AM EST / Published Dec. 24, 2023 10:10PM EST

Former President Donald Trump spent his Christmas Eve ranting about Special Counsel Jack Smith on Truth Social, calling the prosecutor “DERANGED” in a series of posts in which he accused the Jan. 6 Committee of writing a fake report and Smith of coming after him.

“JOE BIDEN’S MISFITS & THUGS, LIKE DERANGED JACK SMITH, ARE COMING AFTER ME,” Trump said. “AT LEVELS OF PERSECUTION NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN OUR COUNTRY???”

Trump typically takes to Truth Social to roll out a series of grievances in all-caps.

ATTACHMENT EIGHT – FROM THE DAILY BEAST

TRUMP LAWYERS CALL JACK SMITH THE ‘GRINCH’ IN COURT FILING

YOU’RE A MEAN ONE!

By AJ McDougall

The latest venting comes just days after the Supreme Court rejected Smith’s request that the court urgently consider Trump’s claim that he is immune from prosecution for his alleged attempt to subvert the 2020 presidential election. The decision was a major win for Trump and his legal team.

But Trump may face the legal issue again in the near future. A federal appeals court is also considering the issue and could send it to the Supreme Court in the future.

Trump’s temper tantrum coincides with the Colorado Supreme Court’s unprecedented decision on Trump’s ability to be on state ballots in 2024. Last week, the court ruled that Trump is ineligible to run as a candidate in the state in 2024 due to his involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection. The decision bans Trump from appearing on the presidential primary ballot.

“President Trump's direct and express efforts, over several months, exhorting his supporters to march to the Capitol to prevent what he falsely characterized as an alleged fraud on the people of this country were indisputably overt and voluntary,” the justices said.

The ruling leans on a clause that makes former office-holders ineligible from holding office if they engaged in “insurrection or rebellion” against the United States.

A Trump spokesperson has said Trump will be appealing the decision.

ATTACHMENT NINE – FROM FOX

THE LEAST MERRY CHRISTMAS? KEVIN MCCARTHY’S ROUGH 2023

McCarthy officially resigns from office on December 31

By Houston Keene Fox News Published December 24, 2023 4:00am EST

Christmastime is a season of joy and merriment for Americans across the country.

However, everyone has their own Grinch waiting to put a damper on their holiday.

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has a unique one following him this holiday season after his historic ouster from the speakership in October.

KEVIN MCCARTHY TAKES PARTING SWIPE AT MATT GAETZ IN FINAL INTERVIEW AS CONGRESSMAN: ‘HISTORY WILL JUDGE HIM’

McCarthy had a rough go as House speaker.

After the lackluster 2022 midterm elections didn't yield the impactful majority Republicans were trying to manifest, McCarthy had to fight tooth and nail with 15 ballots to take the gavel from an apprehensive GOP conference.

McCarthy's tenure behind the gavel was further complicated by a four-seat majority that only got smaller as the year marched on.

The slim majority required the now-former speaker to wheel and deal to get GOP priorities across the finish line – but deal-brokering in Washington comes with its pitfalls.

Different wings of the GOP wanted different things on a variety of issues, including government funding.

McCarthy's speakership was blown up by Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, who dropped a privileged resolution to remove the now-former speaker after the House passed a continuing resolution to fund the government.

Seven other Republicans joined Gaetz on the move, leveraging the slim GOP majority in the House with Democrats in the chamber joining them to oust McCarthy from his job.

The move sparked a near-month-long fight to replace McCarthy that saw three top Republicans rejected from the job and culminated with the historic mid-Congress election of Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

The former speaker announced after his ousting that he would be resigning from Congress.

McCarthy tended his resignation from Congress on Dec. 20, with his official last day in office being set for Dec. 31. His resignation further slims the GOP's House majority, especially in the wake of disgraced New York GOP former Rep. George Santos' removal from Congress.

However, the former speaker is not going quietly into the night.

McCarthy has taken parting shots at Gaetz as he's headed for the exit door, telling Fox News' Brian Kilmeade this month that history will not look back fondly on the Florida man's move.

"History will judge him," McCarthy said. "And history will judge all of us."

Kilmeade asked McCarthy about the "very real math problem" that comes with his departure.

"Gaetz is never a serious person," McCarthy responded. "I mean, when you think about what has transpired, and you talk about someone being selfish, this is all about an ethics complaint that he had with Congress before, that he looked at just himself, that he doesn't want it to come forward for America to know."

"But it's going to come forward," Kilmeade said.

"Yeah, it's more serious than Santos…" McCarthy replied.

"I think they'll see I'm Irish and Italian. I like a good fight," he said, referencing the time it took to land the speakership. "But then they took down Steve Scalise. They took down Jim Jordan. They took down Tom Emmer. I mean, these are the best players on the field."

"But this is your party," Kilmeade said.

"Yeah, but the challenge is, it was eight people and every single Democrat. Eight Republicans joined the Democrats to create this mess. That's part of things that people have to look at to be able to change."

ATTACHMENT TEN – FROM FAST COMPANY

72 HOURS INTO 2024 AND ELON MUSK IS ALREADY HAVING A TERRIBLE YEAR

From getting rebuffed by MrBeast to Tesla losing ground to China on EVs, Musk is stumbling into the new year—but it’s not all bad news.

Elon Musk’s New Year’s hangover is showing some staying power. While 2024 is not even 48 hours old, the ride has already been a little bumpy for the world’s richest man.

Both Tesla and X/Twitter saw significant blows in the early hours of the year (starting with the final moments of 2023), with one losing its dominant position in its industry and the other being dismissed by one of the leading influencers in social media, just as reports emerged about its shrinking worth.

As 2023 wound to a close, YouTuber MrBeast rejected an appeal by Musk to post his incredibly popular videos to X, saying it made no financial sense.

“My videos cost millions to make, and even if they got a billion views on X, it wouldn’t fund a fraction of it,” he wrote in a Tweet ing to Musk on December 30.

MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, did add that he would be willing to test videos on the site “once monetization is really cranking.”

It’s unclear if that will happen in the near term, though. A new report from Fidelity has once again lowered the financial services firm’s estimate on X’s overall worth. The mutual fund now says the social media platform is worth 71.5% less than it was at the time of purchase, according to a report in Axios. That report was released on December 31, but the valuation was through the end of November, as Fidelity values private s on a one-month delay.

The downgrade came after Musk’s onstage tirade against advertisers where he told those who were boycotting the platform to “go f**k yourself.” The latest cut represented a drop of more than 10% from Fidelity’s previous valuation of the platform.

Fidelity is a holder in X. The company invested more than $300 million to finance Musk’s takeover of the site. That saved him from spending as much of his own money, but it has proved to be a source of embarrassment, as Fidelity’s valuation disclosures have been key in showing how fast the site has fallen from grace.

But the biggest New Year sting for Musk likely came on the Tesla side. While the electric vehicle manufacturer beat Q4 sales estimates and delivered just over 484,000 cars to customers, that wasn’t enough to top the numbers from China’s BYD.

BYD delivered 1.58 million fully electric cars in 2023. Tesla’s annual sales were 1.81 million vehicles.

That meant, for the first time, Tesla was no longer the sales leader of fully electric cars. Worse, it was unseated by a company that Musk publicly dismissed over a decade ago.

“Have you seen their car?” Musk said in a Bloomberg interview in 2011. “I don’t think they make a good product.”

Among the people who disagreed with him was Warren Buffett, whose Berkshire Hathaway has invested in BYD, turning a $232 million gamble into more than $9 billion today.

BYD’s success came despite dramatic price cutting by Tesla last year, which indicates a wider sales gap could occur in 2024.

(And despite losing the sales title, it’s worth noting Tesla did meet its 2023 delivery target. The stock was largely unchanged in trading Tuesday.)

Neither Tesla nor Twitter replied to Fast Company’s requests for comment.

But not all the news for Musk is bad. While his two most visible companies suffered setbacks, his personal fortune continued to rise. One year ago, Musk’s net worth was valued at $137 billion by Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index.

As of today, it stands at $229 billion—a 40% improvement.

ATTACHMENT ELEVEN – FROM THE DAILY BEAST

JEFF BEZOS SPORTS IMPOSSIBLY TIGHT PANTS AT NEW YEAR'S EVE ‘CRAZY DISCO PARTY’

By Noah Kirsch, Wealth And Power Reporter Updated Jan. 01, 2022 10:07PM EST / Published Jan. 01, 2022 4:55PM EST

The world’s third-richest man sported the world’s tightest pants at his New Year’s Eve “crazy disco party” on Friday. In a series of photos posted to his Instagram account, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos showed off his spicy new physique in a half-buttoned shirt and sheath-like jeans. He rocked a pair of heart-shaped sunglasses to complete the ensemble. Bezos and his girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez, were pictured yachting in St. Barths in advance of the holiday. The pair have not been shy about sharing affection for each another. “I love you baby. For every reason and no reason,” Sanchez commented on Bezos’ Instagram post.

ATTACHMENT TWELVE – FROM PEOPLE

BILL GATES ENDED 2023 DOING ONE ‘LAST THING’ HE’S LOVED DOING FOR DECADES

The billionaire worked on completing a jigsaw puzzle in front of his fireplace on New Year’s Eve

By Brian Anthony Hernandez Published on January 1, 2024 04:39PM EST

Bill Gates didn't leave his Instagram followers puzzled about his end-of-year plans.

The 68-year-old billionaire capped off 2023 by posting an Instagram photo of himself working on a jigsaw puzzle on New Year's Eve.

"The last thing I have to finish before 2024," Gates wrote in the caption, alongside the image of his cozy setup at a table by a fireplace.

Gates has been open about his love of puzzles and other brain-stimulating activities like Wordle. In a 2018 PEOPLE interview with Bill and Melinda Gates — before they divorced three years later — he said, "We do more jigsaw puzzles than most people."

The NYE moment took place just days after the Microsoft co-founder reflected on how much spending time with his children has meant to him this year.

“It’s been a special joy to watch my children grow up to become invaluable sources of wisdom in their own right,” Gates wrote in his annual year-end blog post. “One of the highlights of my year was sharing the stage with Phoebe, my youngest, at the foundation’s Goalkeepers event.”

In September, the 21-year-old Stanford University student — who has used her prominent family's platform to advocate for a variety of issues — attended and moderated a panel at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Goalkeepers Foundation in New York City.

Bill Gates Celebrates His 68th Birthday with Celebratory Post from Daughter Jennifer — See the Photo!

In the blog post, Gates said that he counts on his children — Jennifer Gates, 27, Rory Gates, 24, and Phoebe — to "keep me up to date on how young people see the world — and on the latest TikTok trends."

"I’m looking forward to spending the holidays with them and recharging a bit," he added. “When I was my kids’ age, I didn’t believe in vacations or weekends. But as I got older — and especially since I became a father — I realized there is more to life than work.”

This year, Gates has also stepped out several times with Paula Hurd, the widow of Oracle CEO Mark Hurd, who died in October 2019.

They were spotted out together months before their relationship became public, including sitting next to each other at the Laver Cup in September 2022 and the Australian Open in January 2023.

News of the relationship broke about two years after Gates and ex-wife Melinda announced they were divorcing after 27 years of marriage.

One major highlight of 2023 was that Gates became a grandfather when his eldest daughter welcomed her first child, a baby girl, into the world.

He went on to celebrate the joys of grandparenthood in a post on his Instagram page in honor of Grandparents Day in September. “Becoming a grandparent has given me a whole new lens to see the world through,” he wrote.

"It keeps me motivated to ensure my granddaughter — and all our grandchildren — inherit a better world than they were born into,” the billionaire added.

ATTACHMENT THIRTEEN – FROM POLITICO

CONGRESS GOT ITS CHRISTMAS BREAK — AND WILL SUFFER FOR IT

Nov 27, 2023 — Speaker Mike Johnson may have saved Christmas on Capitol Hill, but Congress will be paying for it in the new year. For the first time in ...

Mike Johnson's Christmas Is Off to a Terrible Start

ATTACHMENT FOURTEEN – FROM NEWSWEEK

Dec 1, 2023 — Johnson, with the help of 209 Democrats, passed a clean stopgap spending measure that will fund the federal government until February...

ATTACHMENT FIFTEEN – FROM PBS

GEORGIA REP. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE TARGETED BY FAILED CHRISTMAS SWATTING ATTEMPT, POLICE SAY

Politics Dec 25, 2023 7:48 PM EST

Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was the target of a swatting attempt at her Georgia residence on Christmas morning, the congresswoman and local police said, marking the latest instance of someone calling in a fake emergency to draw armed officers to her home.

The Rome Police Department quickly verified that the call was a hoax and did not send officers to the house, department spokesperson Kelly Madden said.

GOP’s McCarthy and Greene are confronted by their own words after Jan. 6

A man in New York called the Georgia suicide hotline just before 11 a.m. Monday, claiming that he had shot his girlfriend at Greene’s home and was going to kill himself next, Madden said. The call was quickly transferred to police when suicide hotline responders recognized the Georgia congresswoman’s address.

The department said it contacted Greene’s private security detail to confirm she was safe and that there was no emergency at her residence. The call was then determined to be a swatting attempt, so the police response was canceled en route, Madden explained.

“We determined before our personnel could get to her location that there was no emergency and there was no reason to respond,” she said. “Her security detail had it all under control, and there actually was nothing going on.”

The congresswoman, who represents the cities of Rome, Dalton and Calhoun in northwest Georgia, spent her first term stripped of committee assignments by the former House Democratic majority over racist comments, her embrace of conspiracy theories and her past endorsement of violence against Democratic officials. She has since gained more influence under the House’s current Republican leadership and continues to be a firebrand for the far-right.

Greene’s statement that she has been the target of roughly eight swatting attempts is accurate, Madden said. Past calls claimed that dead bodies had been found in the bath tub and in other areas of her home, which is located about 70 miles (113 kilometers) northwest of Atlanta. Police also responded last year to false reports of shootings outside her residence.

The department said it sent officers to the house in response to those prior incidents but has since formed a close working relationship with Greene’s security detail, which allows officers to better assess the threat level.
The department’s criminal investigations division is working to identify Monday’s caller and build a case, Madden said.

Another New York man was sentenced to three months in prison in August for making threatening phone calls to Greene’s Washington, D.C., office.

ATTACHMENT SIXTEEN – FROM VARIOUS

From CNN.com

https://www.cnn.com › 2023/12/25 › politics › marjorie-...

8 days ago — Authorities are investigating a Christmas Day swatting call at Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's residence in Rome, Georgia.

Police confirm swatting incident targeting Marjorie Taylor ...

NBC News

https://www.nbcnews.com › politics › congress › police-...

8 days ago — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said Monday she was the victim of another "swatting" incident at her home in Georgia; the incident was reported by several divergent sources

Marjorie Taylor Greene gets unwelcome Christmas Day ...

From the New York Post

Dec 25, 2023 — Far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene received an unwelcome Christmas surprise Monday — with cops getting called to the Georgia Republican's ...

Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene says she was ...

ATTACHMENT SEVENTEEN – FROM FACEBOOK

Barack Obama

Happy New Year, everyone. As we begin 2024, I’m hopeful for brighter days ahead. Let’s all do our part to create change in our communities and build a better world for everyone.

ATTACHMENT EIGHTEEN – FROM ABC NEWS

HOW CELEBRITIES ARE SPENDING CHRISTMAS 2023

From photos with Santa to matching Christmas pajamas.

By ABC NEWS December 25, 2023, 8:44 PM

John Travolta celebrated the holiday by going on ski trip with his kids. The "Grease" actor d a photo of himself with his two kids, Ella Bleu, 23 and Benjamin, 13, smiling together while standing on a ski slope.

"Merry Christmas to everyone, we love you!!" Travolta wrote in the caption of the Instagram post on Monday.

"Dancing with the Stars" pros Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson took their son, Rome, to Park City, Utah, for his first Christmas -- but the 11-month-old didn't look too happy for his first meeting with Santa.

"Maybe next year," Johnson wrote on Instagram.

Oprah and her loved ones are decked out in purple this Christmas to celebrate the new version of "The Color Purple." Oprah starred in the 1985 version and she's a producer for the 2023 movie.

"My gift to everyone this year is @thecolorpurple, now playing in all theaters," she wrote on Instagram. "May you laugh, cry, expand your heart."

Taylor Swift attended the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Las Vegas Raiders game on Christmas Day to support boyfriend Travis Kelce. The singer donned a Santa hat with an "87" -- Kelce's number -- on top.

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend took their four kids to New York for the holiday.

"New York Christmas was the best idea," Teigen wrote on Instagram.

Singer Jessie James Decker and her three children wore matching pajamas to mark their "last Christmas as a family of 5" before her and Eric Decker's fourth child -- a boy -- arrives.

The "Queen of Christmas," Mariah Carey, is celebrating the holiday with a wintry sleigh ride.

Earlier this month she took her twins to the White House to view the Christmas decorations and meet President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

MORE: Your Christmas weather forecast: Record warmth in Midwest, blizzard conditions in Heartland

Lance Bass took some silly inspiration from the "Barbie" movie to convince his husband, Michael, that they "absolutely need 35 Christmas trees and new decor every year."

ATTACHMENT NINETEEN – FROM THE NEW YORK POST

GEORGE SANTOS, DON LEMON, ‘THE SITUATION’ AND MORE CELEBS SOUND OFF ON THEIR 2024 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

By Angela Barbuti, Jon Levine and Dean Balsamini Published Dec. 30, 2023, 7:42 a.m. ET

The new year looks bright for these luminaries.

Actors, political figures and reality stars revealed their New Year’s resolutions before the ball drops on Dec. 31.

From spending more time with family and searching for peace to focusing on mental health and staying away from social media, these celebrities have big plans and lofty goals for 2024.

Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs tight end and Taylor Swift squeeze

“I’m not eating bacon anymore. I’m done eating bacon.”

Mayor Eric Adams

Mayor Eric Adams would like to spend more time with his son in 2024.Paul Martinka

“I’m going to spend some more time with [my son] Jordan. We’re not doing enough football games together. We’re not having enough dinners together. And I just want to spend some more time with him because I’ve been doing this for so long that I have not had son/dad time enough. He keeps texting me, ‘hey, dad, let’s catch a game.’ I need to be more reciprocal on that. That’s my top thing. I want to spend a heck of a lot more time with him.”

George Santos, expelled congressman, speaking from a nail salon

George Santos hopes that this coming year will be “the absolute opposite” of 2023.AP

“Peace. I want clarity in my life, and I want peace, and I just really want 2024 to be the absolute opposite of 2023.”

Mandy Moore, actress and singer

Mandy Moore, a mom of two, hopes to take care of herself more in 2024.FilmMagic

“I definitely want to be better about taking care of myself. I feel like I have been very focused on family, which is the way it should be. But I want to strike a little healthier balance between taking care of myself, too. Like, I’m sick perpetually because of my children. So I would love to get my immune system in balance and a little stronger so I can fight colds a little better because I just feel like I have been taken down systematically every time my kids get sick. And my mental health, like, all of it.”

Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino, “Jersey Shore: Family Vacation” star

Mike Sorrentino wants to “stay with the secret sauce that’s been working” for him.Tamara Beckwith/NY Post

“The only time you look back is to see how far you’ve come. During New Year’s, I do that. I need to stay on the same path of recovery. I just celebrated eight years clean and sober, so I’m going to stay with the secret sauce that’s been working. This year, I’m now an author, a little check on the bucket list, and next year I’m going to be a father of three, so I have so much to look forward to.

Michael Rapaport, actor and comedian

Michael Rapaport is striving to “be as Jewish and Zionist as possible.”Getty Images

“My New Year’s resolution is to be as Jewish and Zionist as possible. The Most Disruptive Ashkenazi Jew of 2024 is my goal.”

Meghan McCain, podcast host of ‘Meghan McCain Has Entered the Chat‘

“Tweet less.”

Brandon Nimmo, Mets outfielder

“My New Year’s resolution is for us to make the playoffs, because once you are in, you never know what might happen.”

Jenni ‘JWoww’ Farley, ‘Jersey Shore: Family Vacation’ star

“I’m going to continue to raise my kids to be kind humans, my health journey of not just exercising but eating right, and I want to bring back the show ‘Snooki & JWoww.'”

Tom Arnold, actor

Tom Arnold is looking for romance in the new year.AFP via Getty Images

“I haven’t had a date in seven years so my New Year’s resolution is to find my soulmate. A woman of appropriate age, 30 to 80, who’s looking for a 64-year-old single dad with two little kids, not much money and four ex-wives.”

James Dolan, owner of Knicks and Rangers

“Another year of sobriety, which will be 31 years sober.”

Don Lemon, former CNN anchor

Don Lemon’s goal is to be even more outspoken this year.Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

“I usually don’t make new years resolutions. But 2023 changed that. If you thought I was outspoken before, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Stand by for news.”

Kellyanne Conway, former counselor to President Donald Trump

“A new president, more volunteering, to fall in love, learn how to play golf.”

Jared Leto, actor and musician

Jared Leto is looking forward to touring with his band.

“We’re really looking forward to being on the road again. I mean it will be six years, 30 Seconds to Mars is back. We’re touring. We’re all over the world. It’s pretty exciting.”

Matthew McConaughey, actor

Matthew McConaughey believes in looking back on what he’s accomplished.AP

“Just because we got things we want to change, does not mean that we can’t also look back and appreciate some of the things that maybe we pulled off in the past.”

‘Cake Boss’ Buddy Valastro

“With a busy, busy year returning to television with new shows on A+E Network and getting a new line of specialty cakes launched at Walmart, I want to spend some quality time with my family and enjoy the hard work we’ve accomplished, definitely some family fun on vacations and Sunday dinners. The kids are getting older and doing their own thing, but we want to make sure we make the time to come together and show them that they can have a balance of hard work and enjoyable family time.”

ATTACHMENT TWENTY – FROM VULTURE

HAPPY NEW YEAR! JAN. 1, 2024

New Year, Same Celebs

By Jennifer Zhan

We made it through another year, y’all. If there’s one thing you can count on besides a flood of (20)23andMe recap posts from your IRL friends on Instagram, it’s content from celebrities. Whether they were taking part in New Year’s Eve countdown broadcasts, spending time with loved ones, or getting introspective on social media, stars lit up our social-media feeds as midnight approached. Below, here’s how Taylor Swift, John Mayer, Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Aniston, and more rang in 2024.

Taylor Swift went to a Chiefs game.

She was later seen kissing Travis Kelce on the dance floor at a post-win party.

John Mayer called Andy and Anderson from a cat café.

Inspiring some of Anderson Cooper’s best drunken giggles yet.

Nicki Minaj kept her foot (and invisible heels) on our necks.

She got on her tippies and performed in Miami on New Year’s Eve.

The Golden Bachelor’s Gerry and Theresa watched the ball drop together.

They also took pictures together in Times Square, with Gerry describing the outing as “Another fantasy night in a long line of fantasy nights.”

Christina Aguilera celebrated her new Las Vegas residency.

Halle Bailey reflected on the year with a photo dump.

Including a selfie with DDG, of course.

Demi Lovato opted for a video montage.

Still going strong with fiancé Jutes.

Jennifer Aniston gave us a mix of pics and vids.

Set to “Keeping Your Head Up,” by Birdy.

Posh Spice and David Beckham had a classy family dinner.

He’s never letting that comment about her “working-class” parents slide, we see.

Beyoncé dropped some festive new photos.

No caption needed.

Rachel Leviss subtly acknowledged the Scandoval.

Leaving the lightning-bolt necklace in 2023.

Mariah Carey went for a swim.

Literally showing us a new side in the New Year.

ATTACHMENT TWENTY ONE – FROM YOUGOV

WHAT ARE AMERICANS’ NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR 2024?

By Jamie Ballard December 21, 2023, 10:23 AM

As Americans head towards the new year, many are resolving to make changes to their lives in 2024. A new YouGov poll finds that for Americans making New Year’s resolutions, their top priorities are finances, physical health, and mental health

One-third (34%) of U.S. adult citizens plan to make New Year’s resolutions or set a goal for 2024. Adults under 30 (52%) are the most likely to do so, followed by 30- to 44-year-olds (44%). Fewer 45 -to 64-year-olds (27%) and people 65 and older (18%) will set New Year’s resolutions.

The most common resolution among Americans this year is saving more money: 23% are setting this goal. Around one in five U.S. adult citizens is resolving to start doing each of the following in 2024: be happy (22%), exercise more (21%), improve their physical health (21%), eat healthier (20%), improve mental health (19%) or lose weight (19%). Fewer adults are resolving to move (7%), pursue a new hobby (8%), or get a new job (9%).

These results are similar to those of a YouGov poll conducted last year, which found that 20% of Americans had resolved to improve their physical health in 2023 and 20% had resolved to save more money.

Among adults under 30, the most common 2024 resolutions are saving more money (37%) and improving mental health (35%). Three in 10 have set resolutions around each of the following: being happy (30%), eating healthier (29%), and exercising more (29%).

Among Americans between the ages of 30 and 44, 32% are resolving to be happy and 28% are resolving to exercise more. While the majority of 45- to 64-year-olds are not setting resolutions, those who are doing so are most likely to be focused on improving physical health (19% of all 45- to 64-year-olds), saving more money (19%), or losing weight (18%). Americans 65 and older are also largely not setting resolutions, but 15% are resolving to lose weight and 15% are resolving to exercise more.

Though women and men are similarly likely to have made New Year’s resolutions — 33% and 36%, respectively — there are some differences in what they resolve to do. Women are more likely than men to resolve to improve physical health (25% vs. 17%), save more money (25% vs. 20%), lose weight (24% vs. 14%), and focus on spiritual matters (15% vs. 9%). Men are more likely than women to say their resolution is quitting a bad habit (15% vs. 9%).

— Taylor Orth and Carl Bialik contributed to this article

See the results for this YouGov poll

Methodology: The YouGov poll was conducted online on December 11 - 14, 2023 among 1,000 U.S. adult citizens. Respondents were selected from YouGov’s opt-in panel using sample matching. A random sample (stratified by gender, age, race, education, geographic region, and voter registration) was selected from the 2019 American Community Survey. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, 2020 election turnout and presidential vote, baseline party identification, and current voter registration status. Demographic weighting targets come from the 2019 American Community Survey. Baseline party identification is the respondent’s most recent answer given prior to November 1, 2022, and is weighted to the estimated distribution at that time (33% Democratic, 31% Republican). The margin of error for the overall sample is approximately 4%.

ATTACHMENT TWENTY TWO – FROM the NEW YORK TIMES

SQUEEZING EVERY LAST SECOND OUT OF VACATION:

President Biden and first lady JILL BIDEN are returning this evening from their St. Croix holiday vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Bidens kept the visit pretty low-key, as NYT’s LISA FRIEDMAN reports from the island.

They attended mass on Saturday, taped a New Year’s Eve interview with RYAN SEACREST and ventured out to a local seafood restaurant. Asked by reporters for his New Year’s resolution as he left the restaurant, Biden said it was “to come back next year.”

ATTACHMENT TWENTY THREE – FROM FOX NEWS

BIDEN REVEALS NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION IS TO 'COME BACK NEXT YEAR': REPORT

The Bidens are vacationing in the Virgin Islands to celebrate the New Year

By Hanna Panreck Published December 31, 2023 12:22pm EST

President Biden revealed his New Year's resolution for 2024 was to "come back next year," The New York Times reported on Sunday, as the president gears up for what is expected to be a competitive election year.

The outlet reported that Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden ate dinner at a restaurant on St. Croix in the Virgin Islands on Saturday, where the president revealed shortly after that his resolution was to be back next year.

The Bidens, while on vacation in St. Croix, attended a mass on Saturday and taped an interview with Ryan Seacrest that is set to air during ABC's broadcast of "Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest," according to the Times.

"To come back next year," he explained at the vacation spot. "That’s the biggest one right now," Biden told reporters, when asked if he had any other resolutions.

CNN's Dana Bash asked former Biden communications director Kate Bedingfield and CNN political analyst Scott Jennings about the resolution on Sunday during "State of the Union."

"We love a New Year's resolution we can keep," Bedingfield responded. "Look, it is absolutely going to be a rocky and challenging and close campaign. I don't think there is any doubt about that, I certainly don't think anybody in the Biden operation has any doubt about that. It's going to be a challenging campiagn."

BIDEN'S STRING OF 'FRIENDLY' INTERVIEWS AVOID QUESTIONS ABOUT HUNTER, CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS AS TROUBLES MOUNT

She said that she didn't believe voters were tuned in right now but would be in the coming months, adding that the Biden campaign had plenty of opportunities to chart a course that would be beneficial to him.

"I don't bet on politicians, only horses. I'm from Kentucky. I have to say, the president is not looking too good in the barn. So I don't know if I would bet on it or not," Jennings said, reacting to Biden's comments.

DEMOCRATIC ANALYSTS SOUND ALARM ON MORE 'GRIM' BIDEN POLLING SHOWING DIMINISHING SUPPORT IN KEY VOTER GROUPS

Several recent polls show Biden trailing Donald Trump in key swing states as well as hypothetical general election match-ups.

A Wall Street Journal poll conducted towards the end of November and into early December found that Trump was ahead of Biden 47% to 43% in a hypothetical general election with just the two candidates on the ballot.

Trump also came out ahead of Biden 37% to 31% in a hypothetical match-up that included five independent candidates, according to the poll.

Republicans criticized the president for vacationing in the Caribbean amid an ongoing crisis at the southern border.

"President Biden’s entire presidency has been a vacation from reality — 760,000 illegal immigrants have been encountered at the border since October," Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Ala., chairman of the House GOP Policy Committee, told Fox News Digital.

ATTACHMENT TWENTY FOUR – FROM THE HILL

BIDENS NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE IN RYAN SEACREST INTERVIEW

BY MIRANDA NAZZARO - 12/31/23 10:40 PM ET

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden d a New Year’s message late Sunday, with the president touting U.S. job gains as he seeks reelection in 2024.

The president, asked during an interview with Ryan Seacrest on his hopes for 2024, said he hopes “everybody has a healthy, happy and safe New Year.”

“But beyond that, I hope that they understand that we’re in a better position than any country in the world to lead the world,” Biden said. “And we’re coming back, and it’s about time.”

Later when asked for his standout memories from 2023, Biden said, “People are in a position to be able to making a living now, and they’ve created a lot of jobs for over 14 million.”

“I just feel good, the American people got up. They’ve been through a rough time with the pandemic, but now we’re coming back, they’re back,” he added.

The pretaped interview was shown during ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,” just hours before the East Coast was set to ring in 2024. Seacrest has interviewed the Bidens the past four years for the New Year’s special.

Jill Biden d a similarly upbeat message in the interview aired Sunday, telling Seacrest, “I think it’s what I would always tell my students — be positive, be optimistic and be kind to one another.”

The first couple was speaking from St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where the Biden family is celebrating New Year’s. The interview was recorded Saturday, according to the White House.

Biden and the first lady arrived at the Caribbean island last Wednesday, one day after the president returned to Washington after celebrating Christmas with family at Camp David.

The Bidens also spent New Year’s with family in St. Croix last year, as part of a family tradition dating back to 2008 to spend the holiday in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Bidens did not travel to the Virgin Islands when ringing in 2022, instead spending the holiday in Wilmington, Del.

This year’s trip has drawn criticism from some Republicans, who argued Biden’s trip shows how the White House has been absent for the situation at the U.S.-southern border.

The House Judiciary Committee mocked the president last week, calling him “beachfront Biden.” The committee showed an old photo of Biden on a beach in Delaware, claiming the president “doesn’t care about the southern border.”

Biden has faced repeated criticism from the right over his handling of the U.S.-Mexico border situation, with his approval rating on immigration dropping 8 points in December, according to a poll.

This isn’t the first time a president has come under fire for taking a holiday trip. Former Presidents George W. Bush, Obama and Trump all faced similar criticism for trips away from Washington.

The White House has declined to comment on the latest criticism.

Biden on Saturday took several questions from reporters when leaving dinner in St. Croix, and revealed his New Year’s resolution.

“To come back next year,” he said.

“That’s the biggest one right there,” he added when asked for anything else.

ATTACHMENT TWENTY FIVE – FROM VARIOUS

WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE WANTS YOU TO READ: This opinion piece by WaPo’s HEATHER LONG about how the U.S. economy in 2023 was a lot stronger than what many experts predicted. She called it “the economic equivalent of an underdog athlete winning gold.”

Long writes there are a number of factors that explain why the U.S. did well last year even as other countries struggled: Americans spent more than they did pre-Covid; there’s been a surge in wealth across income levels; and home values have soared, among other reasons. “While spending will likely slow in 2024, be careful betting against the U.S. consumer. As for Biden, he deserves more credit than he’s getting,” she concludes.

Deputy press secretary ANDREW BATES shared the piece on X.

WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE DOESN’T WANT YOU TO READ: This piece by our GAVIN BADE, who writes that the Biden administration’s global trade agenda is hitting a wall, as the president has failed to sell his self-described “worker-centered” framework to key members within his party. That’s stoked “fears of a backlash at the ballot box from the very workers the president and fellow Democrats are courting.”

KICKING OFF THE NEW YEAR: Press secretary KARINE JEAN-PIERRE made the cable news rounds this morning to preview the year ahead for the White House. In an interview with ABC’s GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, Jean-Pierre said the Biden administration would be focused on Bidenomics, codifying Roe v. Wade, tackling gun violence, among other issues. And in an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Jean-Pierre told MIKA BRZEZINSKI that Biden’s 2024 priority is to work on implementing key parts of legislation, such as lowering the cost of prescription drugs.

THERE’S STILL TIME: To all of the Cabinet secretaries who did not share their new year’s resolution with us, please reach out. It’s never too late to set a goal. We’ll run it in tomorrow’s edition.

Sens. KYRSTEN SINEMA (I-Ariz.), CHRIS MURPHY (D-Conn.) and JAMES LANKFORD (R-Okla.) cut their holiday break a bit short to return to in-person border negotiations with Homeland Security Secretary ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS. The group met for 90 minutes on Tuesday and plan to meet again throughout the week.

The communication lines weren’t entirely dark over the holidays. Senators and administration officials continued to talk virtually, while Mayorkas, Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN and Biden’s homeland security adviser LIZ SHERWOOD-RANDALL also trekked to Mexico to discuss the border crisis, as more than 300,000 migrants tried to cross the southern border in December alone — breaking an all-time monthly record.

Karine Jean-Pierre expressed some optimism on the talks, telling CNN this morning the negotiations over the holidays were “very productive.” The White House used that same, vague word to describe the administration’s meeting with Mexican officials, though none of the talks have so far resulted in any concrete policy solutions.

WELCOME TO 2024: The Biden campaign is kicking off 2024 by shifting its reelection strategy, focusing more on the impact of a potential second Trump administration, CNN’s EDWARD-ISAAC DOVERE reports. Instead of simply stressing the president’s accomplishments, the plan is to instead focus on moments when Trump goes “full Hitler,” as younger campaign aides put it, in speeches and actions.

“The campaign so far, these aides believe, has essentially been Biden running against himself, and losing,” Dovere writes. “But they see the next few weeks of the Republican primary campaigns as an opportunity to persuade influencers and media into thinking about the race on their terms.”

ATTACHMENT TWENTY SIX – FROM POLITICO

PLEDGES BIDEN’S CABINET WILL SURELY BREAK

By LAUREN EGAN, MYAH WARD and BEN JOHANSEN 01/02/2024 05:26 PM EST

Well, folks, somehow we made it. 2024. It is finally upon us. It’s going to be an excruciating, soul-crushing, potentially exciting year.

For President JOE BIDEN and his staff, it’s going to be stressful. Not only do they face a reelection campaign but in the next few weeks they need to get Ukraine aid passed into law, come to some agreement on a border deal, fund the government and manage the war in Israel. Those are just the toplines.

Administration officials are also living their own lives, too. And the coming of a new year means making some changes on that front. West Wing Playbook checked in with members of the president’s Cabinet about their resolutions for the new year. We requested they non-work related goals (because we get it, no one is super excited to be back in the office — or working remotely — today).

Enjoy.

GINA RAIMONDO, Secretary of Commerce

In the New Year, I’m hoping to drink less diet soda.

DEB HAALAND, Secretary of the Interior

This year, I hope to run my first ultra-marathon! I plan to do everything I can when I have spare time to train.

TOM VILSACK, Secretary of Agriculture

JULIE SU, acting Secretary of Labor

Editor’s note: McDonough did not provide a comment to us. Perhaps he has nothing to resolve?

MARCIA FUDGE, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

I really enjoy the theater, and with my travel schedule, I don’t always get a chance to go as often as I’d like. In 2024, I am planning to catch a few more shows.

MICHAEL REGAN, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

In 2024, I resolve to try my hand at baking! I will join forces with my 10-year-old son Matthew to learn how to bake a homemade, gluten-free poundcake.

ISABEL GUZMAN, Administrator of the Small Business Administration

Next year my son will go off to college. I want to spend 2024 sharing more time with him, together with his grandparents, to learn more oral family history.

EVAN RYAN, White House Cabinet Secretary

This year I want to make sure that when I am with my children I am present and am conscious of my phone use around them.

KATHERINE TAI, United States Trade Representative

Adopt a cat. Maybe two. Because everything is a negotiation. Including with my husband.

ATTACHMENT TWENTY SEVEN – FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

TRUMP'S NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS: WINNING THE 2024 CAMPAIGN TRIAL AND HIS TRIALS

by Naomi Lim, White House Reporter December 31, 2023 06:00 AM

Trump unloads on 'unreliable and disloyal' GOP competitors as he barnstorms Iowa

By: Jack Birle

The View celebrates Ana Navarro with decadence, drag queens, and DeSantis bashing

By: Luke Gentile

Wayne LaPierre resigns as NRA leader days before his civil corruption trial starts

By: Eden Villalovas

The year 2023 was historic for Donald Trump and the country when he became the first former president to be indicted by federal and state prosecutors.

But as Trump's legal problems rally his supporters and Republican primary opponents around him, 2024 is poised to put pressure on the GOP and the nation's institutions as Trump seeks both reelection against President Joe Biden and to avoid legal jeopardy.

BIDEN BEAT TRUMP 'CHAOS' IN 2020 — NOW NIKKI HALEY WANTS TO DO THE SAME

Between the indictments brought by special counsel Jack Smith, in addition to those of Alvin Bragg and Fani Willis, the district attorneys for New York County, covering Manhattan, and Georgia's Fulton County, respectively, Trump is grappling with 91 criminal charges, including allegations regarding efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Republicans risk ostracizing crucial independent voters with the former president before next year's election. But he has an average 33 percentage point lead in Iowa, weeks before the GOP's opening nominating contest, and a smaller 3-point edge over Biden in a hypothetical general election matchup.

Trump is at his strongest point now, according to University of Wisconsin-Madison political science professor and Elections Research Center director Barry Burden.

Excluding Trump's civil lawsuits, the former president's first criminal trial, Smith's federal election obstruction case, is scheduled to start on March 4, the day before Super Tuesday, when about one-third of the Republican primary's nominating delegates will be decided. Trump is trying to have it and his other matters postponed until after the election in the hope he can sidestep a possible conviction because if he fails, there is no precedent for what comes next.

Aside from his legal strategy, Trump's political strategy takes advantage of Biden's perceived weaknesses, particularly his unpopularity, as captured by polling, and concerns about his 81 years of age amid his formalized impeachment inquiry.

The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment, but the Biden campaign has repeatedly underscored his losing record, citing 2018, 2020, and 2022, even last month's off-year elections in Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, as examples of so-called MAGA Republicans underperforming expectations due to issues like the former president's anti-abortion stance. In recent weeks, Republican officials and candidates have also been required to answer for his desire to be a "dictator" for "one day" and his "poisoning the blood" rhetoric related to immigrants.

"They understand that turnout is going to be key and important," Hankin said. "Then I think a lot is going to come down to what happens with these court cases. Obviously, there's not much Biden should say about it. It's just sort of, kind of wait and see what's going to happen with this. And I think that's going to have likely a bigger effect than anything [Biden's] directly going to do."

But another Democratic strategist, Simon Rosenberg, was more confident about Biden's chances considering Trump's legal entanglements, contending they were "going to really hurt him," as "he's already in a diminished position."

"When you add all those things up and use television advertising to make sure that voters are aware of this, it's very hard to see how he wins the election next year because he has more baggage than any candidate who's run for office in American history," Rosenberg said. "Our path to victory, in my view, is much clearer than theirs. ... Incumbent elections favor incumbents."

ATTACHMENT TWENTY EIGHT – FROM THE GUARDIAN U.K.

BIDEN OFFERS OPTIMISTIC NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE AS TRUMP LASHES OUT

President touts US job gains and says his resolution is ‘to come back’ while ex-president repeats unproven election rigging claims

By Edward Helmore Mon 1 Jan 2024 14.03 EST

The likely candidates in the 2024 presidential match-up issued two starkly different new year messages to voters, with Joe Biden striking a note of cheerful optimism as his almost certain challenger, Donald Trump, lashed out in a social media post laden with lies and conspiracy theories. –SO says GUK - dji

The president and first lady, Jill Biden, vacationing in St Croix in the US Virgin Islands, offered a New Year’s message touting US job gains and the performance of the US economy during his administration – a message that voters have so far refused to accept.

‘A formulaic game’: former officials say Trump’s attacks threaten rule of law

In an interview with the American Idol host Ryan Seacrest about his hopes for 2024, Biden said “[the American people] understand that we’re in a better position than any country in the world to lead the world”.

“We’re coming back, and it’s about time,” Biden said.

Asked about his memories of the previous year, Biden – whom Republicans in Congress have derisively called “Beachfront Biden” – said “people are in a position to be able to making a living now, and they’ve created a lot of jobs for over 14 million”.

In comments to reporters, Biden said his new year’s resolution was “to come back next year”.

“That’s the biggest one right there,” he said.

Trump, however, issued a simple: “Happy New Year. It will be a historic one. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!” on his Truth Social platform.

Trump, the outlet reported, could be seen in videos toward the back of the room away from the dancefloor as people danced to Vanilla Ice, whose real name is Rob Van Winkle, as he played his hit Ice Ice Baby.

A day earlier, Trump issued a more typically acidic message, predicting Biden would not “make it to the gate” in November. He repeated his unproven claims that the 2020 election was rigged and transposed the “crooked” moniker he used on Hillary Clinton to Biden.

“As the New Year fast approaches, I would like to wish an early New Year’s salutation to crooked Joe Biden and his group of radical left misfits and thugs on their never-ending attempt to destroy our nation through lawfare, invasion and rigging elections,” Trump said in the post.

“They are now scrambling to sign up as many of those millions of people they are illegally allowing into sour [sic] country, in order that they will be ready to vote in the presidential election of 2024,” Trump added.

The twin new year’s greeting arrived as the 2024 election shifts into high gear. Polling averages compiled by FiveThirtyEight show that 39% of Americans approve of Biden’s performance, with 55% disapproving – a gap that has doubled in 12 months.

But that comes as Trump faces a series of criminal complaints that, if any are heard and concluded with convictions before the election, may damage his standing among voters. With the White House gambling that Trump is the Republican candidate it can beat, there are few opportunities for slip-ups.

A survey released on Monday showed that Trump leads Biden among Hispanic and young voters – a key demographic that helped him win the presidency four years ago.

The USA Today and Suffolk University survey, condensed by the Guardian, found that Biden had 34% support among Hispanic voters surveyed, down from 65% in 2020, compared with Trump’s 39%. Biden’s support among Black voters had also declined, from 87% to 63%.

Among younger votes under 35, Trump leads Biden 37% to 33%, a spread that four years ago was 24 points in Biden’s favour.

ATTACHMENT TWENTY NINE – FROM NPR

‘JESUS IN THE RUBBLE’: CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS IN BETHLEHEM CANCELED

By William Booth and Sufian Taha Updated December 23, 2023 at 6:58 a.m. EST|Published December 23, 2023 at 2:00 a.m. EST

BETHLEHEM, West Bank — At Christmastime, the world comes to Bethlehem. The rooftop of the city hall is packed with camera crews from around the globe to capture a towering tree in Manger Square as the bells toll for midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity, built upon the grotto where, by tradition, Jesus was born.

This year there will be no tree. No parades, bands or music. No lights. No markets, no feasts, no carols. No Santas handing out candy to the children.

And no pilgrims. No tourists.

In place of traditional holiday decorations, one church here has created a simple Nativity scene for Christmas 2023: Jesus enters the world amid a pile of Gazan rubble.

The atmosphere in Bethlehem on the eve of Christmas this year is somber, dark, sad — and political.

The mass of Boy Scouts who traditionally accompany the Latin Patriarch’s procession into the city — 28 troops’ worth, blasting bagpipes — has been pared down to a single silent troop. The boys will hold aloft Bible verses on peace and, perhaps, photographs of Gazan children.

Israel’s Supreme Court struck down a law that would have limited its power over government decisions, thwarting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul plan — which sparked mass protests last year.

For context: Understand what’s behind the Israel-Gaza war.

Christian leaders here are careful to condemn the surprise Hamas attack on Israeli communities on Oct. 7, when the militants killed 1,200 people and took about 240 more hostage, triggering current hostilities. But they appear most focused on the war since. The Israel Defense Forces, fighting to eradicate Hamas, have killed more than 20,000 people in Gaza, the enclave’s Health Ministry said Friday. With water, food and shelter all short, international aid groups warn a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding.

Christmas celebrations disrupted in Bethlehem

The Holy Land is home mostly to Jews and Muslims. But 2 percent of the Palestinian population of the West Bank is Christian, with many of them proudly tracing their roots back a millennium or more. There also exists a tiny remnant of Christians — maybe a thousand people, no more — in Gaza.

A view of Route 60, the main highway from Jerusalem south to the West Bank settlements between Bethlehem and Hebron. The road, which lies between high concrete walls, is open only to vehicles with yellow Israeli license plates. (Heidi Levine for The Washington Post)

In his annual Christmas message, Bethlehem Mayor Hanna Hanania spoke this year of mourning — and condemned Israel’s prosecution of the war in Gaza as “ethnic cleansing” and “genocide.”

So did the head of the chamber of commerce. “I am sad and upset at the moral failure of the West” to stop the killing of civilians in Gaza, Samir Hazboun said.

Christian clergy here use similar language, blaming the failure to protect the innocent on world leaders including President Biden.

The Rev. Munther Isaac, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church, stood beside the small Nativity scene in his chapel. The baby Jesus sat amid flickering candles atop a pile of busted cement and dirty stone.

“This is what Christmas looks like in Palestine,” Issac said. “This is the true message.”

The Rev. Munther Isaac by the Nativity scene at the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church. (Heidi Levine for The Washington Post)

At first, he said, the idea of placing the birth of Jesus in a war zone “was shocking — it was hard for even our own people. But it left a strong impression because the image is very real, it confronts you with the reality — then and now — in a very powerful way.”

“If Jesus were born today,” he said, “he would be born in Gaza amid the rubble.”

“Who can sing ‘Joy to the World’ today?”

Photos of the scene have gone viral. A similar installation is to be placed in Manger Square before Christmas Eve.

Today, Isaac said, the Christmas story feels more contemporary than ever. In the Gospel of Matthew, Joseph, a Jewish man living in Palestine under Roman rule, is forced to report to Bethlehem for a census. He takes his young, pregnant wife, Mary. Unable to find lodgings — there’s no room at the inn — they settle in a stable.

There, in a manger — a feed trough for animals — Mary gives birth to the child who the faithful believe is the son of God.

King Herod of Judea, learning of the birth of a rival, orders that all male children under 2 be killed: the Slaughter of the Innocents. Jesus, Mary and Joseph flee to Egypt.

“So the story is Jesus is born into hardship, lived under occupation, survived a massacre and became a refugee,” Isaac said.

“This is a story we Palestinians can understand.”

Bethlehem is just a few miles south of Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank. There are 12 miles of high wall and fencing. There are Israeli checkpoints to get in and out of the city, where Palestinians on foot pass through scanners and answer questions by Israeli border guards. Many of those check points are closed now, or only open a few hours a day, because of the Gaza war and the rise in violence in the West Bank.

Hanania said he “cannot believe what we are watching in Gaza. These are the worst days that Palestinians have ever seen.”

In the lead-up to the holiday this year, the painstakingly renovated Church of the Nativity, which dates back to the 6th century, has seen almost no visitors.

A few journalists wandered about. A Danish priest and his daughter came. A local family marveled at the graffiti from the Crusades and the restored 12th-century mosaics depicting hovering angels.

“It’s like the covid times, but worse,” custodian Nicola Hadur said.

In a normal year, he said, pilgrims and tourists would wait in multiple lines for hours to see the cave in which Jesus is said to have been born.

There are 78 hotels and 5,700 rooms in Bethlehem today. In normal times, 6,000 tourists come daily — you can’t move for the tour buses.

There were only 624 foreign visitors during the entire month of November, according to the tourist police. Most were from Indonesia.

Gift shop owner Victor Tabah says the days before Christmas have been the quietest in the 61 years his family has been in business. (Heidi Levine for The Washington Post)

Behind the Church of the Nativity, Victor Tabah’s souvenir shop sat empty.

“I do not blame anyone for this situation, not Hamas or anyone,” the 77-year-old grandfather said. “We have to blame ourselves, we need to be strong and have to keep going.”

This year? “Christmas is finished, we do not see Christmas anymore, it is supposed to be for our children, but we do not have a Christmas anymore,” said Tabah, who has three children and seven grandchildren.

Rami Asakrieh, a Franciscan friar, is pastor of St. Catherine’s Church, where midnight Mass is to be celebrated. (Masses by the Orthodox and other Christian faiths will follow.)

“They say that we are canceling Christmas,” Asakrieh said. “But we have only canceled the celebrations of Christmas. We will say Mass.”

“It’s impossible to celebrate when so many — on both sides — have lost so much,” he said. “We canceled the festivities as a sign of solidarity with the victims of the war.”

Asakrieh joined the other clerics of Bethlehem last month in sending a letter to Biden and to Congress. “God has placed political leaders in a position of power so that they can bring justice, support those who suffer, and be instruments of God’s peace,” they wrote.

“We need the Christmas message more than ever,” Asakrieh said. “We need the peace and love. We need the light.”

ATTACHMENT THIRTY – FROM EURONEWS

VLADIMIR PUTIN ATTENDS ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS MASS ALONE AS CEASEFIRE REQUEST FAILS TO HOLD

Published on 07/01/2023 - 20:13

Moscow has claimed its forces observed the ceasefire, but media reports say both sides exchanged artillery fire in eastern Ukraine after Putin's deadline.

Russia's most secure cathedral was ordered to stage a midnight Orthodox Christmas service so President Vladimir Putin could worship alone.

Putin attended the service at Moscow's Cathedral of the Annunciation, originally designed as a church for the Russian tsars.

Footage released by the Kremlin shows him standing alone as Orthodox priests in golden robes conducted a ceremony holding long candles.

On the ground, Putin's unilateral request for a 36-hour truce in Ukraine appears to have failed.

Russia's Defence Ministry has claimed its forces observed the ceasefire, but media reports say both sides exchanged artillery fire in eastern Ukraine after Putin's Friday deadline.

Though war rages on in the country, Ukrainians have tried to have a relatively normal Orthodox Christmas.

In Kyiv's Pechersk Lavra Cathedral, hundreds attended the Christmas Day service - despite below-freezing temperatures in Ukraine's capital. Many heard it spoken in Ukrainian for the first time, a demonstration of independence from the Russian orthodox church.

Watch the video in the video player above to find out more.

ATTACHMENT THIRTY ONE – FROM THE A.P.

PUTIN LAUDS RUSSIAN UNITY IN HIS NEW YEAR’S ADDRESS AS UKRAINE WAR OVERSHADOWS CELEBRATION

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Updated 9:38 AM EST, December 31, 2023

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Russia’s “united society” in his prerecorded New Year’s address to the nation, the country’s state news agencies reported Sunday.

Putin addressed Russians in a video that ran under four minutes long, significantly shorter than the New Year’s speech he gave last year, according to state news agency RIA Novosti. Millions of people were expected to watch the new address when it airs on TV as each Russian time zone region counts down the final minutes of 2023 on Sunday.

The first to see it were residents of the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Chukotka region in Russia’s Far East, some nine hours ahead of Moscow.

Returning to tradition after speaking flanked by soldiers last year, Putin delivered his address to the nation against the backdrop of a snowy Kremlin. In remarks carried by RIA Novosti, he described 2023 as a year marked by high levels of unity in Russian society.

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“What united us and unites us is the fate of the Fatherland, a deep understanding of the highest significance of the historical stage through which Russia is passing,” the president said. He also lauded Russian citizens’ “solidarity, mercy and fortitude.”

The nearly 2-year-old war in Ukraine was front and center in the address, with Putin directly addressing Russia’s armed forces involved in what the Kremlin has termed its “special military operation” in the neighboring country.

“We are proud of you, you are heroes, you feel the support of the entire people,” the president said. According to state media, he emphasized that Russia would never retreat and asserted there was no force that could divide Russians and stop the country’s development.

The address’ broadcast comes a day after shelling in the center of the Russian border city of Belgorod Saturday killed 24 people, including three children. Another 108 people were wounded, Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said Sunday, making the attack one with the most casualties on Russian soil since the start of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine 22 months ago.

As last year, New Year’s celebrations were toned down in Moscow, with the traditional fireworks and concert on Red Square canceled. After the shelling in Belgorod, local authorities in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok and other places across Russia also canceled their usual New Year’s firework displays.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy secretary of Russia’s Security Council and former Russian president, also congratulated Russians on the New Year. In video remarks posted to Telegram, he said that “thoughts and hearts are with those at the front” and that the past year had required “a special stability and unity, and true patriotism” from Russia.

Medvedev also called on Russians to “make 2024 the year of the final defeat of neo-fascism,” repeating Putin’s claims of invading Ukraine to fight “neo-Nazis.” The Holocaust, World War II and Nazism have been important rhetorical tools for Putin in his bid to legitimize Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, but historians see their use as disinformation and a cynical ploy to further his aims.

Analysts are describing 2023 as largely a positive year for Putin.

“It’s been a good year; I would even actually call it a great year” for the Russian leader, said Mathieu Boulegue, a consulting fellow for the Russia-Eurasia program at Chatham House think tank in London.

Moscow in May won the fight for the bombed-out Ukrainian city of Bakhmut after the longest and bloodiest battle of the war. In june, Putin defused a revolt against him and reasserted his hold on the Kremlin. A Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russia started with high hopes but ended in disappointment.

ATTACHMENT THIRTY TWO – FROM CNN

XI JINPING RINGS IN 2024 WITH RARE ADMISSION THAT CHINA’S ECONOMY IS IN TROUBLE

By Laura He and Simone McCarthy, CNN Published 1:26 AM EST, Mon January 1, 2024

Hong KongCNN —

China’s businesses are struggling and job seekers have trouble finding work, President Xi Jinping acknowledged during his Sunday New Year’s Eve speech.

Acknowledging the “headwinds” facing the country, Xi admitted in the televised speech: “Some enterprises had a tough time. Some people had difficulty finding jobs and meeting basic needs.”

“All these remain at the forefront of my mind,” Xi said in remarks which were also widely circulated by state media. “We will consolidate and strengthen the momentum of economic recovery.”

Hours before Xi spoke, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) published its monthly Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) survey, which showed that factory activity declined in December to the lowest level in six months.

The official manufacturing PMI dropped to 49 last month, down from 49.4 in November, according to a statement from the NBS.

A PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion, while any reading below represents a contraction. December also marked the third straight month the manufacturing PMI has contracted.

Manufacturing downturn

The country’s massive manufacturing sector had been weak for most of 2023. After a brief pickup in economic activity in the first quarter of last year, the official manufacturing PMI contracted for five months until September. Then it dipped below 50 again.

China’s economy has been plagued by a set of problems this year, including a prolonged property downturn, record high youth unemployment, stubbornly weak prices and mounting financial stress at local governments.

Beijing is scrambling to revive growth and spur employment, having rolled out a flurry of supportive measures last year and vowed to step up fiscal and monetary policy in 2024.

But its increasingly statist approach to the economy, which emphasises the party-state’s control of economic and social affairs at the expense of the private sector, has spooked entrepreneurs. The government’s crackdown on businesses in the name of national security has also scared away international investors.

Bottom of Form

On Saturday, the People’s Bank of China announced that it had approved an application to remove controlling holders at Alipay, the ubiquitous digital payment platform run by Jack Ma’s Ant Group. The move means Ma has officially ceded control of the company that he co-founded.

Ma, who also co-founded Alibaba Group, said last January that he would relinquish control of Ant, as part of his withdrawal from his online businesses. His companies were the early targets of Beijing’s unprecedented crackdown on Big Tech which were perceived to have become overly powerful in the eyes of the Communist Party.

Tough on Taiwan

Xi also pledged that the Chinese mainland would be “reunified” with Taiwan, reiterating Beijing’s long-held stance on the self-ruled island democracy, with a strongly worded comment ahead of a crucial election there.

“China will surely be reunified, and all Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should be bound by a common sense of purpose and in the glory of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” Xi said during a section of his speech dedicated to his plans for China’s modernization and development.

The comments come just two weeks ahead of Taiwan’s presidential elections on January 13, and struck a more pointed tone than those in his New Year address the year before.

Then, Xi said: “The people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are members of one and the same family. I sincerely hope that our compatriots on both sides of the Strait will work together with a unity of purpose to jointly foster lasting prosperity of the Chinese nation.”

Xi has made taking control of Taiwan a cornerstone of his broader goal to “rejuvenate” China to a position of power and stature globally. China’s Communist Party claims Taiwan as its own territory, despite never having controlled it and has not ruled out using force to take the island.

Taipei has accused the party of running influence operations ahead of the election, where current Vice President Lai Ching-te, a candidate openly loathed by Beijing, has been seen as a frontrunner.

ATTACHMENT THIRTY THREE – FROM MFA.GOV.CHINA

FULL TEXT OF PRESIDENT XI JINPING'S 2024 NEW YEAR MESSAGE

2023-12-31 19:52

On New Year's Eve, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered his 2024 New Year message via China Media Group and the Internet. The following is the full text of the message:

Greetings to you all! As energy rises after the Winter Solstice, we are about to bid farewell to the old year and usher in the new. From Beijing, I extend my best New Year wishes to each and every one of you!

In 2023, we have continued to forge ahead with resolve and tenacity. We have gone through the test of winds and rains, have seen beautiful scenes unfolding on the way, and have made plenty real achievements. We will remember this year as one of hard work and perseverance. Going forward, we have full confidence in the future.

This year, we have marched forward with solid steps. We achieved a smooth transition in our COVID-19 response efforts. The Chinese economy has sustained the momentum of recovery. Steady progress has been made in pursuing high-quality development. Our modernized industrial system has been further upgraded. A number of advanced, smart and green industries are rapidly emerging as new pillars of the economy. We have secured a bumper harvest for the 20th year in a row. Waters have become clearer and mountains greener. New advances have been made in pursuing rural revitalization. New progress has been made in fully revitalizing northeast China. The Xiong'an New Area is growing fast, the Yangtze River Economic Belt is full of vitality, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is embracing new development opportunities. Having weathered the storm, the Chinese economy is more resilient and dynamic than before.

This year, we have marched forward with robust steps. Thanks to years of dedicated efforts, China's innovation-driven development is full of energy. The C919 large passenger airliner entered commercial service. The Chinese-built large cruise ship completed its trial voyage. The Shenzhou spaceships are continuing their missions in space. The deep-sea manned submersible Fendouzhe reached the deepest ocean trench. Products designed and made in China, especially trendy brands, are highly popular with consumers. The latest models of Chinese-made mobile phones are an instant market success. New energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products are a new testimony to China's manufacturing prowess. Everywhere across our country, new heights are being scaled with dogged determination, and new creations and innovations are emerging every day.

This year, we have marched forward in high spirits. The Chengdu FISU World University Games and the Hangzhou Asian Games presented spectacular sports scenes, and Chinese athletes excelled in their competitions. Tourist destinations are full of visitors on holidays, and the film market is booming. The "village super league" football games and "village spring festival gala" are immensely popular. More people are embracing low-carbon lifestyles. All these exhilarating activities have made our lives richer and more colorful, and they mark the return of bustling life across the country. They embody people's pursuit of a beautiful life, and present a vibrant and flourishing China to the world.

This year, we have marched forward with great confidence. China is a great country with a great civilization. Across this vast expanse of land, wisps of smoke in deserts of the north and drizzles in the south invoke our fond memory of many millennium-old stories. The mighty Yellow River and Yangtze River never fail to inspire us. Discoveries at the archeological sites of Liangzhu and Erlitou tell us much about the dawn of Chinese civilization. The ancient Chinese characters inscribed on oracle bones of the Yin Ruins, the cultural treasures of the Sanxingdui Site, and the collections of the National Archives of Publications and Culture bear witness to the evolution of Chinese culture. All this stands as testament to the time-honored history of China and its splendid civilization. And all this is the source from which our confidence and strength are derived.

While pursuing its development, China has also embraced the world and fulfilled its responsibility as a major country. We held the China-Central Asia Summit and the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, and hosted leaders from across the world at many diplomatic events held in China. I also paid visits to a number of countries, attended international conferences, and met many friends, both old and new. I d China's vision and enhanced common understandings with them. No matter how the global landscape may evolve, peace and development remain the underlying trend, and only cooperation for mutual benefit can deliver.

ATTACHMENT THIRTY FOUR – FROM THE DAILY MAIL

HAVE A GOOD UN (UNLESS YOU'RE AMERICAN)!

By EIRIAN JANE PROSSER PUBLISHED: 20:26 EST, 31 December 2023 | UPDATED: 21:16 EST, 31 December 2023

Kim Jong Un welcomed in the New Year in North Korea by delivering a fresh diatribe against the US, vowing to ramp up nuclear weapons testing in 2024.

Throughout his ramble Kim announced plans to launch three additional military spy satellites, produce more nuclear materials and introduce attack drones.

He called for his country to have 'overwhelming' war readiness to cope with US led confrontational moves, state media reported.

Kim said 'viscous' anti-North Korea moves by the US and its allies had 'reached the extremes unprecedented in history,' pushing the Korean Peninsula to the brink of a nuclear war, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

Experts believe if Kim decided to boost his nuclear capability it could give him another chance for high-stakes diplomacy with the U.S. to win sanctions relief if former President Donald Trump returns to the White House.

Throughout his speech dictator cited the expansion US-South Korean military exercises and the temporary deployment of US military assets, such as bombers and nuclear-armed submarines near South Korea.

Kim has been focusing on modernizing his nuclear arsenal since his diplomacy with Trump broke down in 2019 due to wrangling over how much sanctions relief the North could get for a partial surrender of its nuclear program.

Experts say Kim likely thinks that Trump, if elected for a second term, could make concessions as the US is preoccupied with the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas fighting.

Nam Sung-wook, a professor at Korea University in South Korea, said if President Joe Biden is reelected, North Korea won't get what it wants.

But he predicted a Trump win could revive diplomacy, saying Trump will likely say during his campaign that he can convince North Korea to suspend intimidating weapons tests.

He said Kim's vow to ramp up production of plutonium and uranium is meant to strengthen his negotiating cards. Nam said North Korea will also test-launch more intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the continental U.S. this year.

'North Korea will act to the fullest extent under its timetable for provocation until the U.S. election day,' Nam said.

ATTACHMENT THIRTY FIVE – FROM AL JAZEERA

UKRAINE OFFICIALLY CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS ON DECEMBER 25 FOR THE FIRST TIME

The change reflects Ukrainians’ dismay at the 22-month-old Russian invasion and their assertion of a national identity.

Young people sing carols inside a metro carriage in Kyiv as Ukrainians celebrate their first Christmas according to the Western calendar [Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters]

Published On 25 Dec 202325 Dec 2023

Ukrainians have celebrated Christmas on December 25 for the first time, as part of an ongoing effort to remove Russian influence from their country.

The change was enacted in a law signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in July, reflecting both the Ukrainians’ dismay with the 22-month-old Russian invasion and their assertion of a national identity.

Ukraine picks new Christmas date in break with Russian tradition

Ukraine secures desperately needed funds from World Bank

Russia blasts US on frozen assets, missiles as Ukraine bombardment persists

Ukraine previously marked Christmas in January as the Russians do.

“It’s historical justice,” said Yevhen Konyk, a 44-year-old serviceman who, along with his family, participated in traditional celebrations at an open-air museum in Kyiv.

“We need to move forward not only with the world but also with the traditions of our country and overcome the imperial remnants we had.”

Ukraine is largely Orthodox Christian but the faith is divided between two churches, one of which has a long affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which does not recognise the authority of the Russian church and had been regarded as schismatic, was granted full recognition in 2019 by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodoxy’s top authority.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which had been a branch of the Russian church, announced in 2022 after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war that it was breaking ties with Moscow and becoming autonomous.

Its parishes, however, continue to follow the same liturgical calendar as the Russian church and will observe Christmas on January 7.

Many Ukrainians embraced the move to celebrate Christmas on the date aligned with the rest of Western Europe with enthusiasm.

Oksana Poviakel, the director of the Pyrohiv Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine, where Christmas celebrations took place, said celebrating on December 25 is “another important factor of self-identification”.

“We are separating ourselves from the neighbour who is currently trying to destroy our state, who is killing our people, destroying our homes, and burning our land,” she said.

Asia Landarenko, 63, said she prays every day for her son who is in the military.

“The state of war affects everything, including the mood. The real celebration of Christmas will be after the victory, but as the saviour was born, so will be our victory,” she said.

ATTACHMENT THIRTY SIX – FROM THE TIMES OF ISRAEL

IN FIRST PUBLIC MESSAGE SINCE OCT. 7, SINWAR SAYS HAMAS WON’T SURRENDER

Terror chief inflates group’s achievements, falsely claims it is ‘crushing’ the IDF, as top leadership in Qatar evaluates Egyptian proposal to end hostilities

By GIANLUCA PACCHIANI 25 December 2023, 1:52 pm

In his first public message since the massacres of October 7, Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar on Monday remained defiant, while grossly inflating the terror group’s achievements in the war.

Hamas is facing a “fierce, violent and unprecedented battle” against Israel, Sinwar acknowledged in a message to Hamas’s political leadership. But he also claimed that the terror group was on its way to crushing the Israel Defense Forces, and, referring to Israel, said Hamas will not submit to “the occupation’s conditions.”

Sinwar falsely claimed that the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, had “targeted” over 5,000 Israeli soldiers and officers, and killed about third of them — that is, over 1,500.

The actual figure of IDF deaths is one-tenth of what the terror leader alleged. According to the IDF, 156 soldiers have so far been killed in the ground operation in Gaza. Over 300 members of the security forces were killed in Hamas’s initial October 7 onslaught.

The terror leader also gave inflated claims of the number of Israeli soldiers injured in the war, and the amount of Israeli military equipment that has been destroyed. He claimed that around 3,500 troops were seriously wounded or disabled, whereas that figure according to the IDF stands at less than 200.

He further said that Hamas had completely or partially destroyed 750 Israeli military vehicles. While the IDF has not provided official figures, the commander of the IDF Technology and Maintenance Corps, Brig. Gen. Ariel Shima, said in early November that very few IDF vehicles had been severely damaged beyond repair, and that most vehicles that are hit return to fighting.

Sinwar’s announcement came as the terror group faces growing military pressure. The IDF has been “gradually achieving” its goals in northern Gaza and is continuing operations in the Khan Younis area in the south of the Strip, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement on Friday.

Gallant also issued a renewed personal threat against Sinwar, saying he would soon “meet the barrels of our guns.”

On Saturday, Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh returned to Qatar from Cairo to discuss with exiled officials of the terror group an Egyptian proposal for a two-week truce that could become a permanent ceasefire if Hamas agrees to allow a Palestinian technocratic government to take control of Gaza, and to gradually release all Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of a certain number of Palestinian prisoners.

There were some indications that Israel had not flat-out rejected the proposal.

The three-stage plan would begin with a two-week halt to the fighting, extendable to three or four, in exchange for the release of 40 Israeli hostages — women, minors, and elderly men, especially sick ones.

In return, Israel would release 120 Palestinian security prisoners of the same categories. During this time, hostilities would stop, Israeli tanks would withdraw, and humanitarian aid would enter Gaza.

The second phase would see an Egypt-sponsored “Palestinian national talk” aimed at ending the division between Palestinian factions — mainly the Fatah party-dominated Palestinian Authority and Hamas — and leading to the formation of a technocratic government in the West Bank and Gaza that would oversee the reconstruction of the Strip and pave the way for Palestinian parliamentary and presidential elections.

The third stage would include a comprehensive ceasefire, the release of the remaining Israeli hostages, including soldiers, in return for a to-be-determined number of Palestinian security prisoners in Israeli jails affiliated with Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group — including those arrested after October 7 and some convicted of serious terror offenses.

The war began with the deadly Hamas onslaught on October 7, when thousands of terrorists stormed into Israel, killing some 1,200 people — most of them civilians slaughtered in their homes, communities, and at a music festival amid brutal atrocities — and seizing around 240 hostages. In response, Israel launched an aerial campaign and a subsequent ground operation, vowing to eliminate Hamas from the Gaza Strip and end its rule.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday evening reiterated his longstanding position that the Gaza offensive will not stop until Hamas is destroyed. He has repeatedly stressed the three pillars of Israel’s campaign are to destroy Hamas, remove it from power in Gaza, and release the hostages.

Netanyahu acknowledged the “very heavy toll” that the war was taking on IDF soldiers.

“We are doing everything to protect the lives of our fighters,” Netanyahu said. “But one thing we will not do — we will not stop until we achieve victory.”

The head of Israel’s Mossad spy agency, David Barnea, has reportedly met twice with senior Qatari and US officials, with officials permitting him to discuss the release of high-level Palestinian security prisoners, including some who carried out attacks on Israelis.

There is opposition from the far-right flank of Netanyahu’s coalition against pausing the Gaza offensive or releasing high-level prisoners.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir last week threatened to bolt the government if the Gaza campaign is stopped before the eradication of Hamas. Fellow far-right ally Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who leads the Religious Zionism party, also hit out against the notion of freeing high-level prisoners.

Hamas, for its part, has repeatedly said it will not negotiate a truce and hostage release under fire.

Israel has come under increasing international pressure for a ceasefire, due to concerns over the mounting civilian toll in Gaza. However, the United National Security Council on Friday approved a resolution, after protracted negotiations to avoid the US exercising its veto power, that did not demand a ceasefire.

The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry claims more than 20,000 people have been killed in the Strip during the war, an unverified figure. Israel says it assesses troops have killed some 8,000 terror operatives. Another 1,000 Hamas terrorists were killed in Israel on October 7, during the terror group’s onslaught.

ATTACHMENT THIRTY SEVEN – FROM MEHR NEWS, IRAN

IRAN'S CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE NEW YEAR'S EVE JOYFULLY

TEHRAN, Dec.31 (MNA) – Tonight, the Christian community who live in Iran are celebrating the arrival of the New Year 2024 with their friends and families like other Christians around the globe.

Civilizations around the world have been celebrating the start of each new year for at least four millennia. Today, most New Year’s festivities begin on December 31 (New Year’s Eve), the last day of the Gregorian calendar, and continue into the early hours of January 1 (New Year’s Day). Common traditions include attending parties, eating special New Year’s foods, making resolutions for the new year, and watching fireworks displays.

Christmas in Iran is celebrated by the Christian community who lives in Iran. The number of Christians in Iran, across various denominations, is estimated to be around 300,000 individuals. Among them, the Armenians, Assyrians, and Chaldeans form the majority, accounting for over 90% of Iran's Christian population.

Christian communities can be found throughout Iran; however, certain regions have denser Christian populations. Northwestern Iran, including East and West Azerbaijan provinces, along with Isfahan's New Jolfa neighborhood and Tehran, are notable areas where the Christian community thrives.

Most Christians in Iran have ancestral ties to Armenia, a neighboring country to the north, or Assyria, an ancient land west of Iran. Armenians, in particular, form the largest ethnic Christian population in Iran, predominantly following the Orthodox branch of Christianity. The Assyrian community also contributes significantly to the Christian fabric of Iran.

While some Iranian Christians celebrate Christmas in Iran on December 25 and New Year’s Day on January 1, Armenians celebrate Christmas on January 6 at the same time as the Epiphany.

In Iran, Christmas is significant, and churches in Iran become vibrant hubs of celebration as Armenians and other Christian denominations come together to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.

During the Christmas Eve mass, there are typically readings from the Bible, including the story of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. There may also be music, including traditional hymns and carols, as well as prayers and sermons.

For many Christians in Iran, attending church services and mass on Christmas Eve is a highlight of the holiday, as it offers a chance to come together with their fellow believers to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

St. Sarkis Cathedral is one of the most famous Armenian churches in Tehran and is a popular destination for those who celebrate Christmas. The church holds special services and masses on Christmas Eve, and visitors can enjoy the beautiful architecture and decorations.

Christmas, New Year's preparations

Decorating the Christmas tree is the most fun part of preparing for the holiday. Just like everywhere else, decorating a pine Christmas tree is an old tradition, which is held by Christians.

The pine trees get covered with all sorts of decorations, like ornaments, colorful strings of lights, tinsels, and other desired stuff by their owners. Edible items such as gingerbread, candy canes, and other sweets are also popular to get tied to the tree’s branches with ribbons.

The last touch that needs to be added to the Christmas tree is hanging the shiny star at the top. You can see the Christmas designs behind the windows or at the entrances of different shopping malls and hotels being displayed around the Christian neighborhoods of Tehran and Isfahan.

The most popular places for buying Christmas decorations in Tehran are Mirza Shirazi Avenue and Villa Avenue, Jolfa, and the nearby Christian areas in central Tehran, where most Iranian Christians live.

During Christmas days in Iran, so much positive vibe and happiness spread around people that encourage non-Christians to celebrate it with Christians. Therefore, non-Christian Iranians also go shopping at this specific time to be fully prepared for the celebration.

These preparations for Christmas in Iran are not limited to the Christian neighborhoods, as some shops design a whole part of their place with decorations such as pine trees, Santa Claus, and reindeer figures. This is so common among the shops during Christmas.

Unique traditions of Iranian Christmas Eve celebrations

Christmas Eve celebrations in Iran are a unique blend of both Western and Persian cultures and offer a special and festive experience to those who celebrate it.

Lighting candles and decorating trees

Similar to other parts of the world, Iranian Christians often put up a Christmas tree and decorate it with ornaments, candles, and lights. They may also light candles on their windowsills or on their front doorsteps to signify the welcoming of the holiday season.

Making special dishes and sweets

They celebrate Christmas Eve with special dishes, including traditional Persian flavors and ingredients. These may include roasted chicken, rice pilaf, and shir berenj (a type of rice pudding). For dessert, they may make cookies, pastries, or halva. Each dish is cooked with extra care and love, and the aroma of the dishes fills the air during the holiday season.

Singing carols and hymns

During Christmas Eve in Iran, many people sing carols and hymns. Some churches organize group singing sessions where members of the church sing together in harmony.

Attending the midnight liturgy, visiting the graves of loved ones

One unique tradition of Christmas Eve in Iran is attending the midnight liturgy held in churches. Many families also visit the graves of their loved ones during this time, placing flowers or candles on the graves as a way of remembering and honoring their memory.

Sending Christmas cards

Sending Christmas cards is a popular tradition in Iran. People send cards to their family and friends to wish them a happy holiday season, and these cards often feature traditional Persian images or artwork.

Christmas Eve in Iran is an occasion that goes beyond cultural and religious divides, creating moments of happiness and celebration for all involved. The lights illuminating the streets of Tehran and the meaningful services in churches reflect Iran’s diverse culture. Christmas in Iran is not just about the festivities; it’s about coming together, sharing traditional meals, and enjoying the warmth of family and friends. This holiday highlights the universal themes of peace, joy, and community, uniting Iranians and visitors in the festive spirit. It’s a time when the true essence of Christmas – harmony, diversity, and unity – shines brightly across Iran.