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By DAVID A. LIEB Artificial intelligence. Abortion. Guns. Marijuana. Minimum wages. Name a hot topic, and chances are good there’s a new law about it taking effect in 2025 in one state or another. Many of the laws launching in January are a result of legislation passed this year. Others stem from ballot measures approved by voters.

The staff of Mother Jones is, once again, rounding up the heroes and monsters of the past year. Importantly, this is a completely non-exhaustive and subjective list, giving our reporters a chance to write about something that brought joy or discontent. Enjoy. Forget the YouTube sensations Ms. Rachel or CoComelon: My household still blissfully lounges in the sweet cocoon of Raffi, the purveyor of gentle, folksy children’s songs and covers made popular in the 1980s.

MAGA is in an uproar after President Musk called a shortage of “excellent engineering talent” a “fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley” in a Wednesday tweet. He argued that immigrant labor is an essential ingredient in American innovation and warned of a "dire shortage of extremely talented and motivated engineers in America." Via Salon: “If you force the world’s best talent to play for the other side, America will LOSE.

Yesterday, Finland seized a ship carrying oil for Russia in relation to the cutting of an undersea cable connecting electricity to Estonia. Concerns are mounting over ships disrupting power and gas lines in European waters, often by Russian-related suspects. Via The Hill: Finland’s national law enforcement body, the Police of Finland, said in a statement it had seized a Cook Islands-registered ship called the Eagle S. The ship is suspected in the rupturing of the Estlink 2 power transmission cable connecting electricity between Estonia and Finland, but police said at this time the investigation is looking at the incident as “aggravated criminal mischief.” The power cable was disconnected on Wednesday, according to Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, who said at the time that authorities were “on standby over Christmas and are investigating the matter.” European officials said the ship is suspected of carrying Russian oil, part of a vast shadow fleet Moscow is using to circumvent Western sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine. read more

In today's edition of FAFO (F*ck Around and Find Out) we are starting to hear more from low income voters who are learning the hard way that Donald Trump doesn't give a sh*t about them. See, MAGA loyalty only goes one way. They want your vote, but won't do anything to make your life better.

Everyone is worried about blue states gumming up Trump’s works. Here is the solution.