The Latest: Graphic, Videos Detail Baton Rouge Police Ambush

I learn something every day. NBC News: Dogs are renowned for their ability to identify and track objects by scent. Now it’s been revealed they enhance this talent with special brain structures that link it to how they see. A study published this month in the Journal of Neuroscience revealed that vision and the sense of smell are connected in the brains of dogs, something not yet found in any other species. “The most interesting thing about this research are the connections from the nose up to the occipital lobe, which houses the visual cortex,” said veterinary neurologist Philippa Johnson, an associate professor at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and senior author of the study. Save a puppy or rescue a dog, and open thread. read more

Former Vice President Mike Pence warned against “populists” seeking sway over conservative politics during a Friday speech at Colorado Christian University, and he called for a defense of “traditional” conservative values on foreign policy, abortion and marriage. Pence’s speech at CCU, a small conservative school in Lakewood, came 10 days after his former running mate, Republican Donald Trump, was reelected to the White House.

Reporters have been writing glowing articles about Donald Trump's chief of staff Susie Wiles, praising her ability to keep Trump in line by blocking the cast of freaks Trump pals around with from having his ear. CNN reported that Wiles has been successful at “instilling a level of discipline and order rarely associated with the former president” and that before taking the role she got “assurances from Trump that she would have more authority than her predecessors in controlling access to the Oval Office.” The Hill newspaper reported that Wiles will succeed because she is “a savvy political player who is also able to navigate the many clashing personalities that come with campaigns.” Yet a little more than a week since he was elected, Wiles already appears to have lost control.read more

When The Lump named Rep. Rapey McForehead as his pick for Attorney General, Gaetz quickly resigned from Congress, but only to put an end to an investigation over alleged sex trafficking, including with a high school girl. That's called statutory rape, by the way. So, it's stunning that Rep. Nancy Mace, a rape survivor, would back someone who has (allegedly!) diddled a high school girl.

Walters celebrated his new Orwellian-named Department of Religious Freedom and Patriotism by railing against teachers' unions and indoctrinating students for Trump. Absolutely vile. Source: KFOR OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters emailed leaders in Oklahoma school districts on Thursday telling them they would be required to play their students and parents a video showing Walters blaming the “radical left” and “woke teachers unions” for “attacking” religious liberty, then inviting students to join him as he prays for President-elect Donald Trump. News 4 obtained a copy of the email Walters sent superintendents in Oklahoma school districts just before 4 p.m.

Do Democrats really want to go there?