Tehran Dispatch: Basijis Hang Around, Do Nothing

President Joe Biden has officially surpassed president-elect Donald Trump’s record of judicial appointed to federal courts—by one single judge. On Friday, the Senate Judiciary Committee, tasked with carrying out the confirmations of Biden’s appointees, announced that it had confirmed Biden’s 235th judge—one more than Trump during his term in office, when he blitzed the courts with white, male, right-wing judicial activists.

Elections matter! Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced this week that nearly 23,000 Connecticut residents who have medical debt will have some or all of it wiped away under the first round of a major initiative through a partnership with the national nonprofit organization Undue Medical Debt. The nonprofit contracts with state and local governments and leverages public investments to negotiate with hospitals and other providers on the elimination of large, bundled portfolios of qualifying medical debt owed by patients whose income is at or below four times (400%) the federal poverty level or who have medical debt that is 5% or more of their income.

Sahil Kapur of NBC News caught up with Rep. Drunken Van Orden (MAGA-Nearest corner bar) and asked him about the chaos and mayhem the Republicans are causing with passing a budget bill in order to comply with President Musk's and his puppet, Orange Felon's, demands. Needless to say, DVO was more than bit confused: KAPUR: Congressman, do you think President-elect Trump should have made his demand earlier, earlier than one or two days before the deadline? DVO: President Trump didn't make a demand, But to be very clear, President Trump is the leader of the Republican Party.

Constant Commoner - Sandy Hook and the promises we never kept; emptywheel - NYT buries its own role in Trump's attacks on the rule of law; First Draft - can a president also be House speaker? Left Jabs - was Obamacare saved when we weren't looking? Will Tell Stories for Food - gifts for people you hate. send tips to MBRU@crooksandliars.com read more

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Most Americans aren’t impressed and aren’t interested in changing their lives and mores to accommodate people they recognize as mentally ill.