Wonkblog: Why This Picasso Sold For $180 Million And What It Tells Us About The Super Rich

Stephen Moffat was excellent as a show-runner for the Dr. Who franchise and he returns to pen the latest Christmas Day special. IO9 Returning Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies might have pioneered modern Doctor Who holiday specials—Christmassy monsters, high spectacle, an occasional amount of Kylie Minogue—but it’s arguable that it was his successor, Steven Moffat, that really nailed the balancing act of what a good Doctor Who Christmas story should be. Have a Merry Holiday and a Happy Christmas - and open thread away. read more

Rep. Victoria Spartz said she is refusing to do her duty as a House Republican and instead wants to join forces with the fake group known as Doge. Instead of caucusing with Republicans she wants to play in the sandbox with Elon and Vivek. Edith Olmsted at TNR reports,"Representative Victoria Spartz’s move could threaten the Republicans’ House majority." The Indiana Republican went on CNN and began spewing gibberish to Pamela Brown on Tuesday. SPARTZ: And I mean, there are a lot of different frustrations. People have to decide. And we'll decide as a conference.

Sen. Ron Johnson was speaking at a Heritage Foundation event about one of his favorite subjects - junk science and quack medicine. RoJo was ranting about how everything involving COVID was corrupt and that Big Pharma was quashing reports that supported hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin in order to get quick approval for their evil vaccine that kept millions of people alive, when he said this doozy (emphasis mine): The fact that they sabotage early treatment, I mean, truthfully, I was working with Novartis.

The BBC is being pressured to play a song vying for Christmas number one that tears into Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Labour party's decision to slash winter fuel payments. Because of course austerity is always the solution! Via The Daily Express: Freezing This Christmas by Sir Starmer and the Granny Harmers has been steadily climbing the charts in the run-up to Christmas, leading to the very real possibility that it may reach the number one spot. While it is topping the charts in terms of downloads, the artists behind it have claimed radio stations are refusing to play the song, which is raising money for people affected by the winter fuel cut. Kier Starmer | It'll be Freezing this Christmas

Thanks to the inherently theatrical nature of a legal trial, cinema has had a tight-knit relationship with the courtroom since its early days, utilizing (and sometimes, delightfully exaggerating) judicial fundamentals like a curious suspect, a sardonic attorney, and shouty assertions of “I object!” for stories that thrill, move, and inspire us. We were reminded of the many slick pleasures of this subgenre recently through Clint Eastwood’s elegant and widely acclaimed legal thriller Juror #2, with a stylish premise reminiscent of a Sidney Lumet and Otto Preminger picture.

The U. S. Congress may be playing the Grinch this Christmas. If lawmakers don’t make a last-minute deal, the U. S. government could shut down at 12:01 am on Saturday. That’s left Americans wanting to know how a government shutdown could impact their lives—and their holiday season. A government shutdown kicks in when Congress can’t pass new funding for federal agencies.