Stop conspiracy theorist Kash Patel from running the FBI!

Daily Dose of Democracy's editorial note on Hunter Biden pardon: America just elected, albeit by historically slim majority, a convicted felon who, as president, pardoned killers and perpetrators of heinous crimes. Even now he's making some of them ambassadors. So we genuinely do not understand the pride or sanctimony with which some now tote a double standard in condemning Biden for sparing his son from the whims of an administration that has SWORN RETRIBUTION against his own family and vowed a presidency fueled by revenge. Did we forget that? Do we not care? Have we normalized it so soon? We don’t know what Trump (or the goons he has tapped to run the Department of Justice and FBI) had planned for Hunter Biden, but let’s not delude ourselves into pretending it was anything remotely resembling justice. Personally, we would question the character of a father who — in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary — would willingly subject his own son to it. But let's also please remember — and remind President Biden — there are thousands upon thousands of other convicted and incarcerated Americans more than deserving of the same attention. Justice is a moving target for far too many.

Trump suggests freeing Jan 6 rioters and slams "miscarriage of Justice" after Biden pardons son Hunter
The MAGA cult leader clearly did not need political cover or anything resembling a double standard for permission to run roughshod over the rule of law: bending and breaking rules and making a mockery of the US Constitution has been his standard operating practice for his entire personal, professional, and political life. But Trump's response to President Biden's pardon of his son, Hunter — as spurious and complicated as it may be — is comically absurd. Declaring the act a "miscarriage of Justice," the president-elect quickly suggested he would respond by pardoning the THOUSANDS of MAGA rioters he incited to storm the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, many of whom were convicted of violent, felony crimes — like attacking police officers, destroying federal property, and threatening to kill then-Vice President Mike Pence and various members of Congress. It's asymmetrical, completely disproportionate, and not even remotely logical, which is to say, it's quintessentially Trump.

Take Action: Support the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s mission to cure Parkinson’s disease!

VIDEO OF THE DAY: Trump plan to SKIP confirmation for extremist FBI director pick
Brian Tyler Cohen sat down with legal expert Marc Elias on the latest episode of Democracy Watch to discuss the MAGA cult leader's autocratic plans to SKIP congressional confirmation for his radical right-wing pick to lead the FBI, QAnon conspiracy theorist Kash Patel. Roll the tape.

Take Action: Tell Republicans in Congress: Hands off our Obamacare!

Trump plots disastrous Day 1 attack on Biden legacy
350.org: A new POLITICO report shows that Donald Trump is planning to revive the destructive Keystone XL pipeline project as soon as he gets back into office — even though no companies are trying to build it anymore! This kind of short-sighted nihilism is exactly what we can expect from a Trump administration intent on extracting every last drop of profit out of the land, no matter how many people get hurt or how much permanent damage is done — which is why we need to start fighting back ASAP! Will you add your name to let him Trump know we won’t stand for the revival of the Keystone XL pipeline or the rest of his destructive, regressive fossil fuel agenda?

California lawmakers to begin special session to "Trump-proof" state laws
Every state and local government run by Democrats would be wise to pay close attention and strongly consider following suit. We are entering dangerous, uncharted territory.

Take Action: End the electoral college!

Bernie Sanders praises Elon Musk over one DOGE target — defense spending
Echoing his long-standing criticism of America's staggering, wasteful defense spending, the Vermont independent senator came out in support of one target on Elon's DOGE hit list — the Pentagon. "Elon Musk is right. The Pentagon, with a budget of $886 billion, just failed its 7th audit in a row. It’s lost track of billions. Last year, only 13 senators voted against the Military Industrial Complex and a defense budget full of waste and fraud. That must change." Something, something, broken clocks...

Take Action: End Elon Musk's lucrative defense contracts!

How Kash Patel, Trump’s FBI pick, embraced the unhinged QAnon movement
David Corn, Mother Jones: In the middle of the Thanksgiving holiday stretch, Donald Trump announced what might be his most extreme and controversial appointment yet: Kash Patel for FBI director. There are many reasons why this decision is outrageous. Patel is a MAGA combatant who has fiercely advocated Trump’s lie that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump and who has championed January 6 rioters as patriots and unfairly persecuted political prisoners. (The still ongoing January 6 case, including scores of prosecutions for assaults on police, is one of the FBI’s largest and most successful criminal investigations ever.) Patel is also a fervent promoter of conspiracy theories. At the end of Trump’s first presidency, when he was a Pentagon official, he spread the bonkers idea that Italian military satellites had been employed to turn Trump votes to Joe Biden votes in the 2020 election. And he has falsely claimed that the Trump-Russia scandal was a hoax cooked up by the FBI and so-called Deep State to sabotage Trump. Moreover, Patel has been supportive of the most loony conspiracy theory in MAGA land: QAnon.

Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett has blistering message for GOP pearl-clutching over Hunter Biden pardon
Rep. Jasmine Crockett on Sunday gave President Biden props for pardoning his son, Hunter, before knocking Republicans over their stunning hypocrisy. “Because at the end of the day, we know that we have a 34-count convicted felon that is about to walk into the White House,” Crockett said. Two wrongs obviously do not make a right, but Crockett sure has a point when it comes to the GOP's newfound reverence for the rule of law. Give us a frickin' break.

Michael J. Fox leads the charge against Parkinson's disease
Michael J. Fox Foundation: With nearly 90,000 new diagnoses in the United States each year, Parkinson’s disease is the fastest growing and second-most-common neurodegenerative disease in America. Tackling this silent menace is going to require a united effort from the public and from our representatives in Congress, so Michael J. Fox is mobilizing a national movement to help policymakers understand what matters to people with Parkinson’s and share our stories to expand our understanding of this vicious disease.Will you add your nameto stand with Michael J. Fox and the one million Americans living with Parkinson’s disease and be ready when it’s time to reach out to your elected officials?

Zelenskyy says NATO offer for Ukraine-controlled territory could end "hot stage" of war
An offer of NATO membership to territory under Kyiv’s control would end “the hot stage of the war” in Ukraine, but any proposal to join the military alliance should be extended to all parts of the country that fall under internationally recognized borders, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a broadcast interview. Zelenskyy’s remarks on Friday signaled a possible way forward to the difficult path Ukraine faces to future NATO membership. At their summit in Washington in July, the 32 members declared Ukraine on an “irreversible” path to membership. However, one obstacle to moving forward has been the view that Ukraine’s borders would need to be clearly demarcated before it could join so that there can be no mistaking where the alliance’s pact of mutual defense would come into effect.

Trump appoints Tiffany’s father-in-law as Middle East adviser
The MAGA cult leader just tapped billionaire businessman — and father-in-law to his daughter Tiffany — Massad Boulos, to serve as his senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. Boulos is the second in-law Trump has picked to join his new administration, following the nomination of convicted felon (later pardoned by Trump, see how that works?) Charles Kushner — father of Jared Kushner to be ambassador to France. The Lebanese-born Boulos, who owns the automotive company SCOA Nigeria, was a critical figure for Trump in the swing state of Michigan, campaigning for the Republican grifter among the state's sizable bloc of Arab American voters.

Democratic senators urge Biden to try to limit Trump’s ability to use the US military domestically
Uh, yeah. For the sake of tens of millions, Joe should probably get on that ASAP.