Blizzard: At least 28 people are dead after a second early winter blizzard in the Buffalo, NY area dumped as much as 49 inches of snow. It’s described as the worst winter storm the area has endured in at least 50 years.

  The snow was expected to end early this morning.

  Some people were found dead in their cars and others died of cardiac events while shoveling snow. One man died of carbon monoxide poisoning after snow blocked the exhaust from his furnace.

  With the police tied up, some stores were looted.

  Across the country a giant storm system snarled holiday travel and caused the cancelation of thousands of flights. Travelers were left to sleep on the floors of airline terminals. 

Big Lie: Representative-elect George Santos of New York admitted that he created a false resume for his campaign, lying about his professional background, education, and even the ownership of rental property. 

  Santos, who was elected in November to represent parts of northern Long Island and northeast Queens, had said he’s the “embodiment of the American dream,” but in effect he was only dreaming. 

  The New York Times discovered that Santos never worked for a major Wall Street firm, as he claimed, and never attended Baruch College. Santos, who is now openly gay, kept secret that he had been married. The animal rescue group he touted, Friends of Pets United, does not exist.

  Santos told  The NY Post, “My sins here are embellishing my résumé.”  He said he plans to take the oath of office on January 3rd and join the Republican House majority.

China Syndrome: China announced that it is lifting its severe Covid restrictions for foreign travelers, now allowing people who test negative to “enter society” immediately.

  Previously, both foreign visitors and Chinese citizens were tested by workers in  hazmat suits and whisked away to quarantine hotels. China has a big problem though. Since lifting the draconian “zero covid” policy, the hospitals are full. 

While You Were Celebrating: The last few days have been bad for election deniers Donald Trump and Kari Lake.

 The House January 6^th Committee bluntly reported that Donald Trump “plotted to overturn the election outcome.” The committee report said, “President Trump’s decision to declare victory falsely on election night and, unlawfully, to call for the vote counting to stop, was not a spontaneous decision. It was premeditated.” 

  They also said that despite law enforcement and intelligence being aware that January 6^th could become a violent day, “Neither the intelligence community nor law enforcement obtained intelligence in advance of January 6th on the full extent of the ongoing planning by President Trump, John Eastman, Rudolph Giuliani and their associates to overturn the certified election results.” 

  They said that Trump’s actions may have been in violation of federal law and that he probably should be barred from ever holding office again. Committee Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi said in the foreword to the report, “Our country has come too far to allow a defeated President to turn himself into a successful tyrant by upending our democratic institutions, fomenting violence, and, as I saw it, opening the door to those in our country whose hatred and bigotry threaten equality and justice for all Americans.” 

  And after a quick trial in Arizona, a state judge threw out the lawsuit by defeated candidate Kari Lake in which she demanded to be named the winner of the race for governor.

  Lake had claimed that election officials intentionally created problems and chaos to deny her votes, yet her lawyers failed to produce a shred of evidence to support that argument. Judge Peter Thompson wrote in his decision, “This Court acknowledges the anger and frustration of voters who were subjected to inconvenience and confusion at voter centers as technical problems arose during the 2022 General Election.” He went on to say,  “But this Court’s duty is not solely to incline an ear to public outcry.”

The War Zone: Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov delivered what amounts to an ultimatum to Ukraine, saying the embattled country must accept an imposed peace agreement. “Our proposals for the demilitarization and denazification of the territories controlled by the regime, the elimination of threats to Russia’s security emanating from there, including our new lands, are well known to the enemy,” Lavrov was quoted as saying by the state news agency. He said, “The point is simple: Fulfil them for your own good. Otherwise, the issue will be decided by the Russian army.”

  This comes after  Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed he’s ready for peace talks and blames the Ukrainians for refusing to engage.

  Putin said in an interview on state television that Russia is “prepared to negotiate some acceptable outcomes with all the participants of this process.” He said, “We’re defending our national interests, the interests of our citizens, our people.” 

   Russia invaded Ukraine last February and the Ukrainians say the only thing to talk about is the complete withdrawal of Russian forces from occupied territory. Russia holds a little less that 20 percent of Ukraine.

The Spin Rack: Texas governor Greg Abbott sent busloads of migrants to be dumped off in 18-degree weather on Christmas Eve outside the official residence of Vice President Kamala Harris. Some of the 130 migrants were wearing only t-shirts. — Vandals in Pierce County, Washington, broke into four power substations on Christmas day and damaged the equipment, leaving thousands of people without power. Only a few weeks ago someone shot up a power substation in North Carolina with the same effect. — 

Below the Fold: In a verbal lump of coal, Donald Trump delivered the following Christmas message: “Merry Christmas to EVERYONE, including the Radical Left Marxists that are trying to destroy our Country, the Federal Bureau of Investigation that is illegally coercing & paying Social and LameStream Media to push for a mentally disabled Democrat over the Brilliant, Clairvoyant, and USA LOVING Donald J. Trump.” 

  That’s right, he said “clairvoyant.”

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