Let’s be thankful we have scientifically knowledgeable reality stars like Vinnie to explain things to Trump:

In the East, it could be the COLDEST New Year’s Eve on record. Perhaps we could use a little bit of that good old Global Warming that our Country, but not other countries, was going to pay TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS to protect against. Bundle up!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 29, 2017

As Vinnie explains: “I think climate change is more complex than global warming will make it hotter. It has to do with disruptions of atmospheric conditions,ocean patterns, jet streams and shit like that”

Perhaps later Ronnie can help school Trump on international relations.

Climate change is real- even the sharks are being impacted, according to the NY Times. Not even laser beams are able to save them.

Perhaps Trump is immune to the cold thanks to his diet of burgers and sodas, as reported by Newsweek.  Of course Trump’s doctor, who sounds like he got his medical degree from Trump University, stated: “If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency.”

How did Democrats win the Senate seat in Alabama? It sure helped that the Republicans nominated a nut-wing pedophile. But, as Buzz Feed points out, Democrats were able to mobilize black voters who overwhelmingly supported Doug Jones. It is a pretty simple blueprint for future elections- if lots of people vote, Democrats will win.

Howard Dean shared that old Dems need to make way for the next generation

“I think my generation needs to get the hell out of politics. Start coaching and start moving up this next generation who are more … fiscally sane,” Dean continued. “Neither Republicans or Democrats can claim they are fiscally responsible anymore.”

Speaking of those Old Dems, Newsweek profiles Uncle Joe and his possible 2020 run. If you want a reminder as to why Biden would be a formidable candidate, watch this clip of him with John McCain’s daughter.

The GOP tax bill contains a special provision for the wealthy that would allow them to donate to private scholarships in 10 states (overwhelmingly Red states) and then receive a massive tax break. From NPR: “The new top federal income tax bracket is 37 percent. That means, in total, the South Carolina donor could get back $1.37 million in exchange for $1 million, ITEP calculates. That is a better risk-free return on investment than you’re likely to find anywhere.” Trump and the GOP have managed to give massive breaks to billionaires, corporations and Red states while screwing the middle class and Blue states. Guess they know how to deliver for their base.

NPR also has an article on NY Sen Kirsten Gillibrand. She has been a vocal advocate for addressing sexual assault in the military and is now a leader on how Congress polices itself on assault and harassment issues. The current setup is atrocious and mind-boggling: She sponsored a bill changing the way Congress processes and responds to harassment complaints. “The way [reporting] is set up in Congress is so horrible,” she says. “I mean, it is literally designed to protect perpetrators and to make sure people really don’t come forward.”

If the Dems regain the Senate in 2018, it will be helpful if Republicans bloody each other up in the primaries (see Alabama with Luther Strange versus Big Roy Moore). It would be a massive long-shot for Democrats to win a seat in Mississippi, but it would be fun to watch arch-conservative Chris McDaniel tear in to incumbent Senator Roger Wicker. According to WaPo, he is gearing up to run.

A much more likely pick-up for Democrats would be in Arizona. Senator Jeff Flake is retiring this year and so that will be an open seat. John McCain’s health raises the possibility that his seat might become open as well….and apparently certain Republicans are already aiming to take his spot.

And he says it shows he totally did not harass anyone. I’m sure if he brings the results to the mall, they will let him back in to Forever 21. But unfortunately for Roy, even though he hasn’t conceded, the fine folks in Alabama have certified the election for Doug Jones.

Remember that Iowa kid with two moms? The one who schooled the Iowa legislature on equality…His name is Zach Wahls and he is now running for the State Senate. From NBC News: ““This is an all-hands-on-deck moment that will determine the future of our state for generations to come, and I feel responsible for doing my part,” Wahls said in the statement published Thursday. “Our state has a choice to make. Are we going to let Republicans continue their attacks on healthcare, education, and workers’ rights or are we going to stand and fight for the values that have defined this state for hundreds of years?”

The only thing holding us back from a Mitt Romney comeback is Senator Orrin Hatch. The Hill reports Hatch is still deciding if he will run for reelection. If he doesn’t run, Mitt Romney will probably be the next Senator from Utah. And Trump would hate that. It is amazing how Trump continues to make people like George W. Bush, Romney and Ted Cruz look better in comparison. Well, ok, not Ted Cruz.

Politico reports that Tom Steyer’s impeach Trump drive now has almost 4 million signatures. Even if it doesn’t result in Trump’s impeachment, Steyer now has an incredibly valuable email list. Time is growing short for him to run for Governor this year….I think he is looking at running for President in 2020.

Well this Reuters story sure seems to contradict Trump’s statement:

“As I have stated many times, a thorough investigation will confirm what we already know — there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity,” Trump said in the statement. “I look forward to this matter concluding quickly. In the meantime, I will never stop fighting for the people and the issues that matter most to the future of our country.”

Reuters states that fired National Security Adviser Michael Flynn was in contact with the Kremlin during the campaign. Even other Republicans think it was a bizarre rate of contact:

“It’s rare to have that many phone calls to foreign officials, especially to a country we consider an adversary or a hostile power,” Richard Armitage, a Republican and former deputy Secretary of State.

McKay Coppins lays out four scenarios for the Trump Presidency. I think the most likely one is that he resigns.

In an unusually candid interview with Reuters last month, Trump celebrated his first 100 days in office by indulging in a moment of wistfulness. “I loved my previous life,” he said. “I had so many things going. This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier.”

The quote seemed to confirm what every other pathos-laden inside-the-White-House dispatch has suggested: Trump is having a miserable time as president.

Trump will visit Saudi Arabia, Israel and the Vatican. He has proclaimed “Islam hates us” so I’m sure the Saudis are excited for him to visit. And he apparently leaked Israeli intelligence to the Russians so that should be fun. Trump called Pope Francis “disgraceful” last year.

But according to NPR: “His message is going to be about unity,” said U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.

Don’t underestimate Trump’s ability to unify foreign countries and governments…against us.

No excerpt- you should read the whole Atlantic article about the chain of events over the past 10 days. It is a stunning and surreal recap of how Trump has…. well, basically done an insane number (even for him) of things in such a short time…. I’m off to find a bottle of gin.

According to MSNBC, Comey wrote the memo about Trump obstructing the investigation of Flynn back on February 14 (Valentine’s Day- how cute). What exactly was he planning to do with the memo? Just hang on to it in case he got fired? Why didn’t he go public earlier? Comey isn’t exactly looking heroic in this thing either.

Not surprising since he worked so hard to elect Trump, but Putin is sticking up for the embattled President. Vladimir assures us that Trump did not disclose secret intelligence to Russian diplomats according to Reuters. If you can’t trust the former head of the KGB about things like this, who can you trust?

“I spoke to him (Lavrov) today,” said Putin with a smile. “I’ll be forced to issue him with a reprimand because he did not share these secrets with us. Not with me, nor with representatives of Russia’s intelligence services. It was very bad of him.”

That Vladimir is a funny guy.

According to a Politico poll, he is now down to a 42% approval rating. Although this was before the news came out about leaking info to the Russians and Trump trying to obstruct Comey’s investigation, it is still a bit shocking that he managed to get 42%. How low do your expectations have to be to approve of Trump’s Presidency at this point????

Can’t imagine it is a good day to be a GOP lawmaker (not that there is ever a good day to be one) but apparently some people are handling it better than others. Darrell Issa, a San Diego Congressman who is overdue to be defeated, flips off a reporter when asked questions about Russia and Trump. Even John McCain is getting snippy with the press but I thought David Kochel’s tweet summed it up nicely: “John McCain probably revealed less to the KGB in 5+ years of torture at the Hanoi Hilton than Trump did in 5 minutes in the Oval.”