The Breakfast Club (Playground)

Welcome to The Breakfast Club! We’re a disorganized group of rebel lefties who hang out and chat if and when we’re not too hungover we’ve been bailed out we’re not too exhausted from last night’s (CENSORED) the caffeine kicks in. Join us every weekday morning at 9am (ET) and weekend morning at 10:00am (ET) (or whenever we get around to it) to talk about current news and our boring lives and to make fun of LaEscapee! If we are ever running late, it’s PhilJD’s fault.

This Day in History

FDR wins unprecedented third term in the White House; Richard Nixon elected President; Former President Reagan says he has Alzheimer’s; George Foreman sets boxing record; Pianist Vladimir Horowitz dies.

Breakfast Tunes

Something to Think about over Coffee Prozac

When great changes occur in history, when great principles are involved, as a rule the majority are wrong.

Eugene V. Debs

Breakfast News

US News

US mandates vaccines or tests for big companies by Jan. 4

States sue to block vaccine mandate for federal contractors

Arizona won’t stop using COVID money for anti-mask grants

Connecticut changing COVID policy on quarantining students

Navajo Nation reports 103 more COVID-19 cases and 5 deaths

Traveler with Biden tested positive for virus in Scotland

Lawsuit briefly blocking California assisted death law ends

California’s PUC OKs boosting storage at infamous gas field

Nuclear plant price doubles to $28.5B as other owners balk

State says disabled not entitled to reasonable accommodation

Supply chain delays disrupt California agriculture exports

Latinos with dark skin face more discrimination, study finds

Tiny house in wealthy Boston suburb sells for $315,000

Errant monkey captivates crowd in Puerto Rico’s capital

American Girl Dolls, Risk, sand make it to Toy Hall of Fame

US Politics

House Republicans advance vaccine exemptions

Biden administration sues Texas over new voting restrictions

Analyst who aided Trump-Russia dossier charged with lying

Biden’s big bill on brink of House votes, but fighting drags

All eyes on vulnerable House Democrats after election losses

First person of color confirmed as next Census Bureau leader

Gov. Hogan initially said he would stand by aide on payment

International News

WHO: Europe is the epicenter of pandemic despite vaccines

Countries pledge to cut heavily polluting coal, with caveats

Several Ethiopian armed opposition groups to form alliance

Ex-US ambassador to UN Bill Richardson ends Myanmar visit

Police out to stop violence after Union Berlin vs. Feyenoord

Doug the ugly New Zealand potato could be world’s biggest

Breakfast Blogs

Nominating Rahm Emanuel to Be Ambassador to Japan Suggests We Don’t Like Japan Charles P. Pierce, Esquire Politics

At Least One Supreme Court Conservative Has Already Made Up His Mind on a Crucial Gun Case Jack Holmes, Esquire Politics

This Is the Morning After: Virginia Isn’t the Whole Story Rayne, emptywheel

It’s not that hard digby aka Heather Digby Parton, Digby’s Hullabaloo

Deeper into the rabbit hole Tom Sullivan, Digby’s Hullabaloo

‘Pharma Bro’ Martin Shkreli Tells Judge He Won’t Testify at Trial That Could Bar Him from Pharma Industry Because He’s Still in Prison Adam Klasfeld, Law and Crime

Adventures in Punditry Dan Nexon, Lawyers, Guns and Money

The Biggest Bomb Cheryl Rofer, Lawyers, Guns and Money

University Architecture of the New Gilded Age Erik Loomis, Lawyers, Guns and Money

Heuristics Yastreblyansky, The Rectification of Names

WWRDSD? (WHAT WOULD RON DeSANTIS DO?) Steve M., No More Mister Nice Blog

Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers Got ‘Immunized.’ We Guess From Prosecution, Because It Wasn’t Against COVID-19! Jamie Lynn Crofts, Wonkette

CNN Explains How Joe Biden’s Inflation Hurts Typical American Family With Nine Kids Doktor Zoom, Wonkette

Smartmatic Voting Machine Company Sues OANN And Newsmax For PAY UP BITCHES Liz Dye, Wonkette

Ted Cruz Grunting About Nude Beaches For Some Reason Evan Hurst, Wonkette

Republicans Block ‘Stop Republicans From Cheating’ Bill? Whaaaaaaaat???? Stephen Robinson, Wonkette