📁 Gaetz, Gates, and Gaffes

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TRENDING

Left: Why Republicans Should Cool It With the Mandate Talk, Jim Newell, Slate

Left: Mr. & Mrs. Scarborough Go to Mar-a-Lago, Chris Lehmann, The Nation

Left: Trump Picks Are Agents of His Contempt & Vengeance, Sidney Blumenthal, The Guardian

Right: Even Biden's DHS Admits Violent Migrant Crime Is Exploding, Post Editorial Board, New York Post

Right: Stop Feds Hiding Docs by Needlessly Classifying Them, Sean McMeekin, The Federalist

Right: Trump Pressured To End EV Mandate in First 100 Days, Jon Raasch, Daily Mail

TRUMP CABINET

Gaetz, Gates, and Gaffes

Today’s Top Story: A hacker accessed files alleging sexual misconduct by former Congressman Matt Gaetz, Trump’s Attorney General pick. Additionally, on Wednesday, the House Ethics Committee met Wednesday but did not release its report investigating Gaetz alleged misconduct.

Reporting from the Left: Hacker accesses sealed testimony of woman alleging Matt Gaetz had sex with her when she was 17 (NBC News)

Reporting from the Right: Hacker obtains House ethics testimony on Matt Gaetz as Trump makes calls for AG nominee (Fox News)

LEFT-LEANING SENTIMENT

Damning Evidence

The Top Argument From The Left: Unknown Hacker Gets Hands on Damning Evidence Against Matt Gaetz, Malcolm Ferguson, The New Republic: “As a representative, Gaetz was being investigated by the House Ethics Committee for allegations that he had trafficked in and had sex with an underage girl in 2017 at a sex party. Gaetz has vehemently denied these allegations, and even tried to nullify the House investigation by resigning from Congress last week. Since then, there has been much congressional debate over whether to release the Ethics report, with most Democrats urging its release and most Republicans preferring it stay under wraps. But now, a hacker has potentially blown past all of that. The hacked file is said to hold 24 documents containing testimony by multiple people, including the victim, confirming Gaetz’s actions. … The hacked documents also include sworn testimony by a woman who said that she had sex at a party with Mr. Gaetz in 2017 when she was 17, and there’s testimony from another woman who says she saw it all happen. There is also sworn testimony from Dorworth and his wife, testimony from Matt Gaetz’s former campaign treasurer Michael Fischer, and time stamps of arrival times of all those who visited Dorworth’s home the night of the alleged sex party.”

Honorable Mention #1: Gaetz Allegedly Paid Women to Have Sex With Him and See ‘Pretty Woman: The Musical’, Liam Archaki, Daily Beast

Honorable Mention #2: Lessons From the Last Time a Cabinet Nominee Was Defeated on the Floor, Jeff Greenfield, Politico

RIGHT-LEANING SENTIMENT

Protect Gaetz

The Top Argument From The Right: Republicans Must Defend Matt Gaetz To End The Use Of Salacious Lies As A Political Weapon, Margot Cleveland, The Federalist: “Before marrying in 2021, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., was known to be a braggadocious libertine. No conservative wants to defend such behavior, and so many on the Right are remaining silent as Gaetz is accused of also engaging in criminal conduct, paying prostitutes, and having sex with a minor. The claims against Gaetz are but another information operation, however, mirroring the ones that previously targeted Donald Trump and Brett Kavanaugh. And this pattern will continue unabated unless Americans unflinchingly condemn the tactic — no matter the target. … Yet now that Trump has nominated Gaetz to serve as his attorney general, opponents to the former Florida representative are dusting off the sex trafficking claims. … Now, the media and some senators are pressuring the House Ethics Committee to release their report on the investigation into Gaetz. Whether that happens or not, though, there will surely be leaks designed to doom Gaetz’s nomination as attorney general. … While some on the Right may prefer not to defend the former playboy, the only way to end the growing use of salacious lies as a political weapon is to condemn the information operation, prosecute those responsible, and ostracize the members of the media responsible for advancing the hoax.”

Honorable Mention #1: Speaker Johnson Comes Out against Releasing Gaetz Ethics Report, Brittany Bernstein, National Review

Honorable Mention #2: Gaetz investigation documents stolen by hacker, Brady Knox, Washington Examiner

FLAG THIS

Gaetz Is a Less Popular Choice

A new Yahoo News/YouGov poll reveals that just 29% of Americans view President-elect Trump’s attorney general pick, Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), favorably, while 37% have an unfavorable opinion, and 35% remain unsure. In comparison, 45% of Americans approve of Trump’s overall cabinet nominees, surpassing the 37% who disapprove. This suggests that Gaetz’s favorability lags significantly behind the broader approval of the president-elect’s administration choices (The Hill).

41 DAYS TO GO

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WATERCOOLER

Who Shot J.R.?, Vocal Dissonance, Spud Imposter

On This Day in 1980, 350 million people around the world tune in to television’s popular primetime drama “Dallas” to find out who shot J.R. Ewing, the character fans loved to hate. J.R. had been shot on the season-ending episode the previous March 21, which now stands as one of television’s most famous cliffhangers. The plot twist inspired widespread media coverage and left America wondering “Who shot J.R.?” for the next eight months. The November 21 episode solved the mystery, identifying Kristin Shepard, J.R.’s wife’s sister-in-law and his former mistress, as the culprit.

Popular Science: Why do people hate the sound of their own voice?

The Kitchn: The Secret to Better Home Fries? Cook Them Like the French Do

Knowable Magazine: Cracking the recipe for perfect plant-based eggs

Today I Learned: Sweet potatoes aren’t potatoes.

41 DAYS TO GO

If we get 1,000 paying subscribers by December 31, we’ll continue this newsletter in 2025. If we don’t, we will discontinue.

We are capitalists, so we will let the market (aka, YOU) decide whether or not this newsletter should live or die.

We have two options for you to choose from:

• $3/mo: You’ll get our Sunday newsletter too.

• $7/mo: You’ll get our Sunday newsletter and an ad-free experience.

The clock is ticking. We have 41 days to reach 1,000 subscribers.