We kept an eye on the news…here are a few items you may have missed over the long Christmas weekend.

UPDATETrump signs COVID-19 relief bill with $600 stimulus checksWho gets a second stimulus check? What to know after Trump signs COVID bill

9 Things You Need to Know About the $1.4 Trillion Fiscal Year 2021 Omnibus and $900 Billion COVID-19 Package.

More on the spending plan here.  Pork City: Here Are the Most Ridiculous Pet Projects In $900 Billion Stimulus Package.  (It really is disgraceful how little is going to those who pay the bill…along with their children, grandchildren and most likely their great-grandchildren if not even one more generation.  Simply disgraceful.)

How $10 Million for Gender Programs in Pakistan Got Tied to a COVID Relief Bill.

When one political party has total control of the Executive and Legislative Branches of government (in most cases when one political party owns both the Executive and Legislative branches, they also control the Judicial branch) this is how they do business:  they issue the fact that they will be meeting to pass legislation; most likely with one item (or possibly a few) on the agenda and let you know what that bill(s) will be; most likely when you are not paying attention (like over a holiday weekend); then on the day they are to meet — today, the full agenda comes out.  In the case of the Assembly, 31 pages with bills, in the Senate 18 pages with bills listed.  Very little time to review when the Assembly Agenda is made public at 10:08 AM and session is at 12:45 PM; Senate agenda was issued at 8:28 AM and session is at 1:00 PM.  Foolish of me to believe that transparency is upmost in what government should be doing when passing bills, either in Washington or Albany.  I guess the rule of thumb has become what Speaker Nancy Pelosi said when Obamacare was passed in 2010:  “We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.”

Georgians—As a Lifelong Democrat, I Implore You to Support Loeffler and Perdue.

Jeremiah Wright preached at Raphael Warnock’s church in 2014…anyone surprised?

Does this spell trouble?  Georgia Has Registered 76,000 New Voters Ahead of Senate Runoffs

8,000 Ballots Requested in GA Senate Race Believed to Be from Non-Residents, Secretary of State Investigating.

Grover Norquist: Georgia Senate runoffs – tax increases coming if Democrats win these races.

Dem Senate Hopeful Urged Americans To Follow Chinese State-Run Media.

‘Blueprint for Positive Change’ Exposes the Left’s Plans for Conservatives.

Biden Embracing Obama’s Failure in Foreign Policy.

Biden CIA Appointee Worked with CCP Propaganda Org Conducting ‘Undercover Intel Ops’, Appears on China State Media.

From the Washington Times:  How Silicon Valley scions launched ‘unprecedented cover-up’ in Hunter Biden case

From the Wall Street Journal (subscription required):  China Wants to Be the World’s Banker.

China Engaged in ‘Mass Surveillance’ on Americans’ Mobile Phones, Report Finds.

Beijing ‘Substantially Involved’ in US 2020 Election, China Analyst Says.

China: The Conquest of Hollywood.

China Lies About Its Wrongdoing on COVID, Spying, Global Aggression, Pollution, and More.

China’s virus deceptions have been even worse than we thought.

Has China Mastered Weather Modification? Should We Worry?

Voters Think China’s Influence Will Grow Under Biden.

Survey: Progressives Least Likely to Take Pride in America.

New York’s Latest Progressive Tax Proposal Has a Radical Twist.

Another Stake in the Heart of New York’s Small Businesses

‘Big Fight’ Breaks Out Over Which Interest Groups Get Vaccine First.  Do you believe Gov. Cuomo’s statement: “There will be no political favoritism,” the governor said in a news conference on Wednesday (12/16), a message he repeated on Friday (12/18)?  Time will tell.

4 Diseases You’ve Probably Forgotten About Because of Vaccines.

Victor Davis Hanson writes about COVID, Woke Science—and Death

More from Victor Davis Hanson:  After 2020 election – here’s how to keep track of upside-down world of media and politics.

I wonder if there is any connection between these two separate articles?   Hard drugs ‘pervasive’ in some fraternities; 21 charged with links to UNC, Duke, App and this one Did You Know? Chinese Government Influence at North Carolina Colleges.

3 Quotes from Founding Fathers Remind Us Why We Are a Constitutional Republic (Not a Democracy.

The Forgotten Oath of Congress.

Nothing will change until teachers change this:  Teaching Hate/The Seattle school district claims that the U.S. education system is guilty of “spirit murder” against black children.  Those who believe what this training session is teaching are so mis-guided.  This is a call for revenge; not a plan to make things better.  Those who believing this training session is a good one to be adopted, will do nothing to change any injustice; it is nothing more than demanding that the injustices suffered by some (those who choose to play the victim role) be perpetrated on those born with white skin. This type of thinking and training must end.  America is NOT systemically racial; those who believe it is have been trained to be victims, taught they are unable to attain the American Dream because of the color of their skin.  This is belittling to those who have attained the American Dream by working hard; the late Walter E. Williams, Thomas Sowell, Justice Clarence Thomas, Congressman-Elect Burgess Owens…shall I go on?

Is this teaching or indoctrinating?  Teachers at Elite NYC Private School Make List of 24 ‘Anti-Racist’ Demands.

The ‘Sexual Rights’ Movement Is Gaining Power Globally. Here’s What to Expect.

Conservatives Now Have an Option to Avoid Investing in Left-Leaning Companies.

Under Trump’s Tenure, Promises Made Were Promises Kept.

This could get really ugly:  States Battle Each Other Over Billions in Work-From-Home Taxes.

This is Governor Andrew Cuomo’s legacy:  New York, again, leads nation in population decline. And it could now lose two House seats.

Dan Gainor: Cuomo acts like New York is his kingdom, not a state, in dealing with COVID.

NY leaders need to face facts, and start making real cuts.

Bob McManus opines about how De Blasio’s push for new ThriveNYC waste is latest low of his fake mayoralty.

Me who? Andrew Cuomo accuser’s fast-fading charges make mockery of ‘believe all women’.

Mr. Mayor:  you must be proud of this since nothing is being done to end it.  Mayhem in the streets: Illegal vendors are overtaking NYC.

From Gatestone Institute:  Drug Trafficking: The Dirtiest Little Secret.

Barr’s Outstanding Record of Accomplishments.

Say what?  Vote reparations?   An Absurd Call for ‘Vote Reparations’.