Trump unleashes attack on US civil rights icon

US President-elect Donald Trump aimed his latest Twitter blast at longtime congressman John Lewis, a prominent civil rights icon. Photo: AFP President-elect Donald Trump lashed out at a prominent civil rights icon and lawmaker who said he is skipping next week’s inauguration ceremony because he sees the New York businessman’s election as illegitimate.

Sunday Toons of the Shift Change Moment

Guest: Matt Gertz on Trump’s marginalization of media and their failure to push back; Also: Dismantling health care for millions; What’s up with Tillerson?; And an Inauguration cover-up… Hustler publisher joins us to explain why he blames U.S. media for Trump; Also: Repubs face reality on Iran, ObamaCare; Senate confirmation hearings continue… Tillerson gets grilled on climate in confirmation hearing; Court orders Exxon to comply with MA AG’s probe; VW execs indicted; PLUS : Obama farewell address appeals to reason on climate… On one of the most insane news days ever, we cover Obama’s Farewell, Day 1 of Tillerson’s hearing; Day 2 of Sessions’ hearing, and Trump’s insane press conference… Unresolved conflicts for Trump’s SoS nom; SoS Kerry warns time running out; China’s huge investment in renewables; PLUS: Obama says move away from fossil fuels now irreversible… With control … (more)

Bernie Sanders Advocates FBI Director Comey Stepping Down

Sen. Bernie Sanders said it “would not be a bad thing for the American people” if FBI Director James Comey steps down. Asked by ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos in an exclusive interview on “This Week” if Comey should leave his post, Sanders responded, “I think he should take a hard look at what he has done and I think it would not be a bad thing for the American people if he did step down.”

Anti-Trumper John Kasich to doubters: I’m no lame duck

In this April 29, 2015, file photo, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, center, joined by state Public Safety Director John Born, right, and former state Sen. Nina Turner, left, announces a plan to establish the first-ever statewide police standards for the proper use of force, recruiting and hiring, during a Statehouse news conference in Columbus, Ohio. Born says the hope is that Ohio law enforcement agencies employing about two-thirds of all officers will adopt the standards by a March 2017 deadline.

The Pence Oath

News that Vice President-elect Pence will be sworn into office by Justice Clarence Thomas strikes us as a missed opportunity. Not that we lack for regard for either of them; we endorsed Mr. Pence and have backed Justice Thomas through every one of his heroic struggles.

Shepard Smith Urges Chris Wallace to Denounce ‘Dangerous’…

Washington Post media blogger Erik Wemple praised Fox News anchor Shepard Smith for a “dynamite discussion” — Smith sounding like he thought he was an MSNBC anchor again. On his Friday afternoon program Shepard Smith Reporting, Smith pushed Chris Wallace to accept the liberal-media spin: “What is your take on the Trump strategy to delegitimize the reporters and the news organizations whose goal for the American people is to hold truth to power?” Liberals like Smith can’t seem to accept Trump’s approach.

Trump clashes with civil rights leader as inauguration looms

Donald Trump’s feud with civil rights icon John Lewis is highlighting the president-elect’s willingness to attack any and all political rivals even with his inauguration less than a week away. The Republican billionaire slammed the Democratic congressman – and his Atlanta-area district – on Saturday, a day after Lewis described Trump as an illegitimate president.

Pew: Republicans Love Israel, Democrats Only So-So

Only 33% of Democrats sympathize more with Israel, 31% more with the Arabs in the conflict, and 35% sympathize with neither, with both, or don’t have an opinion. Only 11% of Republicans sympathize more with the Arabs, and 15% say they sympathize with neither side, with both sides or don’t have an opinion.

Cheers and Jeers

Cheers to the proposed use of a $1 million gaming grant to help Berskshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance expand its Wilkes-Barre operations by building on the site of the former Hotel Sterling. The money would be well spent on retaining a growing, nationally known company in the city and developing a vacant piece of prime real estate.

Biden’s honor richly deserved

SUSAN WALSH / ASSOCIATED PRESS President Barack Obama honors Vice President Joe Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House in Washington on Thursday. Vice President Joe Biden has been highly effective at the highest levels of the federal government since he was 30. He has been chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations and Judiciary committees and, for the last eight years, President Barack Obama’s right hand.

5 Images that refute Trump’s attack on Hero John Lewis

It began when Rep. John Lewis announced that he would not attend the inaugural of Donald J. Trump because he did not consider him a legitimate president. Lewis, sometimes called “the conscience of Congress,” emerged to prominence as a very young man in 1963-66 as Chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee – of which he had been one of the founders.

Read the book behind the a Hidden Figuresa movie

The Fresno County Library’s Bookshelf column shares suggestions for books, music, and other items, and provides information about library programs. “Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians who Helped Win the Space Race,” by Margot Lee Shetterly.

Safe Yet To Fly with a Galaxy Note 7?

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced yesterday that it has rescinded its requirement that airlines make specific announcements regarding the dangers of flying with the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 prior to boarding. But despite the department’s decision to end the announcement requirement, the device is still banned from all U.S. flights, according to a statement released yesterday by the Federal Aviation Administration .

Jennifer Holliday backs out of Trump inauguration gig

Broadway star Jennifer Holliday has backed out as a performer at next week’s presidential inaugural following protests from her gay and black fans, further dimming the event’s already low celebrity wattage. Holliday, best known for her Tony-winning role in Broadway’s “Dreamgirls,” said in an interview Saturday she hadn’t considered that singing at a Thursday concert by Washington’s Lincoln Memorial would be judged a statement of support for President-elect Donald Trump.

National View: David Ignatius – To protect our democracy, we…

“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark,” mutters Marcellus as ghosts and mad spirits haunt Elsinore Castle in the first act of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” After this past week of salacious leaks about foreign espionage plots and indignant denials, people must be wondering if something is rotten in the state of our democracy.

National View: Economic brinkmanship

On March 4, 1933, at the bottom of the worst financial and economic crisis to afflict the United States since the Civil War, Franklin D. Roosevelt took office as president. Two days later, Roosevelt acted to stanch the collapse by suspending gold payments, imposing a four-day “bank holiday” and arranging emergency assistance for banks when they reopened.

Trump and Harvey: Two Peas in a PodBy Stereo Williams

The president-elect and his latest ring-kisser are thrice-married TV hosts who share an affinity for backwards views on women and ill-fitting suits. “They’re kind of beating me up on the internet right now for no reason, but that’s life, isn’t it?” Steve Harvey , the stand-up comedian turned TV host, gave that statement to reporters following the intense backlash he received online for a series of racist jokes on his talk show targeting Asian men.

As vice presidency winds down, Biden’s comeback is complete

Vice President Biden’s receipt of the Medal of Freedom capped a long career comeback from an embarrassing and unsuccessful presidential run, as he now leaves office as a national Democratic icon. “We believe he is more than deserving of the honor and are happy for Joe and his family,” said Travis Williams, communications director for the Democratic Party in Delaware, Biden’s home state.

Trump’s cabinet nominees diverge from him on key issues

Some of President-elect Donald Trump’s picks for high-level positions in his administration this week split with him on key issues like trade, torture, and the US relationship with Iran and Russia. Trump has taken some controversial stances on many issues throughout his campaign and after the election.

Paid family leave debate continues in Connecticut

Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, right, gestures as state Sen. Len Suzio, R- Meriden, left, speaks with Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr., D-Branford, center, looking on, during opening session at the state Capitol on Jan. 4. less Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, right, gestures as state Sen. Len Suzio, R- Meriden, left, speaks with Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr., D-Branford, center, looking on, during opening session at … more Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Len Fasano, R-North Haven, greets Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, right, during the opening session at the state Capitol.

Protesters across US decry Trump’s anti-immigrant stance

Protesters gathered Saturday to support immigrant rights at rallies around the U.S., denouncing President-elect Donald Trump for his anti-immigrant rhetoric and his pledges to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border and to crack down on Muslims entering the country. “We are not going to allow Donald Trump to bury the Statue of Liberty,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, told a standing-room-only crowd at historic African-American church in downtown Washington during one of dozens of rallies around the nation.

Kerry’s stop in Vietnam is emotional peak of final trip

It could have been 1969 again as Secretary of State John Kerry stood on the bow of the small boat chugging up the Bay Hap River on Saturday, the wind billowing his sleeves and his eyes darting left and right toward banks shrouded in dark foliage. As a young Navy lieutenant,Mr. Kerry commanded a Swift boat along this stretch of churning brown waters in the middle of a free-fire zone.