FINALLY!!!!!!!!

Adam Serwer: “The reason so many of yesterday’s free-speech champions transitioned so easily into today’s pro-Trump censors is that their definition of free speech never included the right of others to talk back.”


https://politicalwire.com/2025/12/26/cancel-cultures-boomerang-effect/

A journey of ceremony and prayer honors Dakota women who witnessed 1862 executions

Dozens of riders on horseback and travelers on foot arrived Friday morning at Reconciliation Park in Mankato.

Last year, two rides marked the revival of the famous reconciliation ride, honoring the 38 Dakota men hanged in Mankato on Dec. 26, 1862. Two additional men were hanged at Fort Snelling in 1865. The rides begin in both South Dakota and Nebraska, and end in Mankato.

However, another journey honoring the Dakota women of 1862 finished its fourth year in Mankato this year.

“We have always heard of our women that wept at the gallows,” said Gaby Strong, who organized the Dakota Omani, meaning “Dakota Travel” in English. Strong says Dakota Omani was purposefully named to welcome Indigenous communities to participate in the journey, whether they ride horseback, travel on foot or drive their vehicles.




https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/12/26/dakota-omani-journey-honors-women-who-witnessed-the-1862-dakota-38-hangings

Virginia HD17: Democratic Firehouse Primary This Sunday

As you might have heard, Virginia Del. Mark Sickles was selected earlier this week by Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger to serve in her Cabinet as Secretary of Finance. As such, there will be a vacancy shortly in HD17 (Franconia/Springfield in southern Fairfax County; 70% Kamala Harris district), which Del. Sickles represents. For that reason, Virginia Speaker Don Scott set the special election date for this seat as 1/20/26, with Fairfax Democrats selecting their nominee THIS coming Sunday (12/28); see call to Caucus info here (and note that turnout for this could be very low, maybe not even 1,000 voters out of >80,000 people in the district effectively selecting their next delegate).

So with just a few days to campaign, and for voters to be informed about the election – including when/where to vote, as well as who the candidate are – things are moving very quickly. Plus, it’s the holidays, and presumably most people are barely (if at all) focused on this. So I figured it might be helpful to do a quick summary of who’s running (to my knowledge, Russell Brooks, Carla Bustillos, Garrett McGuire, Joy McManus) and who’s endorsed them. I’ll update this as I see new endorsements (or ones I’ve missed).

P.S. Also, I’m hoping that these candidates will all get back to Blue Virginia by tomorrow with answers to some questions that Fairfax City Dems Chair Laura Stokes sent them the other day…



https://bluevirginia.us/2025/12/virginia-hd17-democratic-firehouse-primary-this-sunday-whos-running-whos-endorsing-which-candidate-etc/

Enya- Oche Chin (Silent Night) Song by Enya

'If you tell anyone, I'll kill you': Gaza hostage Romi Gonen recounts sexual abuse during captivity

Former Gaza hostage Romi Gonen recounted her experiences in Hamas's terror captivity in the Gaza Strip, including terrorists sexually abusing her, during an interview with Channel 12's "Uvda" broadcast on Thursday evening.

Gonen told the interviewer that the question that comes to people's minds is if she was sexually assaulted, but acknowledges that people do not directly ask her. "I would not ask it if I were them. I also think no one asks it because no one wants to hear the answer," she said.

However, Gonen recounted several instances when she was assaulted.

Gonen said she felt it was important to speak about such events, although she only described them in part.


'https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-881435?utm_source=jpost.app.apple&utm_medium=share

Melbourne rabbi's car displaying Hanukkah decorations firebombed early Christmas morning

A rabbi's car decorated for Hanukkah was firebombed overnight in Melbourne’s east, with authorities launching an investigation into the incident, Australian media reported on Thursday.

Emergency services arrived at Balaclava Road in St Kilda East around 2:50 a.m. on Thursday to find a grey Mazda CX8 severely damaged by fire. The vehicle had a "Happy Chanukah" sign on its roof.

The car’s interior was extensively damaged, and multiple windows appeared to be smashed. No one was inside the vehicle at the time of the attack.

Victoria Police confirmed that detectives have identified a person who may assist with the investigation. The car was towed away from the scene, and a crime scene was established.



Melbourne rabbi's car displaying Hanukkah decorations firebombed early Christmas morning https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-881314?utm_source=jpost.app.apple&utm_medium=share

Ruggiero (R) challenges Town of Newburgh Council election results

GOSHEN – Republican Town of Newburgh Councilman Paul Ruggiero on Tuesday filed an Order to Show Cause (OSC) in Orange County Supreme Court seeking to determine the accuracy of the canvass of all ballots in November’s election.

Two town council seats were won by Democrats Mary McLymore (3,292 votes) and Mary Lou Carolan (3,226). Ruggiero, who could not be reached for comment on Tuesday night, finished with 3,224 votes. Ruggiero’s filing requests that Carolan not be sworn into office until his legal counsel can appear before Justice Sherri L. Eisenpress to argue that 22 votes were improperly tallied during a manual recount.

It also asks the Orange County Board of Elections to amend the voting certification to certify the correct vote tally to declare Ruggiero the winner of the election. According to Zak Constantine, chairman of the Orange County Democratic Party, Town of Newburgh Supervisor Gil Piaquadio has indicated to Carolan that he is not comfortable swearing in anyone who is involved in a “contested election.”

“Since she has also been certified the winner of the election for town council, Carolan is also legally entitled to take office, pending the outcome of Ruggiero’s challenge, and she intends to file the necessary paperwork before the end of the year,” Constantine said.




https://midhudsonnews.com/2025/12/24/ruggiero-challenges-town-of-newburgh-council-election-results/

St. Louis Board of Aldermen plan special election to replace ousted Sheriff Montgomery

ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Board of Aldermen will convene for a special virtual meeting Monday to initiate a special election to replace Sheriff Alfred Montgomery, following a judicial ruling that removed him from office for misconduct.

The meeting, scheduled for 10 a.m., follows a decision by retired Judge Steven Ohmer, who stripped Montgomery of his position after reviewing six claims brought forward by the Missouri Attorney General’s Office.

The court found that Montgomery willfully neglected his duties and abused his power, specifically regarding the unlawful detention of Deputy Jail Commissioner Tammy Ross and former deputy Darryl Wilson.

Montgomery’s legal team expressed immediate opposition to the ruling. David Mason, a retired judge and one of Montgomery's attorneys, indicated that while he will not be involved in the next steps, an appeal is likely.


https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/st-louis-board-of-aldermen-special-election-replace-sheriff-alfred-montgomery/63-b3828119-edac-4205-bf39-b5a9bd68ad36

Hamtramck mayoral candidate to appeal court ruling leaving 37 absentee ballots uncounted

Hamtramck — A candidate who lost Hamtramck's mayoral election by 11 votes in November is appealing a Wayne County judge's ruling this week that 37 uncounted ballots in the race should not be tabulated, which — for now — upholds Adam Alharbi’s 11-vote win in the enclave of 28,000 people.

Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Patricia Fresard ruled Tuesday in a written decision that the Wayne County Board of Canvassers properly exercised its discretion under state law in not counting the untabulated ballots, which were found the day after the Nov. 4 election.

"In the present case, the Board of Canvassers concluded that the City Clerk failed to comply with mandatory requirements imposed to protect the integrity of ballots both during and after the election," she wrote.

Hamtramck City Clerk Rana Faraj discovered the untabulated ballots, still in their envelopes, in her office the day after the election and delivered them immediately to the Wayne County Board of Canvassers.




https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2025/12/24/wayne-county-judge-rules-against-losing-hamtramck-mayoral-candidate-in-case-of-uncounted-ballots/87908332007/

NJ-11: Little Falls mayor backs Bartlett (D) for special

Passaic County Commissioner John Bartlett (D-Wayne), working to consolidate the Passaic County vote in the crowded February 5 special primary for New Jersey’s 11th congressional district, was endorsed today by Little Falls Mayor James Damiano and other top Little Falls Democrats.

Also endorsing Bartlett are Councilmembers Christine Hablitz and Anthony Sgobba, as well as Little Falls Democratic municipal chairman Adam Zurbruegg.

“John has committed his career to public service and is a reliable and effective representative for our shared constituents,” Damiano said in a statement. “From roadway safety to parks and open space funding, John is a leader with a record of delivering for Little Falls and all his constituents. I know he will continue his hard work as our next congressman.”

Bartlett is one of two Passaic County-based candidates in the 12-way primary for the 11th district, alongside Lieutenant Gov. Tahesha Way; the two Wayne politicians are sharing the official endorsement of the Passaic County Democrats. Damiano’s support will likely help Bartlett further lock down Passaic voters, though the county only makes up around one-tenth of the district.





https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/little-falls-mayor-backs-bartlett-for-nj-11-special/