THE CHRISTMAS LIST
What everyone wants (or needs)....
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THE 2022 HOLIDAY GIFT LIST
For Joe Biden: A trip to the Fountain of Youth, for that second-term refresh.
For Donald Trump: Humility.
For Kevin McCarthy: The votes and a method to govern with a ridic thin majority.
For Ron DeSantis: A calendar (not an Advent one).
For the Sununus: A peace pact with the Shaheens.
For Emily in Paris: Comfortable shoes.
For Elon Musk: A refund.
For Meghan and Harry: A palace of their own and a social media break.
For the Gang of 500: A comprehensive ChatGPT tutorial during the first Lauriol Plaza brunch in January.
For Hunter Biden: A clean slate.
For Don Lemon: An Emma Willis necktie.
For Peter Davidson: A steady.
For Ron Klain: Less Tab, more naps.
For Kari Lake: Peace of mind.
For Wide World of News Readers: This Olivia Nuzzi story on Trump ’24, complete with an interview with the man himself, some great scenes, some cutting analysis, and a pitch perfect take on the moment at hand. Essential reading.
For the one-man-show of Wide World of News, up writing for you even on Christmas Day: A voluntary paid subscription or a contribution to support the work, with reader support being the only compensation your laboring scribe receives.
Or make a voluntary contribution in the amount of your choice via any of these methods:
* Check. Send a simple email to markhalperintalk@gmail.com and ask how you can mail in some money.
• PayPal. markhalperinnyc@gmail.com
• Venmo. Mark-Halperin-4 (telephone number ends in x3226)
• Zelle. markhalperinnyc@gmail.com
* Give a cocktail (at seasonal prices….), tax and server tip included, by clicking here.
* Give a cup of coffee (or a week’s worth) by clicking here.
Thank you for your encouragement and support.
Merry Christmas.
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ESSENTIAL VIEWING/READING
* The Washington Post rounds up the 2023 expectations for non-Trump Republican presidential candidates in a way that largely leaves out the fundraising questions that are actually top of mind in many savvy corners.
* The New York Post has blind quotes from anonymous Republican operatives claiming they knew all along that George Santos’ bio has more holes than Jeremy Hilary Boob, Ph.D.
* This immortal New York Times obit:
Don Christopher, a California farmer who turned the humble, much-maligned bulb of garlic into a staple in millions of American homes and elevated the sleepy town of Gilroy into the garlic capital of the world, died on Dec. 12 in Gilroy. He was 88.