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Thursday, December 21, 2017

Nikki Haley is watching votes and taking names

 
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The Short List
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After unfavorable U.N. vote, the U.S. is 'taking names'

The United Nations General Assembly refused to accept President Trump's controversial declaration recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel , voting Thursday that it was "null and void." So be it, Trump said ahead of the vote. The U.S. will withhold "billions of dollars" in aid. "We'll save a lot." Nine nations — which include the U.S. and Israel — supported Trump. (128 voted against his statement and 35 nations abstained). U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said "no vote in the United Nations will make any difference" on the U.S. decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. That will go ahead because "it is the right thing to do." And the nations that voted against the U.S.? "We will remember it," Haley said. The U.S. "will be taking names."

Will the government be funded for Christmas? TBD

We're halfway there. The House passed a short-term spending bill  that will fund most government programs at current levels through Jan. 19. House Democrats didn't like the measure because it does not include funding for their priorities, such as immigration and opioid addiction. Conservative Republicans were angry because the bill did not include long-term funding for defense programs. But it passed. The clock's ticking. For the lights to stay on, the Senate needs to pass a spending bill before midnight. 

Another 'very stark' difference between U.S. and rest of the world 

Drug overdoses killed 63,600 people in 2016, a rate that's triple what it was in 1999. It's a shocking increase — due in large part to heroin and painkiller addiction — and one so big that it has brought down the average U.S. life expectancy for the second year in a row, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A baby born in the U.S. in 2016 could expect to live 78.6 years, down a month from 2015 and more than two months from 2014. It's the first time there's been a two-year drop in half a century and shows the U.S. is out of sync with the wider world, where people are getting healthier and living longer.

The frat party where booze floated through the air. Literally.

The members of the Delta house might appreciate this: Police broke up a frat party in Bethesda, Md., with so much alcohol that the air inside tested positive on a Breathalyzer . Police got involved after neighbors complained about the party, which had been advertised as "Tequila Tuesday." According to media reports, about 70 people emerged from the party, most of whom were underage. The six men living there were arrested and charged with 126 counts each of allowing underage possession of alcohol and furnishing alcohol to a minor. No word on whether members of the fraternity will face double secret probation.

Your must-see 2017 holiday movie guide is here

For a break from the eggnog and pumpkin pie, try popcorn and soda at your local movie theater. Holiday film-goers have lots of choices. Here are the movies that got our top reviews:

Star Wars: The Last Jedi: If you're finally ready to see the movie of the moment now that the crowds have died down. Critics loved it, we loved it, but audiences are split.
The Post: If you loved 'All the President's Men' and wish there was a prequel.
All the Money in the World: Director Ridley Scott replaced Kevin Spacey with Christopher Plummer as J. Paul Getty in this kidnapping drama, reshooting all his scenes over Thanksgiving and re-doing half the movie. We're impressed.
The Shape of Water: It's an adult fairy tale if ever there was one. And you'll likely tear up at the end.
Phantom Thread: Watch this if you aren't prepared for Daniel Day-Lewis to retire.
Darkest HourGary Oldman is favored to win a best-actor Oscar for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in this film, in which he all but disappears into the role.


 




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