A Happy Thursday to you!

I was going to write a nice long Brew today, but pro-Palestinian protesters are blocking my thought processes.

Just kidding, but the Hamas cheerers did block several roads into JFK Airport yesterday, which no doubt won them the affectionate support of weary travelers trying to catch their flights. They also disrupted traffic at LAX. (Though being L.A., how could anyone tell?)

Meanwhile, the New York Post is reporting NYC officials are preparing for “Pro-Palestinian” protesters to try and disrupt the traditional Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration.

Michigan Supreme Court Blows Off Effort to Remove Trump From Ballot

Michigan’s Supreme Court on Wednesday tossed into the trash Democratic efforts there to remove former President Donald Trump from the ballot. On the plus side, they earn this year’s award for “Best Imitation of Vladimir Putin.”

Speaking of which, Russian journalist-turned-politician Yekaterina Duntsova has lost her appeal of a decision that bans her from challenging Putin in Russia’s presidential election in March. Duntsova opposes the war in Ukraine. Duntsova was banned over alleged violations with her application. She mistakenly didn’t spell her name “P‑U‑T‑I‑N.”

Special Prosecutor Jack Smith Doesn’t Want Trump to Tell Jury He’s Being Politically Targeted

The Special Prosecutor tasked by the DOJ with taking down the Big Guy’s leading competitor has asked the judge to bar Donald Trump or his lawyers from telling the jury the former President’s being selectively prosecuted and politically targeted. Jack Smith does not want the judge to allow Trump to present evidence of the political targeting, or the coordination of the assorted prosecutions. Or what Smith calls “political attacks.”

In fact, Smith does not even want Trump allowed to bring up any responsibility other parties had for January 6, such as those who rejected his request for the National Guard to be protecting the Capitol or the evidence of federal informants and agents being on the scene.

While we’re talking politics and investigations …

Did Biden Knowing About Hunter’s Plans to Defy a Congressional Subpoena Constitute an Impeachable Offense?

The White House’s admission that Joe Biden was “certainly familiar with what his son was going to say” when Hunter Biden defied a Congressional subpoena December 13 has opened another avenue in the formal impeachment inquiry. House Oversight Committee chairman James Comer and Judicial Committee head Jim Jordan informed White House counsel Edward Siskel Wednesday that they are looking into whether Joe Biden “engaged in a conspiracy to obstruct a proceeding of Congress.” They say a Biden effort to influence or obstruct his son’s cooperation with the House inquiry “would constitute an impeachable offense.” They’re asking the White House for “all documents and communications sent or received regarding the deposition of Hunter Biden.”

🚨BREAKING🚨⁰@RepJamesComer & @Jim_Jordan are investigating whether President Biden sought to influence or obstruct his son's cooperation with the House’s impeachment inquiry.
 
Such conduct could constitute an impeachable offense.⁰
Letter to White House Counsel Edward Siskel… pic.twitter.com/dND1WkusFU

— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) December 27, 2023

As for Biden himself, he and the family have jetted off to the Virgin Islands for New Year’s.

Don Jr. Wants No Part of Nikki on a Trump Ticket

Stories were floating around last week that Trump was asking allies their thoughts on him possibly naming Nikki Haley as his running mate … assuming he gets the GOP nod. Well, count Don Jr. as a hard no. “I wouldn’t have her, and I would go to great lengths to make sure that that doesn’t happen,” Don Jr. told Newsmax and listed his reasons — which conveniently sound like an attack on a candidate who is rising in the polls against his father:

Nikki Haley wants never-ending wars. She’s a puppet of the establishment in Washington, DC. She’s the new favorite candidate of the billionaire class because they want control — no different than academia and Harvard and using their billions to exercise influence.

Along The Stream

Mark Judge kicked off the day with “Last Battle: C.S. Lewis and Why the Corruption of Language Can Destroy the World.”

Dr. Michael Brown takes on “The Ongoing Fight Against the Jewishness of Jesus.”

Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream, co-author, with John Zmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and co-author of the counter-terrorism memoir Hostile Intent: Protecting Yourself Against Terrorism.