The Morning Briefing: Comey Back on Hill, Farewell Obamacare(?) and Much, Much More

Good Monday morning.

Here is what’s on the president’s agenda today:

The president receives his intelligence briefing
President Trump has lunch with the vice president
The president meets with the Secretary of the Interior
The president and first lady participate in a Christmas reception
The president and first lady participate in another Christmas reception

The bitch is back

Lordy, ex-FBI deep-stater James Comey the Redeemer is back on the Hill today to twerk and freak for the Justice and Oversight committees. He will speak behind closed doors, of course, but the transcript will be released shortly thereafter.

Over the weekend, the totally non-partisan, disinterested bureaucrat tweeted out some opinions on Twitter and responded to President Trump.

This is from the President of our country, lying about the lawful execution of a search warrant issued by a federal judge. Shame on Republicans who don’t speak up at this moment — for the FBI, the rule of law, and the truth. pic.twitter.com/c5dhQBnmyi

— James Comey (@Comey) December 16, 2018

This from the punk who boasted that he tricked Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn in a perjury trap and threatened to prosecute him on a Logan Act violation. Sheesh.

Obamacare unconstitutional

On Friday, a judge ruled that Obamacare or the ACA is unconstitutional.

U.S. District Court Judge Reed O’Connor agreed with a group of 20 states with Republican governors or legislatures that argued the constitutionality of the law’s individual mandate dissolved when Congress removed the tax penalty for the uninsured.

Of course, this will have to work its way through the court system, so there is no immediate change to your policy if you have purchased one. My premiums went up to $1500 monthly this year. What a great system. Thanks, Obama.

The Trump DOJ (that sounds so funny) will not appeal the decision since the administration is not looking to keep the law intact, but some of the states, led by California, will appeal.

“The ACA has already survived more than 70 unsuccessful repeal attempts and withstood scrutiny in the Supreme Court. Today’s misguided ruling will not deter us: our coalition will continue to fight in court for the health and well-being of all Americans,” California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said Friday in response to the ruling.

Terrific.

Related:

Obama defends Affordable Care Act

Schumer vows to put a vote on the floor urging intervention in ObamaCare case ‘first thing’

Historical picture of the day

Pres. George H. W. Bush, center, signs the North American Free Trade Agreement during a ceremony at the Organization of American States headquarters, Thursday, Dec. 17, 1992, Washington, D.C. Canadian Amb. Derek Burney and U.S. Trade Representative Carla Hills applaud during the signing. The president predicted an explosion of growth throughout North America as he signed the agreement. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)

Other morsels:

It’s not a big deal, really. Government shutdown? You’ll still get mail and packages, be able to travel

Adam Schiff threatens to probe Donald Trump’s personal finances

Schiff: U.S. Response to Russian Hacking of Our Election Has Been ‘Influenced By Something’

Adam Schiff Suggests Trump Might Be Compromised For Ties To Deutsche Bank

Somebody is spending a lot of money to trash vaping. Vaping booming in U.S. high schools, survey finds

US Coast Guard reports Caribbean cocaine bust

‘Justice’ is Merriam-Webster’s word of the year for 2018

Catriona Gray, from the Philippines, claims crown as first transgender contestant fails to make top 20

Actor Geoffrey Rush denies new sexual harassment allegations from former protege, Yael Stone

Trump: Sessions ‘should be ashamed of himself’ for allowing Russia probe to proceed

Cory Booker addresses speculation about his sexuality: ‘I’m heterosexual’