Over a year ago, we discussed the lawsuit brought by Maria Ana Carrola Flores, a sophomore at the University of California-San Diego, who sued after being hit by a car on the highway. However, she was taking part in a protest illegally blocking the highway at the time in protesting the election of Donald Trump.  She sued the University of California Regents, the city and county of San Diego, the state of California, and the driver of the car. At the time, I expressed great doubt over the merits of this lawsuit by someone acting illegally and then blaming others for allowing her to act illegally. Now, San Diego Superior Court has issued a notice of dismissal of the frivolous action.

In a truly cringe-worthy moment, President Donald Trump called on staff at a press conference yesterday to attest to his being calm and measured in a controversial meeting with Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi described Trump as throwing a “temper tantrum.” I am perfectly willing to accept that the portrayal was unfair, but the solution was not to have awkward testimonials of five staffers lined up like a firing squad. It took seconds for media around the world to portray the event as an American version of an impromptu moment with “the Dear One.”

The New York State Senate is moving to make texting while walking a crime. It could produce a rather ironic result in New York City which just moved to reduce criminal penalties for public urination and turnstile jumping. Thus, you could soon be in a better legal position in New York City urinating on your cellphone in public than texting on it.

Today, I am in Philadelphia to debate National Review editor Rich Lowry on President Donald Trump’s emergency declaration to build the wall on the Southern border. I have previously testified and written on the subject. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, will moderate the debate to be held 6:30 – 7:30 p.m at the National Constitution Center.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has deleted her tweet demanding justice while Sen. Cory Booker (D., N.J.) is now “withholding judgment” after previously calling it an “attempted modern-day lynching.” After politicians, pundits, and the press spent days calling for swift justice and denouncing the Trump Administration for the rise in hate crimes, Washington figures are running for cover as reports grew that Chicago police have evidence of a stage hate crime by “Empire” actor and singer Jussie Smollett. The case again raises the problem of leaders in politics and the media reaching immediate conclusions on such allegations before the evidence has been gathered.

Best wishes to everyone celebrating Christmas.

I am in Chicago with the family for Christmas with my 91-year-old mother Angela.  We are getting a dusting of snow for a white Christmas but the weather has been warmer than usual on our visit (in the 40s).  Last night, the kids and I went to Christmas Eve mass at St. Mary’s of the Lake, which has been our parish church for almost six decades. My mother was not up to the trip for the first time but we were there representing our family.

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