People Magazine reports: In a sobering post-election period, Glen Pannell has figured out a way to make us smile — one pants-less donation at a time. The graphic designer and actor bears more than a passing resemblance to Vice President-elect Mike Pence, and now he is using that genetic stroke of luck to help others as a part of a …

Donald Trump’s favorite conspiracy nut Alex Jones is trying to distance himself from the so-called Pizzagate fake news controversy by deleting his YouTube video in which he accused Hillary Clinton of being involved in a murderous child sex ring. Jones’ action comes after a self-proclaimed “evangelical Christian” fired his assault rifle in the DC pizza shop in an attempt to …

Politico reports: President Barack Obama has ordered a “full review” of hacking-relating activity aimed at disrupting last month’s presidential election and he expects that report before he leaves office on Jan. 20, a top White House official said Friday. “We may have crossed into a new threshold and it is incumbent upon us to take stock of that, to review, …

The BBC reports: Dutch anti-Islam political leader Geert Wilders has been convicted of insulting a group and inciting discrimination. But no penalty was imposed by the court near Amsterdam on Wilders, whose party is leading in polls ahead of parliamentary elections in March. Wilders was also acquitted of inciting hate over telling supporters in March 2014 he would ensure there …

Talking Points Memo reports: Kellyanne Conway, Donald Trump’s former campaign manager, on Friday morning defended the President-elect’s decision to stay on as an executive producer of NBC’s “The Apprentice,” comparing the move to President Obama’s time playing golf. “He’s a very transparent guy. Everyone can see what he’s doing and the fact is that he is conferring with all types …

AL.com reports: Alabama Death row inmate Ronald Bert Smith, Jr. was executed Thursday night by lethal injection for the 1994 slaying of Huntsville convenience store clerk Casey Wilson. During the 34-minute execution at the Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Smith heaved and coughed for about 13 minutes and underwent two consciousness tests to make sure he couldn’t feel pain. Smith’s …

Via Raw Story: Comedian Tina Fey sarcastically dangled the bait at the army of Internet trolls who inhabit Breitbart.com on Wednesday during a speech to a group honoring women working in the entertainment field. “I promised myself I wouldn’t get up here today and talk about the election,” Fey quipped before alluding to the controversy earlier this year over the …

Politico reports: Donald Trump on Thursday brushed aside concerns that he had tapped too many super-rich people for his cabinet, saying “I want people that made a fortune!” and boasting that he was “putting together one of the great cabinets that has ever been assembled in the history of our nation.” In a campaign-style speech at a convention center here, …

DNA Info reports: He’s not taking no for an answer. Mayor Bill de Blasio vowed Wednesday to fight Congress’ refusal to reimburse the full $35 million the NYPD is spending to protect President-elect Donald Trump and his family through the Jan. 20 inauguration — saying the paltry $7 million offered is insufficient. “I’m disappointed. I think they should have done …

Via press release from the Family Policy Alliance: This past year proved to be a challenging one for North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory. The Legislature sent him a bill (HB2) that protected the privacy and safety of women and children by requiring people to use the bathroom consistent with the sex on their birth certificate. He gladly signed it, calling …

The New York Times reports: President-elect Donald J. Trump kicked around ideas for his inauguration in his office at Trump Tower on Tuesday with two of his oldest friends, Mark Burnett and Thomas Barrack Jr. The ideas spilled out from Mr. Burnett, a well-regarded showman best known for producing “The Apprentice”: a parade up Fifth Avenue, a helicopter ride to …

The Hill reports: Hillary Clinton on Thursday decried the spread of fake news online, calling it an “epidemic” that Congress should take action against. “The epidemic of malicious fake news and false propaganda that flooded social media over the past year — it’s now clear the so-called fake news can have real-world consequences,” Clinton said during a speech on Capitol …

Via press release: Councilman Mark Squilla (1st District) on Thursday introduced a bill to ban the practice of so-called conversion therapy on LGBTQ youth in the City of Philadelphia. Also referred to as “reparative” or “ex-gay” therapy, conversion therapy is any practice by a mental health provider that seeks to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts …

The Associated Press reports: John Glenn, an astronaut, senator and old-fashioned American hero, died Thursday at the age of 95, the Columbus Dispatch reported. Glenn was the last survivor of the Mercury 7, selected in 1959 as NASA’s first group of astronauts. He became the first American to orbit the Earth on Feb. 20, 1962. It was a solo flight, …

BOOM. CNN reports: Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine intensified his criticism over Donald Trump’s national security adviser, saying that retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn peddles in conspiracy theories that even a little child would dismiss. Kaine, who was Hillary Clinton’s running mate this year, has kept a low profile since suffering the stunning loss to Trump last month. But Kaine told …

The Associated Press reports: Arkansas’ highest court on Thursday threw out a judge’s ruling that could have allowed married same-sex couples to get the names of both spouses on their children’s birth certificates without a court order, saying it doesn’t violate equal protection “to acknowledge basic biological truths.” The state Supreme Court also issued a rare admonishment to Pulaski County …

The Times Of Israel reports: The path to citizenship for gay foreigners who marry Israelis abroad will be brought into line with that for straight spouses from overseas, the Attorney General told the Supreme Court Wednesday, according to Hebrew language media reports. Straight partners currently undergo a four-year process to gain citizenship, while same-sex partners have a seven-year path to …

Roger Ailes is out and now so is the spinoff he created. The Hill reports: Fox News Latino’s (FNL) six-year run will officially end at midnight Friday. FNL national correspondent Bryan Llenas tweeted the news on his personal account on Thursday. “When we launched in October of 2010, we were faced with a daunting task: Report on Latino stories in …

The New York Times reports: President-elect Donald J. Trump is expected to name Andrew F. Puzder, chief executive of the company that operates the fast food outlets Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. and an outspoken critic of the worker protections enacted by the Obama administration, to be secretary of labor, people close to the transition said on Thursday. Mr. Puzder has …

Via Raw Story: A New York firefighter was arrested after allegedly setting fire to his own home in an apparent attempt to smear anti-police brutality activists. Jason Stokes pleaded not guilty Tuesday to arson in connection with the August fire at his house in Endicott, reported WBNG-TV. A family member said at the time that they believed their home was …