First: Nothing much has changed about the stalemate in the Gulf of Hormuz . The little sister of Lindsey Graham, 62-year old Darline Graham Nordone, will serve out his term in the U.S. Senate.   She will not run in the Republican primary to replace him. The Manhattan federal court released more than $5.6 million that Donald Trump owes E. Jean Carroll. The U.S. Senate has 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats. John Cornyn (R-Tex), Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) will not return to the Senate next year, and mostly because Trump was directly responsible for their situation. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) chose not to run for re-election.  If he never returns to the U.S. Senate, this means that, if the above three Republicans want to leave with a major payback, Democrats would have one vote more than Republicans.   If McConnell does return, he has had a severely strained personal relationship with Trump, that he, too, could well vote like a Democrat.   This ...

Today could well be the beginning of the end of Donald Trump.  Closing arguments began with his defense, and he went on for almost three hours.  At the end,  Judge Juan Merchan scolded Trump's attorney Todd Blanche for outrageous comments  about "prison time."  Blanche ended calling Michael Cohen ( in reference to Tom Brady being the Greatest Of All Time, or GOAT ) the Greatest Liar Of All Time ( GLOAT ). Prosecution lawyer Joshua Steinglass ( on the left, with Susan Hoffinger, who did most of the prosecuting, and Alvin Bragg ) is now making his closing arguments, but his presentation is expected to go on for four and a half hours, so maybe the Judge might cut him off for finish tomorrow.  If this happens, this gives the prosecution some time to better prepare for a more convincing conclusion.  When will the jury be given instructions to have them deliberate on the verdict?  Chances are there will be a break for the end of the prosecution case, so...