Releases first TV ads
Trump releases his first TV ads. He says he will spend at least $2 million a week. The ads outline his policy proposals. He says he has six to eight ads in production and that his was a “major buy and it’s going to go on for months.” He said he hopes the spots impress upon undecided voters that the country has become “a dumping ground.”
The world is laughing at us, at our stupidity,” he said. “It’s got to stop. We’ve got to get smart fast — or else we won’t have a country…I’m $35 million to $40 million under budget, and to be honest, I don’t think I need [ads] because I have such a big lead. But I don’t want to take any chances, and I almost feel guilty not spending money.
On the style of the ads:
You can say the same words, ‘Make America Great Again,’ and various themes around it, but it’s doesn’t sound the same as it is when I’m up there on stage in front of 15,000 people going wild.
2700 microcephalic babies born in 2015
The New York Times reports that more than 2700 microcephalic babies have been born in Brazil in 2015, up from fewer than 150 in 2014, according to news media reports in Brazil. Though the increase is tentatively blamed on spreading Zika virus, some say the link is not clear.
‘2015 wasn’t my last chance’
In an interview with Autosport, Rossi is asked about his age:
If you check the history of human beings, between 36 and 37 is not a big difference. Next year I can go more or else at the same pace. But it depends a lot on the motivation, the match of the Yamaha with the Michelins, our work and everything else. Next year will be another story, and I will try as always.
Amnesty claims Russian airstrikes kill 200 civilians
A report by Amnesty says Russian airstrikes have killed at least 200 civilians. The group accuses Russia of using cluster bombs in civilian areas and says such attacks could constitute war crimes.Russia’s defence ministry dismisses the report as containing “fake information” and “trite cliches”.
Denies ‘scholonged’ is vulgar
Trump tweets that his comments about Hillary Clinton were not vulgar.
Once again, #MSM is dishonest. "Schlonged" is not vulgar. When I said Hillary got "schlonged" that meant beaten badly.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2015
Defends casting
Rowling defends Dumezweni’s casting as Hermione Granger. Other Harry Potter actors, including Jason Isaacs and Matthew Lewis, also lend their support.
Canon: brown eyes, frizzy hair and very clever. White skin was never specified. Rowling loves black Hermione 😘 https://t.co/5fKX4InjTH
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 21, 2015
Christmas kiss
Stefani and Shelton were seen kissing and being affection inside the Gonzalez restaurant in Shelton’s hometown. The couple later sends out a Christmas message.
Merry Christmas 🌲🙏🏻gx pic.twitter.com/n8ePUyLHpK
— Gwen Stefani (@gwenstefani) December 22, 2015
Turkey criticizes Russia’s Syria involvement
Davutoglu criticizes Russia’s attack on Idlib in north-west Syria,, saying Syrian lands will not be part of “Russian imperialist goals.”
Proposes $2 billion Alzheimer’s cure program
Clinton proposes the government spend an extra $2 billion a year to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease before 2025. A briefing on her website says she came up with a proposal to find a cure after consulting with “leading physician-scientists to understand what it would take to rapidly accelerate the progress we are making.”
Top researchers have noted that this is achievable if we make the commitment, marshal the resources, and provide the needed leadership…[Clinton] knows that reaching the goal will involve investments across the drug development cycle, from basic research to applied and translational research to public-private partnerships for clinical research.
3,200 prisoners released prematurely
Governor Inslee announces that over the past 13 years, an estimated 3,200 convicted felons were released early from Washington state prisons because of errors in calculating good time credit. The median number of days that inmates were mistakenly released early is 49 days. The governor has hired two retired federal prosecutors to conduct an independent review of how the error occurred and why it took 13 years to resolve.
That this problem was allowed to continue for 13 years is deeply disappointing to me, totally unacceptable and, frankly, maddening.
Demands Clinton apology
Trump demands an apology from Clinton over her remarks that he is being used for ISIS recruitment.
I demand an apology from Hillary Clinton for the disgusting story she made up about me for purposes of the debate. There never was a video.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2015
Join to save whales
Cyrus and Anderson join together at Cyrus’s last show on her Milky Milky Milk Tour, holding signs saying “Save The Whales!”
Clinton’s comments ‘terrifying’
In response to Clinton’s debate comments about tech and national security:
I would hope that, given the extraordinary capacities that the tech community has and the legitimate needs and questions from law enforcement, that there could be a Manhattan-like project — something that would bring the government and the tech communities together to see they’re not adversaries, they’ve got to be partners…Maybe the backdoor is the wrong door, and I understand what Apple and others are saying about that. I know that law enforcement needs the tools to keep us safe.
Snowden says:
Aaaaaaaaand Hillary just terrified everyone with an internet connection. #DemDebate
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) December 20, 2015
Calls Clinton a liar
In an interview on Meet the Press, Trump calls Clinton a liar.
It’s just another Hillary lie. She lies like crazy about everything — whether it’s trips where she was being gunned down in a helicopter, or an airplane. She’s a liar and everybody knows that.
Later he tweets:
Hillary Clinton lied when she said that "ISIS is using video of Donald Trump as a recruiting tool." This was fact checked by @FoxNews: FALSE
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 20, 2015
Putin praises Trump
During an annual news conference with reporters, Putin comments on Trump’s standing in the race.
He is a bright and talented person without any doubt. [He] is an outstanding and talented personality. [He is] the absolute leader of the presidential race.
Trump responds:
It is always a great honor to be so nicely complimented by a man so highly respected within his own country and beyond. I have always felt that Russia and the United States should be able to work well with each other towards defeating terrorism and restoring world peace, not to mention trade and all of the other benefits derived from mutual respect.
May raid gave US ISIS intelligence
A U.S. military raid in May allowed the U.S. to gain intelligence that helped them attack ISIS oil targets.
With that raid we got this enormous amount of information that was very detailed as to how they operated their energy sector and allowed us to learn more about the operation and how to attack it or address it. It enabled the U.S. to put together the picture of the most effective way to attack the group’s oil infrastructure in Syria. We were able to, starting this past summer, look more strategically at which assets in Syria are a better-value target.
Tells Orange County to keep nativity
Abbott encourages Orange County to keep nativity scene in front of city hall after it is removed after an an atheist organization requested the city hang a banner wishing people “happy holidays” next to the scene.
As the U.S. Supreme Court has continually held, public acknowledgement of our religious heritage is entirely consistent with the Constitution. The Constitution commands accommodation of religion rather than hostility towards it.
Trump’s plan ‘full of hatred’
Malala speaks in Birmingham, UK, about Trump’s plan to ban Muslims from entering the U.S.
Well, that’s really tragic that you hear these comments which are full of hatred, full of this ideology of being discriminative towards others.
She later criticises the media:
I have to say that whether it’s Western media or Eastern media, if they only blame 1.6 billion Muslims for terrorists attacks then terrorism can’t be defeated, that just leads to creating more anger in people and leads to producing more terrorists.
Announces Israel $6M research center
Texas A&M is launching a $6M marine research center in Israel to study along the Mediterranean Sea. Spokesperson:
There really is a remarkable amount of research and innovation occurring in Israel. There’s just so much going on there and we wanted to be a part of that.
Releases medical records
Trump’s doctor, who has been his personal physician since 1980, releases his medical records. He says Trump has a blood pressure reading of 110/65, has lost 15 pounds over the last year, takes 81 mg of Aspirin each day, and a small dose of statins.
Over the past 39 years, I am pleased to report that Mr. Trump has had no significant medical problems, If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency. Mr. Trump has suffered no form of cancer, has never had a hip, knee or shoulder replacement or any other orthopedic surgery. [He has] no history of ever using alcohol or tobacco products.
In a statement Trump says he is “blessed with having great genes”.