If you think the U.S. is in a mess, look across the Atlantic. https://t.co/JwqmD4PFIS
— John Cassidy (@JohnCassidy) December 21, 2020
"Watching as country after country banned flights, like falling dominoes, was one of the most stressful and frightening days of the pandemic for me" writes Abby Young-Powell https://t.co/KmsgeuGx7S
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) December 21, 2020
Sources close to Port of Dover and Eurotunnel are baffled by the PM’s insistence that there were only 174 lorries parked on the M20 during his press conference. At the time Boris Johnson was speaking @Kenthighways told me there were 500. The number has just risen to 945.
— Joel Hills (@ITVJoel) December 21, 2020
I am staggered that Boris Johnson, a man who has lied about major issues to wives, girlfriends, colleagues, journalists, friends, enemies, party leaders, bosses, editors, lecturers and teachers, should casually tell a convenient fib about the length of a traffic jam…
— Mick Collins (@MickPCollins) December 21, 2020
The post-Brexit transition period will not be extended, Downing Street says, despite growing calls for the deadline to be pushed back so the government can deal with spiking coronavirus cases and travel chaos https://t.co/sXnlQAykJl
— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 21, 2020
Prime Minister Boris Johnson turned to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and laughed after being asked by @Peston whether with the end of the year so close he knew whether there would be a free trade deal with the EU pic.twitter.com/tz2QcMYnKD
— ITV News (@itvnews) December 21, 2020
This sums it up appropriately pic.twitter.com/zgCimoGVrt
— Iain G. Falken (@Proff_Falken) December 20, 2020
“I’ve just spoken to President Macron… we both understand each other’s positions and want to resolve these problems”
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) December 21, 2020
PM Boris Johnson says the UK is working closely with France to “unblock the flow of trade as fast as possible”https://t.co/WxPoZjvYZd pic.twitter.com/WUQjMGMJ0S
"You seem to have frequently overpromised and under-delivered. Why do you keep doing it?"@PippaCrerar quizzes Boris Johnson as the UK faces another Covid crisis, but the PM answers with an Easter pledgehttps://t.co/w8oRuOHJEW pic.twitter.com/ZzPJC3vve1
— Mirror Politics (@MirrorPolitics) December 21, 2020
"2/3rds of the UK’s fish quota goes to just 3 multinationals; boats under 10m long get just 4% though they account for 77% of fishers. Greenpeace found a 1/4 of Britain’s quota was owned by five families, all in the Sunday Times rich list." @pollytoynbeehttps://t.co/fSClfoz8X4
— Nick Cohen (@NickCohen4) December 21, 2020
To the tower https://t.co/wlNYfeh9hM
— Paddy O Doors (@muswellhillspur) December 21, 2020
At this stage, I wouldn’t even be mad if the Irish government try* to seal the border of the state- the decisions coming out of the north are awful
— Ash Stronge (@ashstronge) December 22, 2020
*I say try because actually stopping people going from north to south and vice versa would be next to impossible
***
THE RAGING TRUMPSTER FIRE THAT IS DUMPWORLD
“We are a country under attack on three fronts today: One, a raging and worsening coronavirus pandemic. Two, an unprecedented cyber assault that threatens our national security. And three, Donald Trump’s attacks on the election which threaten our very democracy"- @NicolleDWallace pic.twitter.com/zRs8MFtD2o
— Deadline White House (@DeadlineWH) December 21, 2020
Several members of Congress just finished a meeting in the Oval Office with President @realDonaldTrump, preparing a coup attempt.
— Paul 👻 (@pablo_honey1) December 21, 2020
Stay tuned.
The Trump administration is weighing a request to declare Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman immune from a lawsuit accusing him of targeting for assassination a former top intel officer who could disclose damaging secrets about MBS' ascent to power.https://t.co/XHRnFaOLIX
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) December 21, 2020
Joe Biden got the Covid-19 vaccine on live TV https://t.co/aMq0gD3fWT
— Jeffrey Levin 🇺🇦 (@jilevin) December 21, 2020
Congressional negotiators dropped $500 million for states to bolster their election security after opposition from Republicans, according to Democrats involved in the matter. Via @mkraju @jeremyherb #StimulusBill
— Michael Holmes (@holmescnn) December 21, 2020
Oh great. Making the entire rest of somebody’s life harder because they watched teevee they didn’t pay for after being stuck inside for most of a year. Great https://t.co/fO6iIf0G0P
— Conrail Twitty / @grenadine.bsky.social (@grenadine) December 21, 2020
BREAKING: Attorney General Barr says he sees no reason to appoint special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden and says he won't appoint one https://t.co/EBDtpDnhXE
— Bloomberg (@business) December 21, 2020
Televangelist Pat Robertson declares that Biden will be president and that Trump "lives in an alternate reality," "is very erratic," and should not run again in 2024: "You've had your day and it's time to move on." pic.twitter.com/2WYCZOSNTO
— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) December 21, 2020
Trump supporters organizing "second inauguration" for him online January 20 https://t.co/3eP2JXone7 pic.twitter.com/aa3rYYZIJQ
— The Hill (@thehill) December 21, 2020
"Listen closely, and you can already discern how leading Republicans will attempt to expunge the massive black stain of Trumpism from their party."
— Kurt Bardella (@kurtbardella) December 21, 2020
Must read piece from the always insightful and ahead of the curve @ThePlumLineGS https://t.co/vzokLhUwM4
"I don’t want to treat our fellow citizens with open contempt, or to confront and berate them. Rather, I am arguing for silence," @RadioFreeTom writes: https://t.co/fKp2xTVegT
— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) December 21, 2020
This would be douchey – with or without a raging plague https://t.co/BEGpA39jMz
— Jeff Timmer (@jefftimmer) December 21, 2020
not to mention that Trump’s Superspreader tour continues full-tilt here, without him even leaving the White House. Thousands of college kids gathered together indoors and screaming during a surging pandemic! Stupefyingly reckless and totally insane https://t.co/N8QAtgltHq
— Mark Follman (@markfollman) December 21, 2020
Newsmax issues clarification on Smartmatic, Dominion claims https://t.co/6Pqj2bVXZP pic.twitter.com/ezBxXqXMEA
— The Hill (@thehill) December 21, 2020
‘Rolling Over and Showing Your Belly’ May Not Spare Fox News and Newsmax from Smartmatic Lawsuit, Legal Expert Says https://t.co/uyiWYkXTz3 via @lawcrimenews
— Scott MacKay (@ScotMackRI) December 22, 2020
Right wing thugs intimidated and threatened journalist @_Brian_ICT – for trying to cover their unlawful assembly at the Capitol in Salem, Oregon today.
— Nick Knudsen 🇺🇸 (@NickKnudsenUS) December 21, 2020
They tried to storm the Capitol with pistols and rifles in protest of COVID-19 restrictions.
pic.twitter.com/WDKpbFAoBu
House Oversight to renew subpoena for Trump's financial records next Congress https://t.co/DKSjEjoTSu pic.twitter.com/DzfJET6WsJ
— The Hill (@thehill) December 22, 2020
Guy who lives here signed an executive order mandating “beautiful” buildings. pic.twitter.com/h62N1iy79q
— Joshua Holland (@JoshuaHol) December 21, 2020
How it started: How it’s going: pic.twitter.com/9yFXKyYNuR
— Sawyer Hackett (@SawyerHackett) December 21, 2020
Pragmatists in Iran are not opposed to nuclear negotiations with the United States. In their minds, they have the upper hand and see Biden’s victory as an opportunity to resolve their own problems in the Middle East, @sahebsadeghi writes. https://t.co/GsyllK02A7
— Foreign Policy (@ForeignPolicy) December 22, 2020
The Overnight Note 