Friday's Final Word

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Everybody's tabbing for the weekend ...

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Free Beacon: Ninety-eight House Democrats on Friday voted against a resolution "denouncing the horrors of socialism" that came just hours before President Donald Trump met with socialist New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.

The resolution passed 285-98, with only 86 Democrats voting in favor. Two Democrats voted "present." No Republicans opposed the resolution.

The measure states that "Congress denounces socialism in all its forms, and opposes the implementation of socialist policies in the United States," characterizing socialism as an ideology that "necessitates a concentration of power that has, time and time again, collapsed into communist regimes, totalitarian rule, and brutal dictatorships."

Ed: One hundred House Democrats could not bring themselves to vote against socialism – an ideology responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of people in the past century, and the oppression of millions more to this day. That's nearly half of the Democrat caucus. Their party is now the Democratic Socialist Party, if not in name, then certainly in position. 

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Ed: Well ... fair point. 

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Mediaite: Just as Sir Isaac Newton said for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, when it comes to the media, for every case of “Mar-a-Lago Face” there is a case of “MS NOW Face.”

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If you spend more than 20 minutes a week watching the channel formerly known as MSNBC, you know what I’m talking about.

Thick-rimmed glasses, check. A haircut suitable for Wall Street or a D.C. think tank, check. A pensive glare that suggests “I know more about politics than you and President Donald Trump combined,” check.

Flip on MS NOW, and odds are, you’re going to see it staring right back at you.

Ed: This gave me a genuine laugh earlier today. More than one person sent it to me today, too. 

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Ed: Aaaaaand this was my second genuine laugh of the day. 

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USA Today: New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and President Donald Trump emerged from a White House meeting with nothing but good things to say about one another after trading weeks of campaign-season insults and warnings.

"It was a productive meeting focused on a place of shared admiration and love, which is New York City and the need to deliver affordability to New Yorkers," Mamdani said in the Oval Office after the first-ever face-to-face meeting between the democratic socialist political star and the MAGA president who has mused about deporting him.

“I think you’re going to have, hopefully, a really great mayor,” said Trump, who patted Mamdani on the arm at one point.

Ed: See below for my thoughts on Trump's strategy. Mamdani's was obvious: he needs to make himself look like someone prepared to govern. I don't think his tourist-in-the-Oval performance today quite fit that bill. 

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Ed: Why did Trump give Mamdani the buddy treatment? This gave Trump two opportunities. First off, he got to take the measure of Mamdani, and he got to do it from his own perch, at the apex of his official platform. Second, he made it clear who was the real star in this meeting, and used magnanimity to underscore it. I'd also say that Mamdani's prestige may rise, but not among the radicals. Remember what happened when Bill Maher went to the White House? I don't think the Democrat Socialists will appreciate Mamdani's gladhanding of Orange Man Bad. 

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Ed: Why are people continually surprised by this? Trump can and often does turn on a dime after meaningless praise statements such as these. 

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Politico: Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted co-conspirator of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, will refuse to answer questions in the House Oversight Committee’s probe into Epstein and the Justice Department’s handling of the case, Oversight Chair James Comer said.

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Maxwell’s legal team said she would invoke her Fifth Amendment rights if she sat with congressional investigators, the Kentucky Republican said in an interview. He also suggested it would be unlikely that his staff or lawmakers would sit down with Maxwell, who is in a federal prison camp in Texas, under the circumstances.

“Her lawyers have replied that she’s not going to answer any questions,” Comer said. “She’s only going to plead the Fifth. I mean, I could spend a bunch of taxpayer dollars to send staff and members down there, and if she’s going to plead the Fifth, I don’t know that that’s a good investment.”

Ed: Comer's right about this, but it's not very clear why he'd interview Maxwell at this point anyway. Given Maxwell's failed appeals, it's also not clear why she would take the Fifth either, unless she just doesn't want to cooperate further. She's unlikely to get prosecuted again, although it's still possible. One has to wonder whether she's just watching the Epstein files meltdown and prefers to let Congress tear each other apart. 

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Ed: That has been the strategy all year from the Democrats. That's the design of the Epstein Light Grenade. 

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Fox News:  A conservative pro-life influencer who went viral after being punched in the face during a street interview in New York City has filed a lawsuit against her alleged attacker.

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Savannah Craven Antao, pro-life activist and host of the YouTube channel "Her Patriot Voice," says she was conducting man on the street interviews for the organization Live Action on April 3 when she was repeatedly struck by Brianna J. Rivers, 30, of the Bronx.

According to the complaint, filed Nov. 18 in Bronx Supreme Court, Craven Antao went to the emergency room for stitches after the attack, incurring more than $3,000 in medical bills. Her attorneys at the Thomas More Society allege that Rivers has "knowingly, willfully and maliciously continued to mock [Savannah] and her views online in order to further inflict emotional distress."

Ed: I'd love to be on that jury. If you missed this story when it happened, click through to watch the video. Alvin Bragg's office screwed up the prosecution, supposedly by accident but almost certainly on purpose. This lawsuit is the only chance for justice Craven Antao will have. 

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Ed: In fairness, I know dozens of people in California who are Democrats who would be better choices than these two or any of the other declared candidates in the race. 

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NY Post: Dr. Jeffrey Epstein, the Long Island neurosurgeon who Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) suggested could be the notorious sex trafficker, told The Post Thursday about the masterstroke of revenge he could dish out on the loud-mouthed congresswoman who dragged his name through the mud. 

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“I think that I should contribute money to Jasmine Crockett and then let everybody know that she also took money from Jeffrey Epstein,” Epstein told The Post. 

Ed': I'd be totally on board with this except for the part where it sends money to Jasmine Crockett. That seems too extreme a risk. Otherwise, I'm glad that Dr. Epstein is able to keep his sense of humor. 

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The loyalty only goes one way. So do the standards being applied to Tucker’s critics. He says the most vile things about people who disagree with him daily, but calling out what he’s doing and the hate he is trying to normalize is labeled infighting somehow.

Ed: No good deed goes unpunished. Especially good deeds done for the unworthy. 

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Radar Online: Natalie Wood's mystery death may finally get a resolution, as her former husband, Robert Wagner, is said to be ready to reveal details of what truly happened that fateful night, RadarOnline.com can reveal. ...

According to sources, Wagner, now 95 years old, is staying out of the spotlight while "drowning in guilt" and dealing with a brutal health crisis. And while it looks like the Hollywood legend's days are numbered, it may be time to reveal his secrets finally.

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"It’s a tragedy, given he was quite the star in his day, but Natalie’s death is likely all anyone will ever remember Wagner for if he doesn’t clear the air," one insider said. "He will almost certainly make a deathbed confession."

Ed: It's Radar, so take this with a grain of salt ... a large grain. But stay tuned nonetheless. 

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