CHANGE? Reports of Disney’s Death Are (Not?) an Exaggeration. “As Disney’s two-time CEO Bob Iger prepares to host the company’s annual town hall on Tuesday to provide ‘hints or guidance for what the next phase of ‘building’ will bring after the problem-solving phase,’ it’s time to ask if Iger is able “to ‘quiet things down’ after years of culture wars.'”

UN OUT OF THE US. US OUT OF THE UN:  UN Set To Amplify War On Meat At Upcoming COP28 Climate Conference.

NATE SILVER: The McDonald’s theory of why everyone thinks the economy sucks.

I wonder how often Jeff Stein and Taylor Lorenz — the authors of a recent Washington Post story on customer perceptions about the economy — eat from chains like McDonald’s and Taco Bell. I’m guessing it’s not very much. Because despite their attempt to frame consumer perceptions about high fast-food prices as “misinformation”, it’s in fact a category where there’s been a big increase in how much consumers are spending, and one that tells us a lot about why Americans are unhappy with the economy overall.

Well, Taylor Lorenz. But read the whole thing, which is quite interesting. Another excerpt:

Inflation — the price of a fixed basket of goods — increased a lot during this period: by 16 percent. But consumption increased by considerably more than that: by 25 percent. That’s right. From December 2020 through June 2023, Americans’ financial outlays increased by 25 percent. It’s not just that the fixed basket of goods was getting more expensive — they’re also putting more in their baskets.3

Now, it’s also true that consumption generally increases at a faster rate than inflation — as Americans get wealthier, they have more money to spend in real dollars. However, over the past few years, between higher prices for the same goods, clever strategies to get you to spend more, algorithmically-driven price discrimination, and pandemic-driven changes in spending habits — for instance, people who work from home are paying more for housing — Americans are really draining their batteries to zero. Here is the personal savings rate, which is now hovering at about 3 percent — about as low as it’s ever been save for a similar stretch just before the financial crisis.

I think people know more about how they’re doing than WaPo writers earning six figures.

YOU SHOULD ALWAYS QUESTION CALIPHATE NUMBERS:  Report: Biden Apologized to Muslim-American Leaders for Questioning Death Tolls Given by Hamas.

THIS IS NO TIME TO SHRUG:  Shouldering It Up.

WELL, IF YOU FAKE THEM IN THE MACHINE, IT’S MUCH FASTER. IN 2020 THEY WERE CAUGHT SHORT:  Election Officials Plan Ways to Count Votes Faster in 2024.

ALL THOSE MYSTERIES NEED ARRESTING!  Report: ‘Mysterious’ Entities Giving Migrants GPS Coordinates to Unsecure Locations on Southern Border.

YOU ONLY THINK YOU HATE THE MSM ENOUGH!  Here’s How NYT Covered This ‘Disfigured Woman’ Who Was One of Palestinians Released From Jail.

THE UN HAS LONG AGO PROVEN THAT IT’S AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS NEVER SERVED ITS PURPOSE:  UN seeks to undermine basic freedom of speech.

In fact, it exists to enable and facilitate dictatorship and abuse.

Meanwhile, Tilting At Windmills is running a cyber Monday sale.

YOU’RE TAP-DANCING ON ALREADY THIN ICE THERE, TARGET:  Target caught skipping discounts in ‘Black Friday deals’: ‘It’s the same, I don’t get it’.

IN HIS DEFENSE, BIDEN AND OBAMA SUFFER THE SAME CONFUSION:  Trump says he’s not ‘impaired’ after seemingly confusing Obama and Biden at campaign stops.

Also, did he transpose them, or was he making a point?

WHAT ARE THEY TEACHING AT THAT SCHOOL?  4 students arrested at Hillcrest HS for allegedly assaulting school safety agents a week before mob targeted pro-Israel teacher.

THIS SHOULDN’T HAVE EVEN COME UP FOR A VOTE:   Largest US journalist union rejects bid by progressive faction to demand cease-fire in Gaza war.

THANK YOU FOR NOT KILLING US LIKE YOU DID OUR FAMILIES:  ‘Journalist’ slammed online for claiming hostage released by Hamas showed ‘appreciation and thanks’ to terrorists.

“I’m not a facial expression expert, but judging by the look in her eyes and the expression on her ace, I’d say this is a look of appreciation and thanks,” Campbell posted Sunday.

CHASER:  Abigail Edan, 4-year-old hostage orphaned by Hamas, shares joyful reunion with family.

AS IF WE NEED TO HEAR THEM INSIST THAT ISRAEL IS TO BLAME FOR PUSHING PALESTINIANS TO SHOOT THEMSELVES IN THE FOOT:  ‘Squad’ silent after anti-Israel group points finger at Palestinians in Gaza hospital blast.

GOOD – NOW LET’S SEE YOUR SOROS-SPONSORED DA PROSECUTE THEM:  Two women arrested in NYC attack on Jewish victim who confronted them for tearing down hostage posters: cops.

ATTACKS ON JEWS ALL OVER AMERICA, and Merrick Garland is warning about right wing “extremists.”

MORE ANTISEMITIC VIOLENCE IN THE BIDEN ERA: Two women arrested in NYC attack on Jewish victim who confronted them for tearing down hostage posters: cops.

AT AMAZON, Cyber Monday Deals.

OPEN THREAD: Make this Monday special.

OLD AND BUSTED: Stevie Wonder’s Journey Through “The Secret Life of Plants.”

The New Hotness? Stevie Wonder’s Journey Through The Secret Life of Vegetables: The WH Briefing When April Ryan Tried to Get a Meeting Between Biden and Stevie Wonder.

TheGrio’s April Ryan to KJP: “I had an in-depth conversation w/Stevie Wonder last night who is —[REPORTERS LAUGH]–AGAIN, IT’S A SERIOUS QUESTION — I had an in-depth conversation w/Stevie Wonder last night, who is…requesting a meeting w/the President. He’s very concerned about the black agenda falling along the wayside and issues like laws of 50 years ago that are now being abolished or gutted, to include issues like the Voting Rights Act, what happened in Arkansas last wk, affirmative action — Supreme Court — as we’ve seen it, ban on books, and he’s also even brought up issues of the Congo and the lack of information from the WH. Is the WH amenable to sitting down with Stevie Wonder who has met with presidents, um throughout history to include Ronald Reagan? He was one of the major impetuses for getting the holiday for Dr Martin Luther King Jr and also he was one of those who worked with President Obama in his efforts to become President. Is this President amenable to meeting with Stevie Wonder who has these concerns?”

* * * * * * * *

Even April Ryan’s colleagues don’t take her seriously anymore. Shouldn’t someone demand a picture of her and Wonder together during their “in-depth discussion?” If it’s good for a pie, it should be good for a music legend, too. Ryan is supposed to be a reporter, not a personal assistant.

Well, she’s been failing as a reporter for years;  perhaps she’ll have better luck as Wonder’s PA.

THE NEW SPACE RACE: China makes progress on Raptor-like engines for super heavy rocket.

‘NOW AND THEN:’ How the Beatles Created Magic on Their New ‘Red’ and ‘Blue’ Albums, Via a Little MAL-ware.

A deep dive into the Beatles’ “last” single and their reworked new greatest hits album, over at Ed Driscoll.com.

GREAT MOMENTS IN CANCEL CULTURE: Deadspin Tried to Destroy a Kid for Wearing ‘Blackface,’ Then the Real Story Came Out.

If you are one of the last people on earth who still requires proof that the press is full of objectively evil people, I come bearing gifts.

The story starts with a young Kansas City Chiefs fan. I don’t know what his name is, and I wouldn’t share it if I did because it’s irrelevant. What’s relevant is that the sports and political commentary site Deadspin decided they needed to destroy him.

What was the grave injustice that was perpetrated? According to Carron J. Phillips, who wrote the piece, the kid was seen wearing “blackface.” I’d highly encourage you not to click the following link lest you reward the writer’s tactics, but I’ll provide it nonetheless.

Here’s the “blackface” in question:

Naturally of course, having this pointed out to him, Phillips has doubled down on his attempt to destroy a preteen NFL fan:

“For those pointing out that my argument was stupid, rest assured that I am capable of making an even more stupid one if pushed.” https://t.co/aQLmGE3LX2

— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) November 27, 2023

DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HISTORY: Cringe: Biden Official’s Attempt to Channel Ronald Reagan Goes Stupendously Wrong.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona:

"I think it was President Reagan who said, 'We're from the government. We're here to help!'"

Here's the actual quote:

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help." pic.twitter.com/Hgxpt2Xdoh

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) November 27, 2023

As another man on the government payroll might have said, “Missed it by that much!”