TKC Merry Christmas News: Political Debate, Charity & Peace

Once again, we share the gift that keeps giving . . . Information, snark, fart jokes and FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTIONS GUARANTEED BY THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION that prove stronger than so many cowtown power players who only speak to incite their mob of acolytes. 

Things have changed and will continue to change on this blog.

But . . .

Today and most days we feel blessed to talk about Kansas City culture, life & politics with this crew of cantankerous yet loyal readers.  

And so, if nobody told you yet . . .

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Thanks for checking in with us . . . 

We might add a few more links throughout the day but the plan is to keep this post at the top of the blog until Monday.

Enjoy the clicks, a few hidden Easter eggs and your day via TKC news gathering . . . . . .

IT'S ALL JUST A BALANCING ACT!!!

Here are the best Kansas City rinks to go ice skating this winter

This story was first published in KCUR's Creative Adventure newsletter. You can sign up to receive stories like this in your inbox every Tuesday. Put some glide in your stride this winter at one of the many ice skating rinks across the Kansas City metro.

Paddy Shares Good Life With Fans

Patrick Mahomes outlines his Christmas plans

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City Chiefs are preparing for Christmas Day with a win under their belt . After the Chiefs beat the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday, quarterback Patrick Mahomes gave a little outlook on what his Christmas Day is going to be like.

Off-Season Moves Always

KC Royals Hot Stove News: What's this club doing?

As Christmas Eve Day eased into Christmas Eve, Kansas City sports fans were lucky their Chiefs provided a welcome winning reprieve from the comparative letdown that has become the KC Royals' winter. That the club hasn't moved heaven and earth to improve itself isn't shocking.

Show-Me Culture Shock

I moved from Missouri to Mass. - and it feels like I'm living in a different country

For national political pundits, 2022 will go down as a year that turned out alright for Democrats. But for me, the outcome was more complicated than that. In 2022, I moved from Missouri to Massachusetts. The balance of the U.S. Senate is one thing, but I see more in the post-election map than a final tally.

Kansas Fuels Comeback

Pipeline operator given green light to restart operations at site of Kansas oil spill

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The operator of the portion of the Keystone Pipeline that ruptured earlier this month in north-central Kansas has been given the green-light to resume operations. TC Energy, the operator of the Keystone Pipeline, recently submitted a restart application to the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration.

Show-Me Sportsmanship Dispute

Missouri teammates fight each other on field after Tigers player tries to help up opposing QB

Friday night's Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl got chippy - not between the opposing teams, but rather, teammates. Late in the second quarter, Missouri Tigers' Darius Robinson was called for a roughing the passer on Wake Forest's Sam Hartman.

Advice From Uzi Dude Offered

Frank Clark hopes to inspire his young Chiefs teammates

After three weeks of inconsistent play, the Kansas City Chiefs unwrapped a badly needed quality defensive performance in Christmas Eve's 24-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. The Chiefs held their opponent to only three points and less than 300 yards until late in the fourth quarter - when the outcome was essentially decided.

Angel ALWAYS In Fashion

Candice Swanepoel flaunts phenomenal figure in $170 Tropic of C bikini

Tropic of C founder/creative director Candice Swanepoel found a sexy way to promote the latest from her eco-conscious swimwear brand on Monday. The 34-year-old South African stunner - who boasts 19.7M social media followers - uploaded a bikini-clad TikTok of herself posing to Weezer's 2001 song Island In The Sun.

Warm Thoughts Amid Freezeout

A powerful winter storm claims at least 22 lives across the US as temperatures plunge, winds howl and power lines fall | CNN

More than 315,000 homes and businesses nationwide were without power Christmas Eve, thanks to an Arctic blast and winter storm that tore down power lines with destructive winds and heavy snow and dipped temperatures dangerously low -- conditions killing at least 22 people.

Party Time Confronts Doubt

Democrats fret as Biden tries to bolster re-election case touting legislative wins

WASHINGTON - As 2022 draws to a close, President Joe Biden plans to give an upbeat national address Thursday afternoon with a unifying message. The celebratory tone caps a season in which Biden promoted a slew of hard-won legislative successes.

GOP Prank Veep With New Friends For Christmastime

Washington, DC: Bus of migrants dropped off outside VP Kamala Harris's home

Three buses carrying migrants from Texas arrived in Washington, D.C. late Saturday evening, including one which dropped its passengers near the home of Vice President Kamala Harris. The U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) is the official residence of the Vice President of the United States and the Christmas Eve drop-off is the latest of several instances in which Texas Gov.

Obsession Cont'd For Christmas

Donald Trump's 'Merry Christmas' Message Is A Grievance-Filled Lump Of Coal

Donald Trump wished a "Merry Christmas" Saturday that wasn't so full of peace and goodwill ― but plenty full of himself. "Merry Christmas to EVERYONE, including the Radical Left Marxists that are trying to destroy our Country, the Federal Bureau of Investigation that is illegally coercing & paying Social and LameStream Media to push for a mentally disabled Democrat over the Brilliant, Clairvoyant, and USA LOVING Donald J.

MAGA SPOILER EMERGES!?!

Is Trump now forced to run third-party?

At a certain point, all decisions and election chances in politics come down to basic math. No matter how some consultants, pollsters or campaign managers may attempt to complicate the process to justify their fees or salaries paid by a candidate or company, it still comes down to this: Does the math finish on the "plus side" for him or her to run, and does it finish on the plus side for the candidate to win?

Round World Reminder

China's COVID-19 surge raises odds of new coronavirus variants

Could the COVID-19 surge in China unleash a new coronavirus mutant on the world? Scientists don't know but worry that might happen. It could be similar to Omicron variants circulating there now. It could be a combination of strains. Or something entirely different, they say.

Vlad Not Finished In Ukraine

Russia digs in for a long war

Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. Jamie Dettmer is opinion editor at POLITICO Europe. Visiting newly liberated Kherson back in November, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced, "this is the beginning of the end of the war."

Theocratic-Fascist Crackdown On Women Earns Global Rebuke

The Taliban have banned women from working for NGOs in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan - The Taliban government on Saturday ordered all foreign and domestic non-governmental groups in Afghanistan to suspend employing women, allegedly because some female employees didn't wear the Islamic headscarf correctly. They also separately banned women from attending religious classes at the mosques in the capital of Kabul.

The Year Funny Money Busted

These Crypto Founders And Bitcoin Moguls Lost $116 Billion In 2022

In January 2022, Sam Bankman-Fried was riding high. His Bahamas-based FTX had just raised $400 million from prominent venture capitalists at a $32 billion valuation. A few weeks later, when Forbes published its annual World's Billionaires list, SBF, as he's known, was crypto's second-wealthiest person, worth $24 billion.

Feast Fixings Prove Pricey

Food Inflation Might Cut Into Your Christmas Dinner

Inflation continues to pinch consumers' wallets, and heading into Christmas, food prices are running hot, with staples like eggs and flour up roughly 49% and 25% year-over-year through November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Overall, the cost of groceries was up 12% in November, compared to the same month last year, according to the BLS.

Holidays To Remember

The little-known - and sometimes shocking - stories behind the most beloved Christmas traditions

Brian Earl always loved Christmas and podcasts, but in 2016 he came up empty when looking for a combination of the two. Undeterred, Earl decided to start his own: "Christmas Past." In his accompanying new book "Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday Traditions" (Globe Pequot), Earl shares instructive stories about the Yuletide practices experienced "at the most wonderful time of the year."

Woke Broke Holidays Or Generosity Ignores Politics?!?

Charitable Giving In an Age of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

It's that time of year again. If you want a tax break for 2022, you have until December 31 to donate to your favorite 501(c)3s. In front of me as I type is a tall stack of snail-mail solicitations, mostly from causes I have judged worthy in the past, and emails are coming in now as well.

El Papa Confronts Power & Wealth With Plea For Peace

Pope Francis calls for end to 'senseless' war in Ukraine

Pope Francis has called for an "immediate end" to what he described as the "senseless war in Ukraine", in his annual Christmas Day message. Speaking in front of a large crowd in St Peter's Square at the Vatican, the Pope also condemned the use of "food as a weapon" of war.

Kansas City Singer Blesses Fans

Local Artist Casi Joy Brings The Holiday Spirit In-studio

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Country artist Casi Joy hits the Great Day KC stage with her new holiday tune, "The Tree and Me."

Newspaper Memories Today

A holiday card to Kansas City: The Star shares special sights and moments of season

With his bright red, double-breasted suit, matching fedora-style hat and a neatly trimmed salt-and-pepper beard, Tucker Lott is guaranteed one of the coolest Santas you'll ever meet. In some ways, the 72 year-old feels like the walking incarnation of James Brown's 1968 yuletide LP "Soulful Christmas" mixed with the best of Kansas City's holiday spirit.

Forecast For Now . . . 

Things slowly but surely warming up

Hide Transcript Show Transcript WITH THESE UPDATED NUMBERS. I STILL THINK EARLY IN THE DAY, WE WILL HAVE WIND CHILLS BELOW, IN THE TEENS BELOW ZERO. GETTING A LITTLE WARMER IN THE AFTERNOON WITH OUR HIGHEST IN THE TEENS, AND THE WIND CHILLS IN THE AFTERNOON FOR THE SUN GOES DOWN.

White Christmas by The Drifters animated by Joshua Held is our Sunday song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.