Random Monday Morning Thoughts

Baylor and TCU, both 11-1, were left out of the college football playoffs.

---

• Overnight: It occurred during a traffic stop.
  

  

  
  
  
  
• We have new photos of the United Healthcare killer, and I cannot believe he has not been identified yet. 
  
  
  
  

  

  
  
  
  
• Throw in the confusing fact that his backpack was found in Central Park and it contained Monopoly money. 
  
  
  
• Legal nerdy but in the news: The trial of the guy for choking an unruly/threatening guy on the New York Subway went to the jury late last week, and we had a surprising legal maneuver on Friday.  The jury was deadlocked on the charge and, instead of the judge declaring a mistrial (like we do in Texas), the State dismissed that charge and convinced the judge to allow the jury to continue to deliberate on the lesser included offense. (Honestly, I don't know of a case in Texas where the State tried the dismissal trick. Normally the jury can't move on to the lesser charge unless they unanimously agree on an acquittal of the greater.)
  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• If I'm reading the Wise County records correctly, this guy was sentenced 28 years last week in a plea bargained case. Cause number CR24263.
  
  
  
• The Paradise Panthers are headed to the semi-finals for the first time after defeating Shallowater.  Here's video of their first touchdown which was the result of a great mad scramble with a throw two receivers in the same area.
  
  
  
• Friday.
  
  
   
  
  
  
• The MAGA Republicans and the Normal Republicans were fighting all weekend over who the next Texas House Speaker will be. 
  
  
  
• I'm sure that it was high on God's priority list. 
  
  
  
• The Syrian government was toppled by rebels over the weekend which is good but also means that it'll be chaos there for the next few years.
  
  
  
• Trump:
• Another incredible grift: $199 perfume.
  
  
  
• Interview which aired yesterday: Trump telling us he will sick the FBI on this political enemies. Well, you know, he's not going to "direct" them to do it although his new handpicked FBI director will "have to." Video. This should scare us all to death, but the masses will just shrug.
  
  
  
• Interview yesterday #2: He still doesn't understand tariffs. Video.
  
  
  
• He has named his new Hope Hicks replacement: One of his very bad lawyers.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Congrats to SMU for edging out Alabama for the last playoff spot.  But, by the time ESPN got around to slowly rolling out the 12 team playoff reveal, one reputable reporter had, for the first time, leaked the committee's selection. (He was laid off from ESPN in 2017.)
  
  
  
• Not for everyone, but I loved it: Dick Van Dyke in a touching music video with the lead singer of Coldplay. (Director's cut) 
• The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas got mad at the Dallas Morning News for their meth cover story and series.