A RING LEADER

Trump announced that he has selected former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon to head his Small Business Administration. Among Trump's picks she is not even remotely the most scary, but she is gag worthy.

In a short and tragicomical interview former financial regulator Bill Black says Linda McMahon's career involved exploiting workers as independent contractors and sabotaging small businesses.

How the Small Business Administration Will Be Used to Destroy Regulations

(TheRealNews.com)

SHLOCK AND PALL

It's hard to focus since so many facets of our society are under attack. We are living in dark times indeed.

Here's a happy tid bit:

Get Ready for the First Shocks of Trump's Disaster Capitalism

(Naomi Klein @TheIntercept.com)

HEDGES ON NON-RUSSIAN HACKS

Allegations of Russian Hacking Cover Up a Larger Issue: Attacks on Independent Journalism

(RT news clip on Truthdig)

Hedges "On Contact" intelligence report program:

Real purpose of the intelligence report on Russian hacking with Abby Martin and Ben Norton

(RT.com show)

FLATLINE

Did Trump Kill ‘Liberal Democracy’?

(Mike Lofgren @ Consortiumnews.com)

Donald Trump’s victory has spurred commentary about the “death of liberal democracy,” but the seeds of that demise were planted in the 1980s amid elite orthodoxy in favor of neoliberal economics, argues Mike Lofgren.

DETECTING BULLSHIT

A potential college course on detecting and combating bullshit in all its forms

(Cory Doctorow @ BoingBoing.net)

Calling Bullshit: In the Age of Big Data

Disclaimer: Calling Bullshit has been developed by Carl Bergstrom and Jevin West to meet what we see as a major need in higher education nationwide. We will be proposing this course for future inclusion in the course catalog at the University of Washington. At present, however, Calling Bullshit is not an official course, nor is it otherwise endorsed by the University of Washington.

ANDREW BACEVICH

Tomgram: Andrew Bacevich, How We Got Here

The Age of Great Expectations and the Great Void 
History After “the End of History” 
By Andrew J. Bacevich

(TomDispatch.com)

REBECCA GORDON

Tomgram: Rebecca Gordon, The Best Defense

What Is a Country For? 
Fighting for the Good Life in Trumplandia 
By Rebecca Gordon

(TomDispatch.com)