SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:55 P.M. ET:

ECONOMIC GROWTH – FROM REUTERS:  (Reuters) - A gauge of factory activity in the U.S. Upper Midwest improved to the strongest level in over three years in December, led by much stronger readings on new orders and production, according a private survey released on Friday.  Marquette University and the Institute for Supply Management-Milwaukee said their seasonally adjusted index on manufacturing in the Milwaukee region rose to 65.57 this month from 59.62 in November.  The December figure was the highest since November 2014 when it was 68.9.  A reading above 50 indicates regional factory activity is expanding.
The upbeat snapshot of upper Midwest business activity coincided with a jump in a similar measure for the Chicago area.  On Thursday, MNI Indicators and ISM-Chicago said their jointly developed Chicago Purchase Management Index rose to 67.6 in December, the highest since March 2011.  The Marquette University and Milwaukee ISM survey’s component on new orders, a proxy on future activity, increased to 88.33 from 66.46 last month, while its production gauge improved to 72.65 from 57.94.  Like Trump or not, his economic policies are starting to have effect.  The Dems are in denial.

NICE, HUH? – FROM PJ MEDIA:   An American-accented ISIS fighter who apparently lost a leg fighting with the terror group was featured in a new Islamic State video calling on Western supporters, including the disabled, to conduct knife or gun attacks.  The bearded jihadist is referred to by nom de guerre Abu Salih Al-Amriki, or the American, and is shown using crutches and attaching a prosthetic leg. In "Inside the Khilafah" video released by ISIS' official al-Hayat Media Center in English and Arabic, Abu Salih also calls for would-be terrorists to take advantage of gun availability in the United States.  He begins by telling wounded jihadists with "one leg or no legs" that they have "no excuse" to not strike the kuffar, or disbelievers. "To the brothers with limbs and no limbs, I challenge you to a race toward the gates of Jannah [paradise]," he said.  I guess that passes for athletic recreation.

TOUGH ON THE RUSSKIES – GOOD – FROM THE HILL:  Two senators scrapped a scheduled trip to Russia after Moscow canceled a visa for fellow Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), according to Politico. 
Shaheen planned to depart for Russia on Jan. 11 along with Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), all three of whom sit on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to meet with Russian government officials.  Johnson and Barrasso canceled the trip when the Kremlin denied Shaheen's visa without explanation.  Shaheen is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a tough critic of Russia, who backed a bill earlier this year that levied new sanctions against the country for its meddling in the 2016 election.  Some good bipartisan solidarity, but I remain amused by the Democrats' sudden concern about Russia.   

December 29, 2017