SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:38 P.M. ET: 

THE LATEST TO FALL – FROM MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO:   ST. PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) is terminating its contracts with Garrison Keillor and his private media companies after recently learning of allegations of his inappropriate behavior with an individual who worked with him.  Last month, MPR was notified of the allegations which relate to Mr. Keillor's conduct while he was responsible for the production of A Prairie Home Companion (APHC). MPR President Jon McTaggart immediately informed the MPR Board Chair, and a special Board committee was appointed to provide oversight and ongoing counsel. In addition, MPR retained an outside law firm to conduct an independent investigation of the allegations. Based on what we currently know, there are no similar allegations involving other staff. The attorney leading the independent investigation has been conducting interviews and reviewing documents, and the investigation is still ongoing. We encourage anyone with additional information to call our confidential hotline 1-877-767-7781.  I've never been a fan of his, but I really would like to see some evidence, or evidence of a true investigation.  As he said, 50 years of work is destroyed by one announcement.  If guilty, he must be punished.  But I'm uneasy about these "executions" before the trial. 

PROGRESS ON TAXES – FROM THE HILL:   The Senate voted to begin debate on its tax cut bill Wednesday, edging Republicans closer to their first major legislative victory under President Trump as they seek to finish the chamber’s work on the measure by the end of the week.  Senators voted 52-48 to take up the House-passed legislation, which is being used as a vehicle for the Senate bill.  No Republicans voted against proceeding to debate, a huge accomplishment for GOP leaders who struggled earlier this year to corral their members around legislation to repeal and replace ObamaCare. No Democrats voted for the measure.  GOP Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Steve Daines (Mont.) and Jeff Flake (Ariz.) all said they would agree to start debate before it began, despite various worries about the legislation.   It is a flawed bill.  No one says it is perfect.  But it's better than what we have now, and if the middle class truly benefits, it will place our side in a much better position for the crucial 2018 midterms.  The Democratic failure to participate could well be a major campaign issue.

A MESS – FROM FOX:    Thousands of scheduled American Airlines flights are currently without pilots during the busiest travel season of the year.  The sudden shortage is being blamed on a glitch in the computer system that bids for pilots’ time off based on seniority, the Allied Pilots Association Union said. More than 15,000 flights from Dec. 17-31 have been affected, Reuters reported.  American Airlines is working quickly to solve the issue, which was created when a system malfunction showed that American had pilots scheduled for flights when it didn’t. "We are working through this to make sure we take care of our pilots and get our customers to where they need to go over the holidays," American spokesman Matt Miller said.  The solution is clear:  three by five cards.  Never fail.

November 29, 2017