Listener Jonas called in to the Majority Report today asking Sam, Emma, and Matt for book recommendations on the history of Palestine. These were their answers.

MR Live 12/12/25 | CASUAL FRIDAY w/ Will Sommer

Palestinians in Gaza are dying as the Israeli siege turns harsh winter weather deadly | Severe weather conditions in Gaza have claimed the lives of 13 people, incl. babies who froze to death, as Israel continues to block aid that could provide shelter to 1.5m Palestinians living in worn-out tents.

Programs to feed seniors, help child abuse victims face setbacks after Michigan Republicans halt grant money | "The Republican-controlled House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday voted to disapprove $645 million in continued funding for numerous items and grants."

Progressive Launches Primary Challenge to Democrat Who Once Got $2M From AIPAC | AIPAC spent $2 million to oppose progressive Nida Allam from being elected in North Carolina in 2022.

Tampa Bay Times: "DeSantis admin diverted child welfare and medical funds for consultants, ads: During the fight to defeat Amendments 3 and 4 last year, Gov. DeSantis’ administration spent at least $36.2 million in taxpayer funds."

Trump’s attacks on Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act bring suffering in Coal Country | "The IRA was the largest investment in Appalachia since the 1960s. […] The people helped the most by the IRA were sometimes among those who believed [Trump's] false promises and voted to re-elect Trump."

ICC Judges 'Wiped Out Economically and Socially' by US Sanctions—But Remain Resolute | “In my country, I prosecuted terrorists and drug lords,” said Judge Luz Ibáñez Carranza of Peru. “I will continue my work.”

Five Palestine Action prisoners taken to hospital as hunger strike continues

NYT Editors Gaslight Readers Over Paper’s Gaza Bias | FAIR

Capitalist Individualism Is Killing Us

Israel approves 19 new West Bank settlements in major annexation push | Palestinian officials warn Israel’s new settlement plan accelerates annexation and deepens violence across the occupied West Bank.

Where is Michael Picard / Professional Douche?

The Hague Group’s Insurgent Multilateralism | The US claims to uphold rules-based global order while letting Israel commit brutal crimes with impunity. Into that breach has stepped a coalition of states, the Hague Group, willing to act on the basic principles of morality abandoned by the old system.

An ancient Palestinian town in the West Bank may soon no longer exist - because Israel plans on stealing it | The town of Sebastia is a testament to 5,000 years of Palestinian history. Israel announced that it plans to seize the village and its archaeological sites.

U.S. Veterans Affairs agency plans as many as 35,000 health-care job cuts this month, Washington Post reports | "[WaPo] said a Veterans Affairs [spokesman] confirmed the job cuts for [about 26,400] unfilled positions… which he described as 'mostly COVID-era roles that are no longer necessary'"

How Democrats Lost the White House – Autopsy: How Democrats Lost the White House (by RootsAction)

Israel and Its Leaders Are Still on Trial for Genocide | Western states would like to move on as if the Gaza genocide never happened, even though Israel is still terrorizing the Palestinian people. But the legal cases holding Israel accountable are going ahead despite their best efforts.

Sam shoutout on 'Smartless' podcast (Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett)

Autopsy Says Corporate Capture, Support for Genocide Were Key Factors in Democrats' 2024 Disaster | “Harris and the Democratic Party leadership prioritized the agendas of corporate donors and gambled on a centrist path, while largely abandoning working-class, young, and progressive voters.”

'Stop Arming Israel,' Jewish-Led Groups Tell DNC Leaders at Party Summit | “The American public is demanding decisive action to end US complicity in the Israeli government’s war crimes by stopping the flow of weapons to Israel.”

Twitch Emotes I made, usually seen tiny and illegible, in all their glory

Regarding the "shabbat shalom" Kirk thing form today's episode

Found a freaky MR listener

NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani releases list of 100 elected allies for an advisory committee