memeorandum: Israel summons US ambassador as Netanyahu hits out at Obama (CNN)

7:45 AM ET, December 26, 2016

Top Items:

RNC Message Celebrating Christmas — WASHINGTON - Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus and Co-Chair Sharon Day released the following statement celebrating Christmas: — “Merry Christmas to all! Over two millennia ago, a new hope was born into the world …

Discussion: BizPac Review, Hullabaloo, Raw Story, The Resurgent, The Week, CNBC, Jezebel, AOL, CNN, Independent Journal Review and Mediaite

Tom Boggioni / Raw Story:

Internet ridicules Trump's narcissistic Christmas tweet: ‘No family, no warmth, just a tiny fist and a tree’ — President-elect Donald Trump extended Merry Christmas wishes to his Twitter followers on Sunday morning — with a proper Christmas tree emoji — only to have detractors notice it wasn't the warmest of greetings.

Discussion: alan.com

Rebecca Savransky / The Hill:

Social media erupts over GOP statement about ‘new King’ — A Christmas statement released Sunday by the Republican National Committee (RNC) drew outrage among opponents on Twitter who objected to talk of a “new King.” — “Over two millennia ago, a new hope was born into the world …

Discussion: Politico and RedState

David Mack / BuzzFeed: People Are Arguing About Whether Republicans Just Compared Trump To Jesus

Sydney Ember / New York Times:

Changes Coming to White House Press Room: Who, Where, When and How — With the naming of Sean Spicer as White House press secretary, Donald J. Trump has selected a Republican Party insider and communications veteran. — But that doesn't mean it will be business as usual for the press corps that covers the next administration.

Discussion: Instapundit

Lenny Bernstein / Washington Post:

Transition adviser's tweets add intrigue to Trump aide Jason Miller's sudden resignation — Twitter messages apparently posted by one of President-elect Donald Trump's aides have added some intrigue to the sudden resignation of Jason Miller, Trump's choice for communications director.

Discussion: The Resurgent and The Week

Alex Isenstadt / Politico:
Trump pick backs out of White House job after affair allegations

Discussion: Mediaite, Raw Story and New York Daily News, more at Mediagazer »

Harper Neidig / The Hill:
Trump aide Jason Miller backs out of White House job

Discussion: Townhall.com, Daily Mail and Mediaite, more at Mediagazer »

BBC:

Ex-Wham singer George Michael dies — The star, who launched his career with Wham in the 1980s and later continued his success as a solo performer, is said to have “passed away peacefully at home”. — Thames Valley Police said South Central Ambulance Service attended a property in Goring in Oxfordshire at 13:42 GMT.

Discussion: Fox News, The Guardian, The Gateway Pundit, Los Angeles Times, Independent Journal Review, The Verge, The Week, Mediaite, NPR, Mashable, Refinery29 and WREG-TV

Alex Matthews / Daily Mail:

BREAKING NEWS: George Michael dies peacefully at his home in Oxfordshire on Christmas Day, aged 53 — Wham! singer, 53, died at his home in Goring, Oxfordshire this afternoon, his publicist announced — Elton John has led the tributes to the star on social media and called him the ‘kindest, most generous soul’

Discussion: Jezebel

Philip Rucker / Washington Post:

Trump to inherit more than 100 court vacancies, plans to reshape judiciary — Donald Trump is set to inherit an uncommon number of vacancies in the federal courts in addition to the open Supreme Court seat, giving the president-elect a monumental opportunity to reshape the judiciary after taking office.

Discussion: Althouse, Princeton Election Consortium and New York Times

Josef Federman / Associated Press:

Israel: humbled Netanyahu places hopes in Trump — JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli government's furious reaction to the U.N. Security Council's adoption of a resolution opposing Jewish settlements in occupied territory underscores its fundamental and bitter dispute with the international community …

Discussion: Associated Press, John Hawkins' Right Wing News and TheBlaze

CNN:

Israel summons US ambassador as Netanyahu hits out at Obama — Jerusalem (CNN)Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned the US ambassador and launched a scathing attack Sunday on the Obama administration after its refusal to veto a UN Security Council resolution condemning Israel's settlements in the West Bank.

Discussion: USA Today, BizPac Review, The Economic Collapse, Washington Examiner, Post On Politics, Liberty Unyielding, The Daily Caller, NPR, The Hill and TheBlaze

Fox News:
Israel accuses Obama administration of helping craft, push UN censure

Discussion: TheBlaze

Jonathan D. Epstein / The Buffalo News:

Paladino's son rejects father's controversial comments — Even Carl Paladino's son wants to distance himself from the former New York Republican gubernatorial candidate's latest controversial remarks about President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. — In what appears to be a family split …

Discussion: 6

Mike Hayes / BuzzFeed:

The Obamas Successfully Beat A Live Action Escape Game On Vacation — Sounds like Malia was the MVP and they broke out with 12 seconds to spare. — President Obama and his daughters showed up unannounced at Breakout Waikiki, a live action escape room site, during their Hawaii vacation …

Discussion: KHON2, AOL and Independent Journal Review

BBC:

Russian military plane crashes in Black Sea, killing 92 — A Russian military plane with 92 people on board has crashed into the Black Sea, Russia's defence ministry says. — The plane disappeared from radar two minutes after taking off from Sochi at 05:25 (02:25 GMT), heading for Latakia in Syria.

Discussion: RT, NPR and Balloon Juice