Welcome to a new week! Here are the topics for today’s independent commentary:

• ABC News & Trump
• TWW Christmas Party
• Montana State Bobcats
• One More Thing

ABC NEWS & TRUMP:

On Saturday, the Associated Press (AP) reported that ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million toward Donald Trump’s presidential library to settle a defamation lawsuit over anchor George Stephanopoulos’ inaccurate on-air assertion that the president-elect had been found civilly liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll. 

The AP also reported as part of the settlement made public Saturday, ABC News posted an editor’s note to its website expressing regret over Stephanopoulos’ statements during a March 10 segment on his “This Week” program. The network will also pay $1 million in legal fees to the law firm of Trump’s attorney, Alejandro Brito.

According to the AP article, the lawsuit stemmed from a live “This Week” interview with Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., Stephanopoulos wrongly claimed that Trump had been “found liable for rape” and “defaming the victim of that rape.” Neither verdict involved a finding of rape as defined under New York law. 

Trump was found liable last year of sexually abusing and defaming Carroll.

The MAGAs now have another excuse not to do interviews with “legacy” or “old media.”

TWW CHRISTMAS PARTY: 

The staff of The Western Word (TWW) held our annual Christmas Party Friday night. We do celebrate Christmas here, but since the staff consists of one person (me), it was a short celebration.

In honor of outgoing U.S. Senator Jon Tester, vodka cranberry was served. (Source)

Happy holidays and/or Merry Christmas (whatever floats your boat) and thank you for reading and subscribing to TWW.

MONTANA STATE BOBCATS:

The Montana State Bobcats whipped the Idaho Vandals 52-19 in the FCS Football quarterfinals. The Bobcats are 14-0.

In the semifinals, the Bobcats will host the South Dakota Coyotes (11-2). The game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday (Montana time). It will be televised on ABC. 

In the other semifinal, South Dakota State (12-2) visits North Dakota State (12-2). 

The FCS Championship is on Monday, January 6 in Frisco, Texas. (Source)

ONE MORE THING:

There are actually two things – There are two Monday Night Football games tonight. It’s the Bears at Vikings (ABC) at 6:00 p.m. and 30 minutes later, the Falcons at the Raiders (ESPN). 

Is this a great country or what?

## HAVE A GREAT WEEK ##