As you might expect, we”re going to wrap up blogging early today since I am sure readership is low, and like me, many readers have seasonal events to attend. So that means Lunch Buffet followed by a bit more pre-Christmas stuffing before we hang it up. I should note now that in the few weekdays after Christmas I plan to do some serious review-of-the-year material, which I hope, among other things, will encourage those of you who have not done so already to make a donation to the Washington Monthly in whatever amount you can afford. Thank you!

And now here are some midday news/views snacks on a red-and-green plate:

* First legal challenge to Obama’s executive action on immigration dismissed by federal judge.

* Final report of House Government Oversight Committee on IRS “scandal” finds no evidence of White House involvement.

* Jeb Busb emails from his governorship go public; no bombshells of note.

* Peter Beinart calls Marco Rubio’s unregenerate Cold War views a matter of “filial piety.”

* TNR’s Rebecca Leber discusses what Obama needs to do to keep environmentalists as happy with him as they are right now.

And in non-political news:

* Updates on Christmas Eve storms: some crazy weather.

As we break for lunch, here’s another Christmas Eve favorite: Emmylou Harris performing “Light of the Stable.” I bought this album for my late mother back when it first came out in 1979. Still love it.

YouTube video

Our ideas can save democracy... But we need your help! Donate Now!

Ed Kilgore is a political columnist for New York and managing editor at the Democratic Strategist website. He was a contributing writer at the Washington Monthly from January 2012 until November 2015, and was the principal contributor to the Political Animal blog.