SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:55 P.M. ET:

TODAY'S ACCUSED – FROM THE NEW YORK POST:   PBS has suspended late-night talk show “Tavis Smiley” amid misconduct allegations against its host and namesake.  “Effective today, PBS has indefinitely suspended distribution of ‘Tavis Smiley,’ produced by TS Media, an independent production company,” the public broadcaster said. “PBS engaged an outside law firm to conduct an investigation immediately after learning of troubling allegations regarding Mr. Smiley. This investigation included interviews with witnesses as well as with Mr. Smiley. The inquiry uncovered multiple, credible allegations of conduct that is inconsistent with the values and standards of PBS, and the totality of this information led to today’s decision.”  Sources close to the production told Variety that PBS hired attorney Sarah Taylor Wirtz of the firm MSK to oversee an investigation into Smiley’s behavior after receiving allegations of misconduct by Smiley, who hosts and produces the talk show. Wirtz declined Variety‘s request for comment. According to sources, MSK took reports from 10 witnesses, a mix of men and women of different races and employment levels in Smiley’s organization, most of them former staffers.  I love all these pompous statements about the "values of standards" of the company doing the firing, as if no one at that company had any idea of what was going on, probably for years.  Tune in tomorrow for tomorrow's accused person.  Who will it be?  And how many lawyers will profit?  Will women be helped?  Don't make me laugh.

MILESTONE – FROM THE LOCAL:  Norway on Wednesday completed its transition to digital radio, becoming the first country in the world to shut down national broadcasts of its FM radio network despite some grumblings.  As scheduled, the country's most northern regions and the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic switched to Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) in the late morning, said Digitalradio Norge (DRN) which groups Norway's public and commercial radio.  The transition, which began on January 11th, allows for better sound quality, a greater number of channels and more functions, all at a cost eight times lower than FM radio, according to authorities.   I'd be curious to know how this change will affect content.  It is often technological revolution, or evolution, that has an effect on what is seen and heard.  Consider the introduction of motion-picture sound, or cable television. I recall when hi-fi tuners used FM because it was the clearest form of radio.  It may soon be a backwater.

TAX CUT SCHEDULE – FROM AP:   The IRS says taxpayers could begin seeing less money withheld from their paychecks "as early as February" if Congress passes a Republican tax overhaul plan this month.
The agency says in a statement released Wednesday night that it "is continuing to closely monitor the pending legislation in Congress," and "taking the initial steps to prepare guidance on withholding for 2018."
The IRS says it expects to issue new withholding guidance in January reflecting the new legislation.
The bill would provide generous tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest Americans. Middle- and low-income families would get smaller tax cuts, though President Donald Trump and GOP leaders have billed the package as a huge benefit for the middle class.  Right now the tax bill polls poorly, probably because people don't have detailed information.  Once the cuts take effect, I'd imagine the polling numbers will change.

December 13,  2017