Economic civil war

Democratic-leaning states hit by the tax overhaul are moving to blunt what New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called a Republican “economic civil war.” He promised to sue the federal government and change the state’s tax code to shelter residents from new limits on key deductions. California legislators plan to introduce a bill this week that would allow residents there to donate to a state entity called the California Excellence Fund instead of paying taxes— a move intended to sidestep the new federal cap.

If you thought last week was cold, you’re in for a chilling surprise. The storm that’s currently burying the Northeast has a parting gift for everyone planning to shovel out their car tomorrow. Frigid air sucked down from the Arctic will create conditions that could make it feel as cold as 30 degrees below zero across parts of the region. Records, forecasters say, will be broken.

Usually, the federal government and the states are on the same page when it comes to criminal laws. When they’re not, things can get messy. In the case of marijuana, more than two dozen states and the District of Columbia say it’s legal in some respect while Washington says it’s not. The Obama administration limited federal prosecutions in states where the pot industry is flourishing, but no more, says Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Legislators howled and pot stocks plunged.

West Wing staffers may head for the parking lot to call home. The White House said it’s banning some employees from using personal phones at work, overruling concerns among some that they’ll be cut off from children, relatives, and maybe even irate baby sitters. White House Chief of Staff John Kelly imposed the ban, citing security concerns, though President Donald Trump has repeatedly complained about press leaks since taking office.

Santa didn’t deliver as many guns this year. A strong Black Friday and Republican control of both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue spelled bad news for the gun industry as sales remained sluggish last month. Usually their hottest time, December was a depressing coda for firearms manufacturers when compared with the previous December.

Mark Zuckerberg wants to fix Facebook. The CEO pledged to stop the spread of hate speech and fake news that's bedeviled his social network. He vowed to take a comprehensive look at Facebook’s role in society, recruiting experts and devoting his own time to closely study issues that he said “touch on questions of history, civics, political philosophy, media, government, and of course technology.”

Alfa Romeo, the Italian brand built on 1960s sex appeal, posted the biggest surge in U.S. sales last year, an anachronistic result in an industry mesmerized by battery packs and self-piloted transportation pods. The carmaker won its bragging rights the old-fashioned way—through performance. Alfas have curb appeal, powerful engines, and solid engineering. Apparently, that goes over well in the states.