Hughey Newsome, Project 21 / Move-On-Up & Sam Sacks, The District Sentinel & Jennifer Kerns, Washington Times / The Blaze all join Thom Hartmann.

In tonight’s ‘Politics Panel,” Thom debates Hughey Newsome, National Advisory Council of the Project 21 Black Leadership Network,
Sam Sacks, Co-founder of The District Sentinel, and Jennifer Newsome, Contributor at the Washington Times and The Blaze on Fox’s attack on NY Mayor Bill de Blasio, gun control for the mentally ill, the New York Times calling for an investigation into Former Vice President Dick Cheney for torture, ‘stand your ground’ laws and the reopening of a trial in Texas, and the false witness and repercussions in the Michael Brown/Ferguson case.

Dr. Stephen Larsen, Stone Mountain Center / Center for Symbolic Studies. We're just days away from Christmas - which means that millions and millions of Americans are fully immersed in the Christmas spirit. But what are the real origins of this festive holiday? And why do we celebrate it by honoring a jolly fat man named Santa Claus?

Cecily McMillan, Occupy Activist / Justice for Cecily, joins Thom Hartmann. The federal government is suing New York City over conditions at Rikers Island prison. What’s going on at that prison - and what kind of reforms are needed there - and at prisons across America?