An audio recording of Senator Mitch McConnell having a an opposition research meeting on his potential opponent Ashley Judd was published by Mother Jones. The meeting reveals McConnell and co-conspirators planning a nasty campaign against Judd including mental health smears. Further issues arose when the transcription seemed to indicate that McConnell may have been using government staff for campaign business, a violation of the law.

Now it seems the source of the leaked audio to Mother Jones has been identified as coming from a Kentucky based Super PAC, Progress Kentucky.

What was shaping up to be one of the most entertaining elections of 2014 is not going to happen. After seriously examining the possibility of challenging Sen. Mitch McConnell (R), Ashley Judd decided not to run.

One of the biggest signs that Ashley Judd is getting serious about challenging Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) next year is that it’s making some Democrats nervous. A few prominent local Democrats and national Democrats, including the Clintons, are working hard to find an alternative.

It is starting to look more and more likely that actress Ashley Judd will run against Mitch McConnell (R) for the Kentucky Senate seat next year. Democratic John Yarmuth, who represents Kentucky’s third congressional district, seems pretty convinced she will run and is laying the groundwork needed for a serious campaign.

With December 25th just on the other side of the coming weekend, I suppose it’s fair to ask (for those of you who celebrate the holiday): Do you have all of your Christmas shopping done yet?

Not so fast… are you sure? Have you forgotten any of our favorite Washington, DC, political figures who, although they might be doing much better than you or me financially, might really need a particular gift this holiday season?

Here’s a partial list that I came up with, based on the news of recent days