Judge gets frank with Flynn: 'You sold your country out'

President Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn arrives for his sentencing at the U.S. District Court in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018.
President Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn arrives for his sentencing at the U.S. District Court in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018.

Welcome to Tuesday's Short List. If you're a fan of nunchucks, today was most definitely your day. More on that and todays' top news below.

But first: Penny Marshall, the Laverne of "Laverne & Shirley" and director of "A League of Their Own," has died at 75.

No sentencing yet for Flynn. Only heated words

A federal judge on Tuesday pushed back sentencing for Michael Flynn but had a question for prosecutors: Did the former national security adviser's actions amount to treason? “Arguably, you sold your country out,” Judge Emmet Sullivan told Flynn. “I'm not hiding my disgust, my disdain.” (Prosecutors, answering the judge's question, said they hadn't brought such charges.) Sullivan set a status report in March, warning Flynn he may sentence him to "a term of incarceration" — up to five years — for lying to the FBI about Russia contacts.

President Donald Trump sent well wishes to his old adviser: "Good luck today," Trump tweeted, adding, "There was no Collusion!"

Speaking of Trump, his namesake charity folded Tuesday: The Trump Foundation agreed to shut down under pressure from New York's attorney general, whose lawsuit claims Trump illegally used charity funds on himself and his presidential campaign.

Real quick:

A meteorologist's suicide put the spotlight on Lasik

A month before she took her life last week, a Detroit meteorologist shared her struggles with dry eyes and blurred vision following a Lasik-type eye surgery in October. "I do still need all the prayers and the well-wishes because it’s a hard go," Jessica Starr, 35, of Fox 2 Detroit said on Facebook. The role of those complications in Starr's death – if any – remains unclear, but reports cite nearly a dozen Lasik patients who ended their lives over unbearable pain and vision impairments following such procedures. Still, more than 95 percent of all the participants were satisfied with their vision after Lasik.

Those struggling with suicidal thoughts can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) any time, day or night, or chat online.

A new type of hate criminal

Their targets covered the waterfront of hate — Jews. African Americans. Women. Political opponents. In the days before midterm elections, four men reached a point in life where they turned toward violence, and each experienced an incident that apparently gave them the final push. A USA TODAY Network investigation examines this new type of hate criminal, and why they are more ideological, committed and violent than before.

Clockwise from top left, Gregory Bush, Cesar Sayoc, Robert Bowers and Scott Beierle
Clockwise from top left, Gregory Bush, Cesar Sayoc, Robert Bowers and Scott Beierle

Deck the halls with ... angel dragons?

Not everyone is singing "fa la la la la" about this year's decking of the halls. In Louisiana, Diana Rowland's inflatable dragon decorations were deemed "totally inappropriate" by an apparent neighbor, who also accused her of belonging to a "demonic cult." In New Jersey, lots of Holland Tunnel drivers were peeved by the awkward placement of wreaths on the sign over its New York City-bound entrance. But lo! The holiday spirit prevailed: Rowland put halos on her dragons' heads and added two red-and-green, gift-bearing holiday dragons, while the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey rejiggered the offending wreaths for better curb appeal. 'Tis the season to be jolly.

Diana Rowland shared this photo of her dragon display after she received a note from a neighbor calling it "demonic."
Diana Rowland shared this photo of her dragon display after she received a note from a neighbor calling it "demonic."

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Judge gets frank with Flynn: 'You sold your country out'