An Ignoble Experiment: The 7: Trump kicked off Maine’s primary ballot; Gypsy Rose Blanchard released; a surprise call from Dolly Parton; and more

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Good morning. It's Friday, Dec. 29, and we're going to try to learn how to sleep like a bear in the new year — apparently it's good for you. Now let's catch up.

Donald Trump was removed from the 2024 primary ballot in Maine.

Why? Because of his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack. Maine's secretary of state, a Democrat, made the decision yesterday, citing the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment.
The bigger picture: Maine is the second state after Colorado to disqualify Trump. Similar cases are being considered in other states — we're tracking them here.
What now? The Colorado case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court and Trump plans to appeal the Maine decision. Maine's and Colorado's primaries are on March 5.

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Nikki Haley is facing a backlash for her comments about the Civil War.

What's happening? Haley didn't mention slavery when asked this week about the cause of the war. Yesterday, following criticism, she said the Civil War was "about slavery."
Why it matters: Haley is the leading alternative to Trump in the Republican presidential race. Her remarks about the Civil War have rocked her campaign.

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The Justice Department warned it will sue Texas over a new immigration law.

What to know: The law, set to take effect in March, gives local police and judges the authority to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants, typically a federal power.
Zooming out: Immigration policy is a flash point in the 2024 elections, particularly in border states, as record numbers of migrants are crossing into the U.S. from Mexico.

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Gypsy Rose Blanchard was released from prison.

Who is she? A Missouri woman who said she persuaded her boyfriend to kill her abusive mother, who made her pretend for years that she was suffering from serious illnesses.
Yesterday: She was let out on parole eight years after her mother's killing, having served most of her 10-year sentence. Blanchard told The Post she regrets her mother's death.

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More states are deciding home buyers should know about flood risks.

Where? North Carolina, South Carolina, New York and New Jersey have adopted stricter rules this year for home sellers to disclose whether a property is at risk of flooding.
Expect more of this: Flood risks are surging across the country because of climate change. These rules will mean fewer buyers face catastrophic surprises.
In related news: Massive waves are pummeling the California coast this week.

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BlendJet is recalling almost 5 million blenders.

Why? Hundreds of injuries, including dozens of burns, have been attributed to broken metal blades and fires in the BlendJet 2 portable blender, U.S. regulators said yesterday.
What to do: Check your blender's serial number on the company's site to see if it's part of the recall. If so, BlendJet says it will send a free replacement.

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Dolly Parton surprised a terminally ill fan with a call.

It was his dream: LeGrand Gold wrote 11 goals on his bucket list when he found out his colon cancer was terminal. One was meeting Parton, one of his favorite artists.
The moment: Gold instantly recognized Parton's voice when she called last week. After an emotional chat, she sang him a personalized version of "I Will Always Love You."

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Before you go … get ready for New Year's Eve: Here are three menus to help you celebrate, even if you're having a cozy night at home. Plus: Pick your nudge word for 2024.

And finally … end your week by playing On the Record, The Post's quotable quiz. The weekend version is 10 questions, and you can risk all your points on a final bonus question. Ready to play? Click here. Or try our word game, Keyword.

You're all caught up. See you Monday.

Frances Moody here. I'm a regular copy editor of The 7, which explains why Newsprint shows Jamie as my top author for 2023. But I think he would have earned that spot anyway, because we grammarians at The Post love to read concise writing. Newsprint also reveals your reader type and most read topic. Click here to find out those and more.