In this week's exciting episode of "Expect the unexpected", the Democrats pulled off a surprise victory in the special Senate election in Alabama, rejecting the embattled Republican firebrand Roy Moore and his regressive views.
With his anti-gay, anti-Muslim, anti-immigration, anti-abortion, pro-gun stance, the lifelong morality campaigner was still the favourite to win the election in the deeply conservative southern state, even after nine women alleged he sexually assaulted and harassed them in the 1970s, when he was in his 30s and they were in their teens.
But in a win for inclusiveness, moderation and women's rights, he lost.
The victory was driven by very strong turnout from African Americans, especially women, as well as Republicans who couldn't stomach his politics and either didn't vote, or did the unthinkable and voted for a Democrat.
The election had become a morality test for Americans, who were faced with the prospect of knowingly electing an accused sexual predator, even paedophile, to the Senate.
Those who voted against him did so in part out of pride in Alabama, a state with a high population of evangelical Christians which some other Americans accuse of being backward due to their old-school values.
But Alabamians were having none of it, voting Democrat in a swing of about 30 per cent compared to Donald Trump's presidential election victory in the state.
As the results began to consolidate on Tuesday night, Mr Moore's planned victory party became a wake, complete with mournful hymns sung live by various supporters.
Doug Jones is the first Alabamian Democrat elected to the Senate in 25 years.
We were there when Mr Moore rode his mare Sassy to the fire station at the small town of Gallant on election morning.
Asked what he would say to his accusers, he said the voters would decide, as would God.
The New York Daily News delivered a brutal front page after the news.
Ouch.
Speaking of horses, have you ever heard of horse Twitter? Me either.
Apparently, it's a thing, and it was full of chatter about Mr Moore and Sassy on Tuesday, and the judge's rough riding style.
I've been riding since I was six and I must agree.
Oh, and by the way, @horse_sassy also now has her own Twitter account.
In his surprisingly gracious first tweet following Doug Jones win, Mr Trump said something that rings true:
The last three words: It never ends.
Gotta admit it's feeling NeverEnding Story around here right now. Is it time for a holiday yet?
Alabamians largely didn't see the result as a reflection of Mr Trump's support in the state where he won with a 62 per cent majority last year.
However, he did endorse Mr Moore in a bid to retain the seat in the Senate and in that sense, it shows that he doesn't have godlike influence over his supporters.
That will give Democrats some confidence as we steam towards the 2018 midterms.
The loss is also a blow for Mr Trump's controversial and hardline former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, who campaigned on Mr Moore's behalf.
Inevitably, the more Trumpian-wing of the Republican Party will cast blame on Senate Leader Mitch McConnell for his role in the defeat.
However, those in the party who had concerns about Moore (and frequently the President himself) were breathing a sigh of relief.
On the practical side, the outcome will have broader impact on the President's ability to get things done with the Republican Senate majority now down to just one at 51 to 49.
It's also the biggest scalp in a year in which Democrats have struggled to mobilise the anti-Trump momentum in the electorate.
But, as we close in on the year's end, the victories for Democrats are adding up and the swings are in their favour.
Oh, by the way, would you believe that Roy Moore is still holding out and refusing to concede?
Overnight, he posted a video.
He said:
"Abortion, sodomy, and materialism have taken the place of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
Also…
Exhale. We've nearly made it to the end of 2017. Congratulations.
Donald Trump hasn't been President for even a year yet (I know, right?), but December is always a good chance to pause and reflect.
I don't think the ABC website has enough bandwidth to look back at the entire year in review (and my fingers would be bleeding typing it all out) but how about just the past couple of weeks?
These are the days of our lives in the Trump Show:
The Pocahontas comment
November 27
He calls Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren by a derogatory racial slur — Pocahontas — in front of Navajo code talkers.
The Tillerson tension
November 28
Reports that a plan is in the works to replace Secretary of State Rex Tillerson aren't categorically denied — again highlighting the strained relationship between the President and his top diplomat.
POTUS tweets that there should be a "Fake News Trophy" handed out to the cable network that gave him the worst coverage (FWIW, that's sans Fox).
The retweets
November 29
He retweets three unverified anti-Muslim videos shared by an extreme right-wing politician and riles the entire British Parliament, including Prime Minister Theresa May.
The North Korean barbs
November 30
He calls Kim Jong-un "Rocket Man" again after the rogue regime launched its most advanced ICBM yet.
The Flynn deal
December 1
His former national security adviser Mike Flynn strikes a plea deal with special prosecutor Robert Mueller.
The tax bill
December 2
The Senate passes the tax reform bill in the middle of the night and the President potentially incriminates himself when he tweets about what he knew about Mike Flynn's dismissal.
A lawyer for the President claims he wrote the tweet.
The tweet storm
December 3
The President goes on an almighty tweet-storm abusing the FBI, triggering the FBI Agents' Association to issue a statement defending its agents.
The Utah change
December 4
He reduces the size of the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah by 85 per cent, triggering legal action by various parties including the outdoor brand Patagonia.
The Israeli embassy leak
December 5
The White House leaks word that it'll officially move the Israeli Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel despite opposition from world leaders.
... then the announcement
December 6
The President officially announces that decision and hails it as delivery of a key campaign promise.
The Franken swipe
December 7
Democratic senator Al Franken announces his retirement from the Senate over sexual misconduct allegations (and takes a parting swipe at the President over the allegations from more than a dozen women against him).
The Moore rally
December 8
After saying he wouldn't campaign for Roy Moore in Alabama, the President holds a rally 20 miles from the Alabama border in Pensacola, Florida and encourages the attendees to vote for Mr Moore.
The Mississippi boycott
December 9
The President officially opens a new civil rights museum in Mississippi.
Civil rights leaders — including John Lewis — boycott the opening.
The accusers
December 10
US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley says the women accusing the President of sexual misconduct have the right to be heard.
The President demands Washington Post reporter Dave Weigel be fired over a misleading tweet (he apologises but isn't sacked).
The NYC attack
December 11
A foiled terror plot in New York City prompts the President to call for comprehensive immigration reform.
Three former Trump accusers re-join the national conversation about sexual assault by re-airing their allegations against the President.
The Gillibrand tweets
December 12
The President intimates that female Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand would trade sexual favours for campaign cash.
Later, Doug Jones wins a stunning victory in the Senate election in Alabama — the first Democrat to win an Alabama senate seat in 25 years.
The Apprentice departure
December 13
The President says he knew Roy Moore would lose all along and the former Apprentice in the White House, Omarosa Manigault, leaves under less than stellar circumstances.
So ... anyone got a horse I can borrow?
Mind you, these are just the highlights (or lowlights, I guess, it depends how you look it at it) of the last fortnight.
There are several other things that happened during that time.
It's been by no means the craziest period of the Trump Administration but, after almost a year, I think it's time to shelve those expectations that Trump would grow into the role of Commander in Chief and things would quieten down.
(I'm talking to you foreign desk.)
Next week, we'll have a bumper Christmas wrap of the year before we take a few weeks off. Almost there.
