Flotsam and Jetsam - The Beat Goes On

But not much stands out, mostly a continuation of the previous week's Be, the insurrection in Minneapolis, Epstein recriminations, Zohran sends the homeless blankets with his name on them, but fails to provide shelter. Stuff like that.

Matt Lamb at LI, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Asks Police to Surveil ICE, Report Them For Prosecution, "Johnson wants Chicago’s police officers to focus their attention on documenting alleged crimes by ICE agents." From Twitchy, Anti-ICE Protesters in Minneapolis Blocking Roads, Checking IDs, and Running Plates. Insty says IT’S AN INSURRECTION, AND AN INSURGENCY, AND IT’S FOREIGN-FUNDED AND ORGANIZED: Junto @ReadJunto, "Julio Rosas has spent years documenting left-wing riots. "What I’ve witnessed over the past five years is the emergence of something else entirely: networked, coordinated, ideologically committed groups that operate more like cells than citizens."" Breaking911 @Breaking911, "THEY DID WHAT? Minnesotans reenacted Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima in protest of ICE." John Lucas at Bravo Blue says To the Individual ICE Agents on the Front Lines, "Thank You for Your Service." "The attacks on Border Patrol and ICE agents copy and expand on the abuse heaped on Vietnam veterans. And we owe them a "thank-you" for their service." PJM's Stephen Kruiser notes Dems Are So Lunatic That Conservatives Root for the Feds Now. Sunny @sunnyright, "Fetterman's entire thing is to say "hey can you maybe be progressive without being a fucking psychopath?" and much of his party say that no, they can't," Quote KOKH FOX 25 @OKCFOX, "Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman said over the weekend that anti-ICE protesters should not dox federal agents. https://bit.ly/45GjD83" From Ace, Minnesota CEOs Request ‘De-Escalation’ of Federal Immigration Law Enforcement; Perhaps Federal Laws that Protect Minnesota Corporations Should Also Not Be Enforced. VodkaPundit at Insty, COME SEE THE BIGOTRY INHERENT IN THE LEFTISM: Secular Talk (KyleKulinskiShow@bsky.social) @KyleKulinski, "So Alex Pretti got killed by a Hispanic guy desperately trying to be white and the world’s most obvious closet case." Queer bashing made cool again! and SAY ANYTHING: Cam at BA sees Anti-Gunners Try a New Narrative Around Pretti Shooting. Wilfred Reilly @wil_da_beast630, "This is the Anaheim PD and LA County Sheriff's Department arresting a car-jacker. The claim below is quite literally just made up." Quote Jesus Freakin Congress @TheJFreakinC, " BREAKING: ICE/Border Patrol are now pistol-whipping 16-year-olds and smashing their heads into the curb. In the video, an agent illegally tries to detain an unaccompanied minor, in Long Beach, California. The child has his hands in the air. An agent runs up and hits him in the head with a pistol. Then two agents tackle him and force his head down against the curb. After the child is already on the ground, pinned by two armed adults, another agent brings out a K9, for what reason exactly? . . " Readers added context. "The clip shows Anaheim Police Department officers apprehending a teen suspect trying to evade arrest for robbing a jewelry store. Anaheim PD said it will launch an internal use-of-force investigation into the incident. No ICE or other federal immigration agents were involved." Reuters rejoices as Trump administration sued over pause on immigrant visa processing.

Despite the hullabaloo, Dave Strom at Hat Hair finds Polling Brutal for Democrats on Immigration Enforcement According A-Rated Pollster. So are Democrats fooling themselves into thinking this is all helping their cause? Beege Welborn at Hat Hair notices ABC News Aired a Soppy Love Letter to Minneapolis Man Last Night. You know, the illegal alien who abandoned his 5 yr old son when approached by ICE. Rep Andy Biggs @RepAndyBiggsAZ, "ICE cared for Liam Ramos when his criminal illegal alien father abandoned him to flee the police. Congressman Crow knows this, but it doesn’t fit the Left’s agenda. Democrats perpetuate lies when their narrative falls apart." Quote Rep. Jason Crow @RepJasonCrow, "Trump said ICE would go after the "worst of the worst." Liam Ramos is five-years-old. He's a child, not a criminal." Regarding Liam's loving dad, Cathy Salgado at PJM, Judge Ordered Illegal Alien Criminal Released on a Date That Doesn't Exist, Feb 31. |With a judicial finger in the constitutional dike, It is so ORDERED.SIGNED this 31st day of February, 2026. FRED BIERYUNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE" Trump officials should abide by that request. They should release him the next time Feb. 31 rolls around. 

From Fox, Conservative group blasts LinkedIn for removing pro-ICE post, labeling it 'hateful,' "LinkedIn says the post was 'removed in error' and 'quickly corrected.'" John Hinderacker at Power Line details The Havoc Wrought By Illegal Aliens "Tennessee has a little over two percent of the U.S. population, so, assuming Tennessee’s illegals are no more violent than the norm, that would translate to something like 100,000 violent offenses, 2,000 murders, and so on. There were about 14,000 or 15,000 murders in the U.S. in 2025, so illegals probably accounted for around 1/7 of them. These are the people whom the Democratic Party is determined to keep within our borders. One might reasonably ask why." His math sucks, but the point stands. Matt Vespa at Jorge Bonilla @BonillaJL, "ICYMI: Replacement theory is no longer a theory." Quote Jorge Bonilla @BonillaJL, "WATCH: Spanish socialist Irene Montero openly hopes for Replacement Theory, calls for illegals to be allowed to vote in order to “sweep the fascists and racists” out of the country. catches a Spanish Socialist Confirming *This* Narrative Isn't a Right-Wing Hoax." At the Center Square, Senate GOP fails to halt welfare funding for non-citizens "U.S. Senate Republicans failed to halt over $5 billion in funding for refugees, with 20 GOP senators joining every Senate Democrat to continue providing costly taxpayer benefits to refugees. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., introduced the End Welfare for Non-Citizens Act." GOP fails should have a macro. Beege Welborn at Hat Hair, Just Crazy Enough It Might Work: ONLY Americans Need Apply for HUD and Sec 8 Housing.

Hat Hair's John Sexton cites Trump: We're Talking to Cuba, softly, with a big stick while Beege Welborn thinks Cuba Starting to Get Those Venezuela Vibes. George @BehizyTweets, "BREAKING: Costa Rica right-winger Laura Fernandez just CRUSHED the socialist party in the presidential election after campaigning on cracking down on criminality Bukele-style. Fernandez is yet another Trump ally in the Western Hemisphere. She met with Marco Rubio last year." The Aviationist reports F-35As Deployed to Puerto Rico Now Moving Across the Atlantic towards Iran. CEPA, Russia: Six Lessons From Iran’s Uprising "After losing its allies in Syria and Venezuela, a relieved Moscow will applaud the bloody suppression of the Iranian protests." Hat Hair's Capt. Ed finds Trump Still Winning: India Agrees on Trade – And Ending Russian Oil Imports? TCW, Starmer’s China jolly has achieved nothing except alienating the US and EU.

Sauron's Eye, seems happy Former Trump economic official Gary Cohn says Kevin Warsh will "take the Fed back to its traditional" norms. Ace, Trump Names New Fed Chief; "Safe Choice" Would Favor Interest Rate Cuts, as Trump Also Wants, "Crooked partisan Jerome Powell left the federal prime interest rate unchanged, declaring that no cut was needed, as the economy was experiencing solid growth."

At Twitchy, Well, Well, WELL: Receipt-Filled Mike Benz Thread Shows Yet ANOTHER Epstein Road Leads BACK to Obama. Mike Benz @MikeBenzCyber, "A couple interesting notes on the reveal that Obama’s White House Counsel (top lawyer to the President) Kathy Ruemmler emailed Jeffrey Epstein she was awarded the CIA Agency Medal just hours after getting the award." Ace wonders Why Did John Brennan Deliver a Secret CIA Award to Obama's White House Counsel and Very Good Friend of Jeffrey Epstein Kathryn Ruemmler? "We know she received this secret award from John Brennan for unknown services provided to the CIA only because she immediately wrote to her BFF Jeffrey Epstein-- who sent her gifts like a $9,400 handbag -- immediately after receiving the secret honor." Althouse is disgusted "The Government Published Dozens of Nude Photos in the Epstein Files. The photos, which showed young women or possibly teenagers with their faces visible..." ""... were largely removed after The New York Times began notifying the Justice Department.... As part of its required disclosure of the Epstein files, the federal government was tasked with redacting both sexually explicit imagery and information that could be used to identify victims. But in the process of reviewing more than three million pages uploaded to the Justice Department’s website on Friday, The New York Times came across nearly 40 unredacted images that appeared to be part of a personal photo collection, showing both nude bodies and the faces of the people portrayed...." The New York Times reports. Government-issued pornography. Presumably accidental, but what can you expect with this longstanding prurient interest in Jeffrey Epstein?" Democrats demanded it. From Ace, Major British Labour Politician Pressured to Resign Over Epstein Payoffs; Epstein Had a Secret Baby? "Peter Mandelson is a major fixer for Labour who is responsible for the rise of Tony Blair. There are at least two occasions on which it is alleged Epstein handed large sums of money to Lord Mandelson or his husband. His husband." Walter Kirn @walterkirn, "I would really hate to think that the coordinated, almost symphonic response of the Powers that Be to the COVID pandemic was made possible somehow by the discipline enforced through membership in the so-called Epstein Network. Man would I hate to think that." Quote Liz Churchill @liz_churchill10 "Oh. My. God. “Preparing for Pandemics…” “Let's discuss next steps, for example how to officially involve the WHO and CDC…” “I hope we can pull this off…” Insty, I’M SURPRISED THEY DIDN’T FIRE HIM FOR HIS DISCREDITED RESEARCH: "Duke professor Dan Ariely had longstanding friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, newly released files show. Dan Ariely, professor of business administration in the Fuqua School of Business and Duke alum, had a longstanding relationship with Jeffrey Epstein over the course of at least six years, per newly released documents from the Department of Justice in accordance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. . . .Background on the research scandal here and here." Sundance at CTH hears Clintons Strategically Agree to Testify to House on Epstein Investigation, Sort of “The Clintons’ counsel has said they agree to terms, but those terms lack clarity yet again and they have provided no dates for their depositions.” Chris Bray at Da Fed says Saint Hillary Is Here To Tell You You’re A Terrible Christian, and deplorable to boot. 

VodkaPundit at PJM asserts Trump Was No Draft-Dodger, and Here's the Timeline That Proves It " Here are the facts, simply laid out by Eschenbach and verified by Yours Truly using both Grok and ChatGPT. A couple of the dates are slightly off, but everything checks out.Trump registered for the draft after his 18th birthday on June 24, 1964 (draft dodgers don't register*). He was given an S-2 (college) deferment on June 28, 1964 (perfectly legal, not a draft dodger). His S-2 status was renewed on Dec 14, 1965 (legal, not a draft dodger), and he was then classified on Nov. 22, 1966, as 1-A (available for service). Dec. 13, 1966, his S-2 was again granted to attend Wharton (legal, not a draft dodger). His final deferral was granted on Jan. 16, 1968. After graduating from Wharton, he was reclassified 1-A on July 9, 1968. He went to his Armed Forces Physical (something a draft dodger probably would not do) on Sept. 19, 1968, and was categorized as 1-Y, disqualified for service except in war or national emergency (due to bone spurs in both heels). He received a high draft lottery number and was never called up. On Feb. 17, 1972, after the abolishment of the 1-Y classification, he was classified 4-F (not qualified for military service)."

From the Free Bacon, 16 Dead in NYC From Warmth of Collectivism "Mayor Zohran Mamdani scrapped his predecessor's policy of clearing street encampments to drive the homeless into indoor shelters." Michael Goodwin at NYPo, Mayor Mamdani’s political honeymoon is over — homeless deaths reveal his arrogance. Amy Curtis at TownHall, New Yorkers Are Learning the 'Warmth of Collectivism' Is a Big Pile of Garbage. I would call it a dumpster fire. RedState's Nick Arama says Boom: People Teeing Off on Mamdani Already As Reality Sets In.

John Sexton compares Gavin Newsom to California's Progressive Idiots and California AG Sues Children's Hospital to Force Them to Resume Gender Affirming Care. At Althouse, "I can't believe the bespoke NY magazine biz hasn't yet realized that an Annie Leibovitz puff piece photoshoot is a political death sentence." David Burge @iowahawkblog, "Whom the gods would destroy they first give a slobbering Vogue puff piece with Annie Leibovitz photography." Quote Byron York @ByronYork, "You really can't make this up. From the new Vogue profile of Gavin Newsom: 'Let’s get this out of the way: He is embarrassingly handsome, his hair seasoned with silver, at ease with his own eminence...lithe, ardent, energetic, a glimmer of optimism in his eye; Kennedy-esque. . ."

Da Mair recalls when  Bernie Sanders built a device to give himself 'cosmos-shattering orgasms'. 

Matt Margolis hears Even CNN Admits That Democrats Are Screwed. Mediaite, Harry Enten Predicts ‘Blue State Depression’ That Could Spell Doom for Democrats.

Elon Musk @elonmusk, "Truly insane levels of fraud! 18% of home healthcare billing nationwide is coming from one county in California …" Quote, "Wall Street Apes @WallStreetApes, "The fraud being exposed in California is INSANE - 18% of THE WHOLE COUNTRY’S home health care billing is coming out of Los Angeles County - One doctor billed the government $120 million in a single year claiming to oversee 1,900 patients - With almost 2,000 hospice agencies, Los Angeles County has more than 36 states combined and 30X MORE than the whole state of Florida and New York “How is that possible? And take a look at this map, a cluster of 287 hospice providers, in a two-mile radius, some in strip malls, unmarked buildings, even a wrecking yard and vacant lot. All of it is just paperwork. I could fill that out in Kazakhstan if I want and get a hospice license waiting for me.”" From Ace, Another One: How Did BLM Grifter and "Squad" Member Ayana Presley Go from Broke-Ass to Wealthy After Just a Few Short Years in Congress? "It turns out her husband quit his political job when she got elected and opened a "consultancy" firm -- which can accept large sums of money to "consult" with people. And lobby congresswomen, no doubt."

Hans Mahncke @HansMahncke, "What a spectacular own goal by the Wall Street Journal stenographers who wrote this hit piece on Tulsi Gabbard. They actually compare their supposed scoop to a John le Carre novel, apparently oblivious to the fact that in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy the plot revolves around a fabricated source feeding supposedly ultra-sensitive information that sends everyone chasing a lie. So yes, exactly like a le Carré novel (by the way, the fraudulent Steele dossier followed the same le Carre blueprint)." quote, Aaron Blake @AaronBlake, "WSJ: There is a whistleblower complaint against Tulsi Gabbard that is so sensitive that it is "said to be locked in a safe," and the administration has spent months trying to figure out how inform Congress.." Sundance has the letter, DNI Tulsi Gabbard Responds to Senate Intel Vice-Chair Mark Warner "Contrary to the blatantly false and slanderous accusations being made against me by Members of Congress and their friends in the propaganda media, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has and will continue to take action under my statutory authorities to secure our nation and ensure the integrity of our elections. My response to Congress:”" Rasmussen Reports @Rasmussen_Poll, ""Gabbard answered written questions about the allegations from the inspector general’s office ... That prompted the acting inspector general at the time, Tamara Johnson, to determine the allegations specifically about Gabbard weren’t credible." They are deathly afraid of Tulsi." 

John Sexton on NY Times vs the Supreme Court "So the actual series of events here is probably this: 1. A progressive breaks with long tradition to leak a draft opinion to rile up the left. 2. It does rile up the left, nearly to the point of deadly violence. 3. The court investigates but can't find the leaker. 4. CJ Roberts makes everyone sign NDAs so that, if it happens again, someone can be prosecuted and likely drummed out of the legal profession. 5. Jodi Kantor downplays points 1 and 2 and makes point 4 into a big story about the "secretive" Supreme Court." Jeff Charles at TownHall, This Judge Is Facing Charges for What She Did to a Defense Attorney. Speedlin "Gonzalez, known for being the county’s first gay judge, ordered defense attorney Elizabeth Russel to be handcuffed and placed in the jury box during a probation revocation hearing. . . This isn’t the first time Gonzalez has faced legal trouble. She was briefly detained at San Antonio International Airport after Transportation Security Administration agents found a loaded handgun in her briefcase during carry-on screening in 2022. She also came under scrutiny for having a rainbow flag in her courtroom and for posts she made on social media."

At Hat Hair, Capt. Ed feigns Quelle Surprise II: CNN's Scott Jennings/'Illegal Aliens' Boogaloo and Larry has a video, George Stephanopoulos Torched on Live TV While Trump Shocks the Grammys. Ace, The Grammys, Which Apparently Still Exist, Once Again Descend Into an Sloppy Orgy of Virtue Signalling and Cultural Irrelevance. "The emcee, the failed DEI "comic" Trevor Noah, accused Trump WITHOUT EVIDENCE of having visited Epstein's island -- and Trump says he's suing." The Babylon Bee @TheBabylonBee, "Roomful Of Pedophiles Protest ICE Deporting Pedophiles.

From the Free Bacon, FTC Warns Big Law Over DEI Program That Sets 'Unwritten Rules' for Diversity Hiring, "Agency vows to target ‘unlawful coordination on DEI metrics’" At Althouse, "And some 'disabilities' are just downright silly. Students claim 'night terrors'; others say they 'get easily distracted' or they 'can’t live with others.'" ""I know a guy who was granted a single room because he needs to wear contacts at night. I’ve heard of a girl who got a single because she was gluten intolerant. . . .Writes Elsa Johnson, a Stanford student, quoted in "Nearly 40% of Stanford undergraduates claim they’re disabled. I’m one of them/One of the most prestigious universities in the US offers perks to those who say they have ADHD, night terrors, even gluten intolerance. You’d be stupid not to game the system" (London Times)."

At The View From North Central Idaho Still a Sanctuary County. "It is my intention to assure the residents of Livingston that we are still a Second Amendment sanctuary county, and we will be paying close attention to the bills that will be coming out of Richmond. I will do my absolute best to help protect those citizens and our constitutional values here in Spotsylvania. Jacob Lane, Livingston District Supervisor (Virginia). January 30, 2026. Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors message to the state: ‘We are still a Second Amendment sanctuary county’ – Fredericksburg Free Press."

And there's so much more at the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 02.02.2026. The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Better Late Than Never up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Tuesday Tanlines

AS News, Pharmacist on tanning: “When we’re tanned, we look more attractive for two reasons, neither of which is related to health”

The first is simple: it’s an optical effect. Darker tones hide imperfections more effectively, making the skin look smoother and more uniform, he says.

The second reason is sociocultural. Centuries ago, pale skin was a symbol of privilege, meaning a person didn’t have to work outdoors. Guille points out historical examples, from the idea of “blue blood” in Europe to cultures in Asia where fairness is still considered the beauty standard. On the flip side, in some countries a tan became a status symbol, showing someone could afford vacations and had the luxury of spending time in the sun.

On the other hand, I've been told that in some Chinese cultures, high status women scrupulously avoid tans because to have a tan indicates you are likely a peasant who has to toil in the sun.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Monday: Boots & Bikinis up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Govt Goes into 'Shut-down Lite'

Did you notice? About half the Federal government has gone into the usual shutdown mode (essential workers only, with retroactive pay, and presumably retroactively paid vacation for the rest) until the House and Senate come to an agreement that mollifies the usual suspects, mostly Democrats opposed to ICE (which is already funded by the BBB!), and a few silly Republicans willing to let the perfect be the enemy of the good (I'm looking at you, Rand Paul). From NewsNation, Trump on partial shutdown: ‘Hopefully enough people will use their heads’, not a safe bet. "Multiple federal agencies, including the departments of Defense, State, Treasury, Homeland Security (DHS) and others, saw their funding lapse at 12 a.m. Saturday, launching the government into another temporary shutdown. Senators raced to pass a major funding package consisting of five regular appropriations bills and a two-week stopgap measure for DHS by the Friday night deadline. But it still needs approval in the House, which is not set to return to Washington until Monday. Democrats had pledged to block the full $1.2 trillion package over objections to the DHS funding portion, which included an additional $10 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)." Ryan King at NYPo, Mike Johnson ‘confident’ gov’t shutdown will end Tuesday – as he shoots down Dem demands. unseen1 @unseen1_unseen, "The trump economic plan is working. Tariffs, deregulation, tax cuts, rate cuts, illegal immigration crackdown, energy build out." Quote Truflation @truflation, "US CPI inflation dropped significantly today from 1.24% to 0.86% in our independent price data, the lowest since 2020. Truflation US CPI today: 0.86% Y/Y. The biggest downward drivers were: 1. Utilities down -0.13% 2. Clothing -0.08%, 3. Housing -0.05%, 4. Transport -0.05%, 5. Food -0.04% " At Da Signal, ‘Substantial Refunds’ Coming to Taxpayers Soon, Senior Treasury Official Says. At Fox, Doug MacKinnon opines on The most unique thing Trump could do with stolen money recovered from blue states "Trump administration should create a lottery system to aid disadvantaged citizens." I don't like it. There should be nothing random about who gets it. From CJ, Trump’s Fed Pick Could Be Just What the Central Bank Needs "If he acts in harmony with his past statements, Kevin Warsh could restore the Fed’s integrity and independence."

USA Today, I'm a conservative. I want a whole lot more John Fettermans. "Fetterman's nuance on Noem, DHS funding vote is refreshing"

Democrats are still praying for the pony under the pile of Epstein horse shit. Nick Arama at RedState, About Those 'Tips' on Trump and Epstein in Latest Files Dump. "as with anything that the left spreads about Trump, there's a big catch they leave out. These are what one might kindly term "random nutter" contacts, meaning there's no evidence to support any of the claims. That's why I'm not going to post them. Even the NY Times is showing some sense for once, and they're not even going there. For example, one claim involved the Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes in 1995-1996. Yet the golf course didn't even exist then, which puts a small crimp in the claim. But that hasn't stopped folks on the left from spreading it." NYPo, Trump threatens to sue Michael Wolff, Epstein estate — and insists fresh document dump absolves him.

Fortune reads the tea leaves, Top energy expert says probability the U.S. will attack Iran soon is 75% as risk of major disruption to oil supply is priced in — ‘this one is real.’ Sundance at CTH hosts Sunday Talks – Venezuela Opposition Leader Maria Corina Machado Discusses Her Goals and Objectives. From News Wax, US May Make a Deal on Cuba, Trump Says, "I think, you know, we’ll be kind.”

PJM's Matt Margolis likes how the ‘Melania’ Movie Humiliates Critics and Media Naysayers with Historic Box Office. "Over at Rotten Tomatoes, the film earns a mere 6% from critics, but a stunning 98% from fans." At TownHall, Kevin McCullough compares Melania vs. Hillary. From NYPo, Trump announces two-year closure of Trump Kennedy Center for major renovations. No skin off my nose. 

Larry Elder at Hat Hair has a fun 12 Question Quiz: What 'Fascist' 'Xenophobe' 'Tyrant' Said This?

Scott Pinsker at PJM notes The Two Agents Who Shot Alex Pretti Have Been Doxxed — and Liberals HATE Their Names! Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry @pegobry_en, "Your multiracial working class coalition, sir:" Quote Thomas Chatterton Williams @thomaschattwill, "The two federal immigration agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti are identified in government records as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez. https://propublica.org/article/alex-pretti-shooting-cbp-agents-identified-jesus-ochoa-raymundo-gutierrez" NBC reports DOJ opens a civil rights probe into Alex Pretti's fatal shooting in Minneapolis, deputy AG says, ""We’re looking at everything that would shed light on what happened that day and in the days and weeks leading up to what happened," Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Friday." PM points out this poll, JUST IN: 92% of likely GOP voters approve of Trump, 93% approve of deportations after Pretti shooting. CBS abets a criminal, Agents were pursuing an immigrant when they killed Alex Pretti. Now, he shares his story. "I think, maybe if I hadn't gone to that place, or I don't know, a little later or a little earlier, I mean, that never would have happened," Huerta Chuma told CBS News during a phone interview conducted in Spanish."

At the Victory Girls Don Lemon: Invading Church Services Is Journalism. From NYPo, Don Lemon needs to choose —journalist or agitator, he can’t be both. Marc J. Randazza @marcorandazza, "The FACE Act was a great compromise. The left wanted people to be able to get abortions in peace. I think that’s fair. We wanted to go to church in peace. That’s fair. And the left agreed in large part because they probably thought “what kind of a banshee goblin fucktard would want to go and start intimidating people from going to church?” They felt like they gave up nothing. Fast forward and they’ve become such a bunch of nose ring gothapottamus lunatics that they can’t even leave churches alone." Douglass Mackey @douglassmackey, "My passport was confiscated by DOJ for 4.5 years. J6ers charged with misdemeanors were given pre-trial house arrest. Tim Hale was held in solitary confinement pre-trial for 18 months. And a MN federal judge just granted Don permission to take his annual vacation in France." At PM, disgust that Hollywood celebs give Don Lemon a STANDING OVATION at Grammy gala after arrest for storming church. At Althouse, "I've got nothing but respect for Don Lemon's husband." "Do you see that man's face?" Commenter Wilbur says Yeah, I remember the look on my father's face every time he had to bring my mother home from jail or prison. Mark Hemingway @Heminator, "This should be in the ellipses hall of fame." Quote Ted Lieu @tedlieu, "Replying to @B2BFCM and @WhiteHouse
“Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.” Frank J. Fleming @IMAO_, "Did he just yada yada freedom of religion?"

Sundance hosts DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Discussing Minneapolis Chaos Amid Ongoing ICE Operations. News Wax, Trump Orders DHS to Avoid Protests in Democrat-Led Cities Without Federal Request, let 'em burn. Hat Hair's Josh Hammer calls it The Rise of the New Confederacy. "In essence, Ellison and his Minnesota's Democratic Party leadership confreres argue that the constitutional federalism articulated in the Tenth Amendment and its corollary of "states' rights" can shield the Land of 10,000 Lakes from the long enforcement arm of federal immigration law. Ellison and Minnesota Democrats claim that by declaring their state and cities to be illegal alien "sanctuaries," they can "nullify" federal immigration law. Stop me if you've heard that one before." At Da Caller, LAPD Says It Will Not Enforce Gavin Newsom’s Mask Ban For ICE Agents. Fox, Seattle mayor pushes local police to track, investigate ICE agents' enforcement activities, "Mayor Katie Wilson is requiring Seattle Police officers to investigate and document ICE activities with body cameras after deadly Minneapolis shootings," Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson puts ICE ‘on notice’ with executive order seeking prosecution of agents, "Brandon Johnson signs executive order directing police to document alleged illegal activity by federal immigration agents." and Alleged MS-13 gang member accused of 5 murders in home country nabbed in Virginia, "Illegal alien who allegedly admitted to 5 murders in El Salvador arrested in Virginia just weeks before Gov Spanberger ended ICE cooperation." Greg Price @greg_price11, "In order to stop the U.S. government from defending our borders, checking IDs, and removing people who don't have a right to be here, we must set up a border, check IDs, and remove people who we don't want here." Quote CrimeWatchMpls @CrimeWatchMpls, "Submitted from south Minneapolis - Agitators have set up roadblocks and are checking people's ID who try to pass through the area from 32nd to 34th and Cedar Ave. This is absurd." Dave Strom at Hat Hair sees Antifa Can Do Anything It Wants in Portland and Get Away With It Apparently. Twitchy says 'Uh oh, Trump's Lost San Francisco': Brian Allen Works Overtime to Make Anti-ICE Uprising a Thing. NYPo, The perils of toxic empathy in Minneapolis makes it feel like 2020 all over again. Fox Business, San Francisco bakery faces online backlash for selling controversial 'F--- ICE' cookies "Owner Hilary Passman says she has no plans to stop selling the controversial shortbread cookies." At Da Signal, Go Big, Then Go Smart: Trump, ICE, and the Law. How to Skip the Left’s PR Trap.

David Burge @iowahawkblog, "An aspiring artist and war veteran went to a beer hall. Now he and his girlfriend are dead in an underground bunker." Quote Q.S. Quay @hemingquay "Turns out you can make anyone seem innocent if you leave out the middle part of the story where they committed the crime. “A math professor moved to a cabin in Montana. Now he’s serving life in prison.”"

Scott McLallen at TownHall reports Judge Blocks Trump's Executive Order Requiring Citizenship to Vote. Of course, we always knew this would have to be appealed up the the Supreme Court.

From Althouse, Has there ever been a worse impersonation on "SNL" than Pete Davidson's complete failure even to attempt to seem the slightest bit like Tom Homan? "Look:"

Tim O'Brien at PJM sees ‘Midtermunition': Mamdani Is Already Trashing New York to Third-World Status. At Insty, THE “WARMTH OF COLLECTIVISM” TURNS OUT AS USUAL: Robert Pondiscio @rpondiscio, "Just arrived in NYC where, nearly a week after the storm, the warmth of collectivism has proven unable to melt snow. Or collect trash." UPDATE: Zohran Mamdani Wore Custom Carhartt to Tackle His First Snowstorm as Mayor: Snowstorms have long been an aptitude test for New York City mayors. For this particular blizzard, Mamdani coolly dressed the part. "So he’s flunked the test, but at least he was sharply dressed."

From Althouse, "Newsom was profoundly dyslexic.... By the third grade, he had worked himself into a panic over his trouble with reading and math." "Writes Nathan Heller, in "Gavin Newsom Is Playing the Long Game/California’s governor has been touted as the Democrats’ best shot in 2028. But first he’ll need to convince voters that he’s not just a slick establishment politician" (The New Yorker)." Going for the sympathy vote. At Civitas, California’s Proposed Billionaire Tax and Its Portents for Normal People. Billionaires leave, take jobs with them. Pirate Wires sees Death by Ballot Prop: How California Outsourced Legislation to the Mob, "a brief history of organized shoplifting rings, housing deadlocks, and other fun consequences of the state's 'direct democracy' experiment."

Brandon Straka #WalkAway @BrandonStraka, "Michigan election fraud claims explode as poll workers testify they were threatened, blocked from challenging ballots, and shut out of rooms while disputed votes were processed." Driscoll at Insty, THE PEOPLE WHO CAST THE VOTES DECIDE NOTHING. THE PEOPLE WHO COUNT THE VOTES DECIDE EVERYTHING: Hans Mahncke @HansMahncke, "The most indefensible part of what happened in Georgia in 2020 is that you do not need body cam footage, confessions, or insider testimony to know, as in know with absolute certainty, that a small group of people locking themselves in a room until well after midnight to count ballots with no supervision and no observers is unacceptable and will always be unacceptable. Even if the suitcases pulled from under the tables were somehow legitimate, and there are plenty of reasons to doubt that, it still would not matter. Counting votes in secret in the middle of the night, with no oversight and no way to verify what was or was not happening, is fundamentally illegitimate. I still cannot fathom how this was ever allowed to happen, and even more astonishing, how after the surveillance footage was released, everyone involved closed ranks and pretended there was nothing to see. Elections simply cannot be run this way." Quote Robert Bowes @Robert_B_Bowes, "Ruby Freeman on body cam said she was told by Fulton election bosses that the (Biden) count was low, it was really low and to scan as many ballots as she could. She said there were no more to scan and then "Boom, under the table, cut the zip ties" and then scan them and rescan them; so that's how the number went up."

CBS whines Detroit judge, 3 others, accused of embezzling $273K from vulnerable adults. The Canadian Press is pretty happy about the Misconduct complaint dismissed against judge who handled El Salvador prison deportation case, Boasberg.

Matt Margolis hears the peasants at CNN are revolting: There’s a Revolt at CNN Over Scott Jennings, because he makes all the Democrats and CNN journolists look bad.

From Campus Reform, Fordham restricts public media promotion of ICE-defense training. At The College Fix, Despite DEI bans, some public universities maintain DEI requirements, research finds, the grift is too good to quit. Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter, "NFL officially appointed influential storyteller Dhar Mann as its first-ever Chief Kindness Officer and Creator of the Week for Super Bowl LX." floridanow1 @floridanow1, "Could you imagine Butkus, Lombardi, Jim Taylor reacting to a NFL storyteller and Chief Kindness Officer?"

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Better Late Than Never up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

The Monday Morning Stimulus

So, good news, or bad news. OK, good news first. Sci Tech Daily, This Daily Coffee Habit May Help Slow the Aging Process. And the bad news? From Sprudge, Coffee Consumption Linked With Higher Chronic Pain In Older Individuals.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Monday: Boots & Bikinis up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Random Celebrity News

For some values of random celebrity and news. First, Breitbart reports US-Born Skier Eileen Gu Again Chooses to Represent China in 2026 Winter Games, but is it for the little girls or for the money?

American-born Olympic freestyle skiing gold medalist Eileen Gu is defending her decision to represent China once again at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. The two-time gold medalist competed for China’s Olympic team in 2022 and is defending her decision to stick with China this year. In a new interview, Gu claimed she was trying to inspire more girls in China to participate in her sport, which is less popular there. “The U.S. already has the representation. I like building my own pond,” she said, TIME magazine reported. Gu also insisted that the millions she earns from Chinese companies don’t “cross her mind.”

TIME claimed that the skier “insists the potential to earn more representing Chinese companies didn’t cross her mind. ‘I’m glad that there’s enough money in the sport now for people to think that’s a consideration,’” Gu told the magazine. She says she is “important” because she can discuss physics on one day and then walk the catwalk in a fashion show the next.

Also from Breitbart Scarlett Johansson, Cate Blanchett, & More Stars Back Anti-AI Campaign: ‘Stealing Our Work Is Not Innovation’. 

Actors Scarlett Johansson, Cate Blanchett, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are reportedly among 700 supporters of a new anti-AI campaign. “Stealing our work is not innovation,” the initiative asserts. “It’s theft.” “America’s creative community is the envy of the world and creates jobs, economic growth, and exports,” the anti-artificial intelligence effort, titled, “Stealing Isn’t Innovation,” reads. “But rather than respect and protect this valuable asset, some of the biggest tech companies, many backed by private equity and other funders, are using American creators’ work to build AI platforms without authorization or regard for copyright law,” the message continues.

The one thing I like about AI is that it's likely to replace the people that deserve it. It's not all that smart, but neither are they.

The recently-launched initiative goes on to assert, “Artists, writers, and creators of all kinds are banding together with a simple message: Stealing our work is not innovation. It’s not progress. It’s theft — plain and simple.”

The Human Artistry Campaign — a coalition made up of creators, unions, and industry groups advocating for their rights in the era of artificial intelligence — is the entity behind the anti-generative AI push, insisting that “a better way exists.”

ABC News,  Actress Sydney Sweeney could face legal trouble after draping Hollywood Sign with bras. They had me at Sydney Sweeney and bra.

An apparent publicity move by Sydney Sweeney could bring legal trouble for the actress. The 28-year-old pulled a promotional stunt at the Hollywood Sign for what's believed to be her new lingerie brand.

Sweeney could be looking at possible trespassing and vandalism charges after draping the Hollywood Sign with dozens of bras. The actress had a crew filming the whole thing, and the video was first obtained by TMZ.

In the cover of darkness, the video shows Sweeney tossing several clotheslines of bras over the big letters of the sign. It was apparently a stunt to support her new lingerie line, though the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce says the production involving Sweeney was not authorized. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce owns the intellectual property rights to the image of the Hollywood Sign, and they say a "license or permission" would be needed from them to access the sign. They say that step never happened.

From Page 6, Haley Baylee begs judge to toss ex-husband Matt Kalil’s lawsuit over her comments about his penis size

Haley Baylee is requesting her ex-husband Matt Kalil’s lawsuit be dismissed after he sued the influencer over comments she made about his penis size. In court papers obtained by Page Six, Baylee is requesting the presiding judge dismiss Kalil’s invasion of privacy and unjust enrichment lawsuit against her.

“Plaintiff’s complaint seeks to hold a woman in the public eye civilly liable for providing a truthful, autobiographical account of sexual trauma she suffered and described as having led to the end of a highly publicized celebrity marriage with an NFL football star,” the court papers read.
. . .
The model added that they divorced over a “specific anatomical incompatibility that rendered a normal sexual relationship impossible.” The court docs then explain the couple made “desperate, years-long efforts to overcome this physical barrier and save their marriage.”
. . .
The model compared Kalil’s penis size to “two Coke cans stacked on top of each other, maybe even a third.”

She should think of it as a challenge. From Bounding into Sports Lindsey Vonn Airlifted After Crash on Swiss Slopes

Olympic skiing legend Lindsey Vonn suffered a harrowing crash during the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup downhill race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on Friday. Reports indicate she was airlifted off the course for medical evaluation.

Vonn lost control after landing a jump in deteriorating visibility and heavy snow, skidding sideways into the safety netting. Her airbag deployed upon impact. She remained in the area for several minutes, clutching her left knee in pain, before medical staff assisted her.

Despite the agony, Vonn managed to ski slowly to the finish area, stopping multiple times, and was then harnessed and airlifted by helicopter to a nearby hospital.

“Lindsey Vonn fell in the Crans Montana downhill and is being evaluated,” the U.S. Ski Team reported. They have provided little in the way of details at this time.

I just heard on the tube that it was a non-displaced fracture, and that she expected to be able to ski in the Olympics. That seems dubious to me. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Monday: Boots & Bikinis up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Is Trump Softening on the Minnesota Insurrection?

The cold weather continues, but I hear there's a break coming. For one or two hours tomorrow, it's supposed to break 32 F!

Clandestine @WarClandestine, "Trump said he is not going to use federal DHS/ICE agents to police local rioting in Democrat cities unless they ask for help. He is however, going to use DHS/ICE and, if necessary, the US MIL to protect federal property. It sounds like Trump knows something is coming. It sounds like the Dems want DHS/ICE to get caught up in policing these riots, hoping more of their deranged followers take it too far and get shot. Trump is instead going to hold and force local Democrat politicians to police their own riots, or agree to work with him. And if the Dems choose to not police these riots, they will force Trump to use the US MIL to suppress the chaos." Sundance at CTH, Strategic Retreat? – President Trump Announces Instructions to DHS to Pull Back from ICE Operations in Democrat States/Regions. At NYPo, Ben Domenech says GOP can’t go soft on immigration with midterms looming — it’s why voters picked Trump. From Breitbart, Trump Administration Begins Suing Illegal Migrants Who Have Not Self-Deported. Mickey Kaus @kausmickey, "Good Lord -- it also says they [the Democrats] wanted to "lower the overall number of legal immigrants."" Quote National Immigration Center for Enforcement @NICEnforcement, "Bill Clinton’s 1996 immigration platform makes Trump look like the president of @USChamber x.com/dmichaeltripi/…" That was before they realized they could be used to vote, and for the great grifting game.

From Fox, GREGG JARRETT: Don Lemon left his press pass at the door when he joined church-storming mob, "Federal prosecutors allege former CNN podcaster participated in disrupting religious service rather than just reporting on," and Don Lemon taps Hunter Biden's attorney to fight Trump DOJ charges. 357 Magnum, Don Lemon Charged with Violating Civil Rights. Jon Gabriel @exjon, "Don Lemon wasn’t arrested for exercising his first-amendment rights. He was arrested for preventing other Americans from exercising their first-amendment rights." Quote Andrew Yang @AndrewYang, "Arresting journalists is a terrible line to cross." Jennifer Holliday @Jenhollidayx, "And conspiring with other people to deprive them of their right to worship freely. That part is key. He didn’t have to be the one preventing the exercise of rights. For a more thorough explanation and case law, check out the model jury instructions." Natalia Mittelstadt at JTN reports Independent Minnesota journalist Georgia Fort arrested in connection with church protest, ""This is all stemming from the fact that I filmed a protest as a member of the media," Georgia Fort said." Let's review the tapes and find out what she really did.

NYPo reports Anti-ICE protesters clash with fed agents outside DTLA federal building. At PM, Antifa trans militant pleads guilty in attempted arson attack at Portland ICE facility, "Alistair Macfarlane Sidener, 20, of Portland, attempted to set the ICE facility ablaze." KOLD News 13, Sister of man shot by Border Patrol says he’s no victim, calls him violent. Arthur MacWaters @ArthurMacwaters, "This is utterly insane: > sanctuary cities overlap nearly perfectly with riot locations, which overlap nearly perfectly with deep blue vote > the riots are highly-organized, increasingly violent, and obviously partisan, not humanitarian (no one rioted when biden deported millions) > if roles were reversed, headlines would read "civil war, red states revolt" Politicians and the media are encouraging riots, then framing this as a moral struggle between helpless illegal immigrants and valiant freedom fighters against the gestapo Just craziness. The legacy media spin is so predictable, yet so many people just believe it." Daniel McCarthy at Rod Martin, The Unspoken Logic of the Anti-ICE Mob "Federal law makes it a crime to engage in a conspiracy to impede federal officers from performing their duties. That includes street violence. It also includes officials running "Sanctuary Cities"." Cynical Publius @CynicalPublius, "When criminal gangs start working for Leftist government, you've just made @KurtSchlichter into a modern day Nostradamus." Quote American AF @iAnonPatriot, "Long Beach mayoral candidate Rogelio Martinez has called on all 55 gang leaders in the city to team up and REMOVE ICE agents… This is absurd!!" Josh Monnington at Da Fed agrees You Can’t Have A Secure Border Without Deportations. The Great Victor Davis Hanson at Am Great, Slouching Towards Fort Sumter? "Minnesota’s defiance of federal immigration law echoes pre–Fort Sumter nullification, forcing Trump to choose between enforcement and letting blue states slide toward open rebellion." ZitoSalena @ZitoSalena, "The most basic role of journalism and military experts; Follow the Money," Quote John Schindler @20committee, "January’s Minneapolis Mess: Some Counterintelligence Questions Who’s really behind Minnesota’s acrimonious confrontation with the Feds over deportations?" The Babylon Bee @TheBabylonBee, "Bruce Springsteen Threatens To Keep Releasing Songs Until Deportations Stop."

It has indeed somehow become even worse https://t.co/oTiJlVombp

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 31, 2026

Capt. Ed at Hat Hair hears a Federal Judge Tosses Minnesota Lawsuit to Stop Immigration Enforcement Surge. Sundance, Federal Judge Refuses to Block Minnesota DHS Operation ‘Metro Surge’ "U.S. District Court Judge Katherine Menendez admitted the ongoing operation “will likely continue to have profound and even heartbreaking, consequences on the State of Minnesota, the Twin Cities, and Minnesotans,” however, there is no grounds for the state’s case using the 10th amendment." Hat Hair's Dave Strom thinks Ellison Wasn't Trying to Win the TRO Case; He Was Helping Build the Narrative for the #Resistance. Jonathan Turley @JonathanTurley. "I previously wrote about the frivolous lawsuit by Gov. Walz and Minn. Attorney General Keith Ellison to enjoin immigration enforcement operations in the state. https://jonathanturley.org/2026/01/13/minnesota-files-meritless-lawsuit-to-stop-increase-in-fraud-investigation-and-immigration-enforcement/ As expected, U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez, a Biden appointee, just ruled against them."jonathanturley.org" Jonathan Turley @JonathanTurley, "...This is only the latest meritless challenge filed by Democratic governors and mayors to suggest that these operations are unlawful. It is a pandering to the mob to fulfill a false narrative about these arrests. The mob tactics targeting ICE are obstructing lawful operations..." ET reportsa Judge Blocks Parts of Trump Order on Verifying Citizenship for Voter Registration. "The May 2025 order directed officials to enforce policies on voting and voter registration. The judge said the president lacks the authority to do that." That may hold up. At News Wax, Judge Temporarily Blocks End of Ethiopians' Deportation Protections "to provide more time for a legal challenge to be heard." Sunny @sunnyright, "And there it is. The effort has now begun to delegitimize appeals. Once Democrats get their way with one magistrate judge (whose authorities are limited by nature because they're not Senate-confirmed district judges) you now have to accept that as the final ruling. Insane." Quote Ronan Farrow @RonanFarrow Replying to @RonanFarrow, "In a functioning system, that ends it. Instead, the DOJ appealed to a higher court to override the magistrate’s ruling and force the warrants through. That procedural move—seeking arrests after a judge said the evidence didn’t support them—is the anomaly."

Driscoll at Insty says THANKS FOR THE CONFIRMATION, REP. GILLEN: Haiti Is Hell—Don’t Import it Into America. Auron MacIntyre @AuronMacintyre, "May I humbly suggest that if sending Haitians to Haiti is a death sentence because it’s full of Haitians then bring Haitians here is a death sentence for our country." Quote End Wokeness @EndWokeness "Rep. Laura Gillen (D): "Sending Haitians to Haiti is a death sentence""

At TownHall, Mike Barone sees Big Surprises in the 2030 Census Estimates, mostly favorable to the GOP. The Free Bacon, Trump States Gaining Population As High-Tax States Lose People, New Census Data Show. Hopefully the refugees know better that to create the same problems in a new state, but the example of Oregon visa vie California isn't a good one. Hat Hair's Beege Welborn in her best Yoda voice, Begun the Census Wars Have

At Althouse, "The [Epstein] files appeared to contain at least 4,500 documents that mentioned Mr. Trump." ""One was a summary that officials at the Federal Bureau of Investigation assembled last summer of more than a dozen tips from the public involving Mr. Trump and Mr. Epstein, according to emails released by the Department of Justice on Friday. It is unclear why the investigators put together the summary, which includes accusations of sexual abuse by Mr. Epstein and Mr. Trump. The emails did not include any corroborating evidence, and The New York Times is not describing the details of the unverified claims. . . From "Powerful Men Who Turn Up in the New Batch of Epstein Files/Elon Musk, Richard Branson and Sergey Brin were among those who exchanged messages or visited with Jeffrey Epstein, according to the newly released documents" (NYT)(gift link)." One suspects a lot of them are late additions, like the 2000 women who accused Bret Kavanagh of assaulting them. The Babylon Bee @TheBabylonBee. "Damning Photos Surface Of Clippy On Epstein Island." I never trusted him/her.

In misc. Trumpiania, News Wax has a Trump Op-Ed: Tariffs Revived Economy, Defied Experts. Leslie Eastman at LI, Beyond the ‘Discombobulator’: America’s Laser‑Focused Push Into the Future of Warfare "Trump’s branding can blur the technical details, but he undeniably spotlighted the fact that our nation’s military has now entered an era of accelerated defense innovation." Maybe they should use the discombobulator in Minnesota. And Althouse says Oh, no!, "It's just cruel. Please. This hurts my heart: NYT, Trump favors 250-foot arch that would tower over other monuments, because we all know it would come be known as Trump's Victory Arch. Also, "Can I ask a question I have been dying to ask? You all might think it is a weird question but I've always been curious. What is your favorite time of day?" "That's the utterly inane question Dana Perino asked Melania Trump on "The Five":" Commenter Phaedrus adds, "With no context about Dana Perino, I could see that being inane. The is not a novel topic for her. She is known for getting up early (she has her own show before The Five, much earlier) and this wasn’t the first conversation where time of day peak/ebb has been discussed around the table.And she has written several books where productive habits are woven throughout (as implied when she’s discussed content with the hosts from the same standpoint Melania is doing so about her movie). I watched that particular segment when it aired and as with book/movie all the questions were softballs but Dana’s question was pretty on brand for her."

Fox, Government shuts down again after Democrats revolt over DHS funding "The Senate passed the spending deal to the House hours before the midnight deadline." A Hat Hair video asserts Democrats Playing With Dynamite on Another Shutdown. Will anyone other than government drones notice?

ET hears Gov. Walz, Minnesota AG Will Give Sworn Testimony About Fraud to Oversight Committee. "Congressmen will question both leaders in a public session focusing on ‘rampant misuse of taxpayer dollars,’ the committee says, estimated at $9 billion." Land of 10,000 Frauds presents Your one-stop clearinghouse for everything related to state government fraud in Minnesota. Elon Musk @elonmusk, "They tried to hide their crimes." Quote Luke Rosiak @lukerosiak "When DOGE went to audit the African Development Foundation, its CFO locked them out. The move was heralded by Democrats and the media as heroic. Turns out, when people resist audits, it's because they have something to hide. Today the agency's CFO admitted taking bribes."

Sundance hosts FBI Director Kash Patel Outlines “Probable Cause” in Georgia Election Data Warrant. From News Wax, Clinton Contempt Vote Set for Next Wednesday. I already hold them in contempt. 

Betsy McCaughey at Hat Hair, Mamdani's Cruel Homeless Policy: Frozen Corpses and Blighted Neighborhoods. At RCI, Poll Finds New England Women Feel Misled About Climate Policies. They were told it wasn't going to snow any more, and wind and solar would keep them warm in winter. Christine Rose @AIChristineRose "Today in “we are governed by people who failed 8th grade science”: two #Memphis City Council members posted videos claiming the recent snow was… fake. As in “this ain’t snow, y’all,” because it didn’t melt the way they expected when they held a lighter to a snowball. Local coverage here, in case you think I’m exaggerating: https://memphisflyer.com/the-snow-is-fake-claim-two-memphis-city-council-members/ We’ve all seen random TikToks and Facebook uncles doing the “burn the snow, it doesn’t drip, therefore it’s plastic from the government” routine. What’s different here is who is doing it. These are people voting on budgets, infrastructure, and policy, publicly treating basic physics like a psyop. Once you see that, the rest of our policy mess starts to make more sense. The same epistemic failure that produces “fake snow” conspiracies is exactly what gives you bills like Tennessee’s SB 1493 — the one that tries to turn “AI emotional support” into a Class A felony. (start here for my 6-part series in progress on that one: https://crispyrose.com/tennessee-ai-bill-economic-impact/) The pattern is identical: I don’t understand this ➜ it doesn’t match my intuition ➜ therefore it’s probably fake, dangerous, or being used against us." At ET, Man Accused of Spraying Apple Cider Vinegar on Ilhan Omar Charged With Assault. "Anthony James Kamierczak was charged with forcibly assaulting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, and interfering with the representative."

From NRO, Jury Awards Detransitioner $2 Million in Historic Medical-Malpractice Lawsuit. Clay Travis @ClayTravis, "Plaintiff’s lawyers are going to end “gender change” surgeries on minors. This was a New York jury. Can you imagine when some of these cases get to red state jurors? Someone is going to get hit with nine figures in damages. Doctors who did these surgeries should lose licenses too," Quote Stacy Robinson @stacepochalypse "A jury has awarded Fox Varian a total of $2 million after it found her psychologist and surgeon liable for medical malpractice related to a mastectomy at age 16." Don Surber thinks Lawsuits will end the trans fad, "A New York jury said butchering a confused 16-year-old girl was malpractice." At Althouse, "A jury on Jan. 30 found a psychologist and surgeon liable for malpractice after they supported and performed breast removal surgery..." Gail Heriot at Insty says OUR CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL IS CRAZY: "“California Attorney General Sues Rady Children’s Hospital for Curtailing Gender-Affirming Care.” Meanwhile a jury just awarded $2 million to detransitioner in win against gender surgeons."

At the Free Bacon, Mamdani Voter Ezra Klein Tries, Fails To Achieve Solidarity With Student Activists Who Called Him a 'Zionist Pig' "The liberal NYT columnist has denounced Israel and defended student protests. They blasted him as a 'Nazi normalizer' who 'set Palestine on fire.'" Charles Murray @charlesmurray, "But perhaps you can understand my guilty pleasure at seeing Ezra wrongly accused of the same sort of thing he wrongly accuses me of." Quote Matthew Yglesias @mattyglesias, "I don't think @ezraklein is an apologist of white supremacist views and an accessory to genocidal state violence." From Stacy McCain's substack, Born Lucky, Two Flavors of the Same Poison, "Matt Yglesias notices totalitarian foxes inside the 'progressive' henhouse."

The College Fix reports Audit demanded after claims that MIT faculty hiring sidesteps DEI ban. Da Caller, Trump DOJ Joins Legal Fight Against Major Med School’s ‘Race-Based’ Admissions. Da Wire explains Why Governors Are Opting-In To School Choice At Record Speed "Nineteen states are now set to participate in the federal tax credit scholarship with more on the way."

The Wombat has Rule 5 Monday: Boots & Bikinis and FMJRA 2.0: Better Late Than Never up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Palm Sunday

With Katharina Nahlik:

Alex Calima explains how tolerant your palms are: Florida Freeze: Prepare your garden for coldest temperatures in years - Sunday February 1. 

Linked at Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links.  The Wombat has Rule 5 Monday: Boots & Bikinis up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.