Source: Fox News
“A Filipino mayor escaped unharmed after an apparent rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack on his convoy in broad daylight Sunday in the southern province of Maguindanao del Sur, authorities said. The Philippine News Agency (PNA), the country’s state-run news outlet, reported that Mayor Akmad Ampatuan was inside a bulletproof vehicle when the attack occurred at around 6:30 a.m. … Police and military forces later killed three suspected attackers in a pursuit.” (01/28/26)
https://www.foxnews.com/world/philippine-mayor-unharmed-after-apparent-rpg-attack-car-broad-daylight
Source: San Diego Union-Tribune
“A federal judge said Tuesday that a nearly completed Massachusetts offshore wind project can continue, as the industry successfully challenges the Trump administration in court. At U.S. District Court in Boston, Judge Brian Murphy halted the administration’s stop work order for Vineyard Wind, citing the potential economic losses from the delays and the developers’ likelihood of success on their claims. Vineyard Wind is one of five big offshore wind projects on the East Coast that the Trump administration froze days before Christmas, citing national security concerns — and the fourth that has since been allowed to go forward.” (01/27/26)
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/01/27/massachusetts-offshore-wind/
Source: Washington Monthly
“How Democrats Lost Rural Voters—and How to Win Them Back.” (01/28/26)
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2026/01/28/how-democrats-lost-rural-voters-and-how-to-win-them-back/
Source: Washington Post
by George F Will
“When Kristi Noem was — what? informed? reminded? — that her meeting with North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong Un, which she reported in a prepublication manuscript of her memoir, never happened, this did not ruffle her sang-froid. She placidly said that the ‘anecdote’ about the meeting would be ‘adjusted’ before the book was published. Today, Noem, a former member of Congress and former governor of South Dakota, is secretary of Homeland Security, under whose supervision Immigration and Customs Enforcement operates. There are, however, many reasons, beyond Noem’s nature, that multiplying millions of Americans do not and should not trust ICE.” (01/27/26)
https://archive.is/p7g2a
Source: Chasing Liberty
by Jeff Charles
“When Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on January 24, the Trump administration immediately launched into damage control mode. But instead of being honest about what happened, top officials — from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to FBI Director Kash Patel to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller — did what every government does best: They told lie after lie to justify killing an American citizen. Video evidence, witness testimony, and investigative reporting have exposed these lies one by one. And the pattern is clear: these people will say anything to protect federal agents who kill civilians — whether it is true or false.” (01/27/26)
https://www.libertychasers.com/p/the-trump-administrations-lies-about
Source: Electronic Frontier Foundation
by Josh Richman
“U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem last week posted a photo of the arrest of Nekima Levy Armstrong, one of three activists who had entered a St. Paul, Minn. church to confront a pastor who also serves as acting field director of the St Paul Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office. A short while later, the White House posted the same photo – except that version had been digitally altered to darken Armstrong’s skin and rearrange her facial features to make it appear she was sobbing or distraught. The Guardian one of many media outlets to report on this image manipulation, created a handy slider graphic to help viewers see clearly how the photo had been changed. This isn’t about ‘owning the libs’ — this is the highest office in the nation using technology to lie to the entire world.” (01/27/26)
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/01/beware-government-using-image-manipulation-propaganda
Source: Seattle Times
“North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country will unveil plans to further bolster its nuclear program at the upcoming ruling party congress, as he observed the North’s latest weapons launch, state media reported Wednesday. The Korean Central News Agency said North Korea performed a live-fire drill of an upgraded large-caliber multiple rocket launcher system in the presence of Kim on Tuesday, an apparent reference to what South Korea and Japan earlier described as ballistic missile launches from North Korea. State media photos show Kim walking near a huge launch truck with his teenage daughter in her latest public appearance with her father. South Korea’s spy service said in early 2024 it considered the girl, reportedly named Kim Ju Ae, as her father’s likely heir.” (01/27/26)
https://archive.is/FwdYZ
Source: bloggingheads.tv
“The Case Against AI | Robert Wright, Emily Bender, and Alex Hanna.” (01/27/26)
https://bloggingheads.tv/videos/69257
Source: The UnPopulist
by Johan Norberg
“How do you create a golden age? In my book Peak Human, I tried to answer that question by examining seven exceptionally creative and innovative civilizations — ancient Athens, Rome, the Abbasid Caliphate, Song China, Renaissance Italy, the Dutch Republic, and today’s Anglosphere. … In the United States, it is hard to escape the feeling that President Trump has read my book in reverse. He speaks of unleashing a new American golden age, but the way in which he is upending many of America’s greatest strengths seems designed to move the country straight toward its phase of decline and fall.” (01/27/26)
https://www.theunpopulist.net/p/from-athens-to-sparta-how-trumpism
Source: Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
by John Coleman
“Grok, the AI system integrated into X, has reportedly been used to turn real pictures of people — including minors — into nude or sexualized imagery. People are understandably outraged. This episode shows how a person can use AI tools to violate a sense of human dignity and security with little more than a photo and a prompt. The fact that the tool was used to target real people, especially children, without their knowledge or consent is particularly disturbing to many. Some have responded by calling for new laws. That instinct is understandable. But many proposals would raise serious First Amendment concerns, and before trying to scratch the ‘do something’ itch with new legislation, it’s important to first ask: does existing law already prohibit this? In many cases, the answer is yes.” (01/27/26)
https://www.thefire.org/news/did-grok-break-law
