Source: Seattle Times
“A man facing federal charges in what authorities have called the largest jewelry heist in U.S. history was deported to Ecuador late last month, bringing the case against him to a crashing halt, according to recent court filings. Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores was one of seven men charged last year with breaking into a Brinks big rig and stealing around $100 million worth of gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and luxury watches in 2022. … Flores faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on charges of conspiracy to commit theft from interstate and foreign shipment and theft from interstate and foreign shipment. He has pleaded not guilty. But, in a complicated sequence of events, Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Flores on or about Dec. 29, according to his attorney, John D. Robertson. In a Jan. 9 motion to dismiss the case against Flores, Robertson said he had ‘just learned’ his client had been deported.” (01/22/26)
https://archive.is/iRSlI
Source: Politico
“A peace of work.” (01/22/26)
https://traffic.megaphone.fm/POLL3568803412.mp3
Source: The UnPopulist
by Berny Belvedere
“Territorial seizures are hardly novel phenomena in international relations. What makes this crisis different is that the aggressor is the United States, a close ally of Denmark’s and the architect of the very international order designed to discourage such brazen territorial acquisitiveness. It is particularly absurd since America has had unlimited military access, an open invitation to station whatever forces it wants on Greenland, since World War II. It’s understandable why the Danes and Greenlanders are bewildered at supposed security motivations for the Arctic Anschluss. Throughout the postwar era, a defining tenet of American hegemony has been that military might does not confer territorial rights, and that America itself would resolutely defend weaker nations against the predations of their mightier neighbors. This president has reversed that mission entirely. Under Trump, on the international stage, the U.S. has gone from protector to predator.” (01/21/26)
https://www.theunpopulist.net/p/trumps-attempted-greenland-grab-has
Source: The Atlantic
by Marc Novicoff
“President Trump prosecutes his political opponents; deports immigrants, including some here legally, to foreign prisons without due process; solicits tribute payments from corporations and foreign governments; deploys soldiers to American cities that are not, in fact, in civil-war-level chaos; and puts his name and image on government buildings that quite obviously don’t belong to him. So, a question: What do you call this form of government? Authoritarian? Kleptocratic? Totalitarian? Fascist?” (01/21/26)
https://archive.is/GyH5a
Source: CBS News
“A former Georgia House member has pleaded guilty to lying to collect federal unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Karen Bennett’s guilty plea to one count of making false statements to collect $13,940 had been expected after she waived her indictment on Jan. 5. Bennett, 70, had resigned from the House in the days before she was charged. … Prosecutors said Bennett, a physical therapist, lied in 2020 when she stated she was being prevented by quarantine from working for Metro Therapy Providers, a company Bennett owned. Prosecutors said that in reality, Bennett’s role with the company was administrative and she worked from a home office, instead of providing therapy to clients. They also allege that Metro Therapy continued operating and generating income after a brief disruption. In addition, prosecutors say Bennett failed to disclose that she was also receiving $905 in week pay from a church.” (01/21/26)
https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/karen-bennett-georgia-lawmaker-covid-benefits-fraud-guilty-plea/
Source: RealClearPolitics
by Kerri Toloczko
“If Americans thought the 2016 and 2020 elections were messy, just wait until Mr. Artificial Intelligence shows up for the 2026 midterms with his own election disruptions in hand. If you are an election official, an election integrity advocate, or even a candidate, you should start creating an anti-AI election disinformation plan – yesterday. Protecting elections has historically meant securing ballot boxes, counting rooms, and voting machines. In 2026, that will still matter, but will no longer be enough. The greatest threat now to confidence in elections may not be whether votes are counted accurately, but whether voters believe anything they see, hear, or read about the process.” (01/22/26)
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/01/22/election_integrity_ai_wakeup_call_technology_threatens_election_protection_153745.html
Source: The Fifth Column
“Trump Would Do Anything For Greenland (But He Won’t Do That).” (01/21/26)
https://www.wethefifth.com/p/trump-would-do-anything-for-greenland
Source: National Review
“Market Discipline, Greenland, and President Trump.” (01/22/25)
https://www.nationalreview.com/podcasts/capital-record/market-discipline-greenland-and-president-trump/
Source: Cato Institute
by Neal McCluskey
“On January 16, the US Department of Education announced that it will delay the collection of defaulted federal student debt via wage garnishment and retention of federal funds such as Social Security payments. The reasons offered by the Trump administration are that the Biden administration left student debt repayment a confused mess that needs to be clarified before forced collection resumes, and the Working Families Tax Cuts Act — aka One Big Beautiful Bill — will simplify debt repayment starting this July, as well as allow a second chance for defaulted borrowers to rehabilitate their loans. … Even if legal, there is a huge problem with another delay: It will likely bolster the deleterious sentiment among borrowers for which the Trump administration blamed Biden.” (01/21/26)
https://www.cato.org/blog/troubles-trump-administrations-involuntary-student-debt-collection-delay
Source: Fox News
by Jonathan Turley
“Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison declared Sunday that there are no federal grounds for prosecuting the mob that disrupted St. Paul’s Cities Church and characterized the conduct as ‘First Amendment activity.’ Ellison not only supported the protesters as exercising their First Amendment rights in an interview with CNN, but also signaled an unwillingness to enforce state laws allegedly violated by the protesters, including trespass and disorderly conduct. Ellison is infamous for his prior support for violent groups and has long-faced criticism for statements and associations involving extremist movements and figures linked to political unrest.” [editor’s note: Compare to Turley’s view of the “mob rule” in the Capitol riot – TLK] (01/22/25)
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/jonathan-turley-when-minnesota-ag-ellison-excuses-mob-rule-religious-freedom-trampled
