Radio Atlantic, 02/05/26
Source: The Atlantic
“How Jeff Bezos Broke The Washington Post.” (02/05/26)
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/02/how-jeff-bezos-broke-washington-post/685885/
Slotkin rejects DOJ request for interview on Democrats’ video about illegal orders
Source: SFGate
“Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan is refusing to voluntarily comply with a Justice Department investigation into a video she organized urging U.S. military members to resist ‘illegal orders’ — escalating a dispute that President Donald Trump has publicly pushed. In letters first obtained by The Associated Press, Slotkin’s lawyer informed U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro that the senator would not agree to a voluntary interview about the video. Slotkin’s legal team also requested that Pirro preserve all documents related to the matter for ‘anticipated litigation.’ Slotkin’s lawyer separately wrote to Attorney General Pam Bondi, declining to sit for an FBI interview about the video and urging her to immediately terminate any inquiry.” (02/05/25)
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/slotkin-rejects-justice-department-request-for-21335243.php
Mass Deportation: Who Was More “Inhumane,” Obama or Trump?
Source: Town Hall
by Larry Elder
“Those who claim President Barack Obama deported illegal aliens more ‘humanely’ make the following assertions: a) ICE didn’t go into the streets under Obama; b) there were no street activists/protesters/agitators; c) ICE only deported those with criminal records beyond illegal entry or illegally overstaying; d) Obama’s deportation numbers largely include ‘returns’ or those deported at the border; e) the Obama administration did not engage in ‘lawlessness;’ and f) ICE and/or Customs and Border Patrol arrested only illegal aliens after first securing a judicial warrant. As for a), under Obama, ICE did go into the streets, including into the interior and into ‘sanctuary’ cities like Chicago. Watch ‘Lost in Detention,’ a 2011 episode of the PBS ‘Frontline’ program, where, for example, an illegal alien mother stopped in Illinois for making an illegal lane change was ultimately deported back to Mexico.” [editor’s note: I’m not sure who Elder is arguing with here. I’ve never heard any immigration freedom advocated defend Obama on the subject – TLK] (02/05/25)
CA: Judge denies trial delay for killer deputy who cited “political climate” after Minnesota shootings
Source: San Diego Union-Tribune
“A federal judge ruled Wednesday that a former San Diego County sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot a fleeing detainee in 2020 must stand trial later this month, denying a defense request that sought to delay the civil rights trial because of the ‘current political climate’ following two recent fatal shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis. Aaron Richard Russell is scheduled to go on trial beginning Feb. 17 in U.S. District Court in San Diego on charges related to the May 2020 shooting death of Nicholas Bils, who had escaped from custody, was unarmed and was running away from law enforcement outside the downtown Central Jail when Russell shot him at least four times.” (02/05/26)
Ron Paul Liberty Report, 02/05/26
Source: Ron Paul Liberty Report
“Showdown? US/Iran Talks Set For Tomorrow.” (02/05/26)
The Presidency as Protection Racket
Source: The Dispatch
by Dan Greenberg
“Making threats is risky. Threats strain relationships and often result in retaliation, which is why threats from operators of protection rackets often rely on ambiguity. Such threats are sometimes euphemistic, but when stripped of the veneer of plausible deniability, their message ultimately translates to, ‘Give me what I want, and I won’t hurt you.’ Protection rackets are especially dangerous when conjoined with government power, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish Donald Trump’s efforts to force the governor of Colorado to pardon Tina Peters from a protection racket.” (02/05/26)
Senators should ask Trump’s Fed nominee these tough questions
Source: Washington Post
by Ramesh Ponnuru
“Before confirming him to one of the most critical jobs in government — chairman of the Federal Reserve — senators should ask Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump’s nominee, these questions …” (02/05/26)
Is the Really Senate Up for Grabs?
Source: Exiled Policy
by Jason Pye
“A narrative that’s quickly forming for the 2026 midterm is that control of the Senate may be in play. This narrative is forming because Trump’s approval ratings have been on a downward trajectory for months, and little his administration has done to reverse course appears to be working. It’s entirely possible for Democrats to take the Senate, but a lot has to go right for them.” (02/05/26)
https://exiledpolicy.substack.com/p/is-the-really-senate-up-for-grabs
Mike Johnson Wants To Spare ICE the Hassle of Getting the Right Warrant Before Forcibly Entering a Home
Source: Reason
by Damon Root
“‘Imagine if we had to go through the process of getting a judicial warrant.’ Those are the complaining words of Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R–La.), who was voicing his support for the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which now claims that its agents have the right to forcibly enter private homes without first obtaining a warrant signed by a judge. … ‘Imagine if we had to go through the process of guaranteeing freedom of speech.’ ‘Imagine if we had to go through the process of respecting the right to keep and bear arms.’ ‘Imagine if we had to go through the process of paying just compensation when private property is taken for a public use.’ You get the idea.” (02/05/26)
Palestine: Israeli security service chief’s brother is accused of smuggling cigarettes into Gaza
Source: Seattle Times
“An Israeli court on Thursday indicted a brother of the chief of Israel’s security service for smuggling tens of thousands of dollars worth of cigarettes into war-ravaged Gaza Strip at a time when getting aid into the territory was difficult and many Palestinians were going hungry. The indictment of Bezalel Zini is the latest in a burgeoning scandal implicating more than a dozen people, many of them Israeli reserve soldiers, of personally profiting from the Israel-Hamas war and delivering goods into Gaza that could potentially benefit the militant group. His brother, Shin Bet chief David Zini, has not been implicated in the scandal.” (02/05/26)