Following Vice President-elect JD Vance’s statement that not all January 6th insurrectionists would receive pardons, a backlash erupted among Trump supporters. Vance clarified that pardons would be granted to peaceful protestors unjustly prosecuted, excluding those who committed violence. This contradicted Trump’s prior promises of blanket pardons for all January 6th participants, leading to accusations of betrayal and demands for a complete reversal of the policy. The ensuing conflict highlights the internal divisions within the MAGA movement and the potential for further chaos should Trump fail to fulfill his previous pledges.
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On December 21st, Alexander Nikiforov was arrested in Kolpino, near St. Petersburg, after setting fire to newspapers placed on ATM terminals on three separate occasions. He was subsequently charged with terrorism. Nikiforov claims he acted under duress, following instructions from unknown telephone scammers. This incident is one of several similar attacks against financial institutions and government buildings that week, raising concerns about a potential organized scam.
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Following the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, landlords are illegally increasing rental prices, exploiting displaced residents. This price gouging, violating California’s anti-price gouging laws, sees landlords demanding thousands of dollars over asking prices. Real estate broker Jason Oppenheim reports firsthand accounts of this exploitation, highlighting the vulnerability of fire victims amidst already inflated rental markets. California’s Attorney General has warned that such actions are criminal offenses, punishable by jail time and fines.
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A red flag warning is in effect until Wednesday at 6:00 PM PST. This warning covers several Southern California areas, including the San Bernardino County Mountains, Santa Ana Mountains, and inland valleys of Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties. The affected regions encompass multiple national forest ranger districts. High fire danger is anticipated due to critical weather conditions.
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President-elect Trump’s false claims regarding California’s wildfires and Governor Newsom’s water policies prompted a sharp rebuke from Newsom. Trump baselessly blamed Newsom for the fires, connecting them to water allocation decisions and falsely accusing him of prioritizing a fish over fire prevention. Newsom dismissed these claims as inaccurate and insulting, highlighting the president-elect’s history of withholding disaster aid from states with opposing governors. Newsom’s concerns extend to the potential for delayed or denied federal aid following Trump’s inauguration, given the president-elect’s past actions.
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On January 11, 2024, a Russian airstrike on a nursing home in Sudzha, Kursk Oblast, resulted in one fatality and significant damage to the facility, leaving approximately 70 elderly and disabled residents displaced. The attack, confirmed by Ukrainian military spokesperson Oleksii Dmytrashkivskyi, occurred amidst renewed Ukrainian offensive operations in the region and follows reports of captured North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces. The incident highlights the vulnerability of civilians in the conflict zone and the challenges of relocating vulnerable populations. This attack occurred in an area previously visited by media on Ukrainian military-organized press tours.
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Justin LaGesse, a 37-year-old Illinois resident, received an 11-month prison sentence and was ordered to pay $43,315 in restitution for his role in the January 6th Capitol riot. He pleaded guilty to felony destruction of government property after using a flagpole to break a Capitol window and verbally assaulting police officers. LaGesse’s actions, which included shouting insults at law enforcement, were captured on surveillance footage. The sentencing follows over 1,500 other charges related to the Capitol breach.
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A US ban on TikTok would likely result in the app becoming inaccessible through app stores and potentially being blocked from functioning by internet providers. Users would no longer be able to download updates, and existing functionality could be impaired or cease altogether. The precise impact on individual devices would depend on the specifics of the ban and any actions taken by TikTok itself. Ultimately, a ban would effectively remove TikTok from the US digital landscape.
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President-elect Trump’s threat to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian imports, and his suggestion that Canada become the 51st state, overshadows the significant negative impact these tariffs would have on American consumers. Trudeau highlights that increased costs for goods like oil and gas would harm U.S. citizens, countering Trump’s assertions of trade deficits and Canadian subsidies. Canada has prepared retaliatory tariffs on various U.S. goods should the threat materialize, mirroring previous responses to similar actions. Despite Trump’s claims of U.S. energy independence, Canada remains a crucial supplier of oil to the United States.
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Following devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, GOP Senator John Barrasso suggested that any federal aid package should include stipulations to prevent future occurrences, citing alleged mismanagement by California officials. This stance, echoed by other Republicans and conservative media, attributes the fires to liberal policies, including diversity initiatives. Conversely, Democratic Representative Maxwell Frost condemned attaching conditions to disaster relief. Governor Gavin Newsom refuted these claims, emphasizing that the spread of misinformation hinders effective responses to the crisis.
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John Q. Hosedrinker