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The Fraternal Order of Police, a police union that openly endorsed Donald Trump’s presidential campaigns, has expressed outrage over his pardoning of individuals involved in the January 6th Capitol riot. This unexpected backlash reveals a stunning disconnect between the union’s political allegiance and the consequences of that choice.
The union’s shock seems almost comical considering Trump’s consistent rhetoric throughout his campaign and presidency. He repeatedly expressed his intention to pardon individuals involved in the January 6th events, making his actions far from a surprise. The union’s professed surprise suggests a lack of understanding of the man they supported, or perhaps a willful ignorance of his stated intentions.… Continue reading
President Xi Jinping affirmed a commitment to elevating Sino-Russian relations to unprecedented heights, emphasizing stability and resilience in the face of global uncertainty. President Putin reciprocated this sentiment, highlighting the unwavering strength of their bilateral ties, independent of domestic or international pressures. This strengthened partnership follows China’s increased support for Russia since the Ukraine invasion, marked by a prior “no limits” cooperation agreement. The article contrasts this strengthened relationship with former President Trump’s previously stated intentions to adopt a more confrontational approach towards China and to negotiate with Putin regarding Ukraine.
Following President Trump’s inauguration, Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde delivered a sermon at Washington National Cathedral imploring the president to show mercy to marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ individuals and immigrants, whose lives had been impacted by his recent executive orders. Budde’s message directly challenged Trump’s policies and contrasted sharply with his administration’s actions. Trump’s dismissive response, describing the service as “not too exciting,” further highlighted the significant ideological differences between the president and the Cathedral. The event underscored the ongoing tension between Trump’s political platform and the Cathedral’s progressive values.
President Trump’s return to office will be marked by a significant announcement: a $100 billion initial investment, potentially reaching $500 billion over four years, in a new AI infrastructure project called Stargate. This joint venture, involving OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle, will begin with a Texas data center and expand nationwide. The White House meeting will feature CEOs from the participating companies, though details beyond the initial investment remain limited. Further investors are anticipated to join the ambitious undertaking.
Following TikTok’s return to the U.S., searches for content critical of Donald Trump are being suppressed for American users, yielding “no results found” messages. This censorship, confirmed via VPN comparisons with searches conducted outside the U.S., affects terms like “rigged election” and “fascism,” while searches with misspellings or targeting other political figures produce results. Users report similar restrictions on other platforms, sparking concerns about political bias and free speech limitations, with TikTok yet to publicly address these allegations. The widespread nature of these restrictions has led to significant user outrage and accusations that the platform has become a tool for propaganda.
During his inaugural address, President Donald Trump announced his intention to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. This announcement prompted a visible reaction from former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who was seen laughing. The brief moment captured the unexpected nature of the declaration. No further details regarding the renaming were provided in the address.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced she will not attend Donald Trump’s inauguration, citing his sexual abuse conviction in the E. Jean Carroll case. Ocasio-Cortez publicly stated her refusal to celebrate a rapist, referencing the judge’s finding that Trump sexually abused Carroll. Her statement prompted a response from Elon Musk, who called her “unhinged,” and further commentary from Ocasio-Cortez on social media platforms. She also expressed concerns about the potential use of TikTok as a propaganda tool by the Trump administration and warned about the looming threat of authoritarianism.
Bill Gates recently met with Donald Trump, discussing potential advancements in HIV and polio cures, a meeting Gates found highly productive and encouraging. This meeting follows Trump’s claims of Gates seeking an audience and underscores a growing trend of tech billionaires aligning with the incoming president. The gathering of tech leaders at Trump’s inauguration further emphasizes Trump’s assertion of widespread support from influential figures. The discussions focused on accelerating research and development in these critical areas of global health.
Following his inauguration, President Trump urged Russian President Putin to negotiate a peace deal in Ukraine, warning of dire consequences for Russia if the conflict persists. Trump expressed confidence in his ability to broker a resolution, referencing past interactions with Putin and recent conversations with President Zelenskyy. Putin, in turn, signaled his openness to dialogue with the new US administration, emphasizing the need for a lasting peace while reiterating Russia’s commitment to its national interests. Trump’s past statements about mediating the conflict were acknowledged by Putin as a welcome effort to prevent global escalation.
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood