It could be he wanted to be caught, we'll have to wait and see.
Gas Bandit's Political Thread V: The Vampire Likes Bats
- Thread starter GasBandit
- Start date
My current top theories are:
-This isn't the real guy/government plant/#OswaldAllOverAgain,
OR
-This is a deliberate choice/martyr/wants [to use] the spotlight for some reason.
I find it hard to believe a person who so publicly demonstrated their capacity/competency at planning for contingencies was "accidentally" caught hanging out in a public location while a nationwide manhunt was going on.
--Patrick
-This isn't the real guy/government plant/#OswaldAllOverAgain,
OR
-This is a deliberate choice/martyr/wants [to use] the spotlight for some reason.
I find it hard to believe a person who so publicly demonstrated their capacity/competency at planning for contingencies was "accidentally" caught hanging out in a public location while a nationwide manhunt was going on.
--Patrick
He comes from a rich family and he had positive things to say about the Unibomber. I think he’s a little off. But we do need more people of higher standing to take action against the poor economic standards in place, especially in the health care system.
Sadly at some point we have to decide if there may be a realistic mindset that peaceful protesting accomplishes nothing, and only through violence can we see positive change.
Sadly at some point we have to decide if there may be a realistic mindset that peaceful protesting accomplishes nothing, and only through violence can we see positive change.
The suspected UnitedHealthcare CEO killer planned his attack well – but made crucial mistakes, experts say
It sounds like he carefully planned a lot of the assassination, but was ultimately just an amateur who still made mistakes. He’s not a master criminal, and he’s not some crazy loon who got lucky. He’s just a guy who did a fairly good job covering his tracks but didn’t plan for everything and got caught.
It sounds like he carefully planned a lot of the assassination, but was ultimately just an amateur who still made mistakes. He’s not a master criminal, and he’s not some crazy loon who got lucky. He’s just a guy who did a fairly good job covering his tracks but didn’t plan for everything and got caught.
I haven’t read anything yet that says that the employee noticed the fake ids. I know that police found the IDs on him when he was arrested.
Exclusive: Luigi's Manifesto
Read the manifesto the media refused to publish
www.kenklippenstein.com
Purports to be the full manifesto from this guy.
In this case I can't feel too sorry for Neely. The fact is many New Yorkers are sick of being harassed and threatened by crazy homeless people. I was in NYC over the summer and there were bums stinking up outdoor cafes, defecating on the sidewalks, and passed out in the bushes. I'm not talking about the sheltered homeless; those individuals just need a hand up until they can get back on their feet. The homeless you see on the streets there are the ones who refused shelter because they won't lay off the booze or drugs. No, that by itself does not justify violence against them. And no, forced institutionalization like what Trump suggests is not the answer.
Neely had a record of erratic behavior and drug issues. Eyewitnesses testified that they felt they were in danger. From what I've read, Penny wasn't motivated by racial animus or delusions of grandeur. It's not like he pulled a Bernhard Goetz or Kyle Rittenhouse and started shooting. I'm sorry it got to that point, but Neely should have been in rehab and New Yorkers have the right to go about their business without unstable homeless people screaming in their faces.
Neely had a record of erratic behavior and drug issues. Eyewitnesses testified that they felt they were in danger. From what I've read, Penny wasn't motivated by racial animus or delusions of grandeur. It's not like he pulled a Bernhard Goetz or Kyle Rittenhouse and started shooting. I'm sorry it got to that point, but Neely should have been in rehab and New Yorkers have the right to go about their business without unstable homeless people screaming in their faces.
figmentPez
Staff member
Bankruptcy judge rejects The Onion's bid for Infowars
"The decision means Jones will be able to continue his show under the Infowars name, to his Inforwars audience and from his Infowars studio — at least for now."
You’re gonna feel really goddamn stupid when he’s got a Fox News show in a month.
Dave
Staff member
I kind of agree with @IronBrig4 . Regardless of his politics, I don’t think the guy was trying to murder anyone. He was helping people against a dangerous crazy person and held the chokehold too long. You’re trained to hold it a bit longer than limp because people fake going limp. Yeah, he held it too long and that’s a tragedy. But he was stepping up to help.
Trained? Like, marine training? To kill people? Choke holds have been considered deadly force since 1985, if the Marines are training people that choke holds are "safe" then that's just wrong
While that might be a possibility (and Trump’s approval should fill anyone with shame), Penny isn’t some racist asshole like Zimmerman or Goetz. He wasn't looking for an excuse to start shooting like Rittenhouse.
Remember that there have been some recent incidents in NYC where homeless people have pushed commuters onto the subway tracks. It's one of the reasons why ridership is down. New Yorkers are worried about going to the subway station because yet another homeless junkie might be going through an episode and lunging at passersby. They don't want to walk their dog in Brooklyn because some psycho might attack their pet. New York's unsheltered homeless make a significant negative impact on everyone else's quality of life and community well-being. Some are a danger to themselves and to others.
I have a lot of empathy for homeless people up to a point. Personal experience has taught me that even a comfortably middle-class family can become homeless pretty quickly in this country. All it takes is a recession, a round of layoffs, and an unexpected medical emergency. That happened to my family when I was a kid. We weren't living under a bridge or anything like that, but we were effectively homeless for five months. In places like Silicon Valley, families bringing in $100,000 a year live in homeless shelters because the cost of housing is insanely high. I get it. NYC's unsheltered homeless are there because they'd prefer their next hit of fentanyl over a bunk in the shelter.
My disagreement was less for the idea that this one instance might have justified some level of intervention and more for the repeated insistence that a meaningful number of homeless people are there by choice, by extension that they're violent by choice, and that they're therefore undeserving of empathy. Oh, and also using their possible mental health issues as a weapon to justify that dismissal of their humanity (those "crazy," "unstable," smelly bums!) is really really gross.
If Penny wasn’t there that day the worst thing that would have happened is that somebody got punched by a malnourished homeless man. To believe that a fucking chokehold was justified in anyway by the circumstances is fucking psychotic.
Also reason for my disagreements. I had a big long post typed out but decided to delete it because I doubt it would change ironbrig's mind based on my experiences.
But here's a hint, any time someone says "I have empathy up to a point" that's a red flag to ask yourself do you actually? Maybe I should reevaluate that.
I think the excuse-making is a little gross and definitely a strawman fallacy. The case was specifically about criminally negligent homicide. Nobody should have died, but that doesn't mean the death was due to criminal negligence. Was it, and beyond a reasonable doubt? I guess there was enough room for some doubt about either the knowledge/intent of Penny or the standard of reasonable behavior.
UnitedHealth CEO defends company, plans to honor legacy of Brian Thompson
In a viral video, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group defended the claims denial practices of its insurance arm, touting its important role in guarding the healthcare system. He asked employees to tune out "critical noise" on social media.
healthexec.com
...The CEOs...they learn nothing.
--Patrick
It's not an all or nothing scenario. I'm from Southern California originally, where the shelters are full to bursting. The mild climate attracts homeless nationwide and the ludicrously expensive housing market keeps people on the streets. Kentucky and West Virginia are some of the poorest states in the country but it's possible for a poor person and some friends to cobble together $400 a month for a crappy apartment there. You can't do that in coastal California, Portland, or Seattle because of the cost of living. I have a lot of empathy for the homeless there or in shelters because a lot of them work low-paying jobs and they just can't make ends meet. A lot of them are families and I know EXACTLY what they're going through because I lived it.
I draw the line when the homeless start threatening violence, break into cars, or trash other people's property. Imagine owning an upscale cafe in downtown Portland, paying $5000 for monthly rent, and not having any customers because homeless people turned your bathroom into an open sewer and crack house. I'm not making that scenario up. It happens all the time and that's why many West Coast voters have gotten fed up with permissive DAs. They're sympathetic towards those who are struggling with addiction and mental illness, but everyone else has the right to go about their daily lives without being accosted or assaulted by vagrants who need to be in rehab.
@PatrThom Nothing at all. I give it another few months before another one gets offed.
GasBandit
Staff member
Got two in rapid succession:
1/ Trump “can’t guarantee anything” when asked whether his promised tariffs would increase prices for Americans, in an NBC interview. “I think tariffs are the most beautiful word. I think they’re beautiful. It’s going to make us rich,” Trump said. Economists, however, have argued that Trump’s proposal to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, along with a 10% tariff on Chinese goods, would raise prices for U.S. consumers since tariffs are paid by American companies importing the products and not by the exporting countries. When informed that economists agree that Americans would pay higher prices as a result of his plan, Trump dismissed the claim, saying, “I don’t believe that.” And when asked to guarantee American families wouldn’t pay more, Trump replied: “I can’t guarantee anything. I can’t guarantee tomorrow.” (Politico / CBS News / Associated Press / NPR)
3/ Trump suggested he’ll end birthright citizenship, saying “you have to” deport everyone who is in the country illegally. Trump also suggested that mixed immigration status families should be deported together, claiming he has “no choice” but to deport everyone, including U.S. citizens with undocumented family members. “I don’t want to be breaking up families, so the only way you don’t break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back,” Trump said. About 4.7 million households in the U.S. are defined as mixed status, with at least one undocumented resident, and an estimated 48% of the 2.8 million households with undocumented residents include at least one U.S.-born child. Trump previously called birthright citizenship “frankly ridiculous” because someone can “have a baby on our land, you walk over the border, have a baby — congratulations, the baby is now a U.S. citizen.” Birthright citizenship is enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution and states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.” (NBC News / Politico / Axios / New York Times)
4/ Trump plans to have Robert F. Kennedy Jr. investigate the repeatedly debunked conspiracy theory that vaccines cause autism. “I think somebody has to find out,” Trump said. “I mean, something is going on. I don’t know if it’s vaccines. Maybe it’s chlorine in the water, right? You know, people are looking at a lot of different things.” The theory that vaccines cause autism started in 1998 paper in the Lancet arguing that measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines were causing autism. The article has since been retracted and the author has been stripped of his medical license. Hundreds of studies have repeatedly found childhood vaccines to be safe, and the CDC estimates that between 1994 and 2023, childhood vaccines prevented 1.3 million premature deaths and 32 million hospitalizations. The World Health Organization has also ruled out a connection between autism and the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. The rise in autism diagnoses is attributed to increased screening and awareness. Nevertheless Trump said he was “open to anything.” Trump has tapped Kennedy, the founder of a prominent anti-vaccine activist group, to run Health and Human Services. (New York Times / NBC News / STAT / The Guardian)
5/ Trump confirmed that he has no plans to remove Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. “I don’t see it,” Trump said, acknowledging the legal and practical barriers to removing Powell, who was originally appointed by Trump in 2017. Powell’s term expires in 2026. “I think if I told him to, he would,” Trump added. “But if I asked him to, he probably wouldn’t.” After Trump appointed Powell, he repeatedly criticized Powell for not moving quickly enough to lower interest rates, and instead explored whether he could fire or demote him after the Fed raised interest rates a number of times. When Powell was asked recently whether he would resign if Trump pressured him to leave, he replied simply: “No.” (Bloomberg / New York Times / NBC News)
6/ Elon Musk spent over $250 million supporting Trump’s reelection, including $20 million to a super PAC that was named after Ruth Bader Ginsburg, which framed Trump’s abortion stance as moderate to attract swing voters. Musk donated $20.5 million to the RBG PAC, which attempted to argue that Trump and Ginsburg agreed on abortion. Trump, however, has repeatedly took credit for the Supreme Court’s overturning Roe v. Wade, which came after three Trump-appointed justices voted to eliminate the constitutional right to an abortion after 49 years. After Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died – less than two months before 2020 the presidential election – Trump and Senate Republicans confirmed Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Ginsburg’s granddaughter, Clara Spera, said the family condemned the use of her grandmother’s name and that doing so to “support Donald Trump’s re-election campaign, and specifically to suggest that she would approve of his position on abortion, is nothing short of appalling.” The RBG PAC “has no connection to the Ginsburg family and is an affront to my late grandmother’s legacy.” Since the election, Trump selected Musk to advise him on cutting spending across the federal government as a co-chair of his “Department of Government Efficiency” initiative. (Associated Press / NBC News / New York Times / Washington Post)
7/ Lara Trump resigned as co-chair of the Republican National Committee amid speculation that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will appoint her to fill the Senate seat vacated by Marco Rubio, who Trump tapped for secretary of state. “It is something I would seriously consider,” Lara Trump said. “If I’m being completely transparent, I don’t know exactly what that would look like. And I certainly want to get all of the information possible if that is something that’s real for me. But yeah, I would 100% consider it.” DeSantis is also rumored to be Trump’s top choice for defense secretary if his current choice, Pete Hegseth, fails to be confirmed. Hegseth is facing allegations of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement, and alcohol abuse. Lara Trump is married to Eric Trump. (Associated Press / Axios / NBC News / ABC News / New York Times)
8/ Trump appointed venture capitalist and podcaster David Sacks as “White House A.I. and Crypto Czar” to guide policies on artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and online free speech. Sacks, a longtime ally of Elon Musk and JD Vance, has supported Trump through fundraising and public endorsements despite initially criticizing him after Jan. 6. Sacks will also lead the Presidential Council of Advisors for Science and Technology. The appointment reflects Trump’s alignment with tech entrepreneurs and his goal of positioning the U.S. as a global leader in AI and cryptocurrency. (CNBC / ABC News / Bloomberg)
poll/ 44% Americans say the quality of their healthcare is excellent (11%) or good (33%) – down 10 percentage points since 2020. 28% say their healthcare coverage is excellent or good – four points lower than the average since 2001. (Gallup)
Notables.
1/ Trump “can’t guarantee anything” when asked whether his promised tariffs would increase prices for Americans, in an NBC interview. “I think tariffs are the most beautiful word. I think they’re beautiful. It’s going to make us rich,” Trump said. Economists, however, have argued that Trump’s proposal to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, along with a 10% tariff on Chinese goods, would raise prices for U.S. consumers since tariffs are paid by American companies importing the products and not by the exporting countries. When informed that economists agree that Americans would pay higher prices as a result of his plan, Trump dismissed the claim, saying, “I don’t believe that.” And when asked to guarantee American families wouldn’t pay more, Trump replied: “I can’t guarantee anything. I can’t guarantee tomorrow.” (Politico / CBS News / Associated Press / NPR)
- Trump details sweeping changes he’ll carry out on day one and beyond in an exclusive interview. “Trump vowed to launch a mass deportation effort, impose tariffs and pardon many convicted in the Jan. 6 attack.” (NBC News)
- READ: The full transcript of Trump’s interview with “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker
3/ Trump suggested he’ll end birthright citizenship, saying “you have to” deport everyone who is in the country illegally. Trump also suggested that mixed immigration status families should be deported together, claiming he has “no choice” but to deport everyone, including U.S. citizens with undocumented family members. “I don’t want to be breaking up families, so the only way you don’t break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back,” Trump said. About 4.7 million households in the U.S. are defined as mixed status, with at least one undocumented resident, and an estimated 48% of the 2.8 million households with undocumented residents include at least one U.S.-born child. Trump previously called birthright citizenship “frankly ridiculous” because someone can “have a baby on our land, you walk over the border, have a baby — congratulations, the baby is now a U.S. citizen.” Birthright citizenship is enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution and states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.” (NBC News / Politico / Axios / New York Times)
4/ Trump plans to have Robert F. Kennedy Jr. investigate the repeatedly debunked conspiracy theory that vaccines cause autism. “I think somebody has to find out,” Trump said. “I mean, something is going on. I don’t know if it’s vaccines. Maybe it’s chlorine in the water, right? You know, people are looking at a lot of different things.” The theory that vaccines cause autism started in 1998 paper in the Lancet arguing that measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines were causing autism. The article has since been retracted and the author has been stripped of his medical license. Hundreds of studies have repeatedly found childhood vaccines to be safe, and the CDC estimates that between 1994 and 2023, childhood vaccines prevented 1.3 million premature deaths and 32 million hospitalizations. The World Health Organization has also ruled out a connection between autism and the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. The rise in autism diagnoses is attributed to increased screening and awareness. Nevertheless Trump said he was “open to anything.” Trump has tapped Kennedy, the founder of a prominent anti-vaccine activist group, to run Health and Human Services. (New York Times / NBC News / STAT / The Guardian)
5/ Trump confirmed that he has no plans to remove Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. “I don’t see it,” Trump said, acknowledging the legal and practical barriers to removing Powell, who was originally appointed by Trump in 2017. Powell’s term expires in 2026. “I think if I told him to, he would,” Trump added. “But if I asked him to, he probably wouldn’t.” After Trump appointed Powell, he repeatedly criticized Powell for not moving quickly enough to lower interest rates, and instead explored whether he could fire or demote him after the Fed raised interest rates a number of times. When Powell was asked recently whether he would resign if Trump pressured him to leave, he replied simply: “No.” (Bloomberg / New York Times / NBC News)
6/ Elon Musk spent over $250 million supporting Trump’s reelection, including $20 million to a super PAC that was named after Ruth Bader Ginsburg, which framed Trump’s abortion stance as moderate to attract swing voters. Musk donated $20.5 million to the RBG PAC, which attempted to argue that Trump and Ginsburg agreed on abortion. Trump, however, has repeatedly took credit for the Supreme Court’s overturning Roe v. Wade, which came after three Trump-appointed justices voted to eliminate the constitutional right to an abortion after 49 years. After Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died – less than two months before 2020 the presidential election – Trump and Senate Republicans confirmed Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Ginsburg’s granddaughter, Clara Spera, said the family condemned the use of her grandmother’s name and that doing so to “support Donald Trump’s re-election campaign, and specifically to suggest that she would approve of his position on abortion, is nothing short of appalling.” The RBG PAC “has no connection to the Ginsburg family and is an affront to my late grandmother’s legacy.” Since the election, Trump selected Musk to advise him on cutting spending across the federal government as a co-chair of his “Department of Government Efficiency” initiative. (Associated Press / NBC News / New York Times / Washington Post)
7/ Lara Trump resigned as co-chair of the Republican National Committee amid speculation that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will appoint her to fill the Senate seat vacated by Marco Rubio, who Trump tapped for secretary of state. “It is something I would seriously consider,” Lara Trump said. “If I’m being completely transparent, I don’t know exactly what that would look like. And I certainly want to get all of the information possible if that is something that’s real for me. But yeah, I would 100% consider it.” DeSantis is also rumored to be Trump’s top choice for defense secretary if his current choice, Pete Hegseth, fails to be confirmed. Hegseth is facing allegations of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement, and alcohol abuse. Lara Trump is married to Eric Trump. (Associated Press / Axios / NBC News / ABC News / New York Times)
8/ Trump appointed venture capitalist and podcaster David Sacks as “White House A.I. and Crypto Czar” to guide policies on artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and online free speech. Sacks, a longtime ally of Elon Musk and JD Vance, has supported Trump through fundraising and public endorsements despite initially criticizing him after Jan. 6. Sacks will also lead the Presidential Council of Advisors for Science and Technology. The appointment reflects Trump’s alignment with tech entrepreneurs and his goal of positioning the U.S. as a global leader in AI and cryptocurrency. (CNBC / ABC News / Bloomberg)
- Trump selected Rodney Scott, a key architect of restrictive immigration policies like Title 42, as CBP Commissioner. Trump also tapped Caleb Vitello and Tony Salisbury for leadership roles in ICE and Homeland Security. Brandon Judd, head of the National Border Patrol Council, was nominated as ambassador to Chile. Trump’s immigration plans include large-scale deportations and a return to policies such as the Remain in Mexico program, spearheaded by advisors Tom Homan and Stephen Miller, signaling a return to hardline approaches. (Politico)
- Trump appointed his personal criminal defense lawyer Alina Habba as Counselor to the President. Habba’s legal career has been marked by contentious courtroom tactics, public criticism, and rebukes from judges for frivolous litigation. (Rolling Stone)
poll/ 44% Americans say the quality of their healthcare is excellent (11%) or good (33%) – down 10 percentage points since 2020. 28% say their healthcare coverage is excellent or good – four points lower than the average since 2001. (Gallup)
Notables.- The U.S. announced an additional $988 million in military aid to Ukraine as part of a broader effort to bolster Kyiv before a potential shift in policy under Trump. The latest package adds to $725 million in recently announced aid drawn from Pentagon stockpiles, as part of the over $62 billion in military aid provided since Russia’s invasion in 2022. (Associated Press / ABC News)
- The Air Force deferred the decision on the future of its next-generation jet fighter to Trump. The delay shifts the multibillion-dollar decision on whether to prioritize piloted jets like the F-35 or unmanned drones to Trump as Elon Musk and his allies have pushed for replacing piloted aircraft with drones. (Wall Street Journal)
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez launched her candidacy for ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, aiming to lead Democratic oversight efforts against the incoming Trump administration. AOC, currently vice-ranking member of the committee, would become the youngest Democratic committee leader if elected. The Oversight Committee’s leadership will be critical for Democrats in confronting Trump’s policies and preparing for potential subpoena powers if they regain the House majority in 2026. (NBC News / Politico / Axios)
- A U.S. appeals court has upheld a federal law banning TikTok due to national security concerns, citing the potential for Chinese government access to user data and influence over platform content. The court ruled that Congress acted within its authority to protect U.S. interests by banning TikTok unless its Chinese ownership is severed, dismissing First Amendment challenges brought by TikTok and its users. (Wall Street Journal / New York Times)
- The EPA banned two cancer-causing chemicals – trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene – commonly used in dry cleaning and other industries. The ban, finalized under the Biden administration, aims to eliminate trichloroethylene and restrict perchloroethylene use to certain industrial applications with strict safety measures. Both chemicals are linked to cancers and organ damage. The bans, however, face potential challenges under the Congressional Review Act and the incoming Trump administration. (New York Times)
- The USDA mandated nationwide testing of raw milk for bird flu, requiring farms and dairy processors to comply and report positive samples to federal authorities. The new rules aim to address the virus’s rapid spread in dairy herds, and identify transmission risks to humans through exposure to raw milk. Experts criticized earlier voluntary guidelines as inadequate and emphasized the potential for the virus to evolve into a strain transmissible among humans. The testing program will begin on Dec. 16 and expand beyond six initial states, with uncertainty about its continuation under the incoming Trump administration. (New York Times / NBC News)
- Trump announced his new line of perfumes and colognes called “Fight, Fight, Fight,” using a photo of himself with Jill Biden. The caption read: “A FRAGRANCE YOUR ENEMIES CAN’T RESIST!” (Axios / CBS News)
GasBandit
Staff member
1/ Trump’s first term Justice Department secretly obtained phone and text message records from two members of Congress, 43 staffers – including Kash Patel, his pick to lead the FBI – and eight journalists, according to a new report by the department’s internal watchdog. The report by Inspector General Michael Horowitz found that the Justice Department didn’t act with political motives, but instead failed to comply with its own procedures when it investigated who in the government had leaked classified information to journalists that detailed contacts between Trump and Russia. Prosecutors secretly used subpoenas and other legal processes to obtain communication records, including phone and email metadata but not the content itself, from third-party providers. They attached gag orders that barred the companies from informing their customers. “As a result, dozens of congressional staffers became part of the subject pool in a federal criminal investigation for nothing more than performing constitutionally authorized oversight of the executive branch,” the report said. Horowitz urged the Justice Department to strengthen policies to prevent future abuses against lawmakers, staff, and journalists, warning that its tactics “risks chilling Congress’ ability to conduct oversight of the executive branch” and could expose whistleblower activity or other sensitive information. (CNN / New York Times / NBC News / NPR / Politico / CBS News / Washington Post)
2/ Trump’s “border czar” promised that mass deportation efforts would “start right here in Chicago” immediately after Trump’s inauguration. “Chicago’s in trouble because your mayor sucks and your governor sucks,” Tom Homan said, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “Do not impede us.” Homan also threatened to arrest “a hell of a lot more people than our priorities,” telling Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and other Democratic officials to “get the hell out of the way.” While Homan said there was no plan to separate families, he acknowledged “it may happen” and “if you put yourself in that position it’s on you.” (Block Club Chicago / WBEZ / ABC 7 Chicago / Politico)
3/ A group of 77 Nobel laureates urged Senate lawmakers to reject Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. In an open letter, the group argued that putting Kennedy – one of the nation’s leading vaccine skeptics – in charge of HHS, which oversees agencies handling food and drug safety, disease epidemics, and health insurance would “put the public’s health in jeopardy and undermine America’s global leadership in the health sciences.” The group also called Kennedy “a belligerent critic of respected agencies,” including the FDA, the National Institutes of Health, and the CDC, and said the department’s leader should “continue to nurture and improve − not threaten − these important and highly respected institutions and their employees.” Trump recently said he’ll have Kennedy investigate the repeatedly debunked conspiracy theory that vaccines cause autism and supports Kennedy’s plan to remove fluoride from public water. (New York Times / USA Today / HuffPost)
4/ New York Attorney General Letitia James denied Trump’s request to dismiss the $486 million civil fraud judgment against him. Trump argued the case should be dropped “for the health of our Republic,” claiming it would hinder his ability to perform presidential duties. Deputy Solicitor General Judith Vale rejected this argument, stating in a letter to Trump’s attorney that his upcoming inauguration “has no bearing” on the trial’s outcome. Separately, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg opposed dismissing Trump’s May conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Bragg argued that the request for presidential immunity exceeded what was necessary to protect the office. However, he proposed sentencing alternatives, such as delaying sentencing until Trump leaves office, ensuring no jail time, or closing proceedings without vacating the jury verdict or indictment. Trump’s sentencing has already been delayed three times. (CNBC / NBC News / CNN / ABC News / Associated Press / Politico)
Notables.
2/ Trump’s “border czar” promised that mass deportation efforts would “start right here in Chicago” immediately after Trump’s inauguration. “Chicago’s in trouble because your mayor sucks and your governor sucks,” Tom Homan said, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “Do not impede us.” Homan also threatened to arrest “a hell of a lot more people than our priorities,” telling Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and other Democratic officials to “get the hell out of the way.” While Homan said there was no plan to separate families, he acknowledged “it may happen” and “if you put yourself in that position it’s on you.” (Block Club Chicago / WBEZ / ABC 7 Chicago / Politico)
3/ A group of 77 Nobel laureates urged Senate lawmakers to reject Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. In an open letter, the group argued that putting Kennedy – one of the nation’s leading vaccine skeptics – in charge of HHS, which oversees agencies handling food and drug safety, disease epidemics, and health insurance would “put the public’s health in jeopardy and undermine America’s global leadership in the health sciences.” The group also called Kennedy “a belligerent critic of respected agencies,” including the FDA, the National Institutes of Health, and the CDC, and said the department’s leader should “continue to nurture and improve − not threaten − these important and highly respected institutions and their employees.” Trump recently said he’ll have Kennedy investigate the repeatedly debunked conspiracy theory that vaccines cause autism and supports Kennedy’s plan to remove fluoride from public water. (New York Times / USA Today / HuffPost)
4/ New York Attorney General Letitia James denied Trump’s request to dismiss the $486 million civil fraud judgment against him. Trump argued the case should be dropped “for the health of our Republic,” claiming it would hinder his ability to perform presidential duties. Deputy Solicitor General Judith Vale rejected this argument, stating in a letter to Trump’s attorney that his upcoming inauguration “has no bearing” on the trial’s outcome. Separately, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg opposed dismissing Trump’s May conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Bragg argued that the request for presidential immunity exceeded what was necessary to protect the office. However, he proposed sentencing alternatives, such as delaying sentencing until Trump leaves office, ensuring no jail time, or closing proceedings without vacating the jury verdict or indictment. Trump’s sentencing has already been delayed three times. (CNBC / NBC News / CNN / ABC News / Associated Press / Politico)
Notables.- The Supreme Court appeared likely to rule that a federal agency had sufficiently reviewed the environmental impacts of a proposed railway in Utah, potentially narrowing the scope of environmental reviews required by federal law. The case involves an 88-mile railway in Utah intended to connect oil fields to a national rail network. The Surface Transportation Board conducted a 3,600-page environmental review, but opponents argued it failed to consider specific harms. A decision in favor of the project could limit federal environmental review obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act. (New York Times)
- Trump pledged to fast-track permits and approvals, including environmental reviews, for companies investing $1 billion or more in the U.S., aiming to boost domestic energy, infrastructure, and technology sectors. Details on eligibility and the scope of projects, however, remain unclear. His pick of Lee Zeldin, a supporter of deregulation with limited environmental policy experience, to lead the EPA highlights a focus on reducing regulatory hurdles. (Bloomberg / Axios)
- Elon Musk warned Republican lawmakers against opposing Trump’s nominees or agenda, using his financial and political influence to pressure compliance through potential primary challenges and targeted campaigns. GOP strategists warn that Musk’s tactics could destabilize party unity or backfire by weakening Republican incumbents in competitive districts. (Associated Press)
- Trump referred to Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau as the “Governor” of the “Great State of Canada” while defending his plan for a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports. Trump’s late-night post on Truth Social appears to mock Trudeau while promoting his upcoming tariff policies. Trudeau criticized the tariffs as economically damaging and argued they would increase costs for American consumers while undermining affordability goals. (Politico / HuffPost)
- Advocacy groups are urging Biden to commute all federal death sentences before leaving office, citing concerns about the fairness and morality of the death penalty as Trump prepares to reinstate federal executions. The Justice Department paused federal executions under Biden but continued to defend and seek new death sentences, creating uncertainty over his administration’s stance. Trump’s incoming presidency signals a likely revival of federal executions, heightening calls for Biden to act decisively. (Washington Post)
- Democrats’ focus on liberal immigration policies to secure Latino votes misjudged voter priorities, contributing to significant Republican gains among Latino voters and potentially costing Democrats the White House in 2016 and 2024. For years, Democrats assumed Latinos prioritized immigration reform and moved left on the issue to secure their support. This strategy overlooked the economic concerns that dominate Latino voter priorities, creating a disconnect between party messaging and voter preferences. Republican candidates like Trump capitalized on this, gaining significant ground among Latino voters despite restrictive immigration stances. The 2024 election underscored this miscalculation, as immigration salience hurt Democrats while failing to bolster Latino support. Moving forward, Democrats must realign their policies with the broader concerns of Latino voters to avoid repeating past mistakes. (The Atlantic)
- Democratic governors are balancing defiance toward Trump’s immigration crackdown with openness to cooperating on targeted enforcement and border control. While governors expressed a willingness to work with the Trump administration on deporting undocumented immigrants convicted of serious crimes and tightening border control, they rejected mass deportations and family separations. Many emphasized protecting immigrant communities, businesses reliant on immigrant labor, and humanitarian principles. Governors are preparing for potential conflicts over federal requests to use state resources for deportations while exploring legal and political strategies to push back. (New York Times)
- Trump’s promises on immigration, federal spending, and foreign policy face significant practical challenges and lack clear plans. Trump has pledged to end the Ukraine war in 24 hours, deport 11 million undocumented immigrants, and cut $2 trillion in annual federal spending. These goals lack clear execution strategies and would require large-scale resources and coordination. (New York Times)
- Trump’s presidency and ownership of Truth Social’s parent company raise concerns about SEC conflicts of interest and weakened regulatory enforcement. Trump Media, the parent of Truth Social, is under scrutiny for misleading investors and could face SEC investigations. As president, Trump’s control over the SEC chair appointment raises fears of compromised oversight. Critics warn this could damage trust in U.S. financial regulation and market integrity. State-level investigations may become critical if federal oversight is weakened. (ProPublica)
