Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Special Session to Redistrict Florida
Tim Walz Activates National Guard -- Hinting He'll Use It to Fight FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT

—Ace

This is still my guy. And he doesn't play footsie with Nazis just to keep Tucker Carlson on his side.

This is a small surprise, because while DeSantis talked about doing this, he mostly talked about doing this after the Supreme Court rendered judgment on the Democrat-fabricated "rule" that legislative districts must be drawn to elect as many minorities as mathematically possible. The Supreme Court hasn't ruled on that yet, but DeSantis is going ahead with the redistricting plan.

lorida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday that he will convene a special legislative session for redistricting.

"Today, I announced that I will be convening a Special Session of the Legislature focused on redistricting to ensure that Florida's congressional maps accurately reflect the population of our state," he posted on X.

"Every Florida resident deserves to be represented fairly and constitutionally. This Special Session will take place after the regular legislative session, which will allow the Legislature to first focus on the pressing issues facing Floridians before devoting its full attention to congressional redistricting in April."

Meanwhile, potty-mouthed pork-chop Jasmine Ratchet erupted into a, get this, profane tirade over the Supreme Court refusing to step in and save her own racially-contrived district.

Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett erupted into a profanity-laced tirade this week after the Supreme Court declined to step in and block Texas's newly drawn congressional maps, a ruling that clears the way for Republicans to gain as many as five additional House seats in 2026.

In a video posted to her YouTube channel, Crockett blasted the Court, President Trump, and GOP-controlled state governments, accusing them of "rigging the system" ahead of the midterms. "Obviously, Trump is still doing his bidding with these state Houses and state Senates and governors' mansions to try to rig the system," she said, before praising states she claims are resisting Republicans. "Kudos to Indiana for saying f*** you. Kudos to California for saying we're going to fight back." Crockett then aimed her anger directly at the justices, exclaiming, "And f*** you to the Supreme Court for what they did."

She then ate the microphone and took a selfie with her backfat.

Two Venezuela-Linked "Dark Fleet" Ships Change Their Registrations Mid-Cruise to Russian In the Belief That This Will Protect Them from Trump;
But Trump Gives No Effs and Seizes Them

—Ace

Russia actually sent an attack sub to protect one of the terrorist oil smuggling ships. Plus it suddenly hoisted a Russian flag and declared itself a Russian ship. Russia was part of this, because they approved the re-flagging of the ship without any of the normal steps required.

They thought Trump would be a-scared to seize a Russian-flagged terror ship.

WRONG!

Oh, and then they seized another one.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Wednesday that the U.S. seized two oil tankers linked to Venezuela.

"In two predawn operations today, the Coast Guard conducted back-to-back meticulously coordinated boarding of two 'ghost fleet' tanker ships--one in the North Atlantic Sea and one in international waters near the Caribbean. Both vessels--the Motor Tanker Bella I and the Motor Taker [sic] Sophia--were either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it," Noem posted on X.

"Under President Trump's bold and visionary leadership, US Coast Guard tactical teams worked closely with its counterparts at the Departments of War, Department of Justice and State and used their specialized expertise to conduct these operations and conduct two safe, effective boardings within hours of each other," she continued.

"One of these tankers, Motor Tanker Bella I, has been trying to evade the Coast Guard for weeks, even changing its flag and painting a new name on the hull while being pursued, in a desperate and failed attempt to escape justice. The heroic crew of the USCGC Munro pursued this vessel across the high seas and through treacherous storms--keeping diligent watch, and protecting our country with the determination and patriotism that make Americans proud. These brave men and women deserve our nation's thanks for their selfless devotion to duty."

...

The vessel was one of a number of sanctioned oil tankers operating near Venezuela that recently changed their flags to Russia.

Visegrád 24 @visegrad24

9h

Russia has dispatched a submarine and several warships to escort a shadow-fleet tanker that the United States attempted to seize off the coast of Venezuela and is now pursuing in the Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The tanker Bella 1 spent more than two weeks trying to bypass the U.S. blockade on Venezuela but failed to dock and load cargo. In December, the vessel's crew repelled a U.S. attempt to board the ship and then sailed into the Atlantic Ocean.

It is now being pursued in international waters by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The tanker has since re-registered as Russian, been renamed Marinera, and the crew painted a Russian flag on the hull.

According to U.S. sources, Russia then asked Washington to stop pursuing what it now claims is a Russian vessel. On Tuesday, Russia's Foreign Ministry said it was following the situation around the tanker "with concern."

The ship is currently sailing about 300 miles south of Iceland toward the North Sea. A Russian submarine and other naval assets are moving in to support it.

RUSSIAN AGENT Donald Trump is going rogue like Ethan Hunt, yo!

RFKJr. Unveils What Leftwing Ninnies Are Calling an "Upside-Down" Food Pyramid

—Ace

No, it's rightside up. The old one was upside down, created out of nothing besides what one Senator's quack doctor told him about nutrition, plus lots of lobbying by vegetarians who constantly pressure the government into lying about nutrition.

But sure, "upside down."

The White House on Wednesday unveiled new dietary guidelines, with officials calling it the "most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in history."

The new guidelines were represented with an upside-down pyramid placing vegetables, fruits, proteins, dairy and healthy fats at the top and whole grains at the bottom.

"The new guidelines recognize that whole, nutrient-dense food is the most effective path to better health and lower health care costs," said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

"The new framework centers on protein and healthy fats, vegetables, fruits and whole grains. It's upside down, a lot of people say. It was actually upside down before," he added.

The initial food pyramid was introduced in the 1990s, showing a small amount of sugars at the top, recommending 2-4 servings of dairy, meat, fruit and vegetables in the middle, and 8-11 servings of bread, rice, pasta and other grains at the bottom. It was updated to "My Plate" under the Obama administration.

...

It was the first White House press briefing of 2026.

"Diets rich in vegetables and fruits reduce disease risk more effectively than many drugs," Kennedy added. "All grains outperform refined carbohydrates, added sugars, especially sugar sweetened beverages, drive metabolic disease, and today, our government declares war on added sugar, highly processed foods loaded with additives, added sugar and excess salt."

Rollins said these guidelines will apply to whole foods whether they are "fresh, frozen, canned or dried."

"These new guidelines are going to update the food that is served to America's children in our public schools to the plates that are served to our great men in uniform, in our military, our veterans, in the food that they are consuming at the VA and these new guidelines are also going to impact nutritional programs for the needy in our country, such as WIC and Head Start," Leavitt said, adding that these new guidelines would also help Americans save "thousands" on groceries.

HHS's statement is here.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins today released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025--2030, marking the most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in decades.

The new Guidelines deliver a clear, common-sense message to the American people: eat real food.

The U.S. faces a national health emergency. Nearly 90% of health care spending goes toward treating chronic disease, much of it linked to diet and lifestyle. More than 70% of American adults are overweight or obese, and nearly 1 in 3 adolescents has prediabetes. Diet-driven chronic disease now disqualifies many young Americans from military service, threatening national readiness and limiting opportunity.

...

"Under President Trump's leadership, the Administration is restoring scientific integrity, accountability, and common sense to federal health guidance. The 2025--2030 Guidelines reestablish food--not pharmaceuticals--as the foundation of health and reclaim the food pyramid as a tool for nourishment and education.

The Guidelines emphasize simple, flexible guidance rooted in modern nutrition science:

Prioritize protein at every meal

Consume full-fat dairy with no added sugars

Eat vegetables and fruits throughout the day, focusing on whole forms

Incorporate healthy fats from whole foods such as meats, seafood, eggs, nuts, seeds, olives, and avocados

Focus on whole grains, while sharply reducing refined carbohydratesLimit highly processed foods, added sugars, and artificial additives

Eat the right amount for you, based on age, sex, size, and activity level

Choose water and unsweetened beverages to support hydration

Limit alcohol consumption for better overall health

Nutritional reformer and debunker of lies Nina Teichholz isn't satisfied -- the new dietary suggestions continue claiming that animal fat is bad for you and must be capped at 10% of all calories. Which she says make the new recommendations contradictory, given that they suggest a protein-first diet.

Delayed for months, the highly anticipated new U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans will be released to the public tomorrow, followed by a large (invite-only) event at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Thursday. As promised, the new guidelines are expected to be only about eight pages, far shorter than the 100+ tomes of previous administrations. The guidelines are also likely to include a lengthy appendix with scientific reviews to justify their changes.

The one widely touted reform was an "end to the war on saturated fat," as both HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary have repeatedly pledged since taking office--including as recently as Nov 27th. This was a revolutionary proposal. The cap on saturated fats has been a bedrock piece of advice since the launch of this policy in 1980, and it is why so many Americans avoid red meat, drink skim milk, and opt to cook with seed oils over butter.

Yet I learned from two administration officials that saturated fats will not be liberated after all. The longstanding 10% of calories cap on these fats will remain.

At the same time, the guidelines' language will encourage cooking with "butter" and "tallow," both of which are high in saturated fat. It will also introduce a colorful new food pyramid with proteins--including red meat--occupying the largest portion. These are powerful messages, never before conveyed by our national food policy, and are likely to influence consumer behavior.

Teichholz is a Hot MILF who probably looks good in a white lab coat and therefore all of what she says is presumptively true. Still, the new recommendations are good, and big, first step.

She notes that the new guidelines finally advocate for a low-carb diet, for those who tend to be fluffy:

Other Changes to the Guidelines

Before taking a deeper dive into saturated fats, here are some other details of the revamped guidelines I've learned:

• The limit on sugar will be dramatically lowered, from the current limit of 10% of calories to possibly 2% of calories, although that target may be for children only.

• A low-carbohydrate diet will be included as a possible option for people with obesity, diabetes, and perhaps other metabolic diseases. This is a huge win and one for which the Nutrition Coalition, the non-profit group I founded, has been advocating since 2020. This new low-carb option will be included in a section entitled "special considerations," even though 93% of American adults are metabolically unhealthy, according to a 2022 paper based on government data, making low-carb seem logical as a more mainstream approach. An important caveat here is that achieving a low-carbohydrate diet, which is almost always higher in fish, meat, dairy, butter, and fat generally, will be impossible with the continued 10% cap on saturated fats.

House Oversight Committee Takes Testimony About Somali Fraud (While Democrats Yammer about January 6th and White Supremacy)

—Ace

Media Lies @MediasLies

Democrat Rep. Robert Garcia's opening statement at the House Oversight hearing on fraud: Agrees fraud is bad... then immediately pivots to "but Trump!"

"Republicans like to talk about fraud in states with Democratic governors... but Republicans also have a president who has pardoned or reduced jail time for 25 criminals convicted of fraud..."

Classic TDS deflection. Instead of addressing fraud in blue states, it's all Trump's fault.

While Democrats shouted and flung feces like low IQ monkeys, Republicans sought to elicit testimony from Minnesotal lawmakers and prosecutors with first-hand knowledge of the fraud.

Three state Republican lawmakers who have investigated public assistance fraud told the House Oversight Committee taxpayers were being ripped off to the tune of billions of dollars over recent years and the state's Democratic leadership refused to act. Walz, who recently announced he would drop his bid for a third term, has been asked to testify at a later hearing amid scrutiny of his handling of the schemes and faced criticism for failing to step in sooner to shut down payments to fraudsters.

House Republicans launched an investigation into Walz's handling of the fraud claims in December claiming the former vice-presidential nominee allowed efforts to cover it up and retaliate against whistleblowers under his watch. Walz has claimed the hearings and broader federal actions against the state are a political stunt to silence critics of the administration.

Rep. James Comer, a Kentucky Republican who chairs the committee, questioned whether Walz, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and the state's Democratic leadership were negligent or complicit in the fraud.

"Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Minnesota's Democrat leadership have either been asleep at the wheel or complicit in these crimes," Comer said. "We must expose this theft of taxpayer dollars and hold everybody accountable who let it happen."

...

One prosecutor has alleged that half or more of the $18 billion in federal funds for 14 programs in Minnesota since 2018 could have been stolen. Most of the defendants in the case are Somali Americans.

...

State Rep. Marion Rarick told lawmakers the Walz administration had retaliated against state employees who raised concerns about the fraud with threats of being fired for cause so they cannot collect unemployment insurance or being involuntarily transferred to other departments to damage their careers.

State Rep. Kristin Robbins, a Republican who is running for governor, also said Walz has overseen a culture that encourages fraud. She said the committee she leads had identified fraud in Medicaid programs, autism centers, housing stabilization and other programs.

"Culture matters. Fraud flourishes when leaders ignore it, and criminals see they can get away with it," she testified. "Second, fraud flourishes when basic internal controls are not followed. This is not complicated."

She accused Walz and his administration of actively interfering with criminal investigations looking into the fraud and refusing to address the fraud for political gains through the support of Somali Americans in Minnesota. The state Department of Human Services undermined attempts to strengthen fraud prevention by making it harder to disqualify providers for the Child Care Assistance Program than others.

"We have many whistleblower reports talking about how DHS undermined the ability to strengthen internal controls," Robbins said.

Some videos of the questioning -- and the Democrats making animal noises -- below.

Minnesota Terrorist Tries to Ram ICE with Her Car, Gets Fatally Shot in Self-Defense
Update: Slowed Video Shows Car Hitting Agents

—Ace

As a commenter said: They're going to try to Derek Chauvin these agents.

The Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday defended an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer who fatally shot someone in what the agency says was self-defense.

"Today, ICE officers in Minneapolis were conducting targeted operations when rioters began blocking ICE officers and one of these violent rioters weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them--an act of domestic terrorism," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. "

An ICE officer, fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow law enforcement and the safety of the public, fired defensive shots."

...

"This is the direct consequence of constant attacks and demonization of our officers by sanctuary politicians who fuel and encourage rampant assaults on our law enforcement," McLaughlin added.

It's time for Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act.

"Biden" Signed an Executive Order Relieving "Day Cares" of the Need to Provide Verification of Their "Enrollees"

—Ace

What? They just ended all requirements of verification of actual child enrollees and just sent out hundreds of millions of dollars based on a number written on a form?

This is intentional. This is the deliberate enabling of fraud.

This is conspiracy.

The Biden administration didn't require verification that kids were attending child care centers before sending them as much as $19 billion in federal funding, a stunning oversight the Trump administration is trying to reverse.

Trump Health and Human Services officials announced Monday it would restore "attendance-based billing" and reverse a Biden-era practice of states paying the child care centers without proper checks, the Post can exclusively reveal.

The President Biden rule took effect on April 30, 2024, meaning more than $19.3 billion in taxpayer dollars over 20 months may have been spent before President Trump could correct provisions that could have prolonged massive day care fraud in Minnesota.

"Congress appropriated this funding to support working families and ensure children have safe places to grow and learn," HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said.
U.S. President Joe Biden speaking from the Oval Office with the American flag and the Presidential Seal visible behind him. 7

"Loopholes and fraud diverted that money to bad actors instead. Today, we are correcting that failure and returning these funds to the working families they were meant to serve."

Between 2021 and 2024, the Administration for Children and Families shelled out more than $91.8 billion from its Child Care Development Fund (CCDF), a federal block grant program that helps fund child care in states, US territories and tribes, per HHS data.

A whopping $56 billion went out the door just in 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why would there be an urgent need to send out $56 billion for "day care" during the "height of covid," when 80% of the population was under orders to remain at home?

Yes, some people needed day care because Democrats also shut down the schools, and they were considered "essential workers."

But this would still mean that most children were now at home with their imprisoned parents. Only a fraction would need day care.

A Trans "Woman" Beats His Pud In the Planet Fitness Woman's Bathroom; Planet Fitness Throws Out The Actual Woman Who Reported the Public Masturbator, Let the Public Masturbator Stay

—Ace

The very obvious man pounded it out like he was John Bonham playing Kashmir at Wembley.

The male public masturbatior jerked off openly with women present. When one woman reported him to the staff, they kicked her out of the Planet Fitness and let the sex criminal stay.

Because he's "transgender" and so he's allowed to pull his dick like choad-flavored taffy.

The mentally-ill man and sex predator was in a stall, but you could see what he was doing in the shadows beneath him. It's obvious he's jerking off. Either that or he's trying to start an outboard motor he keeps on his belt.

Planet Fitness instructs its female clients to show "understanding" towards publicly-masturbating men invading their private spaces.

This took place near San Francisco -- of course. A place called Concord.

Wednesday Morning Rant

—Joe Mannix

In the wake of the US's audacious raid on Venezuela and it's successful capture of that country's dictator, many countries now face a difficult question: "what is our exposure to Venezuela?" For some countries, it's significant. Executing an American arrest warrant against Maduro for drug trafficking is the official purpose of the raid, but as many have pointed out, there is much more than that going on. Venezuela is much more than a drug nexus.

Venezuela is also an oil producer and sits in a geographically convenient place for coordinating trade amongst various enemies and rivals of the United States. There is a complex web of trade between these countries, and Venezuela is often involved. It sometimes finds itself in the trade system between Red China, Iran and Russia, and is a major supplier of oil to Red China. This oil moves in a "dark fleet" of tankers under US sanction, and they sometimes operate without flag or transponder on the high seas to run US blockades.

Mid-Morning Art Thread

—CBD

Mining Town
John Lonergan

The Morning Report — 1/7/26

—J.J. Sefton

Good morning kids. The removal of Maduro from Venezuela certainly has our enemies and rivals around the globe siting up and taking notice. I would hope that both the President and his national security and foreign policy team including Hegseth and Rubio would have gamed out the aftermath of who would step into the breach to fill the void once we had taken down Maduro. While it's great that the Venezuelan people are cheering his removal, there is still this to contend with

Plain-clothes gunmen deployed by Venezuela’s leaders are walking the streets and stopping vehicles as they crack down on dissent and pro-American sentiment in the wake of the capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces. The paramilitary members, known as Colectivos, were out in full force on Tuesday as the pro-Maduro regime seeks to maintain control of the country following the surprise U.S. strikes over the weekend, The Guardian reported. Men armed with rifles set up checkpoints in the capital city of Caracas, where they stopped drivers to search their vehicles, phones, and personal belongings, looking for any evidence of support for the United States capturing Maduro, according to The Telegraph. Police, meanwhile, were instructed to “immediately begin the national search and capture of everyone involved in the promotion or support for the armed attack by the United States.”

For better or worse, it will be up to the interim leader of Venezuela to disarm these militias assuming that he or she has the power and support of the nation's armed forces that until last weekend were under the control of Maduro and quite likely are still loyal to him. So, we now own this mess.

A classified U.S. intelligence assessment concluded that top figures within Nicolás Maduro’s regime would be best positioned to maintain short-term stability in Venezuela in the immediate aftermath of the dictator’s removal, according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analysis, which was briefed to President Donald Trump and shared with a small circle of senior administration officials, reportedly shaped Trump’s decision to back Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, rather than opposition leader María Corina Machado as an interim leader, WSJ reported. “I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader if she doesn’t have the support within, or the respect within the country,” Trump said during a Saturday press conference after U.S. forces captured Maduro to face federal narco-terrorism charges in New York. “She’s a very nice woman, but she doesn’t have the respect.” (RELATED: Venezuelan Oil Could Make America ‘Master Of The Hemisphere’ If Trump’s Domination Continues)
Trump concluded that Venezuela’s short-term stability would depend on whether the next leader retained the loyalty of the country’s military and ruling elites, according to people familiar with the intelligence review cited by the outlet. Senior administration officials commissioned the CIA to analyze day-after scenarios amid internal debates over how Venezuela might be governed if Maduro were removed. While the report did not recommend regime change or speculate on how Maduro might lose power, it evaluated who could maintain order if that outcome occurred, WSJ reported.

So, if all we did here was a little bit of Titanic deck chair rearrangement on the Lido Deck, then have we really accomplished anything? If we're concerned about maintaining the support of the military and ruling elites then I fear the question is rhetorical. Rodriguez has made some very nice pronouncements of looking forward to working with President Trump and forging a new relationship, for whatever that's worth.

Meanwhile, halfway across the globe this is happening to one of Maduro's biggest backers and boosters, Iran. While the usual thugs in the IRGC and others are cracking down on the protesters and there have been reports of the Mullahs getting set to take it on the lam to Russia, here's a little bit of encouraging news:

The Iranian Police in Ilam have now joined the revolution. People are seen celebrating as police officers have put down their weapons and are cheering on the protestors.

While the combined Israeli and USAF strike that took out the Iranian nuclear weapons sites as well as the collapsing Iranian currency and a catastrophic water crisis among the dissatisfaction with the regime that has been brewing for years might at long last bring it down. Of course considering the power of Iran's IRGC and that since 1979 it has become among the most repressive security states on the planet, to expect them to just give up power, especially to any non-Islamic forces of moderation, modernity and more western/secular oriented parties is wish-casting in the extreme.

I hope and pray that the Persian and the Venezuelan people can somehow wrest control of their respective governments and prevent a collapsing of their societies back into tyranny and despotism. I certainly also hope we have a plan to help them that does not include the kind of intervention and adventurism that were the hallmarks of the disastrous globalist fever dream of Democracy Projects and nation-building.

Closer to home, President Trump is looking ahead to the midterms, and with the sudden passing of California GOP congressman Doug LaMalfa at age 65, the GOP's House majority got that much slimmer, putting the MAGA legislative agenda in jeopardy. But that said, This is kind of disappointing.

The Hyde Amendment prohibits federal funds from being used for abortion. Trump told GOP House members during the retreat at the Trump-Kennedy Center that they should work to take the issue of health care away from Democrats. “We don’t have that as one of our issues. It’s the only thing they have. They’re lousy at it. They came up with Obamacare. We tried to fight it. We almost had it won, but we didn’t get three votes,” he said.

Well, since when is infanticide "healthcare?" Yeah, I get it, healthcare and this "affordability" madness is an albatross being hung around the GOP's neck by the Dems and their propagandist cheerleaders. And I do agree about Obamacare, but certainly the Hyde Amendment and abortion in general must be be non-starters, or am I missing something?

Have a great day.

And lastly, a quick shout-out and a huge thank you for your continued support in hitting our tip jar. It truly is appreciated more than you can know.

ABOVE THE FOLD, BREAKING, NOTEWORTHY LINKS
• With all due respect to the 20% of eligible New York voters who cast their ballots for Mamdani, the adults need to step in and remove him.
  The Case For Stripping Mamdani’s Citizenship

Daily Tech News 7 January 2026

—Pixy Misa

• AMD's VP of its client division has hinted that AM4 might see a return. (Tom's Hardware)
  
  Socket AM4 runs on DDR4 memory, where AM5 is DDR5 only. And DDR4 memory hasn't increased in price as much as DDR5, but more importantly, people already have it.
  
  Several AM4 chips are still in production, but some of AMD's most popular CPUs like the 5700X3D and 5800X3D were cancelled because the competed too well with newer models, while others like the 5600X3D and 5700G were never widely available in retail channels.
  
  Don't expect anything actually new, but a return of the 5800X3D would be welcome.
  
  
  
• AMD also hinted at open-sourcing FSR4 upscaling. (Tom's Hardware)
  
  They accidentally made the code public for a short ehile, which quickly led to experimental backports that supported RDNA3 and even RDNA2 graphics cards.

Tuesday Overnight Open Thread - January 6, 2026 [Doof]

—Open Blogger

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany.

Epiphany is a Christian feast celebrating the revelation of Jesus Christ to the world. It is connected to the Magi’s visit from the East. Christians use the day to celebrate how Jesus came not just for Israel but for all nations.

OK. Who Were the Magi That Visited Christ?

The Three Wise Men, also known as the Magi or the Three Kings, are figures mentioned in the Bible in the Gospel of Matthew. They are said to have visited the newborn Jesus in Bethlehem, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The Bible does not specify the number of Wise Men; the idea of three Wise Men likely comes from the fact that three gifts are mentioned.

Any mention of the Wise Men reminds me of this gem from Gary Larson

Theology lesson over. On to secular content!

***

Five Years Ago Today

Offical White House Website J6 Page

Thousands of Americans paid the price for political failures they did not create.

Since January 6, 2021, Nancy Pelosi spent over 3 years and nearly $20 million in taxpayer funds on her partisan Select Committee, producing a scripted TV spectacle to fabricate an “insurrection” narrative and pin all blame on President Trump.

Video and audio recordings, including unaired HBO footage from her own daughter, show Nancy Pelosi repeatedly acknowledging responsibility for the catastrophic security failures - admitting “We have totally failed” and “I take full responsibility” for not having the National Guard pre-deployed, despite intelligence warnings and President Trump’s offers of troops that were ignored under her leadership as Speaker.

The Democrats masterfully reversed reality after January 6, branding peaceful patriotic protesters as “insurrectionists” and framing the event as a violent coup attempt orchestrated by Trump - despite no evidence of armed rebellion or intent to overthrow the government. In truth, it was the Democrats who staged the real insurrection by certifying a fraud-ridden election, ignoring widespread irregularities, and weaponizing federal agencies to hunt down dissenters, all while Pelosi’s own security lapses invited the chaos they later exploited to seize and consolidate power. This gaslighting narrative allowed them to persecute innocent Americans, silence opposition, and distract from their own role in undermining democracy.

We here at AOSHQ know Nancy Pelosi was responsible

Please do NOT retweet Nancy Pelosi admitting full responsibility for not calling the National Guard on January 6th. 5 years ago TODAY

Would be a shame if this went Viral on 𝕏 pic.twitter.com/WPBLqDFzL8

— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) January 6, 2026

AOC died that day or something along those lines

5 years ago, Rep. AOC was nearly r*ped and kiIIed by Trump voters inside the Capitol on January 6

1 problem: She wasn't in the building pic.twitter.com/mcnF3Yw4Hh

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) January 6, 2026

For those who are good at math

Timely reminder that Alec Baldwin alone has killed more people by himself than all Trump supporters combined did on January 6th at the Capitol. pic.twitter.com/oO4kOMbxk4

— Gain of Fauci (@DschlopesIsBack) January 5, 2026

-----

With the capture and arrest of Maduro, Trump keeps making a lot of noise about the truth of the November 2020 election coming out.

THIS IS HOW THEY STOLE IT‼️

Trump just posted this on Truth Social. pic.twitter.com/iGg4nmaCYm

— RealAF Patriot (@RealAF_Patriot) January 5, 2026

Here's another great video about the 2020 steal

How did Joe Biden receive the MOST VOTES IN AMERICAN HISTORY with 81 million, all while losing 18 of 19 bellwether counties and winning only 16% of counties overall?
Here is the answer 👇🏼@realDonaldTrump
pic.twitter.com/C89Of95k5r

— Farm Girl Carrie 👩‍🌾 (@FarmGirlCarrie) December 28, 2025

***

The United States is chock full of amazing places to visit and attractions to see. These are not among them! 11 Overhyped U.S. Attractions That Look Way Cooler Online

One example

3. Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts
Carefully framed photos make Plymouth Rock seem historically grand, but visitors are often surprised by how small and anticlimactic it is in person. Set below street level and behind a railing, the site feels more symbolic than impressive, with the surrounding urban setting dampening the sense of historic awe.

Can confirm. Underwhelming.

-----

I recently discovered this site (streetartutopia.com) and featured it on a previous ONT. Hope you enjoy it too!

When Artists Play With Nature (8 Photos)

Another one to check out
Funny Snow Sculptures (10 Photos)

***

DJ Doof - Guess The Theme

Difficulty Level 5 out of 5

What's the common thread / common meaning / common leitmotif?

This one is really tough. If nobody has guessed correctly beforehand, I'll drop some clues after comment number 220 or 221. Whatever it takes!

***

Tonight's ONT brought to you by not holding your breath

***

Doof Enterprises, LLC is responsible for tonight's content. Or irresponsible. Whatever it takes.

Your feedback may or may not be very important to Doof Enterprises. Follow Mr. Doof on X @doof2112 or do the email thing – doof2112 at proton dot me.

Close it up

Uncanny Bridge Cafe

—Ace

From "Random Freaks

I thought maybe this guy was just doing AI stuff, but apparently he's doing miniature photography. Another one here.

RC model car photography.

Parking assist, circa 1933.

1950s car has tire-changing assist.

The Netherlands trash collection is peak.

Pre-radar aircraft detection technology circa 1930.

Their weinerdog was lonely so they got it a puppy friend.

You barkin' at me? You barkin' at me?

Visitors leave sticks at a dog's grave.

Looky-loo owls.

It's Humpday Eve!

Tease!

Now for a feel-good story of bipartisanship: Senate Democrats walked out of the Senate to hold a candlelight vigil honoring the heroes of the January Sixth Election Integrity Parade.

Wisconsin Judge who Tried to Human Traffic an Illegal Alien Out of the Courtroom Will Resign

—Ace

She'll be allowed to resign, unfortunately, instead of impeached.

And this gross toad gets to keep all of her pension.

acing up to five years in prison for helping a violent illegal immigrant escape ICE officers, Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan is resigning. But even with the felony conviction on her record, Dugan will receive a generous taxpayer-funded retirement no matter what happens next.

A federal jury last month found Dugan guilty on the obstruction charge for the April 18 incident in which the leftist judge escorted Eduardo Flores-Ruiz and his attorney to the "jury door," allowing the illegal alien to briefly flee from Department of Homeland Security agents.

On Saturday, Dugan submitted her resignation letter to Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers. In it, she attempted to play both the martyr card and the social-justice hero as she decried the "unprecedented" charges against her. The Milwaukee County judge is appealing her conviction. She awaits a sentencing date, although it is unlikely Dugan will see much, if any, time behind bars for her first offense.

"I am the subject of unprecedented federal legal proceedings, which are far from concluded but which present immense and complex challenges that threaten the independence of our judiciary," Dugan asserts in the resignation letter. As The Federalist has reported, a Massachusetts judge faced criminal proceedings in 2019 following a nearly identical incident.

"I am pursuing this fight for myself and for our independent judiciary," the felon judge bloviated. "However, the Wisconsin citizens that I cherish deserve to start the year with a judge on the bench in Milwaukee County Branch 31 rather than have the fate of that Court rest in a partisan fight in the state legislature."

As a felon, Dugan really has no other choice but to resign. The Wisconsin constitution makes clear that those convicted of a felony are barred from holding "any office of trust, profit or honor in this state" -- unless they have been pardoned.

Unrelated:

After Reducing the Value of the Star Wars IP Somewhat Lower Than the Value of the Stretch Armstrong IP, Kaffeine Kennedy Might Finally Be Fired?

—Ace

Well, they say she might "retire." But she has reportedly refused to retire previously because she was determined to only go out after a big success, and she's a horrible ditzy incompetent, so that's just never going to happen.

I don't think it matters any longer. Not to be like the millionth person to say this, but Star Wars is dead. Even people like me who used to talk about Star Wars being dead don't talk about it any longer, because there is no point telling people that a corpse that has been dead for so long that it doesn't even stink any longer is dead.

Everyone knows.

But... Doomcock was right? Eventually?

Puck's Matthew Belloni reports today (paywall, sorry) that 2026 will finally be Kennedy's last as president of Lucasfilm. "In the next week or two, Disney will finally confirm what we've all known for months: Kathleen Kennedy is indeed stepping down as Lucasfilm president, and Dave Filoni, currently the chief creative officer of the Star Wars unit, will be elevated into the top job."

He's a ball-less wonder who is as woke as she is and almost as untalented. If you think he's going to be a game-changer, he gave us Ashoka.

God bless you!

Dave Filoni looks at Rion Johnson and shivers at how toxically masculine Rion Johnson is.

Ten years ago, I would have jumped up and down at the news that Filoni was taking over, but after squandering The Mandalorian and completely wasting Rosario Dawson in whatever the hell Ahsoka was supposed to be, these days I'm less excited.

But back to Kennedy.

She took over Lucasfilm after Disney bought the company from founder George Lucas in 2012, and her performance can be described in just six words: She couldn't make money on Star Wars.

Emphasis added. Because HOLY SHI'ITE.

I ran the numbers last year, and this is what I found: "My back-of-the-envelope math indicates that Disney has spent $7.35 billion acquiring and producing Star Wars entertainment and generated $6.41 billion in revenues we can see." Disney+ streaming revenues can't be attributed to any particular show or property, but except for the little-watched Andor and the first two seasons of Mando, Disney's live-action Star Wars TV shows haven't scored well with critics or audiences.

And you can forget about all that fabulous toy revenue. Nine-year-old boys aren't exactly clamoring for Rose Tico or Admiral Holdo action figures.

"If Disney has realized an actual profit on its $4.05 billion Lucasfilm investment, I'd be shocked," I concluded then, and that was before we learned that Kennedy spent nearly a quarter of a billion dollars (!!!) producing and marketing The Acolyte for Disney+.

Steven Green has more, including a run-down of all the cancelled projects and fired directors we saw under the chaotic, emotional rule of Kaffeine Kennedy.

Antifa Destroys a German Power Station While the Country Is Experiencing 19 Degree F Winter, and the World Media Gives No Effs

—Ace

Leftist violence is always minimized, excused, or justified by the left.

At least these terrorists are terrorizing us to move in the right direction.

Right?

A fire was deliberately set to destroy the massive electrical cables that are part of a 'heat and electrical power station' near Berlin. As ghastly an act as it was, there has been little public press about it because it wasn't Islamic terrorists or those vile 'right-wing' types at long last unleashing the supposed hell the Left has been warning about.

None of the above.

It was a Leftist eco-terrorist group trying deliberately to murder people in the depths of an unforgiving winter by 'cutting the juice to the ruling class.'

Oh. Well, it seems the German authorities think that's cool, then.

...

According to Stromnetz Berlin, the operator of Berlin's electricity network, power was cut to as many as 45,000 households and more than 2,000 businesses across four districts in south Berlin.

The power outage also meant many homes lost heating and hot water as temperatures dropped well below freezing in Berlin.

...In a lengthy statement circulated online and called credible by police, the Vulkangruppe said it had deliberately targeted affluent neighborhoods, to "cut the juice to the ruling class."

In Wake of Maduro Masterstroke, American Approval of Ousting Him Surges

—Ace

Ousting Maduro had been unpopular -- up until the point that Delta Force conducted a miraculously successful armed extradition operation.

Scott Jennings:

"A recent Washington Post poll finds Americans pretty evenly split on the operation over the weekend, 40 percent approve, 42 percent disapprove, 18 percent are unsure," a CNN host read. "When it comes to who should decide the future leadership of Venezuela, 94 percent say the Venezuelan people, six percent say the United States. One thing I have to say is like, this was a very successful military operation. The idea that 42 percent disapprove is a higher number than I would think, it says to be me that the American people are thinking not just about this operation, but also maybe more about well, what comes next."

"Well, also, it's Trump," Jennings replied. "I mean, 42 percent of the American people would oppose it if he cured cancer, personally, in the Oval Office, tonight. I mean, there's a reflexive opposition to Trump. It is the entire platform of the Democratic Party to the extent that that's how their leadership tells them to act. That's how the Democratic grassroots are going to see it."

Below: The poll numbers change completely, and Harry Enten has more bad news for butthurt mentally-ill anti-Trump obsessives: There is no "rift" in the Republican Party. Trump continues to have 85% support from his fellow Republicans.

Happy January 6th!

—Ace

I don't know what this means -- it's possible his wife runs a perfectly legit daycare -- but I am interested.

NEW: Records show US Capitol Police Capt. Michael Byrd, who fatally shot unarmed J6 protester Ashli Babbitt w/o warning, has been running an unaccredited day-care center w/ wife Kaleska from their MD. home since 2008. MD. rec's $190m in HHS day-care funds.https://t.co/Ly2JCVx966

— Paul Sperry (@paulsperry_) January 6, 2026

$190 million? That cannot be right.

Can it? Please tell me it cannot be right.

Update: Commenters have convinced me this is a badly-written sentence. The $190 per year is the amount of federal taxpayer dollars sent to Maryland for its entire network of fraudulent daycares, not just Michael Byrd's wife's fraudulent daycare.

Well I don't know if this one is fraudulent. Going by the statistics, it's about 70% likely to be fraudulent and used as a front for funding Al Shabaab.

OMG

Capitol police officer Michael Byrd who shot unarmed Ashli Babbitt on January 6th, reportedly has a taxpayer funded daycare in his home run by his wife…

Because of course he does… pic.twitter.com/QLKw885wUf

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 6, 2026

‼️ NEW: Maryland records indicate that U.S. Capitol Police Capt. Michael Byrd and his wife, Kaleska, have run a unaccredited home daycare (license #255727) since 2008.

A June 2025 inspection showed four children enrolled. The daycare operates in a high-income area while… pic.twitter.com/YkQLX8Q71j

— Digital Gal (@DigitalGalX) January 6, 2026

tomorrow is the 5th anniversay of when Norm simply debunked the J6 psyop in real time 😂 pic.twitter.com/CJvqDnv8Jj

— ℕada (@GlassesNada) January 6, 2026

The Bee:

And more of The Bee:

What are your memories of the future holiday? Where do you wish to be January 6, 2027, when we will call it January 6th Heroes Remembrance Day?

Close it up

Of Course: The Violent, Deranged Lunatic Who Attacked JD Vance's Home With a Hammer is a Trans Leftist Terrorist

—Ace

Oh, and zis father is a Democrat donor.

Reportedly. This claim is based on a FaceBook photo of the home invader, with the (fake) name "Julia."

Man arrested for attempted break-in of JD Vance's Ohio home identifies as trans, father is Dem donor: report

A Facebook profile shows a picture of DeFoor, but with the name "Julia."

William DeFoor, the man arrested for smashing several windows at Vice President JD Vance's home in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a trans-identified male who goes by the name "Julia DeFoor." This comes after DeFoor was identified as the suspect in that incident on Monday.

He identifies as transgender and his father, a surgeon, is a Democrat donor, states the Daily Mail. DeFoor was previously arrested for other crimes related to vandalism in April and was sentenced to treatment at a mental health facility for two years in addition to paying $5,500 in restitution.

A Facebook profile shows a picture of DeFoor, but with the name "Julia." Additionally, an Instagram profile bearing the same name and likeness says "Julia DeFoor" goes by "she/her" pronouns.

The Facebook account with the name "Julia DeFoor" has multiple liked pages, one of them including "Heartland Trans Wellness."

Leftwingers routinely kill their children and the ones they don't kill they derange into monsters.

After Hilton Franchisee Lies About Its No-Service-for-ICE Policy, Hilton Hotels Announces It Has Cancelled the Franchise Agreement

—Ace

I don't know how hotel franchise operations work. Based on what I see here, I guess that independently-owned hotels sign a franchise agreement to be part of the Hilton chain, so long as they maintain certain contractual standards?

After the Minnesota hotel owned by "Everpeak Hospitality" was exposed for terminating service for DHS for ideological, open-borders reasons, Everpeak claimed that they were scrambling to rectify the "error" and were reaching out to DHS to offer them rooms.

Everpeak Hospitality has moved swiftly to address this matter as it was inconsistent with our policy of being a welcoming place for all. We are in touch with the impacted guests to ensure they are accommodated. We do not discriminate against any individuals or agencies and apologize to those impacted.

This claim made by Minnesota immigrants was, get this, fraudulent.

Nick Sortor @nicksortor

BREAKING EXCLUSIVE: I went into the Minnesota Hilton who "apologized" for banning DHS agents, and EXPOSED them for CONTINUING to ban DHS agents

@HiltonHotels has decided they want the FULL BUDLIGHT treatment at this point.

Hilton's operator, Everpeak, STRAIGHT UP LIED in their statement yesterday which said they were "in touch" with DHS to accommodate impacted agents, and "do not discriminate against any individuals or agencies."

NONE of that was true. There was NO attempt to reach DHS agents to make it right, per Asst. DHS Sec. @TriciaOhio

Even the FRONT DESK manager said he had spoken with the owner shortly before I walked in around 10:50pm, and confirmed the ANTI-DHS POLICY REMAINED IN EFFECT.

REVOKE THEIR LICENSE, HILTON, OR IT'S GOING TO COST YOU DEARLY. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.

This is an INCREDIBLY dumb battle to choose!