News and Headlines: In the news, Politics, World News, Commentary/Opinion.
In The News:
Woman, baby found safe after taken from NC home at gunpoint
The home invasion and kidnapping happened Monday at 1:12 a.m.
Update 12:32 p.m. EST Jan 20: According to police, Wani Thomas broke into the home early Monday and forced Jasmine Livermore and the baby boy, Nathaniel Thomas, into a vehicle, WSOC-TV reported.
Authorities said Livermore and the child were found safe around 8 a.m., the television station reported. In a Facebook post, Fayetteville police said Wani Thomas was in custody and would be processed at the Cumberland County Detention Center.
2 dead, 15 injured in Kansas City nightclub shooting
The shooting happened at about 11:30 p.m. local time when authorities believe the suspect started shooting at a line waiting to get into a nearby bar.
One woman died and police believe an armed security guard at the scene killed the suspected gunman.
“As the investigation unfolded at least 15 other victims arrived at area hospitals,” Kansas City Police said in a statement on Twitter. “
At this time three of those victims are listed in critical condition. An armed security guard at the business engaged the shooter outside of the establishment.
Central American migrants ford river into Mexico, chuck rocks
Scattered groups launched rocks at a few members of Mexico’s National Guard who were on the banks of the river attempting to thwart any illegal crossings, as hundreds of others ran past into Mexico, video footage of the scene showed.
The mostly Honduran migrants appeared to grow impatient on the bridge over the Suchiate River that connects the two countries, after some were denied permission to cross by assembled Mexican migration officials.
At least 2,000 migrants had been camped in the Guatemalan border town of Tecun Uman, opposite Ciudad Hidalgo on the Mexican side.
Mexico has offered migrants work in the south, but those who do not accept it or seek asylum will not be issued safe conduct passes to the United States, and most will be deported, the interior ministry said.
Google whistleblower makes cryptic claim about search engine, 2016 election after wife’s fatal crash
Dr. Robert Epstein, the senior research psychologist at the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology, made the claims in a tweet Sunday.
“Last year, after I briefed a group of state AGs about #Google’s power to rig elections, one of them said, “I think you’re going to die in an accident in a few months,” he tweeted.
“A few months later, my beautiful wife #Misti died a violent death. Makes you wonder.”
In July, Epstein told the Senate Judiciary Committee that his research revealed “biased search results generated by Google’s search algorithm likely impacted undecided voters in a way that gave at least 2.6 million votes to Hillary Clinton” in the 2016 presidential election. He added that he himself supported Clinton.
Peaceful Virginia gun-rights rally concludes despite earlier fears of extremist violence
In addition to the people on the capitol grounds, there was a large group outside the fenced area, which was not under the ban on weapons and is an open carry area.
They were chanting “Northam out” and outnumbered the group on the capitol grounds. There was a heavy police presence among this crowd, and law enforcement could also be seen on the rooftops, providing extra security to the area.
Several protesters brandished rifles and held signs extolling gun rights.
Authorities would not immediately give estimates on the crowd size. But some streets surrounding the capitol grounds, several of which were closed ahead of the event, were packed with protesters.
Report: Defense industries create 914,787 jobs, $95 billion impact in Florida
According to the report, Florida’s 73,000 defense contractors garner the fourth-largest sum of defense spending among all states and, with nearly 135,000 active duty military, National Guard and reservists, the state ranks fifth in the number of military personnel stationed or living there.
Direct military spending was nearly $44 billion in 2018, which the report calculates via a “multiplier effect” translated into $95 billion of overall economic impact in 2019.
By comparison, tourism, the state’s leading industry in 2017, contributed $85.9 billion to the state’s economy and supported 1.5 million jobs.
Additionally, the report states, defense manufacturing has nearly doubled since 2015 with the aerospace and engineering sectors centered in Brevard and Orange Counties leading the way.
Virginia’s Capitol flooded with gun rights activists as Second Amendment rally is underway
Thousands of people from across the country are expected to attend the demonstration demanding state Democrats drop a push for comprehensive gun control in the commonwealth.
The hundreds already in Richmond were heard in large groups reciting the Second Amendment in unison.
A slate of speakers, including Stephen Willeford — who was hailed as a hero in 2017 after he confronted a shooter at a Texas church — are set to address the crowds.
“If they can come for your guns in Virginia, they can come for them in West Virginia,” demonstrator Annette Parker told Fox News, noting that she drove six hours to get to the event.
Rosenstein Says He Authorized Release of Page–Strzok Text Messages
Rosenstein made the revelation in a declaration filed with the government’s latest arguments in a lawsuit brought by Strzok.
The former FBI deputy assistant director is suing the DOJ, claiming he was wrongfully fired and had his Privacy Act rights violated by the release of the texts.
Page has filed a separate lawsuit against the DOJ that alleges Privacy Act violations.
Rosenstein’s declaration addresses Privacy Act concerns raised in both lawsuits.
Rosenstein’s declaration is likely to make it more difficult for Page and Strzok to substantiate their Privacy Act claims, which require a government official to knowingly disclose information on a private citizen in violation of the law.
Politics:
Elizabeth Warren Questions If Americans ‘Want Someone Who Lies To Them’
Warren, who has repeatedly struggled with the truth on the campaign trail, was asked during a press scrum whether it’s “disqualifying for a presidential candidate to lie to the American public about anything?”
“I would think that it — you know, how could the American people want someone who lies to them?” Warren answered.
“I think that we just do our best out there every day, and I hope that’s what happens with everyone.”
Warren, who is feuding with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders over whether he said a woman couldn’t win in 2020, has repeatedly faced questions of dishonesty on the campaign trail.
Buttigieg Says American ‘Economy Needed 11 Million’ Illegal Immigrants
Buttigieg was asked by a member of the audience, “Do you think illegal immigration is a problem in the United States?”
The former mayor answered, “There’s no question we have to fix the system — for sure. But part of the problem is we’ve got an economy that really needs people, especially rural areas:
I don’t think it’s a mystery to people in rural areas why there are a lot of undocumented workers.”
But Buttigieg argued the problem is not with illegal immigrants but with an immigration system that won’t allow sufficient numbers of legal immigrants into the country.
California Resident Sounds Off On Gov. Newsom’s Trailers For The Homeless Plan
Commentary/Opinion: California Governor Gavin Newsom is combating the homelessness crisis with FEMA trailers temporarily, but is this really enough?
Cabello seeks to get rid of state’s FOID card law
State Rep. John Cabello, R-Machesney Park, filed a bill to eliminate the law that requires residents to obtain a FOID card in order to legally possess or purchase guns or ammunition.
“I’ve been filing this bill forever,” Cabello said. “I don’t believe that FOID keeps us safer. I think that it’s just another roadblock for law-abiding citizens [to obtain a gun].”
Illinois is one of only four states with similar laws on the books. Hawaii, New Jersey, and Massachusetts are the other three.
“We have laws on the books against murder, but people still commit murder,” Cabello said. “The criminals are never going to follow the law anyways. I mean, they’re criminals.”
Bloomberg says life would have turned out different ‘if I had been black’
Speaking to a crowd of several hundred at the Greenwood Cultural Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Sunday, the billionaire presidential candidate discussed his white privilege as part of his push to earn support among black and brown communities.
Bloomberg was appearing in Tulsa to unveil his economic justice policy proposal aimed at helping black Americans ahead of the state’s March 3 primary.
The philanthropist utilized the historic backdrop of the Greenwood neighborhood to speak about the 1921 Tulsa massacre.
Maxine Waters reveals Democrats’ impeachment agenda, vows party ‘will not stop’ impeachment push
Waters is not the first Democratic lawmaker to pledge to continue pursing impeachment if their current push is not successful.
Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) — who has said that Trump should be impeached to deal with slavery — has advocated continually impeaching Trump until he is finally removed from office by the Senate.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has also left the door open for new articles of impeachment.
Last October, Waters said that Trump “needs to be imprisoned & placed in solitary confinement.”
When asked about the comments hours later, Waters claimed she did not intend for them to be taken literally.
Virginia Gov. Northam Smears Gun Control Opponents to Frighten His Base
Commentary/Opinion: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is misusing a regularly scheduled political rally to frighten his base and gin up support for his troubled administration.
Northam’s alleged “credible intelligence” that this year’s iteration of an annual political gathering is poised to erupt in an orgy of racism and violence gives him fodder for proclaiming a state of emergency over a normal expression of political dissent.
Northam isn’t the only offender in this regard.
Treating opponents as abnormal, subject to special sanction, and even as enemies of the people is an increasingly popular tactic for America’s political class. It’s also incredibly dangerous for the health of the political system.
The Senate Trial Begins…
Commentary/Opinion: The Trial Begins… Here’s what to expect.
Steve Hilton: Pelosi stunts vs. Trump results
Commentary/Opinion: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi yuks it up with her pathetic impeachment pens while President Trump signs a historic trade deal.
World News:
Violence in Iraq escalates, U.N. official calls for protection
At least two demonstrators were killed, according to reports. The Iraqi government had not confirmed the deaths.
As many as 50 were injured in what was the 16th weekend of protests.
Demonstrators seek reforms, including the holding of a snap poll, appointment of an independent prime minister and a crackdown on corruption.
Report: Trump and Macron Agree to Trade Talks, No Tariffs Until End of Year
“Macron and Trump agreed to hold off on a potential tariffs war until the end of the year, a French diplomatic source said, and continue negotiations at the OECD on the digital tax during that period,” Reuters reported.
“They agreed to give a chance to negotiations until the end of the year,” the source told Reuters. “During that time period, there won’t be successive tariffs.”
The Trump administration has said it was considering imposing tariffs on imports from France after the French government said it would impose a 3 percent tax on revenue from digital services for companies that make $28 million or more in France.
Iran backs away from plan to send downed Ukrainian jet’s black boxes abroad for analysis
Hassan Rezaeifar, the official leading the investigation into the Jan. 8 mishap – which killed all 176 people on board the plane — was quoted by the state-run IRNA news agency Sunday as saying “the flight recorders from the Ukrainian Boeing are in Iranian hands and we have no plans to send them out.”
Rezaeifar said Iran is working to recover the data and cabin recordings, and that it may send the flight recorders to Ukraine or France.
“But as of yet, we have made no decision,” he noted.
Iran threatens Europe over nuclear-related measures – 20.1.20 TV7 Israel News
1) Jerusalem is gearing up for the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, during which – for the first time in Israeli history – more than 40 world leaders will gather in the city to mark the 75th anniversary of the Liberation of the Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz Birkenau.
2) A new Israeli study by the National Security Index, in cooperation with the Institute for National Security Studies, found that the Israeli public supports continued military action against Iran, even at the cost of precipitating a wide-scale war.
3) Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif levelled a threat toward Europe, in which he underscored that unless it alters – what he referred to as – “their improper behavior” or “send Iran’s (nuclear) file to the Security Council,” the Islamic Republic will withdraw from the (Non-Proliferation Treaty).”
Five killed in Russian hotel as scalding water floods room
The accident happened on Monday in a small private hotel in the basement of a block of flats in the industrial city in the Urals region.
“At least five people died and a further three were taken to hospital with burns,” said the Investigative Committee, which looks into major incidents.
Those who died were all staying at the Karamel hotel, which has five single and double rooms, according to its website.
The hotel did not have an emergency exit while the water pipe that burst dated to 1962, the building’s managing company said.
KENYA: Christian Teachers Killed
According to a surviving teacher who fled out the window, the local Somali Muslim teachers were separated from the non-locals, whom they presumed were Christians.
One of the attackers reportedly said, “We cannot allow infidels to teach our children,” and then the three Christian men were shot to death.
According to some reports, the attackers specifically left female staff alone. The names of the three slain men were not initially released for fear of retribution, but all of them had attended a local church since coming to the area at the beginning of the school year.
One man was injured in the attack and another teacher, a Muslim, was kidnapped.
President Trump attends World Economic Forum in Davos
President Trump is in Switzerland where he will attend the World Economic Forum in Davos.
One America’s Jennifer Pellegrino has more on the President’s itinerary for the trip from Washington.
Shocking images of five starving and sick lions with their ribs protruding spark campaign to free the animals from nightmare zoo in Sudan
Online calls are growing to help save five ‘malnourished and sick’ African lions held at a park in Sudan’s capital, with some demanding the creatures be shifted to a better habitat.
The five lions are held in cages at Khartoum’s Al-Qureshi Park in an upscale district of the capital, but for weeks now they have been suffering from shortages of food and medicine.
On Sunday, crowds of citizens, volunteers and journalists flocked to the park to see the lions after their photographs went viral on social media networks.
One of the five cats was tied with a rope and was fed fluids through a drip as it recovered from dehydration, an AFP correspondent who toured the park reported.
Russia bomb hoaxes: Thousands evacuated as campaign targets Moscow
Hospitals, railway stations, courts and administrative buildings across Russia have all been evacuated in recent weeks, in what has been described by the investigative newspaper Novaya Gazeta (in Russian) as “an unprecedented wave of telephone terrorism”.
No official figures have been released, but Russian media say more than one million people have been affected in Moscow since the latest wave of hoaxes started on 28 November last year.
Some 10,000 people were reportedly evacuated in Moscow on Monday alone.
Puerto Rico fires two more officials after Hurricane Maria aid found unused amid current earthquake aftermath
“There are thousands of people who made sacrifices to bring aid to the south and it’s unforgivable that resources have been kept in a warehouse,” the governor’s initial statement said.
In Ponce, thousands remain in shelters since a 6.4 magnitude quake struck the island two weeks ago.
Housing Secretary Fernando Gil and Department of Family Secretary Glorimar Andújar were dismissed Sunday.
The previous day, Gov. Vázquez had fired Carlos Acevedo, director of Puerto Rico’s Office of Emergency Management, hours after a Facebook video showed residents breaking into the warehouse to distribute supplies.
Australia sees golfball-sized hail, dust storms from severe weather as wildfire season ‘far from over’
Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology issued severe thunderstorm warnings for the Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory as powerful storms moved through.
In the Australian capital of Canberra, a violent thunderstorm produced hailstones as large as golf balls, damaging buildings and smashing car windows throughout the city.
Streets were also covered in hailstones as drivers attempted to navigate through areas that were impacted by flash-flooding.
Commentary/Opinion:
Michelle Malkin Investigates: H-1B Hell
Michelle exposes the H-1B foreign tech worker scam and its devastating impact on American workers.
Interviews with Sara Blackwell, Daniel Horowitz, IT workers forced to train their low-wage foreign replacements at the University of California at San Francisco, and more.
Swamp lobbyists in DC – and close to the Trump White House – continue their relentless battle to ensure an endless pipeline of H-1Bs/F-1s/OPT workers to undercut America’s best and brightest.
Follow the money! Originally aired: 2015.
How To End White Privilege
Brandon Tatum doesn’t forgive you for your white privilege. How can he forgive you for something that doesn’t even exist?
So, where did the notion of white privilege come from? Who does it benefit? And who does it hurt?
The answers might surprise you.