9 Jan 2026

Nationwide internet blackout reported in Iran
A nationwide internet blackout has been reported in Iran as the Islamic Republic continues to be rocked by anti-government protests, Reuters reported, citing online watchdog Netblock. Netblock stated: “Live metrics show Iran is now in the midst of a nationwide internet blackout. Despite the blackout, footage emerged from Iran showing protesters hanging the monarchist flag of the Pahlavi dynasty on a statue in the Lorestan province.

Maduro, Venezuela, & The Don-roe Doctrine 
The arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife on drug trafficking charges by the United States has provoked a familiar chorus of critique. Bernie Sanders dusted off the language of “imperialism” non-interventionists such as Republican Thomas Massie have reflexively joined in on the oil criticism, while also conflating the arrest of Maduro with the last two decades of neoconservative “regime change” wars. Both reactions misread what is happening. America’s future depends on asserting its interests “without apology.”

Egyptian ship infiltrates Israeli waters, IDF responds
An Egyptian vessel infiltrated Israeli waters for a short time on Thursday evening. IDF forces identified the ship and operated in accordance with operational procedures. According to the IDF, after the vessel failed to respond to calls to stop, deterrent measures were employed against it. In response, the vessel changed course and returned to Egyptian waters.

‘To ICE, get the f–k out of Minneapolis’: Walz, Frey face backlash for response to ICE shooting
“This scumbag should be ashamed of himself,” the White House said in response to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s comments. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are facing backlash for their response in the wake of a fatal ICE shooting on Wednesday. U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, who’s running for governor of South Carolina, responded to the video of Frey, saying, “Arrest the mayor.” A Cuban national was just charged this week for driving his vehicle into an ICE officer in December in St. Paul.

US set to launch 2nd phase of Gaza peace plan despite Hamas’ failure to return remains of last hostage and disarm 
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is planning to transition to the second phase of the Gaza peace deal, despite Hamas not having fulfilled its responsibilities to return all remains of the hostages and to commit to disarmament, The report claims that the United States has based its decision on assurances from Middle East partners, including Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt, who have told Washington that Hamas will agree to a gradual disarmament. These assurances appear to contradict the clear statements of Hamas leaders, who have consistently rejected the demand …

‘The Negev is running wild’: Murder spree & rampant gun smuggling plague Israel’s south, fueling tensions with the state 
Netanyahu vows more Jewish settlement, more law & order to pacify Negev region
Both problems have plagued the Arab community for years but simultaneously escalated in recent weeks, causing additional tensions with the police and security forces. Arab leaders have often blamed authorities for first under-policing their areas then conducting overly violent enforcement operations once crime gets out of hand.

Rav Kessin: Trump embodies Esav’s return as redemption nears
Rabbi Mendel Kessin … argued that Trump’s rise and the extreme opposition he provokes can only be understood through the Bible and the teachings of the Sages. Rav Kessin explained that Trump is the embodiment and reincarnation of Biblical Esav, the twin brother of Yaakov (Jacob), and, as such, will play a major role in aiding Yaakov’s descendants, the nation of Israel, in bringing the Messiah.

‘Fabricating evidence’: Audit of DHS grants uncovers backdated documents, oversight failures
“In the 27-plus years I’ve been with OLA, I have never seen this before. I will say we have had suspicions periodically, but we have never been able to prove it, to document it, and we did in this case. And it’s very troubling,” Randall said. “I will add that it wasn’t just one individual that created the documents or backdated the documents. There were several [Behavioral Health Administration] staff that we could identify who had done this and it was across the grant oversight process. So we do believe it was a systemic effort.”

As Iran burns, Ayatollah eyes Moscow exit while Trump and Netanyahu plan strike
While demonstrators fill the streets demanding freedom, intelligence reports reveal that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has prepared an escape plan to Russia, complete with a handpicked entourage of family and aides. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump have reportedly reached understandings that include potential military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities if Tehran refuses to meet their demands.

Israeli FM Sa’ar rejects Lebanon’s claim that it has disarmed Hezbollah
Israel’s Foreign Ministry rejected Lebanon’s declaration that it has secured full control over the area south of the Litani River, warning that Hezbollah’s forces and weapons infrastructure remain firmly in place despite Beirut’s claims. Israeli officials said the situation on the ground does not reflect the Lebanese Army’s announcement and accused Hezbollah of expanding its capabilities with direct backing from Iran.

Gazan rocket fired at Israel falls short, hits near hospital 
The IDF struck the launch site, targeting the second Hamas ceasefire violation in the past 24 hours.
The IDF said it “views with great severity any attempt by terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip to carry out terror plots against IDF forces and the civilians of the State of Israel.”

Arson attacks on regime symbols as protests escalate in Iran; phone lines cut to curb unrest
Protests across Iran intensified on Thursday night as demonstrators took to the streets in large numbers in Tehran and cities nationwide, torching symbols of state authority and chanting slogans against the Islamic Republic’s leadership. The escalation came as U.S. President Donald Trump doubled down on his warning to Tehran that Washington would respond forcefully if the regime kills protesters, while human rights groups reported a mounting death toll and mass arrests. Opposition-linked media reported widespread arson during the latest wave of demonstrations.

‘You Can Run, But You Can’t Hide’: The Downfall Of Dictators And A Spotlight On Corruption
According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Maduro and his wife will now face charges in the Southern District of New York, including conspiracy to engage in drug-terror activities, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the United States. Not surprisingly, all the usual suspects lost their minds over this decisive action by the President. Russia, Turkey, Colombia, Qatar, Iran, Panama, Cuba, and other UN states and anti-western countries condemned the extraction.

Venezuela Operation: Hitting One Of The Most Strategic Footholds In The Global Communist Advance
With the arrest of Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro on multiple federal charges,…As usual, most of the media is missing (or hiding) the real story. For decades, Latin America has been a key battlefield in the global communist advance, with Venezuela serving as one of its most strategic footholds. What began as a Marxist revolution cloaked in populist rhetoric metastasized into a narco-terrorist, Cuban- and Chinese-backed dictatorship that exported and funded chaos, drugs, subversion, and revolution throughout the hemisphere. America is the ultimate prize.

Has The Insane Iranian Regime Cut Off All Internet Access To Cover Up A Mass Slaughter Of Protesters?
Global events are moving very rapidly now.  If I keep adding more stuff to this article, I will never get it out on time.  You are going to be shocked by some of the things that have just happened.  It appears that the showdown in Iran between the protesters and the government is about to reach a violent crescendo.  Meanwhile, it is being reported that the Russians have just fired an Oreshnik missile at one of Ukraine’s largest cities.  Many of us expected 2026 to be absolutely crazy, and so far it is certainly living up to expectations.

The Musical Chairs Economy: When You Can’t Find A Job No Matter How Hard You Try, It Can Be Absolutely Soul Crushing
After months of submitting resumes and filling out applications, many unemployed Americans have given in to despair. Dozens of large companies all over the nation have been conducting mass layoffs, and the competition for any good jobs that do happen to be available has become extremely intense. But if you have not lost your source of income, things may still seem fairly normal to you and you may be wondering what all of the fuss is about. That is why I am calling this “the musical chairs economy”.

Iran’s Streets Are On Fire As Thousands Protest And Khamenei Unleashes Hezbollah, Houthis, Quds Force, And Iraqi Militias
Thousands are marching in the streets of Iran, setting fire to billboards of the Ayatollah Khomeini, renaming streets after President Trump, and standing against the government’s thugs in sometimes deadly encounters. In response, the Islamic Republic has now reportedly called in foreign militias to quell the protests, including Hezbollah, the Houthis, the Iraqi militia, and the Quds Force.

First AI Designed Drug Is Nearing Approval – Can It Be Trusted?
For decades, the development of new drugs has been one of the slowest, most expensive, and most failure-prone processes in modern science. With artificial intelligence however, that bottleneck may be breaking. An experimental drug designed largely by AI has how entered late-stage trials at record speed, and is on track to become the first AI-designed medicine approved for human use. Some call it a medical breakthrough, while others recognise an unsettling shortcut that replaces proper medical understanding with machine-based optimisation.

Trump Supporters Hunted In Venezuela By Maduro’s Armed Colectivos Motorcycle Gang: Claim It’s A ‘Government Directive’
Straight out of a dystopian novel, Nicolas Maduro’s armed militia motorcycle gangs have evidently been summoned to take to the streets in Venezuela for the next 90 days, stopping vehicles and terrorizing anyone who even remotely supports President Trump or the United States. They allegedly have orders to arrest anyone who was in favor of the US’s capture of the Venezuelan narcoterrorist dictator.

Trump announces US exit from dozens of UN, international groups
“The days of billions of dollars in taxpayer money flowing to foreign interests at the expense of our people are over,” the U.S. secretary of state said.

‘The Negev is running wild’: Murder spree & rampant gun smuggling plague Israel’s south, fueling tensions with the state
As tensions between authorities and Israel’s Arab community have reached a boiling point in recent weeks, on Wednesday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toured the western Negev to discuss the problem of gun running, while President Isaac Herzog hosted a meeting focused on the horrific murder spree that has claimed 11 lives since the start of the year.

US set to launch 2nd phase of Gaza peace plan despite Hamas’ failure to return remains of last hostage and disarm
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is planning to transition to the second phase of the Gaza peace deal, despite Hamas not having fulfilled its responsibilities to return all remains of the hostages and to commit to disarmament.

Woman Killed In Minneapolis Was “ICE Watch” Left-Wing Activist Trained To Resist Fed Agents: Report
“From my understanding, she was involved in social justice … we are a tight-knit community…”