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“A Miracle Has Happened”: James Woods Returns to Find Home “Still Standing” in Fire Ravaged Pacific Palisades Neighborhood

Actor James Woods returned with wife Sara to the couple’s fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades neighborhood on Friday, discovering that their home survived the massive fire that started Tuesday and destroyed many of the homes, businesses, and schools in the Los Angeles suburb, including the homes of their neighbors. Like many people who fled their homes during the flash fire, Woods assumed his home was destroyed, given that large flames were literally at his backyard.

Our deck three minutes ago. pic.twitter.com/KpZDELpN8L
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) January 7, 2025

The view from one of our security cameras pic.twitter.com/hcbwsAYJvG
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) January 7, 2025

Woods posted late Tuesday night he was notified on his iPhone that the smoke detectors had gone off at his home:

All the smoke detectors are going off in our house and transmitting to our iPhones.
I couldn’t believe our lovely little home in the hills held on this long. It feels like losing a loved one.
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) January 8, 2025

Woods was stunned when he returned home on Friday. “A miracle has happened,” Woods posted upon finding his house survived, though he reported the home suffered “smoke and other damage” but is amazingly still “standing” and “intact.”
Woods also told the story of the rescue of an elderly neighbor who was abandoned by a caregiver.

Parts of the Pacific Palisades look like the firebombed cities of World War II, with photos and videos showing block after block of rubble and smoldering ashes from the hills to the Pacific Ocean.
One of the first aerial images of the fire damage was posted Wednesday of a drone photo taken by Kit Karzen:

New drone shot from Pacific Palisades shows entire blocks of homes literally burned to the ground. The Palisades Fire alone could become the “costliest” fire in U.S. history.
Courtesy of @KitKarzen pic.twitter.com/L5z7mvdLTt
— Nahel Belgherze (@WxNB_) January 8, 2025

Drone video by Matthew Heller taken Thursday:

Multiple wind-driven wildfires have destroyed more than 10,000 buildings in the Los Angeles area, leaving behind scenes that can best be described as apocalyptic.
Drone video shows the aftermath in the Pacific Palisades area, which was destroyed by the #PalisadesFire. pic.twitter.com/IMevZ4Jj65
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) January 10, 2025

Woods posted photos and video from his neighborhood Friday. His first post was about the rescue of the elderly father of a neighbor:
“The man on the left, Robert Trinkkeller, is a hero. By the grace of God he stayed behind when the evacuation order was given. When I called the man on the right, our neighbor, in Boston to be sure his 94 year-old father had been evacuated, he was devastated that a replacement caregiver had left his father behind.
“Sara and I couldn’t get back up through police barricades, so I called Robert and managed to get him. By the time he got to the elderly father’s house, the house next store was ablaze. I had gotten through to the Fire Services finally, and they met Robert who guided them to the father. His son flew out immediately and today all three of us and Sara put out the fires on our hillside with buckets of pool water. If you are blessed to have such wonderful neighbors, you are luckier than you know.”

The man on the left, Robert Trinkkeller, is a hero. By the grace of God he stayed behind when the evacuation order was given. When I called the man on the right, our neighbor, in Boston to be sure his 94 year-old father had been evacuated, he was devastated that a replacement… pic.twitter.com/CeQBiLhCiv
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) January 10, 2025

Video posted by Woods showing one side of his street “untouched” by the fire and the other destroyed, “One side untouched, the other utter destruction. While we rejoice to find our house intact, in the midst of a hellscape like this, you can only think of your neighbors. I was so certain our house was gone a day ago, but the fickle finger of fate decided otherwise.”

One side untouched, the other utter destruction. While we rejoice to find our house intact, in the midst of a hellscape like this, you can only think of your neighbors. I was so certain our house was gone a day ago, but the fickle finger of fate decided otherwise. pic.twitter.com/dbL0ECvtSa
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) January 10, 2025

Woods posted video looking down the hill from his back deck, showing the destruction. The video also shows Sara Woods and a neighbor dowsing small fires still burning on the property, “A miracle has happened. We managed to get to our property and our home, that we were told is gone forever, is still standing. In this hellish landscape “standing” is relative, but smoke and other damage is not like the utter destruction around us. The view from our deck area:”

A miracle has happened. We managed to get to our property and our home, that we were told is gone forever, is still standing. In this hellish landscape “standing” is relative, but smoke and other damage is not like the utter destruction around us. The view from our deck area: pic.twitter.com/JZU2kTJC52
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) January 10, 2025

Woods is promoting a petition calling on Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) to resign over her handling of the Los Angeles area fires this week:

Petition · Demand the Immediate Resignation of Mayor Karen Bass – Los Angeles, United States · https://t.co/OE7YKlXuna https://t.co/M8U9mtFnAI
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) January 10, 2025 […]

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Biden Takes Cheap Shot at Trump in Remarks on Death of Jimmy Carter; Says Trump Should Learn “Decency, Decency, Decency” From Carter

Joe Biden took a cheap shot at President-elect Trump in his remarks Sunday evening in St. Croix on the death of former President Jimmy Carter.

When asked by a reporter what Trump could take from Carter, Biden flashed a Carter-esque toothy smile while saying “decency” three times and then went on a brief diatribe comparing Carter to Trump. The reporter squeezed the question in as White House press wranglers were trying to shut down Biden and the assembled reporters and end the press availability.
The reporter’s question was partially lost in cross talk, “Is there (anything?) President Trump could take from President Carter?”
Biden answered:

“Decency. Decency. Decency. Everybody deserves a shot, everybody. Can you imagine Jimmy Carter walking by someone who needs something to just keep walking? Can you imagine Jimmy Carter referring to someone by the way they look or the way they talk? I can’t. I can’t. You know, I think the end of the deal here is that one of the reasons why we’re looked to by the rest of the world, for the bulk of our nation we’ve laid out what our values are. We said what we believe. It’s not just in the Declaration, “We hold these truth to be self-evident,” but there’s a feeling. The rest of the world looks to us, looks to us. And he was worth looking to. Thank you very much. Appreciate it.”(Transcribed by TGP.)

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Biden’s cheap shot at Trump came after Trump and Vice President-elect Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) released statements praising Carter.
Vance: “Jimmy Carter dedicated his life to serving this country. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones. May he Rest in Peace.”
Trump:
I just heard of the news about the passing of President Jimmy Carter. Those of us who have been fortunate to have served as President understand this is a very exclusive club, and only we can relate to the enormous responsibility of leading the Greatest Nation in History.

The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude.
Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time. We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts and prayers.

Jimmy Carter dedicated his life to serving this country. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones. May he Rest in Peace. https://t.co/2tiQyb8N7K
— JD Vance (@JDVance) December 29, 2024

Trump also released a follow-up statement:

President Jimmy Carter is dead at 100 years of age. While I strongly disagreed with him philosophically and politically, I also realized that he truly loved and respected our Country, and all it stands for. He worked hard to make America a better place, and for that I give him my highest respect. He was a truly good man and, of course, will be greatly missed. He was also very consequential, far more than most Presidents, after he left the Oval Office. Warmest condolences from Melania and I to his wonderful family!

Trump has not responded to Biden as of this writing. […]

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London, Kentucky Police Killed Man in His Home in Late Night Search Warrant Raid Apparently at Wrong Address–Reportedly Over a Stolen Weed Eater

London, Kentucky police officers reportedly tasked with serving a search warrant at a home on 489 Vanzant Road in London two days before Christmas instead apparently attempted to serve the warrant in a late night raid at a house across the street at 11:50 p.m. Monday and ended up killing the man who was residing in 511 Vanzant Road.
London is a small town with a population of about 8,000 located in Laurel County in southeastern Kentucky.
Home security video from across the street and police dispatch audio tell part of the story. Police repeatedly say on the audio they are at 489 Vanzant Rd., while the home security video shows the police raiding the home at 511 Vanzant Rd., across the street from 489, and then firing shots inside that house. 489 Vanzant Rd. has reportedly been vacant for several months. A neighbor told local media the police raid was over a stolen weed eater. Reporters have not been able to obtain a copy of the search warrant.
The man killed was 63-year-old Douglas Harless, an employed father and grandfather and reportedly without a criminal record. London police said three days after the deadly shooting that Harless was shot after he raised a firearm at officers.

Douglas Harless, family photo via Lex 18

WLEX-TV reported a neighbor’s comments on the shooting (excerpt):
“I heard five shots,” says a neighbor, who does not want to be identified. “At least five shots. Woke me up. I was laying on the couch.”

Neighbors are still in disbelief and looking for answers as to why London Police were at the door of 61-year-old Doug Harless the night of December 23rd.One neighbor walked us through what they say happened that night.
“My wife looked out the back door and said, Doug’s house is all lit up. At that time, we had seen several cop cars up and down the road and I contacted his daughter. She sent her husband out here to find out that her dad was deceased. The cops had shot him.”
…”But now everything is breaking out, whether the search warrant was for 489, which is right here on this corner, two doors down from Doug. They are looking for the guy that lives there in that house for a stolen weed eater.”

Neighbors say Harless was a victim, not a criminal.
WKYT-TV reporter Samantha Valentino has been reporting on the shooting. Valentino obtained the home security video that shows the deadly raid and police dispatch audio:

New surveillance video provided to us by a neighbor shows the moments leading up to Douglas Harless’ death.
Kentucky State Police say he was shot and killed by a London Police officer during an attempt to serve a search warrant.
Dispatch audio exclusively obtained by WKYT… pic.twitter.com/WszTLVRcXV
— Samantha Valentino (@SamanthaWKYT) December 29, 2024

KSP says an LPD officer shot and killed a man while attempting to serve a search warrant Monday night.
Questions have been raised as to whether police were at the wrong house.
New dispatch audio we’ve obtained is helping us better understand what happened.
More at 6 on @WKYT. pic.twitter.com/8fLtMR663x
— Samantha Valentino (@SamanthaWKYT) December 27, 2024

Statement by London police posted Thursday to social media:

On December 23, 2024, Officers from the London Police Department were following up with an investigation which started in the city limits of London. This investigation led officers to attempt to execute a search warrant at a residence on Vanzant Road in Laurel County. While doing so, the occupant of the residence produced a firearm and pointed it at officers. The officer then responded with force, which resulted in the death of the occupant.
At the request of the London Police Department, The Kentucky State Police was called to investigate the use of force and responded to the scene. The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard and in line with the department’s policy for this type of incident.
At this time, no other information will be released as it is an active and ongoing investigation. Any further questions or inquiries should be directed to The Kentucky State Police.

Kentucky State Police statement issued Tuesday:
The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 11 London has been requested by the London Police Department (LPD) to investigate an officer-involved shooting in Laurel County. KSP Post 11 was contacted on December 23 at 11:53 p,m, EST regarding the incident requesting assistance on an officer-involved shooting that had taken place at 511 Vanzant Road in Laurel County.

The preliminary investigation indicates LPD officers were following up on an investigation with an attempt to execute a search warrant. During the encounter, an LPD officer fired their agency-issued firearm, striking the individual. The man sustained injuries and life-saving measures were performed on-scene. He succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased by the Laurel County Coroner’s Office. No other injuries were reported.

KSP has statewide jurisdiction and investigates officer-involved shootings throughout the Commonwealth as requested by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. KSP is committed to being transparent while ensuring the integrity of the investigation. To protect the integrity of an ongoing investigation, it is KSP’s standard operating procedure not to release specific details until vital witnesses have been interviewed and pertinent facts have been gathered. Timelines to complete investigations vary based on the complexity of the case.
Obituary:
Douglas Marshall HarlessApril 10, 1961 – December 23, 2024Posted on December 27, 2024 at 7:09 PM • 1 CommentDouglas Marshall Harless, 63, of Lily, Kentucky, passed away Monday, December 23, 2024. Born April 10, 1961, he was the son of the late James Harless and Mavis Gunn.
In addition to his father and mother, Doug was preceded in death by a special friend, Shannon Smith, and his sister, Gail Fritz.

He leaves behind his daughter, Nicki Lawson and husband Tim; grandson, Kobe Lawson; bonus daughter, Mona Alsip and bonus grandson, Tyler; brother, Mark Harless and wife Sherry; nephew, Travis Harless; sister, Peggy Turner; sister, Margaret Barnes; brother, Cody Wilburn; sister, Angie Martin and husband Jason; and special work friend, Justin Medlin. Survivors also include many nieces, nephews, and friends to mourn his passing.
A hardworking man, Doug was an employee of Winterwood, Inc. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. Other interests included NASCAR racing and listening to music.
Doug was dearly loved by his family and friends and will be deeply missed.
The family will receive friends from 5 – 8 P.M. Monday, December 30, 2024, at Hart Funeral Home, located at 1011 Master Street Corbin, Kentucky 40701. […]

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Trump Expresses Support for H-1B Visa Worker Program

In an interview with the New York Post on Saturday, President-elect Donald J. Trump weighed in on the debate over the controversial H-1B visa worker program that has roiled his MAGA supporters this week after comments by Trump allies Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy in support of the foreign worker program.
President Trump thanks Elon Musk for his support at Trump’s return to Butler, PA, rally, October 5, 2024, photo by Kristinn Taylor.
The debate has caused a fracture in Trump’s 2024 election coalition, with avid Trump supporter Laura Loomer apparently being penalized on the Musk-owned X over her criticism of Musk and immigrant worker visas, and former Trump White House advisor Steve Bannon speaking out against Musk and Ramaswamy.
Trump spoke to New York Post reporter Jon Levine by phone, telling him he supports H-1B (excerpt):
“I’ve always liked the visas, I have always been in favor of the visas. That’s why we have them,” Trump said by phone, referring to the H-1B program, which permits companies to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations.

“I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great program,” added Trump, who restricted access to foreign worker visas in his first administration and has been critical of the program in the past.
Those brief comments by Trump were all the Post reported.
Trump’s appointees to head DOGE (the Department of Government Efficiency commission), Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, picked a fight with some of Trump’s hardest core America First supporters over work visas this week, using words like “subtards” and criticizing American culture in their arguments supporting importing foreign workers.

Musk exploded in rage Friday night in a post on X, threatening all-out war over the issue, “The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B. Take a big step back and F*** YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend.”

The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B.
Take a big step back and FUCK YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot…
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 28, 2024

Earlier, Musk had called some of his critics, “subtards”:

My tolerance for subtards is limited
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 27, 2024

For his part, Ramaswamy criticized American culture, saying in a lengthy post:

The reason top tech companies often hire foreign-born & first-generation engineers over “native” Americans isn’t because of an innate American IQ deficit (a lazy & wrong explanation). A key part of it comes down to the c-word: culture. Tough questions demand tough answers & if we’re really serious about fixing the problem, we have to confront the TRUTH:
Our American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long (at least since the 90s and likely longer). That doesn’t start in college, it starts YOUNG.
A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers.

A culture that venerates Cory from “Boy Meets World,” or Zach & Slater over Screech in “Saved by the Bell,” or ‘Stefan’ over Steve Urkel in “Family Matters,” will not produce the best engineers.
(Fact: I know *multiple* sets of immigrant parents in the 90s who actively limited how much their kids could watch those TV shows precisely because they promoted mediocrity…and their kids went on to become wildly successful STEM graduates).
More movies like Whiplash, fewer reruns of “Friends.” More math tutoring, fewer sleepovers. More weekend science competitions, fewer Saturday morning cartoons. More books, less TV. More creating, less “chillin.” More extracurriculars, less “hanging out at the mall.”

Most normal American parents look skeptically at “those kinds of parents.” More normal American kids view such “those kinds of kids” with scorn. If you grow up aspiring to normalcy, normalcy is what you will achieve.
Now close your eyes & visualize which families you knew in the 90s (or even now) who raise their kids according to one model versus the other. Be brutally honest.

“Normalcy” doesn’t cut it in a hyper-competitive global market for technical talent. And if we pretend like it does, we’ll have our asses handed to us by China.

This can be our Sputnik moment. We’ve awaken from slumber before & we can do it again. Trump’s election hopefully marks the beginning of a new golden era in America, but only if our culture fully wakes up. A culture that once again prioritizes achievement over normalcy; excellence over mediocrity; nerdiness over conformity; hard work over laziness.
That’s the work we have cut out for us, rather than wallowing in victimhood & just wishing (or legislating) alternative hiring practices into existence. I’m confident we can do it.

The reason top tech companies often hire foreign-born & first-generation engineers over “native” Americans isn’t because of an innate American IQ deficit (a lazy & wrong explanation). A key part of it comes down to the c-word: culture. Tough questions demand tough answers & if…
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) December 26, 2024

Former Trump White House official Theo Wold posted about a battle Trump waged and won to save the jobs of over 200 American workers in 2020 who were set to be fired and forced to train their H-1B replacements by the Tennessee Valley Authority:

In Trump ‘45, the President had a showdown with the Tennessee Valley Authority over 200 American jobs that TVA had switched to H1Bs.
In the run-up to Christmas, TVA fired these 200 Americans – and had them train their foreign replacements on the way out.
They did this despite the fact that TVA is (1) a government agency; (2) founded to improve the material station of poor Americans, and (3) manages critical energy infrastructure for a large swath of the country.

My team and I proposed a plan to President Trump to reinstate the terminated American workers. Because the President of TVA cannot be fired by the President of the United States we thought President Trump should hold the TVA board members responsible – the highly-compensated decision-makers who had orchestrated the H1B worker swap.
The President agreed. He started firing TVA board members one at a time, with a demand to reinstate the Americans to their jobs. It didn’t take long before the TVA president and the remaining Board members agreed to reinstate the American workers.
At the time, some skeptical commentators said it was meaningless because it was “only” 200 jobs. But it was an important moment for two reasons.

First, these 200 jobs mattered to 200 American families, especially with Christmas approaching.
Second, it set an outer boundary for what short-term labor visas (which is ultimately what the H1B visa is) should NOT be used for: to replace competent American workers in a critical industry with temporary foreign visa workers just to save a buck.
There is broad agreement on the right about what H1B visas – or any other visa – should NOT be used for. The TVA showdown is an example of that.

Agreeing on this common understanding is the right starting place for this incoming administration.

In Trump ‘45, the President had a showdown with the Tennessee Valley Authority over 200 American jobs that TVA had switched to H1Bs.
In the run-up to Christmas, TVA fired these 200 Americans – and had them train their foreign replacements on the way out.
They did this despite… pic.twitter.com/s7VXNHEG9p
— Theo Wold (@RealTheoWold) December 28, 2024

Before Trump spoke out on Saturday, supporters were pointing to remarks by Vice President-elect Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) during his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention last July, “We’re done importing foreign labor! We’re going to fight for American citizens and their good jobs and their good wages!”

Our Next Vice President @JDVance
“We’re done importing foreign labor! We’re going to fight for American citizens and their good jobs and their good wages!”pic.twitter.com/IZ7yJfz9zU
— The Columbia Bugle (@ColumbiaBugle) December 27, 2024

Excerpt from the U.S. Department of Labor on the H-1B visa program:

The H-1B program applies to employers seeking to hire nonimmigrant aliens as workers in specialty occupations or as fashion models of distinguished merit and ability. A specialty occupation is one that requires the application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and the attainment of at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. The intent of the H-1B provisions is to help employers who cannot otherwise obtain needed business skills and abilities from the U.S. workforce by authorizing the temporary employment of qualified individuals who are not otherwise authorized to work in the United States.
The law establishes certain standards in order to protect similarly employed U.S. workers from being adversely affected by the employment of the nonimmigrant workers, as well as to protect the H-1B nonimmigrant workers. Employers must attest to the Department of Labor that they will pay wages to the H-1B nonimmigrant workers that are at least equal to the actual wage paid by the employer to other workers with similar experience and qualifications for the job in question, or the prevailing wage for the occupation in the area of intended employment – whichever is greater.
Steve Bannon gives Musk his respect for his work supporting Trump in the 2024 election, but blasts the H-1B visa program: “Full respect to Elon Musk—he played a key role in mobilizing low-prop voters and funding GOTV efforts. That earns him a seat at the table. Let me just restate something: as a fact, the H1B visa program is a total and complete scam from its top to the bottom.”

Bannon: Full respect to Elon Musk—he played a key role in mobilizing low-prop voters and funding GOTV efforts. That earns him a seat at the table. Let me just restate something: as a fact, the H1B visa program is a total and complete scam from its top to the bottom. pic.twitter.com/d2MkvKqhoX
— Bannon’s WarRoom (@Bannons_WarRoom) December 28, 2024 […]

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Man Found on Fire at Penn Station in New York City

A man was found on fire at Penn Station in New York City Friday evening. The cause of the incident is under investigation, though it has been reported as intentional.
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES – DECEMBER 27: Security measures are taken after a 56-year-old man reportedly set on fire at Penn Station in Manhattan, New York, United States on Friday, December 27, 2024. At approximately 8:10 PM Friday evening, a 56-year-old man was set on fire intentionally and sustained burn injuries throughout his entire body. No further information was immediately released on the man’s condition. (Photo by Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)
This is the second time this week a person was found on fire in the New York City transit system. Sunday morning, a woman was set on fire and killed on a subway train by an alleged illegal alien from Guatemala.
The New York Times reported on statements by officials about Friday’s incident at Penn Station (excerpt):
A man was found with burns on his body at Penn Station in New York on Friday evening and was transported to a hospital, where he was in stable condition, fire and police officials said.

Fire officials responded to a report at about 8 p.m. that a man who was at the train station in Manhattan had sustained burns, the New York Fire Department said in a statement.
A 56-year-old man was transported to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, the New York Police Department said in a statement. It was not clear if the authorities knew the man’s identity.
A fire department spokesman said in a phone interview on Friday night that the burns were serious but not life-threatening when the man was being transported. A police spokesman said that the man was in stable condition at the hospital on Friday night.

A bystander posted a photos from the scene:

Whats happening in #NYCFire trucks at every subway entrance pic.twitter.com/5rkoSpmW6V
— Rebecca Elizabeth (@Rebecca13288921) December 28, 2024

Another person set on fire #Penn Station #NYC stay away from this mess! pic.twitter.com/IYolgY065g
— Rebecca Elizabeth (@Rebecca13288921) December 28, 2024

Still here pic.twitter.com/xLom7obvfW
— Rebecca Elizabeth (@Rebecca13288921) December 28, 2024

Earlier Friday, a fire that destroyed the holiday market at Bryant Park in the City was ruled accidental by the FDNY:

Per #FDNY Fire Marshals, Friday morning’s fire in Bryant Park was accidental, caused by cooking oil coming in contact with combustibles. https://t.co/wbKsIuCre7
— FDNY (@FDNY) December 27, 2024 […]

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Trump Effect: Mexico to Open Shelters for Deported Migrants by January 20: Report

The government of Mexico is planning to open twenty-five shelters for Mexican citizens deported by the incoming Trump administration. The shelters will be opened by Trump’s inauguration on January 20, according to comments by Baja California Gov. Marina del Pilar at a press conference Monday reported by Border Report.
The temporary shelters will hold about 500 each, totally 12,000. Some will house single men, others will house unaccompanied children, women and family units.
In the weeks after the November 5 election, President-elect Trump sparred with Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum over his threat to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada over the failure of those governments to stop migrants and drugs from coming into the U.S.
The announcement Monday by Gov. Marina del Pilar is a sign Trump is winning the battle with Sheinbaum.

Border Report excerpt:
Baja California Gov. Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda announced the Mexican government will open 25 new shelters to house deported migrants.
During a meeting with reporters on Monday in Tijuana, Ávila Olmeda said they are taking President-elect Donald Trump’s threats of mass deportations seriously, adding that six of the shelters are supposed to be set up in the city of Tijuana with two others in Mexicali, Baja’s capital city.
“This is a strategic plan to accommodate exclusively people who get deported after January 20,” she said.

…The facilities will only house Mexican migrants for a few days before they are sent to their hometowns in the interior of Mexico, Ávila Olmeda said.
Trump’s border czar in waiting, Tom Homan, has been making media appearances this month making clear Trump’s priorities: “Secure the border, run a deportation operation and find these children, 340,000 missing (migrant) children.” Homan has said that the priority for deportations will be aliens with criminal records, aliens with deportation orders, gang members and national security risks. Homan has also warned migrants not in those categories that they will be taken into custody for deportation proceedings if they are caught up in raids for targeted criminal aliens.

Tom Homan: “President Trump gave me 3 priorities, right? Secure the border, run a deportation operation, and find these children—340,000 missing children. It’s going to be a tough job because of what this administration has done.” pic.twitter.com/zEXTga4iai
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) December 24, 2024

Video of the press conference by Gov. Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda (in Spanish, Q & A about the migrant shelters starts at around 29 minutes.)

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NBC News reported Homan’s comments on Trump’s priorities in an article published earlier this month (excerpt):
Homan, who was frequently asked during his appearances to explain how and with whom the repatriations will begin, echoes one of the few details of the plan that Trump has offered publicly himself: The deportations will begin with undocumented migrants who pose threats to either national or public security.
“President Trump has made it clear we will prioritize public safety threats and national security threats first and that’s what the focus would be,” Homan said of the deportation plan in an interview on Fox News’ “Hannity” program on Nov. 11. “There’s thousands of gang members, illegal alien gang members we’re going to be looking for. Now, I’m going to say if you’re in the country illegally, you shouldn’t feel comfortable, absolutely not. I won’t feel comfortable.”
“We have ways of finding people,” he said in a separate interview on the network’s “Ingraham Angle” on Nov. 20. “I’m not going to explain it here on national TV because of law enforcement sensitivity, but we will find many of these folks. They will be arrested, they’ll be detained, and they will be removed.” […]

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WW III Alert: Biden Secretly More Than Doubled US Troops in Syria to 2,000

The Defense Department revealed Thursday that the Biden administration has secretly more than doubled the number of U.S. troops in Syria from about 900 to about 2,000 over the past several months.
2022 DoD photo:
U.S. Army Soldiers, assigned to Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 134th Field Artillery Regiment, 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Ohio Army National Guard, supporting Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, fire an M777 Howitzer during an operational rehearsal exercise at Mission Support Site Conoco, Syria, Dec. 4, 2022. Coalition forces conducted an operational exercise using M777 Howitzer in Syria to validate weapons systems and maintain crew proficiency & readiness. These exercises ensure the Coalition’s continued capability to support our partner forces and protect our Coalition forces. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Julio Hernandez)
Pentagon spokesman Air Force Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder told reporters at a briefing Thursday that he just learned that the number of troops in Syria had been increased in the months before Syrian dictator Bashar Assad was deposed by ‘rebel’ forces to help the mission against ISIS. Ryder said the new troops were on a ‘temporary’ deployment.

Biden Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder says he “recently learned” there are actually 2,000+ U.S. troops deployed in Syria — far more than the 900 they had previously announced. pic.twitter.com/MKlqO2ZlqS
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 19, 2024

Reporters pressed Ryder on the increase:

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Trump wanted to remove US troops from Syria in his first as president after they defeated the ISIS caliphate, but faced enormous pushback from the Pentagon and foreign policy establishment. Trump ended up keeping a small presence to guard the oil fields as noted on the light blue section of this map of forces in Syria as of last week (map via Wikipedia):

Complete briefing (Ryder announced new troop numbers at the start):
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Almost two weeks ago, just before Assad’s government fell, Trump warned that the U.S. should stay out of Syria’s civil war, posting on Truth Social, ” Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!”

Opposition fighters in Syria, in an unprecedented move, have totally taken over numerous cities, in a highly coordinated offensive, and are now on the outskirts of Damascus, obviously preparing to make a very big move toward taking out Assad. Russia, because they are so tied up in Ukraine, and with the loss there of over 600,000 soldiers, seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years. This is where former President Obama refused to honor his commitment of protecting the RED LINE IN THE SAND, and all hell broke out, with Russia stepping in. But now they are, like possibly Assad himself, being forced out, and it may actually be the best thing that can happen to them. There was never much of a benefit in Syria for Russia, other than to make Obama look really stupid. In any event, Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!

Concerns have been raised that NATO ally Turkey may invade Syria. A Kurdish opposition leader wrote to President-elect Trump this week urging him to intervene with Turkey (Newsmax excerpt):
U.S. officials are alarmed that a buildup of Turkish troops and militias along the border with Syria could signal that a large-scale invasion into territory held by U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds is imminent.
Ilham Ahmed, an official in the Syrian Kurds’ civilian administration, wrote in a letter to President-elect Donald Trump that a Turkish military operation appeared likely, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday, adding that Ahmed urged Trump to press Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan against such a move.

The forces include militia fighters, Turkish uniformed commandos, and artillery concentrated near Kobani, a Kurdish-majority city in Syria on the northern border with Turkey, the Journal reported, citing unnamed U.S. officials. A Turkish cross-border operation could be imminent, one of the U.S. officials said.
Turkey’s goal is to “establish de facto control over our land before you take office, forcing you to engage with them as rulers of our territory,” Ahmed wrote to Trump in the letter viewed by the Journal. “If Turkey proceeds with its invasion, the consequences will be catastrophic.”
…Although Trump won’t take over from President Joe Biden until Jan. 20, Ahmed urged the president-elect to use his “unique approach to diplomacy” to persuade Erdogan to stop any planned operation.
“We believe you hold the power to prevent this catastrophe,” Ahmed wrote. “President Erdogan has listened to you before, and we trust he will heed your call again.” […]

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Drone Wars: FAA Threatens ‘Deadly Force’ in New Drone No Fly Zones for Twenty-Two New Jersey Locales for ‘Special Security Reasons’

The FAA issued new no fly zone restrictions on Wednesday and Thursday for drones covering twenty-two locales in New Jersey through January 17, threatening “deadly force” against aircraft violating the zones if they pose an “imminent security threat.” The new drone restrictions are in addition to those already in place for Bedminster, home of one of President-elect Trump’s golf courses, and the Picatinny Arsenal in Wharton. Each zone has a radius of one nautical mile and a ceiling of four hundred feet from the ground.
FAA map of drone no fly zones in New Jersey marked by red circles.
The FAA released a statement Thursday about the drone restrictions, “At the request of federal security partners, the FAA published 22 Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) prohibiting drone flights over critical New Jersey infrastructure.”
The threat to use deadly force against drones comes a week after Trump called on the Biden administration to shoot down the drones and the response by the Biden administration that the drones over New Jersey posed “no threat” and they were limited in what they could do.

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas shrugs off the mysterious drone sightings along the East Coast: “We haven’t seen anything unusual.” pic.twitter.com/89btRTXBlV
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 14, 2024

Mayorkas: “With respect to the ability to incapacitate those drones, we are limited in our authorities.” pic.twitter.com/JBTsiaLJK8
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) December 15, 2024

On Monday, a joint statement downplaying the drone scare was released by the FBI, the FAA, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense that said in part:

Having closely examined the technical data and tips from concerned citizens, we assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones. We have not identified anything anomalous and do not assess the activity to date to present a national security or public safety risk over the civilian airspace in New Jersey or other states in the northeast.
Excerpt from the NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) for Kearny, New Jersey (similar NOTAMs were posted for the other locations):
FDC 4/8541 ZNY PART 1 OF 3 NJ..AIRSPACE KEARNY, NJ..TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS. DECEMBER 18 , 2024-JANUARY 17 2025 LOCAL. PURSUANT TO 49 USC 40103(B)(3), THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) CLASSIFIES THE AIRSPACE DEFINED IN THIS NOTAM AS ‘NTL DEFENSE AIRSPACE’.

PILOTS WHO DO NOT ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING PROC MAY BE INTERCEPTED, DETAINED AND INTERVIEWED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT/SECURITY PERSONNEL.
ANY OF THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL ACTIONS MAY ALSO BE TAKEN AGAINST A PILOT WHO DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE RQMNTS OR ANY SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR PROC ANNOUNCED IN THIS NOTAM: A) THE FAA MAY TAKE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION, INCLUDING IMPOSING CIVIL PENALTIES AND THE SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF AIRMEN CERTIFICATES; OR B) THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT MAY PURSUE CRIMINAL CHARGES, INCLUDING CHARGES UNDER 49 USC SECTION 46307;
OR C) THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT MAY USE DEADLY FORCE AGAINST THE AIRBORNE ACFT, IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT THE ACFT POSES AN IMMINENT SECURITY THREAT. PURSUANT TO 14 CFR 99.7, SPECIAL SECURITY INSTRUCTIONS (SSI), ALL UNMANNED ACFT SYSTEM (UAS) FLT OPS ARE PROHIBITED:

The locales in New Jersey covered by the NOTAMs:
Evesham, Hamilton, Bridgewater, Cedar Grove, Metuchen, North Brunswick Township, Camden, Gloucester City, Westhampton, Edison, South Brunswick, Branchburg, Sewaren. Jersey City, Harrison, Elizabeth, Bayonne, Winslow, Burlington, Clifton, Hancocks Bridge and Kearny.
Flying Magazine reported on comments by a DHS spokesperson about the new restrictions (excerpt):

…A DHS spokesperson told FLYING the TFRs were requested by critical infrastructure partners to discourage drones from flying over their assets.
Neither agency linked the restrictions to the reports of mysterious aircraft.
“We continue to assess there is no public safety threat relating to the reported drone sightings,” DHS said in a statement. “In coordination with the FAA and our critical infrastructure partners who requested temporary flight restrictions over their facilities, out of an abundance of caution, the FAA has issued temporary flight restrictions over some critical infrastructure facilities in New Jersey.” […]

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Capitol Police Arrest “Pro-Trans” Man in Assault on Rep. Nancy Mace

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) was assaulted by a “pro-trans man” on Capitol grounds Tuesday evening, according to posts to Mace’s social media accounts. Capitol Police informed reporters a man had been arrested for “assaulting a government official.” Mace posted that her arm was injured, requiring a brace and some ice.
File screen image.
Mace drew the ire of transgender activists for waging a successful campaign last month to bar transgenders from using women’s bathrooms in the Capitol complex in the wake of the election of Democrat transgender Tim “Sarah” McBride to the House.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) announced the policy on November 20:
“All single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings — such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms — are reserved for individuals of that biological sex. It is important to note that each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol. “Women deserve women’s only spaces.”

Posts by Mace to her personal and official X accounts about the assault, “I was physically accosted tonight on Capitol grounds over my fight to protect women. Capitol police have arrested him. All the violence and threats keep proving our point. Women deserve to be safe. Your threats will not stop my fight for women! #HoldTheLine”

I was physically accosted tonight on Capitol grounds over my fight to protect women. Capitol police have arrested him.
All the violence and threats keep proving our point. Women deserve to be safe.
Your threats will not stop my fight for women!#HoldTheLine
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) December 11, 2024

“I was physically accosted at the Capitol tonight by a pro-tr*ns man. One new brace for my wrist and some ice for my arm and it’ll heal just fine. The Capitol police arrested the guy. Your tr*ns violence and threats on my life will only make me double down. FAFO.#HoldTheLine”

I was physically accosted at the Capitol tonight by a pro-tr*ns man. One new brace for my wrist and some ice for my arm and it’ll heal just fine.
The Capitol police arrested the guy.
Your tr*ns violence and threats on my life will only make me double down. FAFO. #HoldTheLine
— Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) December 11, 2024

Capitol Police statement:
“Tonight, the United States Capitol Police (USCP) arrested a person who is accused of assaulting a U.S. Representative.

Just before 6:00 p.m., the Member of Congress’ office reported an incident in the Rayburn House Office Building. House Division officers, and agents with the Threat Assessment Section, tracked down the suspect. After an investigative interview, officers arrested the suspect, 33-year-old James McIntyre of Illinois. McIntyre is facing a charge for Assaulting a Government Official (18 USC 111).
The Rayburn House Office Building was open to the public at the time of the incident. McIntyre went through security screening prior to entering the Congressional buildings.”
Video was posted recently of Mace being confronted (but not attacked) by pro-transgender activists:

Rep Nancy Mace gets harassed at the Capitol by a typical misfit.
Mace: “You’re not going to harass me over this. You use whatever bathroom your biological gender is. That’s how this works, okay?”
What’s not to understand? The stupidity is real! pic.twitter.com/cPVIeUDNWO
— ProudArmyBrat (@leslibless) December 10, 2024

Mace responded last week to the arrest of transgender activist Bradley “Chelsea” Manning for occupying a woman’s bathroom at the Capitol complex last week, “Chelsea Manning is literally trying to erase women’s rights and has the nerve to act like he’s the victim here. I’ve had enough. #HoldTheLine”

Chelsea Manning is literally trying to erase women’s rights and has the nerve to act like he’s the victim here. I’ve had enough. #HoldTheLine https://t.co/DxHVBy3wt3
— Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) December 6, 2024

Video of the protest:

If these idiots don’t have any other cause then they are pathetic beings. Arrest them all. Make sure they go to a MEN’S prison and see what happens to them in those bathrooms!Whistleblower turned trans activist Chelsea Manning arrested for storming women’s bathroom at US Capito pic.twitter.com/x5I6FGWPF5
— Diane Booth (@DianeMaryBooth7) December 6, 2024 […]

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Republican Senator Attacks President-Elect Trump in Comments to NBC News: “I don’t think it’s smart for him to humiliate Trudeau like he has”

A Republican Senator attacked President-Elect Trump in comments to NBC News over his treatment of Canada and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, saying, “I don’t think it’s smart for him [Trump] to humiliate Trudeau like he has.” The Senator, who was given anonymity by NBC to criticize Trump, also said that Trump “doesn’t have a huge mandate. This is a 50-50 country.”
Trudeau flew down to meet Trump for dinner at Mar-a-Lago last weekend with their respective staff members and Senator-elect Dave McCormick (R-PA) after Trump threatened Canada, Mexico and China with stiff tariffs if the three nations did not act to stop the flow of migrants and drugs into the U.S.
Credit: Dave McCormick/X
Canadian Ambassador Kirsten Hillman, who was at the dinner, spoke to the AP about the meeting (excerpt):
Hillman said the bulk of Friday night’s dinner centered around Trump’s border concerns. The ambassador said a priority of Trudeau’s was to point out the degree of difference.

Hillman said there really is no comparison, noting there is essentially zero trafficking of fentanyl from Canada to the United States. She said there are seizures but authorities say those are personal use seizures and not criminal trafficking. She said that 99.8% of the fentanyl seized by U.S. authorities in the U.S. comes from Mexico.
But Hillman said Canada is ready to make new investments in border security and there are plans for more helicopters, drones and law enforcement officers.
She also noted an agreement between Canada and the United States that allows for migrants caught crossing illegally into the United States to be sent back to Canada. She said that was talked about. She said Mexico and the U.S. do not have a similar agreement.

At the dinner that lasted three hours, Hillman said America’s trade deficit with Canada was also raised. Hillman said the U.S. had a $75 billion trade deficit with Canada last year but noted a third of what Canada sells into the U.S. are energy exports and prices have been high.
For his part, Trump reportedly jokingly told Trudeau that Canada could become the 51st state with him as governor if Canada could not handle his policies:

PETER DOOCY: “Tonight, we’re getting new details about that Trump-Trudeau dinner from two people who were at the table. We are told that when @JustinTrudeau told President-elect Trump that new tarrifs would kill the Canadian economy, Trump joked to him that if Canada can’t… pic.twitter.com/eAYNJL6SCq
— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) December 2, 2024

Excerpt from an NBC News report published Friday about Trump acting like he is already president while Joe Biden fades from the scene that featured the anonymous GOP Senator attacking Trump:

At least one Republican lawmaker questioned whether Trump’s approach does, indeed, work. After Trump warned that he would slap tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China unless they cracked down on the movement of migrants and drugs across the U.S. border, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida estate, to see him.
Trudeau’s support in Canada has been slipping. He faces a tough re-election bid, and the spectacle of him racing to Mar-a-Lago for an audience with Trump risked making him look like a supplicant.
“I don’t think it’s smart for him [Trump] to humiliate Trudeau like he has,” a Republican senator said, speaking on condition of anonymity to talk freely. “Canada is a good friend and is not a problem.”
The senator said: “Trump was elected to break some plates, but he doesn’t have a huge mandate. This is a 50-50 country. We’ve got midterm [elections] coming and we’ve got one year to deliver, and it’s going to be hard to get prices down with these tariffs.” […]