Huh: US And Venezuela Explore New Diplomatic Times

By William Teach January 10, 2026 – 10:30 am

First

How’s that war coming that Democrats, and a couple of loony Republicans, caterwauled about?

After President’s Capture, U.S. and Venezuela Explore Restoring Diplomatic Ties

Less than a week after the United States snatched its president under cover of night, Venezuela said it was exploring restoring diplomatic ties and sending a delegation to Washington to check on its long-shuttered embassy, according to a statement from the interim president, Delcy Rodríguez.

Her government and President Trump’s, according to Ms. Rodríguez, had decided to “initiate an exploratory diplomatic process” that was “aimed at the re-establishment of diplomatic missions in both countries.”

On Friday, U.S. diplomats visited Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, to assess a “potential” resumption of embassy operations for the first time in nearly seven years, a spokeswoman for the State Department confirmed.

The announcements on Friday appeared to represent only tentative first steps, and the relationship between the two countries is changing daily, experts noted.

It’s only been closed since 2019, same with lots of EU embassies since Maduro took over, but, diplomatic ties between the US and Venezuela have been frayed since the early 2000s under Chavez

But news of the possible restoration of diplomatic ties drew attention not only for the breakneck pace at which the two countries’ relationship was evolving, but also because of the head-spinning contradictions it seemed to embody.

It came as Mr. Trump said he was getting along “extremely well” with Venezuela’s government, even though that government is more or less the same government it was a week ago — minus President Nicolás Maduro — when Mr. Trump was mounting his intense pressure campaign.

To add to the contradictions, Ms. Rodríguez announced the move in a statement that began by denouncing the “kidnapping” of Mr. Maduro and a U.S. operation that she said had resulted in dozens of deaths and represented a flagrant violation of the “international legal order.”

Well, Trump is doing Trump. He’s not thinking like a politician, he’s thinking like a businessman, who needs to woo, cajole, and sometimes berate or threaten. Right now it’s a charm offensive. He and Rodriguez are very much opposites (as another Times articles discusses) but, she’s supposedly pragmatic, and you can bet she doesn’t want to lose power. And wants to make some cash out of this. And not go to jail. Not be assassinated by Venezuelan hardcores and gangs. For her, what if she’s in charge as Venezuela’s economy turns around? She’ll look pretty good, eh?

This all has to upset Democrats and their pet media, as they wanted war. Strife.

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Massachusetts Bill Would Limit How Much Citizens Can Drive Their Vehicles

By William Teach January 10, 2026 – 7:00 am

Will this also apply to elected lawmakers? Will their mileage be limited and forced to take public transportation?

Massachusetts bill would cut down on people’s driving miles

A bill that aims to cut down on the number of miles people drive in their personal cars across Massachusetts is one step closer to reaching Governor Healey’s desk.

The Freedom to Move Act, S.2246, moves to the Senate Ways and Means Committee after being passed by the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy in a 4–1 vote.

You know it’s shady and green authoritarian with that name

It focuses on aligning Massachusetts with its climate mandates.

The bill associates the transportation sector as the source of the greatest share of carbon emissions in the state.

“It’s not about individuals and how much you’re driving. It’s about the investment the state makes in our infrastructure,” said Kevin Shen, analyst with the Union of Concerned Scientists.

The conversation looking into whether the state should decide how much people drive is bringing both praise and criticism.

How about limiting state employees and their use of fossil fuels?

The bill would require MassDOT to set goals for reducing the number of statewide driving miles.

It does not list any specific figures on how many driving miles per person would be reduced.

Fortunately, there will be unelected Warmists to decide the details

(Western Mass News) It would also create a 15-member council to find ways to make public transportation more accessible for residents. and possibly even incentivize the use of public transportation.

This wouldn’t work so well out in Western Mass, which is a lot more rural. But, it’s always cool when cultists tell Everyone Else to do, but, surely won’t do themselves.

Read: Massachusetts Bill Would Limit How Much Citizens Can Drive Their Vehicles »

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FAFO: Federal Officers In Louisiana Heading To Minneapolis

By William Teach January 10, 2026 – 6:45 am

All the AWFLs and their white beta male Comrades thought they were Doing Something, well, they accomplished exactly the reverse of what they wanted when they were protecting illegal alien criminals

Federal officers are leaving Louisiana immigration crackdown for Minneapolis, documents show

Federal immigration officers are pulling out of a Louisiana crackdown and heading to Minneapolis in an abrupt pivot from an operation that drew protests around New Orleans and aimed to make thousands of arrests, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

The shift appeared to signal a wind-down of the Louisiana deployment that was dubbed “Catahoula Crunch” and began in December with the arrival of more than 200 officers. The operation had been expected to last into February and swiftly raised fears in immigrant communities.

The Trump administration has been surging thousands of federal officers to Minnesota under a sweeping new crackdown tied in part to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents. More than 2,000 officers are taking part in what the Department of Homeland Security has called the biggest immigration enforcement operation ever.

What can another 200 do?

“Catahoula Crunch” began with a target of 5,000 arrests, the AP first reported. The operation had resulted in about 370 arrests as of Dec. 18, according to DHS.

5K might have been a bit unrealistic, but, it did scare the crap out all the illegals, forcing many to amscray. Those they did arrest were a good haul, especially since they travel in force to defend from the liberal wackos.

Immigration enforcement ramp-up has only just begun, VP Vance promises

Federal officials say Americans can expect to see even more muscular immigration enforcement in the coming months, with over 10,000 new ICE agents hitting the streets, armed with personal data harvested by private contractors.

Speaking on a Jan. 7 FOX NEWS broadcast, Vice President JD Vance said ICE would be going “door to door” in the coming months as agents carry out President Donald Trump’s plans for the largest mass deportation in history. Federal officials say they’ve now got about 22,000 agents and investigators, up from 10,000 a year ago.

Without providing specific details, White House officials say 2.5 million people living illegally in the United States have already been deported or left under pressure, and promise far more will be leaving one way or another. Vance’s comments were broadcast hours after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis shot and killed a woman inside her car during a chaotic confrontation.

How many will be deported by the end of Trump’s term? Don’t forget, the number coming illegal is tiny.

Read: FAFO: Federal Officers In Louisiana Heading To Minneapolis »

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Democrats Finally Found Someone They Want Deported

By William Teach January 9, 2026 – 3:00 pm

Deporting murderers, child abusers, rapists, arsonists, thieves, violent gang members? Nope. Wrongthink? Yup

Nicki Minaj petition calls for her deportation after supporting Trump

A petition encouraging Immigration and Customs Enforcement to deport Nicki Minaj has garnered over 53,000 signatures in response to the rapper’s recent endorsement of the Trump Administration.

The Change.org petition calls on the public to urge immigration authorities to review her legal status and criticize her “outdated and harmful notions” toward the LGBTQ community. The organizer condemned Minaj’s remarks during a panel with Erika Kirk at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest conference in Phoenix on Dec. 21, where she said “boys will be boys and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

The petition said the “Superbass” artist, 43, was once a “beacon of hope” for many who now feel “abandoned by her shift in values.”

“These statements aren’t just insensitive; they undermine the very foundations of a community that looked up to her for advocacy and understanding,” the page’s description reads. “Her public platform carries weight and responsibility, and her recent statements are a stark contrast to the solidarity she once showed, leaving many feeling deflated and disillusioned.”

“Deporting Nicki Minaj back to Trinidad would serve as a reminder that public figures need to be accountable for their words and the broader impact they have on diverse communities. It’s not just about one person’s fall from grace; it’s about holding everyone to a standard of compassion and consistency, especially when they possess significant influence,” the petition’s description reads.

She is a lawful permanent resident of the US, so, yeah, that could be stripped, but, she did nothing wrong. She isn’t even her illegally. These people are nuts.

Speaking of nuts, here’s some information you are mostly not seeing from the Credentialed Media on the guys shot in Oregon

(NY Post) US Customs and Border Protection agents shot two alleged Tren de Aragua gangbangers who federal officials said tried to run them down in a targeted traffic stop in Oregon Thursday afternoon.

The federal agent-involved shooting in Portland came just one day after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent gunned down anti-ICE activist Renee Nicole Good in Minnesota.

In the latest shooting, CBP agents fired off defensive rounds when the alleged Venezuelan gang members “weaponized” their car during the stop, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.

So, they were using the same “run federal law enforcement officers over” scheme like the nutter in Minnesota. I wonder if citizens can sue Biden and his people for utterly failing to vet the TDA members they let into the US? And think on this

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If All You See…

By William Teach January 9, 2026 – 1:00 pm

…is horrible heatsnow and a great place for a wind turbine farm, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is Don Surber, with a post on Temu radar in Venezuela.

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17 Republicans Join With Dems To Pass Obamacare Subsidies Extension

By William Teach January 9, 2026 – 10:30 am

How often do Democrats go off the reservation to vote with Republicans instead of voting 100% with what Dem leadership says?

House passes 3-year extension of ObamaCare subsidies

The House passed legislation Thursday to revive and extend expired ObamaCare tax credits in a bipartisan vote that is boosting hopes of centrist Republicans for a bipartisan deal to revive the tax credits.

The tally, 230 to 196, highlighted the tenuous grip Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has over his restive GOP conference. Seventeen centrist Republicans crossed the aisle to join every voting Democrat in support of the measure.

The measure, which would provide a three-year extension to the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies that originally passed in response to COVID-19, now heads to the Senate, which defeated the same proposal last month in a largely partisan vote. Indeed, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has suggested he’ll ignore the House bill altogether.

Still, lawmakers think it could light a fire and pressure the bipartisan Senate group working to reach a bipartisan deal.

From everything I’ve seen all the bill does is extend the subsidies. Doesn’t require working to fix the problems caused by Obamacare and previous massive subsidies, doesn’t take care of the problem of ever-skyrocketing premiums and deductibles. Perhaps that could be put in the Senate version? Maybe they could figure out something, because what you can now expect is that the premiums, and maybe deductibles, will continue to go up up up, just as they have been doing.

Yet even some of the most vocal supporters of the ACA subsidies say the House bill is dead in the water when it’s sent to the Senate.

“The three-year extension is never going to become law. We know that. The Senate already voted on it. They voted it down,” said Lawler, who was one of the four Republicans who endorsed the Democrats’ discharge petition forcing Thursday’s House vote. “So the question becomes, procedurally, how do you actually get to a compromise?”

Drag in professionals to figure out ways to fix the system, because, let’s face it, the chance of Ocare going away is just above zero, like every big government program that gets weaved into the fabric of society. It needs to be fixed because those rising premiums are also affecting the people not on Ocare. How about removing the forced insurance requirement? Making the tax if you don’t have health insurance so low it is meaningless? Offering catastrophic plans?

BTW, as I’m sure you’ve figured out, the entire point of the original expiring premium subsidies was to put Republicans on the hook, make them look bad.

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Moonbat States To Sue Over $10B Cut To Welfare Funding

By William Teach January 9, 2026 – 6:45 am

Hey, I wonder if any of them have considered that it’s a mistake to run everything through Los Federales and be dependent on Los Federales for these types of programs and funding, instead of doing it themselves as the Constitution deems?

California, New York and other blue states to sue Trump over $10B cut to welfare funding

California and four other Democrat-run states are planning to sue the Trump administration over $10 billion in cuts to welfare programs.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta told POLITICO he and attorneys general for New York, Colorado, Minnesota, and Illinois will file a lawsuit on Thursday to challenge the funding freeze announced earlier this week by Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services. The cuts are in response to what federal officials have alleged without evidence is widespread fraud and waste of public funds by the states’ welfare agencies.

“They literally just targeted Democratic states because they’re Democrat,” Bonta said in an interview. “They have not one shred, not one shred of evidence, and to turn off the funding with no justification. It’s unlawful and it’s also petty.” (snip)

On Tuesday, federal officials notified the states of plans to withhold $7 billion in funding from the TANF program, as well as $2.4 billion from the Child Care and Development Fund and $870 million in social services grants for children.

Bonta accused Trump of overstepping his powers by trying to cut off money Congress had already allocated to the states.

In addition to the funding cuts Trump officials also requested data from the five states on how they administer their welfare programs. Bonta seized on the data request, saying it illustrated the administration’s misplaced priorities.

Trump didn’t just target those stays on a whim. Except perhaps Minnesota. Do they have whistleblowers? Some inside information? Obvioiusly, trying to make sure that The People’s Money doesn’t disappear into a blackhole of graft, waste, and abuse is “misplaced.”

Speaking of graft, waste, and abuse, otherwise known as “what could possibly go wrong”

Read: Moonbat States To Sue Over $10B Cut To Welfare Funding »

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Climate Cultists Say Trump Pulling Out Of UNFCCC Will Set Back Progress

By William Teach January 8, 2026 – 3:22 pm

There’s a very simple fix for this (it’s Axios, so, their weird formatting which I’ve mostly removed)

Trump’s UN climate exit will set back progress, advocates warn

President Trump’s decision to yank the U.S. from UN climate change agencies will set back international progress on addressing the climate, observers say. (snip)

Driving the news: Trump on Wednesday night announced a pullout from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the foundation of most global climate work, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which regularly assesses climate science. (snip)

Zoom in: Climate advocates were dismayed after Trump withdrew a second time from the Paris Agreement upon taking office. But they said the latest move still stings.

“Pulling out of the UNFCCC is a different order of magnitude from the Paris Agreement,” said Jean Su, energy justice director at the Center for Biological Diversity.

“It removes the U.S. completely from the global climate framework and negotiations.”

Avoiding climate talks “will only isolate the United States further, undermine our global stature with allies around the globe, and cede the field to China,” said Kaveh Guilanpour, vice president for international strategies at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.

If they’re so concerned why do so few Warmists practice what they preach? Per their dogma, if they all gave their own use of fossil fuels the Earth would be saved from global boiling, right? Maybe if the Warmists, like Jean Su, didn’t take long fossil fueled trips to climate conferences (she was there in Brazil) we could erase .0000005 of the temperature rise since 1850.

I’m fine with isolating the US from the authoritarian doomsday cult. Go practice what you preach. Leave the rest of us the F alone.

Context: In all likelihood, U.S. scientists can’t be fully barred from participating in IPCC reports. But those working for federal agencies could face repercussions if they do.

They’re welcome to do it on their own time, not the government’s. But, will they, if they aren’t getting lots of taxpayer money?

Read: Climate Cultists Say Trump Pulling Out Of UNFCCC Will Set Back Progress »

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If All You See…

By William Teach January 8, 2026 – 1:00 pm

…is a field perfect for a solar farm far from the big cities so you don’t have to see it, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is Common Cents Blog, with a post on the new dietary guidance.

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Idiot Woman Gets Herself Killed By ICE, Left Wing Lunatics Protest (more)

By William Teach January 8, 2026 – 10:30 am

There are three reactions when a car is moving to hit you: freeze, try and jump out of the way, or shoot the driver. In North Carolina attempting to hit someone with a vehicle is assault with a deadly weapon, running anywhere from an A1 misdemeanor to a class E felony

Familiar groups mobilize immediately after ICE shooting of Minnesota protester

Within hours of a Minnesota protester being fatally shot after allegedly attempting to run over ICE agents, a familiar network of far-left protesters for causes ranging from communism to climate change mobilized across the country.

The deceased, identified as 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by the Minneapolis City Council on Wednesday afternoon, was killed at the wheel of her SUV just after 11 a.m. ET.

Federal authorities said she had tried to run over ICE agents who were part of a 2,000-strong team sent to the Twin Cities to round up and deport illegal immigrant criminals.

“This appears to be an attempt to kill or to cause bodily harm to agents, an act of domestic terrorism,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said during a news conference late Wednesday in Minneapolis. “The ICE officer, fearing for his life and the other officers around him and the safety of the public, fired defensive shots. He used his training to save his own life and that of his colleagues.”

A typical AWFL: Affluent White Female Liberal. Renee Nicole Good. She chose to place herself in this position as she protested in favor of people who are in the US illegally/committing massive fraud (the Somalis). Do not run attempt to drive away from law enforcement, do not hit them with your vehicle. Training kicks in and they might shoot you, especially when the uber-white Leftists have been attacking and threatening federal immigration forces

Almost immediately, various groups with causes as diverse as socialism, communism, climate change, Palestinian rights and the Democratic Party launched what seemed to be coordinated protests online and in American streets, using similar language.

The effort by left-wing groups with no obvious shared cause echoed protests over the weekend, when many of the same groups sprang into action in the hours following the U.S. capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.

“It’s the same network of people that have thousands of Americans blocking the streets, waving communist and terrorist flags and attacking law enforcement and innocents,” said Brandy Shufutinsky, director of the Education and National Security Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “They are stoking the grievance industry that they built.”

Leftists are certainly happy Good put herself in a position to be killed. Because these people are nuts.

Sure, maybe the officer could have just jumped out of the way, but, these left wing nuts continue to threaten federal law enforcement, continue to be violent. All to protect criminals.

Leftists are against law enforcement enforcing laws. I wonder how he would react if his own armed security did the same as he travels around in a large, fossil fueled SUV?

Minnesota criminal code: 609.2113 CRIMINAL VEHICULAR OPERATION; BODILY HARM.

Subd. 3. Bodily harm. A person is guilty of criminal vehicular operation resulting in bodily harm and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both, if the person causes bodily harm to another as a result of operating a motor vehicle:

(1) in a grossly negligent manner;

Good was grossly negligent.

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