The Distraction Is Loud. The Power Grab Is Louder
Yesterday, a woman was murdered by ICE— and by nightfall, the machinery of distraction was already in motion. While officials rushed to justify the violence, a dozen other power moves slipped quietly past public attention. This blog is about pulling those threads together: the killing, the cover stories, the policy grabs, and the people who benefit when chaos keeps us looking the wrong way.
The Legislative Graveyard
Democrat Moves to Impeach Kristi Noem After ICE Killing — Accountability or Theater?
Illinois Rep. Robin Kelly announced she will file articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in the wake of the Minneapolis ICE agent shooting that killed Renee Nicole Good, accusing Noem of obstruction of Congress, violating public trust, and abuse of office. Kelly called Noem “an incompetent leader” whose policies have turned ICE into what she describes as a rogue force tearing families apart and flouting constitutional limits. The effort is unlikely to succeed in a GOP-controlled House, but it underscores deep partisan tensions over immigration enforcement and executive power.
The Robed Oligarchy
Trump’s Tariffs Head to the Supreme Court — and 1,000 Companies Want Their Money Back.
More than 1,000 companies are lining up at the U.S. Supreme Court to take on Trump’s sweeping tariff regime — not because they’re idealistic, but because they’re staring at billions in duties they may never recover if the court rules the tariffs were illegal under emergency powers. Big names like Costco and Goodyear have jumped into the fight, and dozens more are suing just in the opening weeks of 2026 as the justices signal serious skepticism of the administration’s authority. If the court strikes down these tariffs, it could trigger unprecedented refund battles for importers and underline that executive overreach isn’t just a political slogan — it’s a legal fight on Main Street and Wall Street alike.
Florida Man
DeSantis Calls Special Redistricting Session — GOP Lines Before Voters.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced a special legislative session in April to redraw the state’s congressional map — a mid-decade redo that critics say is aimed squarely at boosting Republican seats ahead of the 2026 elections. While DeSantis frames it as a response to population shifts and pending Supreme Court action, opponents argue this move could squeeze voter power and violate Florida’s own Fair Districts rules. It’s the latest chapter in a nationwide GOP redistricting push that could reshape control of the U.S. House.
Department of Injustice
Judge Slaps Down Trump-Loyal U.S. Attorney Pick in Virginia.
A federal judge just blocked Trump-aligned prosecutor Lindsey Halligan from taking over as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia — a high-stakes seat that covers some of the country’s most important federal cases. The judge ruled her appointment wasn’t valid under the Constitution, underscoring deep legal limits on political stacking of the justice system.
This isn’t a procedural footnote — it’s a rebuke of political cronyism in the Justice Department and a reminder that courts still matter when power grabs go too far. The decision preserves the integrity of one of the nation’s busiest federal prosecutors’ offices and slows a key piece of the Trump faction’s effort to reshape law enforcement from the top down.
DOJ Sues CT & AZ for Voter Rolls — Privacy vs. Power Grab.
The Justice Department just dragged Connecticut and Arizona into federal court for refusing to hand over unredacted voter registration data — including birthdates, addresses, driver’s license info, and partial Social Security numbers — as part of a nationwide effort that now targets 23 states plus D.C.. State officials say forcing this information over violates state and federal privacy laws and could chill voter confidence and safety. The feds call it “election integrity”; critics call it an overreach into citizens’ private data and state control of elections.
Department of War Crimes
U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Oil Tankers Tied to Venezuela — Escalation, Not Stability.
U.S. forces have boarded and seized two sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuela, including a Russian-flagged VLCC, in operations across the North Atlantic and Caribbean — part of a broader push to tighten sanctions enforcement and choke off oil trade that Washington says undermines pressure on Caracas.
This isn’t some isolated traffic stop at sea — it’s a military-backed economic squeeze backed by surveillance flights and shadowing warships, and it escalates U.S. involvement far beyond paper sanctions into kinetic enforcement.
America’s Gestapo
ICE Killed a Woman in Minneapolis. The Lie Came Free With the Badge.
Federal agents shot and killed a Minneapolis woman and immediately reached for the oldest script in the book: “self-defense.” Video, witnesses, and local officials say otherwise. This is what militarized immigration enforcement looks like in practice — lethal force first, accountability never. Say her name. Demand the truth. Refuse to let this be buried under bureaucratic bullshit.
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Video Blows Up the Official ICE Story — What Really Happened in Minneapolis.
Newly shared video of the January 7 ICE shooting in Minneapolis adds fuel to a firestorm of conflicting claims from federal officials. The Department of Homeland Security insists an ICE agent shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in self-defense after she tried to “weaponize” her vehicle — even labeling her actions “domestic terrorism.” But the footage tells a different story: agents surrounded her SUV, gave mixed orders, and opened fire as she tried to pull away, with no clear threat visible on video. Local leaders, including Mayor Jacob Frey, have outright rejected the federal narrative, calling it “bullshit” and demanding ICE leave the city, even as protesters fill the streets.
Budget Airline Picks McKinney — A New Gateway North of Dallas
Avelo Airlines has signed on as the first commercial carrier at McKinney National Airport, marking a major step in turning the longtime general aviation field into a passenger hub. With a five-year lease secured and a new terminal under construction, the ultra-low-cost carrier plans to base aircraft there and begin service once the terminal opens, bringing affordable flights and new travel options to North Texas.
National Insecurity
China-Linked Hackers Breach U.S. Congressional Email Systems — National Security Red Flag.
Reports say a Chinese cyber-espionage group known as “Salt Typhoon” has compromised email systems used by staff on powerful U.S. House committees, including those covering China policy, intelligence, foreign affairs, and armed services — part of a broader pattern of sustained cyber intrusion aimed at U.S. government communications. The breach was detected in December 2025 and highlights serious vulnerabilities in congressional networks and ongoing geopolitical tech conflict. Reuters notes that the story is based on Financial Times reporting and has not yet been independently verified, while Beijing has denied the allegations and labeled some of the coverage politically motivated.
Cheeto von Schitzenpantz
When the U.S. Plans Oil Markets, It’s Not “Communism” — It’s Corporate Empire.
After weeks of tanker seizures and sanctions theater, the real tell slipped out onstage: Chris Wright openly describing a plan where the U.S. will market Venezuelan oil, supply the diluent, manage production flow, and stabilize output — all so American companies can eventually slide back in. This isn’t socialism or state ownership; it’s government logistics deployed to rescue and reposition private capital. Funny how “free markets” suddenly need central planning when oil, geopolitics, and profits are on the line.
Grandpa’s Late Night Rant
In a late-night screed, Donald J. Trump suddenly discovered class consciousness — threatening defense contractors with executive pay caps, dividend bans, and stock-buyback freezes unless they rebuild manufacturing capacity and deliver weapons faster. It reads like anti-corporate populism, except it’s coming from the guy who spent years showering these same companies with contracts, deregulation, and zero oversight. There’s no law here, no plan, and no enforcement mechanism — just vibes, bluster, and a not-subtle warning to fall in line. When authoritarian leaders start “demanding” industrial obedience by fiat, it’s not reform. It’s a loyalty test wrapped in a press release.
Trump Pulls the U.S. Out of 66 Global Bodies — Sovereignty or Isolation?
The White House has announced a sweeping withdrawal of the United States from 66 international organizations, conventions, and treaties, including 35 non-UN bodies and 31 United Nations entities that the administration says are “contrary to U.S. interests,” covering climate, global governance, economics, and more. The presidential memorandum orders federal agencies to cease participation and funding for these groups — part of a broader push to “restore American sovereignty” and redirect taxpayer dollars. Critics warn this move not only undercuts global cooperation on issues from climate change to human rights but also diminishes U.S. influence on the world stage.
Trump’s Greenland Obsession Isn’t About Security — It’s Vanity and Power Play.
Donald Trump has revived his long-running pitch to acquire Greenland — a self-governing Danish territory — claiming strategic necessity, but the truth is far more superficial and self-serving. Experts point out the U.S. already has military access under existing agreements, so the national-security case is largely a cover story. Instead, Trump’s fascination reads like a blend of vanity (wanting the biggest landmass on the planet) and geopolitical posturing that risks NATO tension and ignores Greenlanders’ right to self-determination. European leaders and Denmark have pushed back hard, insisting Greenland “belongs to its people,” yet Washington continues to float everything from diplomatic deals to military options as part of its pitch.
White House Pulls FTC Nominee, Picks Him for Trump Power Team Instead.
The White House just withdrew Ryan Baasch’s nomination to the Federal Trade Commission and is moving him into a top tech and competition policy role at the National Economic Council instead — a shift that lets the administration keep influence over regulatory turf without Senate checks. The FTC is supposed to be an independent watchdog on monopolies, tech giants, and consumer protections, but this shuffle comes as Trump has already ousted Democratic commissioners and pushed to centralize control over independent agencies. It’s another reminder that personnel is policy in this administration’s playbook — and that regulatory independence is on the chopping block.
Trump Swings at “Big Buyers” to Fix Housing — But the Real Problem Is Still Here.
Trump is suddenly promising to ban large institutional investors from buying single-family homes — pitching it as a populist fix for housing affordability. There’s just one problem: Kamala Harris already ran on this exact policy.
The proposal is being rolled out now as a headline grab, not part of a serious housing plan. Corporate investors are only one slice of the crisis, and without zoning reform, supply expansion, and tenant protections, this is more political cosplay than policy. Homes aren’t trading cards — and copying someone else’s platform doesn’t make you the hero.
The Resistance
Tennessee Professor Fired Over Charlie Kirk Post Gets Job Back — and $500K.
Austin Peay State University has reinstated tenured professor Darren Michael and agreed to pay him a $500,000 settlement after improperly firing him last year over a social media post in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Michael had shared a headline quoting Kirk’s own past comments on gun politics — a post that drew sharp criticism from politicians and conservative media and led to his abrupt firing. The university later acknowledged it violated tenure and due-process rules, backing off the termination and restoring his position as part of the settlement, which also includes reimbursements for counseling and a formal acknowledgment of institutional error.
Epstein Trump Pedo”files”
Epstein’s Money Men Are Finally in the Spotlight. Took Long Enough.
A new investigative report pulls the curtain back on Jeffrey Epstein’s financial inner circle — including his billionaire benefactor Les Wexner and longtime estate gatekeepers Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn. These weren’t background characters; they were the people who managed the money, structured the trusts, and kept the machinery running before and after Epstein’s death.
Congress is now circling the accountants and lawyers who knew exactly how Epstein’s wealth moved and who benefited from it. Survivors and investigators have been asking the same question for years: How did this money keep flowing, and who helped make it happen? The answers are overdue — and the paper trail is finally getting the attention it deserves.
What We Are Watching Today
- House Committee on the Judiciary
- Lawmakers Hear Testimony on Improving Forest Health & Water Quality Live
- Lawmakers Hear Testimony on Improving Forest Health & Water Quality Live
- Witnesses Testify on Patient Access to Medicare Services Live
- Secys. Kennedy and Rollins Announce New Nutrition Policy
- Secretary Noem Holds News Conference
- Architects of the White House Provide Update on East Wing Modernization Project
Today’s Call To Action
- Call or Fax Your Lawmakers
- No Invasion of Greenland
- Demand Justice for Good
- Release the Epstein Files
- Impeach Noem, Trump, Hegseth, Bondi
- No War in Venezuela: “I’m calling as a constituent to urge you to vote YES this week on the two House War Powers Resolutions to stop a war with Venezuela.”
- Vote to Extend ACA Tax Credits: As your constituent, I am urging you to vote to extend the ACA enhanced premium tax credits that expired January 1st. For millions of people, open enrollment closes on January 15, and if they can’t purchase insurance then, they won’t be able to until the next open enrollment period at the end of the year.
- Join Tonight’s MayDay National Call: End the Occupation of Venezuela and Our Cities
- Read Today’s Resistance Survival Guide: Spot the Distraction. Follow the Power.
- Join Tonight’s Indivisible Rapid Response Call: ICE Killing and Lawlessness in Minneapolis
- Email You Lawmakers
- Join this month’s postcard campaign
- Sign Our Featured Petitions