WendyMcElroy.com

From Science Alert: Aurora Watch in Effect as Severe Solar Storm Slams Into Earth

From Coinbits: Things are getting weird out there. You'll want the context for what comes next re: money. [Ed: interesting but I do not agree that the Fed has anything like a defining impact on real wealth or its 'fate' right now.]

From Doggo Digest: Sharon Stone Adopts Rescue Puppy After Seeing it on Awards Show Red Carpet

Organized Decline of America's Blue States. From FOX Business: Trump says New York Stock Exchange's Dallas expansion is "an unbelievably bad thing for New York". [Ed: once done, this shift will be incredibly difficult to undo.] From American Institute for Economic Research: Why California Is Bleeding Tech Jobs: Decline Is A Policy Choice. What California is now experiencing is not a cyclical tech downturn or a post-COVID-19 pandemic anomaly. It is a measurable, policy-driven decline in relative competitiveness...

From Son of the New American Revolution: Trump’s Confabulations are More Serious than Just a Response to a Bruised Ego,

Big Picture Economics. From QTR's Fringe Finance: How To Look Smart On TV And Dumb In History. 9 years ago, Bill Fleckenstein predicted exactly where we would be right now, and he was laughed off of CNBC for it. [Ed: translation: The Japanese Bond Market Is Imploding. A must read.] From Zero Hedge: "The US Is Basically Not A Good Credit": Danish Pension Fund To Sell US Treasuries. The good news: it's only $100 million. The bad news: others are now sure to follow. The question: where do they put their money instead... [Ed: a lot of interesting conversations at this year's Davos.] From Zero Hedge: TACO Tuesday? Everything Crashing As Trump Arrives In Davos Amid Japan Bond Meltdown.

From Mish Talk: New Research Shows Americans Bear 96% of US Tariff Costs.

From FOX News: Sorry Omar Fateh, we're not doing Somali-run no-go zones in Minnesota. Minnesota lawmaker's X posts feature him standing before iconic towers with message about protecting community. [Ed: the State Senator declared Cedar Ridge area of Minneapolis to be no-go to white supremacists, which probably just means to whites.]

Greenland. From Spiked: Hands off Greenland! Neither President Trump nor his EU critics understand the first thing about sovereignty. From the BBC: Why does Trump want Greenland and what could it mean for Nato? [Ed: informative.] From the Guardian: ‘Make America Go Away’: spoof Maga caps soar in popularity amid Greenland crisis. Red caps are becoming a symbol of protest in Denmark as Donald Trump ratchets up the pressure on Greenland. From Moon of Alabama: Trump Will Take Greenland … And Then Go For More. [Ed: I will throw the dice and say that I, too, think Trump will acquire Greenland, in much the same manner as Puerto Rico.]

From the Post Millennial: NYC landlords face squeeze as Mamdani raises property taxes while planning to implement 'rent freeze'. From the Washington Examiner: Minnesota hotels shut down amid ICE protests over ‘heightened public safety concerns’

Don Lemon. From Zero Hedge: Don Lemon Faces KKK Act Charges On MLK Holiday. "There is zero tolerance for this kind of illegal behavior..." [Ed: I have seen the church invasion footage and other footage of Lemon...he was *not* there as a reporter. He was one of the activists.] From the New York Post: Congratulations, Don Lemon—you’ve managed to hit a new low and your tired excuses are delusional. From People: Don Lemon Responds After Being Put 'on Notice' By Trump DOJ Following Minneapolis Church Protest. [Ed: he is trying to say they're targeting him for being black and gay.]

From Daily Paws: Watch This Golden Retriever Steal His Owner's Steak and Go Full Jaws of Steel. It's like our dogs know they've stolen something really, really good.

From Spiked: The Islamic Republic is a cautionary tale for the left. In 1979, left-wing revolutionaries sided with Islamists – and ended up digging their own graves. [Ed: a must read.]

From People: Animal Shelter Takes in Abandoned Dog Who Keeps Returning to the Same Gravestone at Kentucky Cemetery

From Zero Hedge: Germany's Censorship Frontier And The Rise Of Digital Control. Schleswig?Holstein’s Minister?President Daniel Günther has, in what felt like a genteel salon, pulled back the curtain on the true censorship ambitions of politics...

From Saggezza Eterna: Architecture Of Plunder: Why The Modern Democratic Party Is A Kleptocracy. "The modern kleptocrat does not break the law; he writes the law to make his theft mandatory." "The modern Democrat Party is not merely a political coalition; it is a syndicalist engine of wealth extraction. It has evolved beyond the crude graft of Tammany Hall..." [Ed: a must read.]

O Canada. From the Independent: Trump is reportedly turning his attention to Canada and focusing on its ‘vulnerability'. [Ed: “vulnerability” to foreign adversaries, that is. Only, I don't know any nation that is likely to invade, other than America.] From Zero Hedge: Canada Weighs Token Troop Deployment To Greenland, But Fears Trump Wrath. [Ed: Carney is a lap dog...or he would be if the Conservatives didn't run with every word of weakness he speaks to Trump.] From the Post Millennial: Canadian PM Mark Carney reaches trade deal with China after advocating for 'new world order'

From Spiked: Net Zero: a multi-trillion-pound catastrophe. Politicians of all stripes have been systematically dishonest about the true cost of the green transition.

From Boing Boing: The Navy spent $13 billion on an aircraft carrier and can’t get the toilets to work. [Ed: No shit...]

Gaza. From Responsible Statecraft: Phase farce: No way ‘Board of Peace’ replaces reality in Gaza. There is no ceasefire, no aid, no Hamas disarmament, IDF withdrawal or stabilization force. Just a lot of talk about Trump-run panels with little buy-in. From Zero Hedge: More Than Ten Countries Have Signed On To Trump's 'Board Of Peace'. Which countries are involved remains unclear. [Ed: remember, Trump is now wheeling and dealing at Davos.]

From Zero Hedge: 'We Must Pass The SAVE Act': Republicans Engage In Serious Push For Voter ID. No ID and mailing in ballots make fraud trivial.... [Ed: as I've said before, the 2020 election was the dirtiest political event I've ever witnessed...and I'm sure I witnessed only a small fraction of it.]

Iran. From the Cradle: Trump balked but war is inevitable: Will Iran attack first? Tel Aviv and Washington are sharpening their knives – but military doctrine favors the first mover, and Tehran may be running out of time. [Ed: damn. I respect this author's opinion; he's usually correct.] From Politico: Trump to POLITICO: ‘It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran’ [Ed: Politico seems an odd venue through which to announce this.]

From Orvis News: Project Unconditional #36: “On the Sea with Miss Kitty” [Ed: Miss Kitty is a dog.]

From the Post Millennial: 8 states spent $1.8 BILLION from Medicaid on illegal immigrants: Mehmet Oz. "If states use their own money to do it, there needs to be a clear paper trail proving that federal dollars didn’t fund those services."

From Phys.org: US to repeal the basis for its climate rules: What to know

From Newsweek: Walker Puzzled by Daily Red Mark on Dog’s Head—Then Learns the Sweet Reason.

Davos. From the Guardian: Davos 2026: the last-chance saloon to save the old world order? [Ed: Davos '26 runs 19-23 January.] From Politico.EU: How Davos went MAGA, U.S. President Donald Trump’s star turn signals a new era for the World Economic Forum.

From Politico: Trump says he will sue JPMorgan ‘over the next two weeks’ for allegedly ‘DEBANKING’ him. The president also ruled out the bank’s CEO, Jamie Dimon, as a possible pick for Fed chair. Trump has increasingly folded this into a broader narrative of “debanking” conservatives.

From Jonathan Turley: Michael Cohen Turns Against Letitia James and Alvin Bragg

From City Journal: Rude but Right on Crime. President Trump’s public reaction to violent lawlessness is without precedent in recent Oval Office history. [Ed: by Heather MacDonald.]

From the Associated Press: Hard-right populist wins a place in a two-way runoff in Portugal’s presidential election From Politico: Center left wins Portugal presidential election first round, exit poll says. [Ed: the next election is next month.]

Trump Tariffs. From Son of the New American Revolution: Will Trump’s Threat to Increase Tariffs on Europe Spark a Financial Crisis?

Greenland. From Politico.EU: Hit back at Trump? Europe mulls unthinkable options as Greenland threats ramp up tensions. Senior politicians want the EU to deploy its trade bazooka against the United States over Trump’s Greenland claims. Capitals aren’t so sure. From Simplicius: The Psychological Stake in Greenland. [Ed: I am hearing Elbridge Colby's name more and more often.] From the Washington Examiner: Cruz cites America’s ‘history of acquiring new lands’ in defending Trump’s Greenland push. [Ed: this doesn't make it a proper thing to do. It could be totally wrong...but with precedent.]

The U.S. Elections. From Constitutional Rights Pac: Supreme Court Clears Path for Illinois Congressman to Challenge Mail-In Voting Laws. [Ed: from the beginning, I believed (and still believe) that the 2020 elections were massively rigged.]

From Paw Buzz: Dog Owners Returned From Vacation To Realize What Sitter Really Did While They Were Gone [Ed: happy story.]

All Things ICE, From Reason: These DHS Policies Could Have Prevented Renee Good's Death. From the New York Post: Trump’s DOJ puts Don Lemon ‘on notice’ over allegations he joined anti-ICE mob that stormed church. [Ed: Lemon's participation is on video that has streamed already. Hardly an allegation.]

From Dances with Bears: The White House Archive— What Vladimir Putin Confided to George W. Bush, What He Means Now. [Ed: fascinating.]

Minneapolis. From PJ Media: And Suddenly, About 100 Minneapolis Cops Disappeared.

Trump's Ego is Reshaping the World. From Mish Talk: We Are Now Bearing the Poisoned Fruit of Trump’s Self-Proclaimed Morality. [Ed: damned frightening list.] From the Libertarian Institute: Trump’s Economic Belligerence is Driving Canada into China’s Arms. From Indy100: Trump pens 'deranged' letter to Europe saying he no longer feels 'obliged' to think 'purely of Peace'. [Ed: well, I don't think the letter is deranged any more than I think it is brilliant, as conservatives claim. It is just Trump being Trump.] From the Washington Examiner: Did Trump let his Iran rhetoric get ahead of his strategy?

Iran. From the Associated Press: In Bold Act of Defiance, Hackers Hijack Iran State TV. Security forces urged to 'join the people' and the fight for freedom. From Politico: Trump to POLITICO: ‘It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran’ [Ed: so far Trump has not delivered on any of his threats or warnings to Iran. So far...] From the Washington Examiner: Iran vows ‘all-out war’ if ayatollah targeted after Trump threatens regime change.

Fraud Related. From FOX News: White House-backed GOP bill would revoke citizenship after Somali fraud scandal.

From Sunny Skyz: Man’s Best Friend: The Story Behind An Unforgettable Tomb In London

From New York Post: Putin invited to join Trump’s Gaza ‘Board of Peace,’ Kremlin says

Upcoming U.S. Elections. From Lexington Herald Leader: Elon Musk Makes a Big Move in Kentucky Senate Race. Billionaire backs pro-Trump candidate to replace McConnell with $10M donation. [Ed: the GOP is expected to hold this seat but Trump clearly wants *this* candidate to win, not another Republican.] From the Post Millennial: Dem-controlled Virginia legislature passes measure to advance redistricting, likely eliminating GOP seats. If voters approve the amendment, responsibility for drawing congressional maps would shift from the state’s nonpartisan redistricting commission to the legislature through 2030.

From Doggo Digest: Hairless Street Stray Transforms to Fluffy Sensation

From Dave Barry's Substack: Dear Hoosiers: Welcome to Miami! Really. [Ed: I am quite the fan of Dave Barry's humor.]

From USA Today: Is Martin Luther King Jr. Day a federal holiday? Meaning, origins, more... [Ed: it is today, BTW.]

From ABC News: Arctic blast expected to bring bone-chilling conditions from Midwest to Northeast. From NBC News: Rare Southern snow and Northeast storm disrupt holiday travel plans across U.S.

From Modern Dog Magazine: The Unstoppable Dogs. 6 “handicapable” rescue dogs are on a mission to inspire hope

ICE. From the Post Millennial: Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger rescinds Youngkin order directing state cooperation with ICE. Last year, Youngkin signed Executive Order 47, which directed state law enforcement agencies to assist with federal immigration enforcement and urged local governments to fully cooperate with ICE. [Ed: a state refusing to honor federal law...that's one thing that can trigger the Insurrection Act.] From the New York Post: NYC socialists mustering army of 4,000 anti-ICE activists to bring Minnesota tactics to Big Apple

Anti-ICE Storms Minnesota Church in Session. From FOX News: Anti-ICE mob storms Minnesota church over pastor's alleged ties to immigration enforcement. Agitators chanted 'Justice for Renee Good' inside Cities Church sanctuary, claiming a pastor is connected to ICE. From Hindustan Times: Don Lemon faces serious accusations after Minneapolis anti-ICE protestors storm Cities Church mid-service - Watch. [Ed: here is what may be a better link to the live streaming posted by Don Lemon. Man needs a hobby.]

Anti-ICE Protesters Attack Journalists. From Hindustan Times: After Jake Lang 'stabbing,' Nick Sortor robbed of $1,000 camera by 'Somali thugs' in Minneapolis; video surfaces. [Ed: here is a link to the Jake Lang incident.]

From the Macro Butler: Broken Currency: The Mechanics of Regime Change. "...currency collapse followed by price controls breeds scarcity, social unrest, and, eventually, regime change." From

From CBS News: Pittsburgh researchers developing lifesaving robot "dogs".

From Just the News: Senate takes recess, leaving only five days to pass six govt funding bills. Congress is already three months overdue on finishing the regular order appropriations process for fiscal year 2026, which consists of passing 12 full-year funding bills that allocate money for federal agencies. [Ed: another stopgap Continuing Resolution is probable.]

Minneapolis. From the Red State: Things Getting Wild in MN As Anti-ICE Crew Harasses Regular People, Concerning City Email Revealed. [Ed: a must read.] From FOX9 Minneapolis: FBI Announces $100,000 Reward After Government Vehicles Broken Into in Minneapolis. At least one arrest was made in the case, although officials say there will be more. From Unherd: South Minneapolis has had enough It’s a living museum to American dysfunction. From Zero Hedge: Violent Left Wing Mobs In Minneapolis Hunt For ICE And Attack Counter Protesters. ...activists now claim Minneapolis is "their city". AND Pentagon Puts 1,500 Arctic-Trained Troops On Standby For Minnesota Deployment Amid Left-Wing Chaos. "When we got the call for this ICE sighting, within minutes, we had 20 to 30 observers on foot and in vehicle, myself included.…"

Iran. From Zero Hedge: John Mearsheimer On The Iran Playbook. Why the US has not bombed Iran when it appeared a few days ago that an attack was imminent...

From the New York Post: Netanyahu Blasts Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan, Claims Composition of Gaza Executive Board “Runs Contrary” to Israeli Policy – Israel National Security Minister Calls for “Return to War with Enormous Force” [Ed: objects to Trump's 'Board of Peace' including Turkey and Qatar.]

From YouTube: The day he learned he wasn’t unwanted anymore

Trump's Tariffs. From NBC: President Trump Announces Initial 10% Tariffs and Up to 25% on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands and Finland Starting February 1. [Ed: for opposing him on Greenland. The 25% kicks in in June.] From the Los Angeles Times: Trump’s protectionist trade policies allow China to swoop in. From Zero Hedge: EU Hosts Emergency Meeting Over Trump's Greenland Tariffs, Germany Threatens World Cup Boycott. "Europe will not be blackmailed..." From Politico.EU: Trump’s tariff bombshell leaves Europe scrambling to defend Greenland — live updates. Massive week of global diplomacy begins across Brussels, Washington and Davos.

Scams. From the Epoch Times: Dr. Oz Says Minnesota Fraud Coverup Reaches 'Highest Levels' Of State Government. “What we’re seeing in Minnesota is the tip of the iceberg, because it is dwarfed by what I saw in California, which is whole-scale cultural malfeasance around health care...” [Ed: I think California will be the next state under a microscope for fraud.] From Just the News: Research suggests as many as 6.4 million unwittingly enrolled in Obamacare with taxpayer subsidies. Obamacare abused by brokers to sign up millions for healthcare without their consent or knowledge. AND Blinking Red: A third of federal agencies in audit lacked regular fraud monitoring or evaluation. Reports show the U.S. loses between $233 billion and $521 billion annually to fraud, based on data from 2018-2022. From the Current Report: Unraveling the Web: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s Deep Ties to the $250 Million Feeding Our Future Fraud Scandal

From Al Jazeera: US Ends Aid to Somalia After Locals Torch and Loot Warehouse Filled with 76 Tons of US-Donated Food. The Trump administration has accused Somali officials of destroying a World Food Programme warehouse that contained US-funded food aid. [Ed: this is alleged video of the event.] From BizPac Review: ‘I am ashamed!’ Ilhan Omar angrily denounces the ‘US godd*mn states’.

From Jonathan Turley: Democrats Fight to Keep the Insurrection Myth Alive in the New J6 Committee.

Epstein Files. From the New York Post: House lawmakers ask judge to ‘release the full Epstein files’ — with less than 1% produced by DOJ. From Zero Hedge: DOJ Moves To Block Independent 'Special Master' From Overseeing Epstein Disclosures. The DOJ says that efforts to force production of the Epstein Files are an improper attempt to relitigate a concluded criminal case. [Ed: the best thing Trump could do is release every scrap of material that doesn't involve the names of innocents.]

From the Week: How the internet saved a dog stranded at 14,000 feet. Hikers band together to save an injured German Shepherd that had been left for dead in the mountains of Colorado.

Greenland. From NPR: ‘Not for sale’: massive protest in Copenhagen against Trump’s desire to acquire Greenland.

Ukraine-Russia. From Moon of Alabama: Dark Kiev [Ed: only 10% of the city's normal electricity-usage is available. Black-outs.] From the Irish Times: EU ‘membership-lite’ plan for Ukraine spooks European capitals. Reforms under discussion would tear up accession rules to allow Kyiv to join in a potential peace deal. From Ukrainska Pravda: Russia considering strikes on substations serving Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, Ukrainian intelligence says Ukrainska Pravda

From the Daily Bell: Trudeau's Emergency Powers Ruled ILLEGAL. The Federal Court of Appeal has determined that the Liberal government improperly and illegally invoked the Emergencies Act (Canada’s equivalent to martial law) to disperse the convoy demonstrations in downtown Ottawa in February 2022.

From the Epoch Times: Trump To Unveil Plan Allowing Homebuyers To Use 401(k) Funds For Down Payments. The president will announce the final plan in Davos this week, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said.

From Dogster: Giving Shelter Pets a Second Shot at Adoption – How One Photographer Is Changing Shelter Pets’ Lives

From Just the News: In Somali fraud scandal, Republicans probe evidence of a blue state election scheme. Republicans are now on the investigative prowl and sounding increasingly confident they can find and prove there was an intentional strategy by Democrats to hijack elections and manipulate apportionment in deep blue states like Minnesota.