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Category: News
January 11, 2025
William Upton
News

LEAKED MEMO: LA Mayor Forced Huge Budget Cut on Fire Dept Just Days Before Fire Outbreak.

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) disclosed it was struggling to implement a massive $48.8 million budget cut forced on it by the city’s Democrat mayor, Karen Bass, just days before catastrophic wildfires broke out earlier this week. A leaked January 6 department memo states the LAFD believed a worst-case budget scenario—meaning no relief from the mayor—would result in the closure of upward of 16 fire stations.

On January 8, several major wildfires broke out in the greater Los Angeles metro area and quickly raged out of control. In a matter of days, the fires have burned tens of thousands of acres, and the largest two—in Pacific Palisades and Altadena—remain zero percent contained.

Despite the leaked memo and numerous media stories detailing that at least $17 million was already cut from the LAPD’s budget, Mayor Bass’s Democratic Party allies have tried to obfuscate the funding reductions.

Victor Shi, one of the former staffers who managed the social media account for Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, falsely claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that Bass had actually increased the LAFD budget by $50 million.

Notably, of the initial $17 million budget cut in 2024, $7 million of it came from reductions in overtime pay, as well as fire prevention and training programs. Fire budgets have also been diverted to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in recent years.

Even more troubling, the Los Angeles emergency alert system appears to no longer be under the control of government officials. In the last 24 hours, several inadvertent alerts have been sent out across the metropolitan area with false evacuation notices. Late Thursday evening, a notice went out to the entirety of Los Angeles County incorrectly telling all residents to evacuate.

It is currently unknown if the technical problems faced by the alert system also stem from budget cuts enacted by Mayor Bass.

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The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) disclosed it was struggling to implement a massive $48.8 million budget cut forced on it by the city's Democrat mayor, Karen Bass, just days before catastrophic wildfires broke out earlier this week. A leaked January 6 department memo states the LAFD believed a worst-case budget scenario—meaning no relief from the mayor—would result in the closure of upward of 16 fire stations. show more
January 11, 2025
William Upton
Immigration
NatSec
World

Russian Wagner Mercenary Arrested Illegally Crossing U.S.-Mexico Border.

Timur Praliev, a mercenary with Russia’s Wagner paramilitary group, according to court records, was arrested while attempting to illegally cross the U.S. southern border on January 4. Found in Praliev’s possession were two passports, $4,000, and a drone.

The Russian mercenary was arrested shortly after he unlawfully crossed the Rio Grande River near Roma, Texas. Several weeks ago, Praliev was honored for his combat service by a Russian veterans organization established by President Vladimir Putin. Upon his apprehension by U.S. border patrol agents, Praliev informed them he was a citizen of Kazakhstan. Notably, one of the two foreign identifying documents he carried was a Kazakh passport.

Russia’s Wagner paramilitary group has been designated as a criminal organization by the United States Treasury Department and has been the subject of international sanctions. The mercenary organization’s founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was initially a key ally of Putin and was a pivotal figure during the initial stages of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

However, in the summer of 2023, Prigozhin turned his Wagner mercenaries on Russia and began a surprise march to Moscow. Despite quick gains inside Russia and meeting little resistance, the mercenary leader eventually halted his military campaign and surrendered to Russian authorities. Prigozhin was spared but later killed in a suspicious plane crash, along with most of Wagner’s leadership. President Putin alleges the passengers were drunk, on drugs, and playing with grenades, causing an explosion.

The apprehension of a decorated Wagner mercenary attempting to enter the U.S. illegally is concerning, as members of the paramilitary group have extensive training and combat experience across the globe. Wagner has played a critical role in Russia’s ongoing proxy war with France on the African continent.

Praliev was sentenced to time served on January 7. His current whereabouts are unknown.

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Timur Praliev, a mercenary with Russia's Wagner paramilitary group, according to court records, was arrested while attempting to illegally cross the U.S. southern border on January 4. Found in Praliev's possession were two passports, $4,000, and a drone. show more
January 11, 2025
News

CA Had Record Rainfall, Lacked Storage Infrastructure Due to Dem Mismanagement.

Despite record rainfall last year, wildfire-ravaged California could not store it due to a lack of infrastructure in the Democrat-ruled state. Critics have challenged Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom’s call to avoid politicizing such issues, claiming that political mismanagement is a core problem.

The escalating fires have endangered thousands of residents, homes, and natural habitats, sparking a debate over the state’s water management and political decisions. Edward Ring, director of water and energy policy at the California Policy Center, argues that the state’s focus on climate change as a primary cause of the fires overshadows more pressing issues. He cites outdated water reserve systems and flawed forestry management practices as significant issues.

During a record-breaking rainfall event last year, a large portion of the water was discharged into the ocean due to infrastructure limitations. Ring blames excessive environmental regulations, such as the Endangered Species Act, as constraints on water diversion efforts, prioritizing river flow for fish like the delta smelt and salmon.

In urban areas, Los Angeles’ stormwater drainage systems were designed to prevent flooding, not enhance water storage, exacerbating the problem. Ring indicates that inadequate investment in water infrastructure has left local reservoirs depleted and insufficient for firefighting needs.

Over 100,000 people have evacuated due to the ongoing fires, which have burned around 30,000 acres. High winds have spread the fires and prevented firefighting efforts using various types of aircraft.

President-elect Donald J. Trump has been outspoken in criticizing Democrat water mismanagement and highlighted the issue multiple times during his first presidential term. Other critics have cited cuts to fire budgets, fire spending being diverted to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) teams, and fire equipment being donated to Ukraine.

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Despite record rainfall last year, wildfire-ravaged California could not store it due to a lack of infrastructure in the Democrat-ruled state. Critics have challenged Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom's call to avoid politicizing such issues, claiming that political mismanagement is a core problem. show more
January 10, 2025
News

LA Inferno Has Claimed 10 Lives, Destroyed 10,000 Structures…

Wildfires in the Los Angeles region have persisted into a fourth day, resulting in at least ten fatalities and prompting the evacuation of approximately 180,000 residents. The blazes have devastated more than 10,000 structures. Initial assessments indicate potential damages and economic losses could reach as high as $150 billion.

Five fires are currently active in the LA County area. The most extensive, the Palisades Fire, has burned 20,000 acres and is described by the LA fire chief as among the most destructive blazes in the city’s history. Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire’s impact extends over 14,000 acres. The Kenneth and Hidden Hills fires are newer and expanded overnight.

The Palisades Fire, responsible for at least two deaths, was just six percent contained by late Thursday. The Eaton Fire, which has caused three deaths and devastated over 21 square miles in Altadena, was at zero containment by the same time. The Kenneth Fire, covering 960 acres in Woodland Hills, also remained uncontained. The Sunset Fire—ignited in Hollywood Hills on Wednesday—led to evacuations but was fully contained by late Thursday. The Hurst and Lidia fires were partly contained, with the Hurst fire at 37 percent containment and the Lidia fire at 75 percent containment.

Evacuation orders affected 180,000 LA County residents, while evacuation warnings impacted nearly 200,000 more. Throughout the week, over 10,000 structures, including homes and businesses, were destroyed.

A heightened red flag warning from the National Weather Service remains in place due to strong winds, which are believed to have spread and intensified the wildfires. State and local officials are receiving heavy criticism, including from President-elect Donald J. Trump, for cutting fire budgets, squandering fire spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, giving away fire equipment to Ukraine, and poor brush and water management.

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Wildfires in the Los Angeles region have persisted into a fourth day, resulting in at least ten fatalities and prompting the evacuation of approximately 180,000 residents. The blazes have devastated more than 10,000 structures. Initial assessments indicate potential damages and economic losses could reach as high as $150 billion. show more
January 10, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
Crime
TECH
UK

Grooming Gang Victim Says Musk is ‘Narcissistic’ and ‘Not Helpful.’

A victim of child grooming gangs in the United Kingdom has labeled tech billionaire Elon Musk “narcissistic” over his recent comments on grooming gangs but acknowledged there were positives for him highlighting the issue. Gaia Cooper, who was raped and exploited by a grooming gang at just 14 years old, spoke to the Telegraph newspaper and stated that Musk’s comments “weren’t helpful.”

She added that Musk was engaging in “trolling culture” by calling Labour Member of Parliament (MP) and Minister for Safeguarding Jess Phillips a “child rape genocide sympathizer.”

Musk labeled Phillips, who once compared mass sex attacks by migrants in Cologne, Germany, to “heckling” in her home city, a “rape genocide apologist” on his X platform. This came after Phillips had refused to support a new inquiry into grooming gangs in the town of Oldham.

According to Cooper, Musk is “fighting fire with fire,” which is not useful to victims. “If you’re asking somebody to stand up and listen and fight for children using language like that, it’s not helpful,” she said.

“I don’t think they lose a wink of sleep over a survivor. It’s quite narcissistic to make it about them that they’re the heroes,” Cooper said, but added that it “can only be a good thing to highlight.”

While Cooper stated that she supports a new inquiry into grooming gangs, the governing Labour Party voted down a proposal for legislation to establish one in Parliament earlier this week.

The Labour government has also commented on Musk highlighting grooming gangs, threatening to cut security ties with the United States if President-elect Donald J. Trump does not distance himself from Musk.

Musk is expected to participate in the incoming Trump administration as part of the Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Image by Bret Hartman/TED.

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A victim of child grooming gangs in the United Kingdom has labeled tech billionaire Elon Musk "narcissistic" over his recent comments on grooming gangs but acknowledged there were positives for him highlighting the issue. Gaia Cooper, who was raped and exploited by a grooming gang at just 14 years old, spoke to the Telegraph newspaper and stated that Musk's comments "weren't helpful." show more
January 10, 2025
News

CA Conscripts to Prisoners to Help Battle Raging LA Fires.

California has dispatched nearly 800 prisoners to complement the 7,500 personnel already combating the catastrophic wildfires raging around the greater Los Angeles area. In less than a week, the fires have destroyed thousands of residential and commercial structures and burned tens of thousands of acres of land. Among the firefighters, 783 are part of the Fire Camp program, alongside 88 support staff, according to California’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

According to Bianca Tylek, the executive director of Worth Rises, an anti-prison labor group, incarcerated firefighters in California have been contributing since 1915, and their participation extends to responding to various emergencies nationwide for decades. Critics like Tylek argue that using inmates as firefighters can be exploitative. However, the state corrections department clarifies that participation in the program is voluntary. Participants earn between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, with additional compensation in emergencies.

The controversial practice meets critical staffing needs, particularly as California faces prolonged and intense fire seasons due to brush and forestry mismanagement. On the first full day of the wildfires, multiple massive blazes quickly overwhelmed first responders.

California is among over a dozen states with conservation camps, known as fire camps, where incarcerated persons receive training to fight fires and address disasters. The program was expanded during World War II due to workforce shortages, establishing 41 camps. Currently, 35 minimum-security camps operate in California. Eligible participants are volunteers who demonstrate good behavior, have fewer than eight years remaining on their sentence, and are considered fit for the role.

Beyond firefighting, crews assist in flood responses and community service tasks. Prisoners in Fire Camp are not disciplined for opting out of the program, and they receive training in safety and first aid.

California voters rejected a ban on prisoner labor in a 2024 referendum.

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California has dispatched nearly 800 prisoners to complement the 7,500 personnel already combating the catastrophic wildfires raging around the greater Los Angeles area. In less than a week, the fires have destroyed thousands of residential and commercial structures and burned tens of thousands of acres of land. Among the firefighters, 783 are part of the Fire Camp program, alongside 88 support staff, according to California's Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. show more
January 10, 2025
News
War

Trump and Putin Plan Meeting to End Ukraine War.

President-elect Donald J. Trump announced plans for a meeting with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin late Thursday. At a press briefing at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump mentioned, “President Putin wants to meet” and noted that arrangements are underway. He emphasized the importance of resolving the conflict, describing it as “a bloody mess.” Previously, Trump suggested that he would aim to end the war in Ukraine, which is nearing its third anniversary, within 24 hours of taking office.

Russia has expressed willingness to engage in diplomatic talks. On Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin is open to engaging with international leaders, including Trump, without preconditions, stressing the need for mutual political will.

While Moscow welcomes Trump’s attempts at dialogue, specifics regarding the meeting’s date remain undetermined.

Ukraine, facing battlefield setbacks, is attempting to resist Russian advances in its eastern regions. Still, Russian forces continue to make gains, recently claiming to have captured the front-line city of Kurakhove, near the key logistical hub of Pokrovsk.

Trump has adjusted his timeline for ending the conflict, now suggesting it can be resolved in six months, while his special envoy appointee, Keith Kellogg, targets 100 days.

Joe Biden announced an additional $500 million in military aid for Ukraine on Thursday.

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President-elect Donald J. Trump announced plans for a meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin late Thursday. At a press briefing at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump mentioned, "President Putin wants to meet" and noted that arrangements are underway. He emphasized the importance of resolving the conflict, describing it as "a bloody mess." Previously, Trump suggested that he would aim to end the war in Ukraine, which is nearing its third anniversary, within 24 hours of taking office. show more
January 10, 2025
News

Lib Actor Attacks TRUMP over LA Fires, Gets Inauguration Date Wrong.

Actor Eric Braeden, a German immigrant known for his role in The Young and The Restless, has attacked President-elect Donald J. Trump for his response to the California wildfires. Braeden, who has had to evacuate his house as multiple fires burn thousands of acres and structures in the Golden State, told CNN the disaster is “the price we pay for living in this beautiful area.”

“California’s a fantastic state. It’s one of the most productive states in the nation—not according to the orange idiot who will take over on the 25th of January or whatever, but it is truly one of the most productive states ever in the United States,” said the 83-year-old, getting the date of Trump’s January 20 inauguration wrong.

“To be very frank with you, I think everyone is really trying to do their damn best, OK?” Braedan said of the management of the wildfires. “And some idiot—the orange idiot—went on television… and claimed all kinds of things about [California Governor Gavin] Newsom and California and the water distribution. All nonsense,” he added.

Trump has long argued that massive quantities of water could be diverted to areas of California prone to wildfires, but he says Newsom has blocked the proposed infrastructure changes to protect fish living in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta.

State and local officials are also facing backlash for cutting fire budgets, reallocating fire spending to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring, and giving away fire equipment to Ukraine.

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Actor Eric Braeden, a German immigrant known for his role in The Young and The Restless, has attacked President-elect Donald J. Trump for his response to the California wildfires. Braeden, who has had to evacuate his house as multiple fires burn thousands of acres and structures in the Golden State, told CNN the disaster is "the price we pay for living in this beautiful area." show more
January 10, 2025
Crime
News

‘Pizzagate’ Gunman Shot Dead By Cop 9 Years After Diner Attack.

Edgar Welch, the gunman who fired a rifle inside the Comet Ping Pong pizzeria associated with “Pizzagate,” has been shot and killed during a traffic stop in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Welch, 36, discharged three shots inside the Washington, D.C., pizzeria in 2016. Pizzagate posited that the venue was linked to a child sex ring.

This past weekend, Kannapolis Police conducted a traffic stop where Welch was identified due to an outstanding warrant. According to a police statement, an officer approached the vehicle from the passenger side, intending to arrest Welch. Upon opening the door, Welch allegedly drew a handgun from his jacket and aimed it at the officer. Despite repeated commands to disarm, Welch did not comply, leading both officers at the scene to open fire. He died two days later.

“Pizzagate” began circulating in 2016 amid the U.S. presidential contest between Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump. It linked Hillary Clinton’s campaign staff, particularly John Podesta, to a child trafficking ring supposedly run out of Comet Ping Pong.

Leaked emails between Podesta, Clinton’s campaign chairman, and others were suspected of referring to children using “pizza,” “hot dogs,” and similar terms as codewords.

Image by Elizabeth Murphy.

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Edgar Welch, the gunman who fired a rifle inside the Comet Ping Pong pizzeria associated with "Pizzagate," has been shot and killed during a traffic stop in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Welch, 36, discharged three shots inside the Washington, D.C., pizzeria in 2016. Pizzagate posited that the venue was linked to a child sex ring. show more
Merchan Bragg
January 10, 2025
William Upton
Lawfare
TRUMP TRANSITION 2024/5

Banana Republic: Judge Merchan Sentences President-Elect Trump in NY ‘Hush Money’ Case.

Democrat-aligned New York Judge Juan Merchan sentenced President-elect Donald J. Trump on Friday for 34 counts of business record fraud. The court is imposing an ‘unconditional discharge,’ meaning that Trump will serve no prison time. However, the President-elect will now officially be a convicted felon just before he is inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States—which appears to be the main aim of Merchan and his Democratic Party allies.

Late yesterday, the United States Supreme Court declined to intervene in the sentencing. In a 5-4 decision, the justices ruled that they would prefer to see the appeals process play out before involving themselves in the case. They also cited Merchan’s public pledge to impose only an ‘unconditional discharge’ as the sentence and not assign Trump any prison time.

Last year, a New York City jury found Trump guilty of dozens of counts of business record fraud, which had been elevated to felonies through a dubious legal theory pushed by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The trial, which began on April 22, saw 17 days of witness testimony and arguments. Bragg, who brought the 34 felony charges against Trump, pinned much of his case on the testimony of serial perjurer and disgraced lawyer Michael Cohen.

The New York prosecution was part of a larger lawfare campaign brought against Trump by the Biden government and the Democratic Party. In addition to the Bragg prosecution, Trump also faced two federal trials and another state case in Georgia. However, only Bragg’s New York prosecution—arguably the weakest of the four cases—successfully resulted in a conviction and sentencing.

Merchan has repeatedly been criticized for his partisan alignment with the Democratic Party. The judge’s daughter, Loren Merchan, has deep ties to Democratic Party candidates and political groups, including those involved in partisan lawfare.

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Democrat-aligned New York Judge Juan Merchan sentenced President-elect Donald J. Trump on Friday for 34 counts of business record fraud. The court is imposing an 'unconditional discharge,' meaning that Trump will serve no prison time. However, the President-elect will now officially be a convicted felon just before he is inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States—which appears to be the main aim of Merchan and his Democratic Party allies. show more