Trump declared to an enthusiastic crowd, “You’re going to see something tomorrow. You’re going to see executive orders that are going to make you extremely happy. Lots of them, lots of them. We have to set our country on a proper course. By the time the sun sets tomorrow evening, the invasion of our borders will have come to a halt and all the illegal border trespassers will, in some form or another, be on their way back home.”

He pledged to sign over 200 executive actions on his first day in office, a move intended to undo what he described as the “radical and foolish” executive orders from the Biden administration. “Every radical and foolish executive order of the Biden administration will be repealed within hours of when I take the oath of office,” Trump announced.

The rally, which served as a prelude to Trump’s swearing-in, was not just about policy announcements. It was a celebration of his return to Washington, with Trump emphasizing the start of a new era. “We put America first, and it all starts tomorrow. When I raise my hand or they vote to be sworn as your [President]. We’ll be sworn in tomorrow. We’re all going to be sworn in together. That’s the way I look at it,” he stated.

Among his promises, Trump vowed to make public remaining records related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert Kennedy, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He also committed to initiating the construction of the “Great Iron Dome missile defense shield” and to aid in the recovery of North Carolina after last year’s devastating hurricanes.

Regarding those involved in the January 6 Capitol events, Trump suggested they would find his administration’s stance favorable, hinting at potential actions to benefit them without specifying details.

Trump’s rally also touched on recent international developments, such as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, dismissing President Biden’s role in the deal by saying, “I’m glad to report that the first hostages have just been released. And who knows what’s going to happen. I know that Biden thinks that they made the deal,” while the crowd booed Biden’s mention.

The event was attended by key figures, including Elon Musk, who spoke at the rally, highlighting the significant support Trump has within influential circles.

As Trump prepares to take office again, his promises of immediate, sweeping changes signal a bold beginning to what he hopes will be a transformative administration, aiming to meet the expectations of his supporters with what he claims will be “the best first day, the biggest first week, and the most extraordinary first 100 days of any presidency in American history.”

Article generated from legacy media reports.

The controversy came to light just weeks before devastating wildfires swept through Los Angeles County, raising questions about the city’s leadership and emergency preparedness. Williams, who was appointed by Bass in February 2023, has significant responsibilities, including oversight of the Los Angeles Police Department, Fire Department, and emergency management.

The FBI’s search of Williams’ Pasadena residence in mid-December was part of an investigation into a bomb threat he allegedly made earlier in the year. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) initially investigated but handed the case to the FBI due to Williams’ close ties with local law enforcement.

Despite the severity of the allegations, Williams has not been arrested or charged. His attorney, Dmitry Gorin, has publicly stated that Williams “strongly maintains his innocence and intends to vigorously fight the allegations.”

Mayor Bass’s office issued a brief statement at the time of the raid, indicating that they take the matter seriously and that Williams was immediately placed on leave. However, since then, there has been no further comment from the mayor’s office regarding Williams’ status or the ongoing investigation.

This silence comes at a time when Los Angeles is grappling with the aftermath of recent wildfires, which have been among the most destructive in the city’s history, claiming lives and destroying thousands of structures. The absence of Williams from his role has sparked discussions about accountability, especially given his responsibility for public safety.

Critics have pointed to Bass’s decision to place Williams on leave, questioning her judgment, particularly in light of her absence from the city during the onset of the fires. Bass was in Africa at the time, a decision that has drawn significant criticism regarding her commitment to the city during a crisis.

The investigation into the alleged bomb threat and the mayor’s office’s response have intensified scrutiny on Bass’s administration, with many calling for transparency and accountability in how the city manages its public safety officials.

As the investigation continues, the exact impact on the city’s fire and emergency response capabilities remains a subject of speculation, with no clear updates from the mayor’s office on how they are addressing the void left by Williams’ absence.

Article generated from corporate media reports.

Trump acknowledged that he hasn’t made a final decision but highlighted the complexity of the situation, suggesting that an extension might be “appropriate.” He mentioned that any decision on this matter would probably be announced on his first day in office.

This comes after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law set to ban TikTok if its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, does not sell its U.S. operations to an approved buyer by Sunday. The law, passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden, gives the sitting president the authority to grant a 90-day extension if there is significant progress towards a sale.

Despite Trump’s earlier administration’s efforts to ban TikTok over national security concerns, his stance has shifted. This change might be influenced by his recent engagement with TikTok for political campaigning, gaining significant traction among younger voters.

The Biden administration has stated it would not enforce the ban in its final days, leaving the decision to Trump. Meanwhile, TikTok has warned of potential service disruption if there isn’t a clear assurance from the government, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

This move has been met with mixed reactions online, with some seeing it as a softening stance towards China, while others view it as an opportunity for TikTok to sort out its ownership issues.

The exact terms of any extension or the conditions TikTok might need to meet are not yet public, but the focus remains on finding a legal and acceptable solution for TikTok’s operations in the U.S.

Article generated from legacy media reports.

Here’s what she posted on X:

.@realDailyWire , I’m going to take this opportunity to clear up some confusion you and others have about my life and career, reflected in your recent piece on me. (link below.)

1. I am a filmmaker and author. I am not an actor. I have been writing/directing/producing films and writing books for over a decade. Acting is a past career of mine. I have not pursued any acting roles since at least 2012. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000868/

2. Though your appreciative summary of my recent @X posts and essays is accurate, you unfortunately omitted the computer science degree I earned for UCLA in 2016, the success of my first film VIOLET, and the success of my best-selling books, Fame and Face, in order to support your position that very little has occurred in my life since 1987. You should rectify your piece to reflect the facts.

3. If you need a reference of my professional resume, here’s a link my bio on my production company site. http://section5.tv/aboutus

4. I hope we’ll see you covering the non-AI film festival I founded, the CREDO 23 Film Festival. It’s 3/28-30 in L.A. We’ve been busy setting that up, signing up sponsors, and reviewing all the film submissions we received. My new avant-garde films, LOOK and FEEL, will premiere there. http://CREDO23FilmFest.com

5. I am also currently casting for my next film, NEED, as well as continuing to raise funds for my other films, like PANDAMAN, which is a satire about the woke army.

6. All to say, there’s no need for you to omit very large portions of someone’s life in your reporting in order to support an angle upon which you have decided. It can BOTH be true that my posts have been getting attention, and also my work as a filmmaker and writer has been numerous and successful over the past couple of decades. I have been in the press since 1982, and this “spin to match the journalist’s angle” has happened many times to me. Fortunately, it is of great benefit to the public that we have the opportunity to rectify it like this, via social media.

.@realDailyWire, I'm going to take this opportunity to clear up some confusion you and others have about my life and career, reflected in your recent piece on me. (link below.)
1. I am a filmmaker and author. I am not an actor. I have been writing/directing/producing films and… pic.twitter.com/XTHZu6jzSj

— Justine Bateman (@JustineBateman) January 17, 2025

Keep the truth bombs coming.

The operation, described as a “big f–king operation” by insiders, will target cities like Chicago and New York, which have policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

Details are still unfolding, but it’s understood that at least 100 to 200 ICE officers will be involved, with the operations potentially starting as early as Tuesday morning in Chicago. The focus will be on individuals with criminal records, but the scope could expand.

This move comes after Trump’s incoming “border czar,” Tom Homan, vowed to prioritize deportations from the day Trump takes office. Homan has been vocal about flooding sanctuary cities with ICE officers to tackle what he describes as a significant threat to national security posed by undocumented immigrants.

According to NY Post:

“It’s going to be a big raid all across the country,” the incoming border czar told Fox News host Jesse Watters.

“Chicago is just one of many places. We’ve got 24 [ICE] field offices across the country. On Tuesday, ICE is finally going to go out and do their job. We’re going to take the handcuffs off ICE and let them go arrest criminal aliens. That’s what’s going to happen.”

Homan added that ICE agents will “enforce immigration law without apology” but “concentrate on the worst first.”

The timing of this operation, right after the inauguration, underscores a swift return to hardline immigration policies under Trump’s administration. Critics argue that announcing such operations might allow some targets to evade capture, while supporters see it as a necessary step towards enforcing immigration laws more stringently.

This development has sparked a range of reactions online, with some expressing support for the enforcement action and others questioning the strategy and ethics of publicizing such plans in advance.

The specifics of the operation, including exact targets and further locations beyond the initial cities mentioned, remain closely guarded. However, the intention is clear: to begin mass deportations as promised by Trump during his campaign.

Article generated from legacy media reports.

Pence, through his organization, emphasized that Kennedy’s previous support for abortion rights is a significant deviation from the pro-life legacy established during the Trump-Pence administration. In a statement, Pence highlighted that, under their leadership, HHS made decisions daily that either supported or detracted from the sanctity of life. He argued that confirming Kennedy would be “deeply concerning” to millions of pro-life Americans who have traditionally supported Republican nominees.

Kennedy, known for his skepticism regarding vaccines and his environmental activism, had previously expressed a complex stance on abortion. His positions have included support for a woman’s right to choose, advocating for codifying Roe v. Wade into law, and ensuring access to medical abortion pills.

The statement from Advancing American Freedom also pointed out that despite Kennedy’s recent attempts to reassure pro-life leaders, there remains little confidence in his commitment to pro-life policies at HHS. Pence’s group specifically mentioned the daily administrative decisions at HHS concerning issues like federal funding for Planned Parenthood, regulations on abortion pills, and insurance coverage for abortions, all of which would be pivotal under Kennedy’s potential leadership.

With the Senate gearing up for confirmation hearings, Pence’s call for rejection highlights a significant rift within the Republican Party, especially given Trump’s choice to nominate a figure known for his controversial views on vaccines. This nomination has already sparked a broad spectrum of reactions, with public health experts and Democrats expressing alarm, while some conservative groups have been more ambivalent or supportive, focusing on Kennedy’s critique of “corporate capture” in health agencies.

The opposition from Pence, who has been critical of Trump since their time in office together, underscores his resentment toward his former boss. His failed presidential run was embarrassing and he’s been all but excommunicated from Republican politics ever since.

During an intense exchange, Whitehouse questioned Bondi about the appropriateness of starting a criminal investigation with a target in mind rather than with evidence of a crime. Bondi responded by highlighting what she perceives as the political targeting of Donald Trump over the last four years, saying, “Senator, I think that is the whole problem with the weaponization that we have seen the last four years and what’s been happening to Donald Trump.”

Bondi used the opportunity to underscore her commitment to fairness and justice, stating, “I will not target people simply because of their political affiliation. Justice will be administered evenhandedly throughout this country. Senator, we’ve got to bring this country back together. We’ve got to move forward, or we’re going to lose our country.”

She further referenced Kevin Clinesmith, a former FBI lawyer who pleaded guilty to altering an email used in the Carter Page FISA application, as an example of misconduct within the DOJ.

Responding to Whitehouse’s concerns about the politicization of the DOJ, Bondi was clear, “Let me give you a really good example of a bad lawyer within the Justice Department, a guy named Clinesmith who altered a FISA warrant. One of the most important things we can do in this country. So will everyone be held to an equal fair system of justice if I am the next attorney general? Absolutely. And no one is above the law.”

Eric Daughtery, Assistant News Director at Florida’s Voice News, commented on the exchange, stating, “Pam Bondi totally flips the script on Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D) who tried to make it seem like she will weaponize the DOJ.”

JUST IN: Pam Bondi totally flips the script on Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D) who tried to make it seem like she will weaponize the DOJ.

Masterclass.

WHITEHOUSE: The DOJ cannot just start with a name, and then look for a crime. You must start with a crime and look for a… pic.twitter.com/Edzzf5Eibt

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 15, 2025

The hearing showcased Bondi’s readiness to address criticisms head-on and her determination to advocate for an impartial justice system, earning her praise from conservatives who see her as a strong candidate for attorney general. Bondi is anticipated to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, with some speculation that she might even garner votes from Democrats due to her previous bipartisan work.

Here is the full exchange.

Article generated from corporate media reports.

NEW: Per ICE sources, the man seen in a viral video being subdued by residents & arrested by police w/ a blowtorch near the #KennethFire in West Hills is an illegal alien from Mexico named Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva. He is in custody on a probation violation & has NOT been charged…

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) January 13, 2025

Despite the circumstances, Sierra-Leyva has not been charged with arson but is currently in custody for violating his probation.

The incident unfolded when Los Angeles police were dispatched to the 21700 block of Ybarra Road in Woodland Hills following a 911 call reporting someone attempting to start a fire. Shortly after, a fire broke out near Calabasas and West Hills, leading to Sierra-Leyva’s apprehension by local residents.

BREAKING: The man arrested with a blowtorch near the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills of California is an illegal immigrant from Mexico and ICE has placed a detainer request on him, according to @BillMelugin_ .

Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva was NOT charged with arson and is “in… pic.twitter.com/6LEcsPrqJf

— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) January 13, 2025

Posts on X have highlighted the event, noting that while ICE intends to place a detainer on Sierra-Leyva, the effectiveness of this measure might be compromised due to sanctuary laws in California.

Note on ICE detainer… “they do not expect it to be honored due to California's Sanctuary State law”

Insanity. @RealTomHoman https://t.co/fYhdAUVCrJ

— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) January 13, 2025

This situation has sparked discussions on social media, with some users expressing frustration over the legal system’s handling of the case, particularly focusing on the lack of arson charges despite the presence of incriminating evidence like a blowtorch at the scene of a wildfire.

In most states, the evidence would be enough to charge him for arson. In California, it seems more and more likely that he’ll be released to roam about the country, blowtorch and all.

Under this new mandate, restaurants using char broilers would need to drastically reduce the smoky particulate matter they emit, or they might face closure. This proposal comes as part of broader efforts to improve air quality in New York City, focusing on reducing pollutants from sources like restaurant exhaust systems.

Restaurateurs are voicing their frustrations, with some like an unnamed restaurant owner who has been in the business for nearly 75 years, calling the rule “absolutely ridiculous.” He emphasized that the government should focus on more pressing quality of life issues rather than “messing with my burgers.”

This sentiment seems widespread among those affected by the regulation, who argue that the rule could fundamentally alter or even end their traditional cooking methods.

Exclusive: NYC restaurants burning up over new 'char broil' rule that would force them to cut emissions by 75% https://t.co/mjl3nwdiuW pic.twitter.com/iJOABr8Pjf

— New York Post (@nypost) January 12, 2025

The backlash is not just verbal; social media has been abuzz with posts from various users and restaurant advocates decrying the regulation. One user on X highlighted the absurdity of the proposed rule, while another expressed frustration over what they perceive as overreach by environmental regulators. These posts reflect a broader sentiment of resistance against what many see as an impractical mandate in the culinary world of NYC.

However, supporters of the rule argue that reducing emissions from char broilers is crucial for public health, especially in densely populated urban areas like New York City. They contend that the environmental benefits, including reduced health risks from air pollution, outweigh the costs to individual businesses, suggesting that restaurants adapt by using alternative, less polluting cooking methods or upgrading their existing equipment to meet the new standards.

The debate continues with no clear resolution in sight. Restaurant owners are left pondering the feasibility of compliance, while environmental groups push for immediate action on air quality. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection has yet to provide detailed guidance on how restaurants can achieve the required emissions reduction, leaving many in the industry in limbo.

STOP THE INSANITY!!! NYC restaurants flip out over new ‘char broil’ rule that would force them to cut emissions by 75%https://t.co/vVsTTaSc3N

— Triggering Liberal Tears (@nick9218) January 12, 2025

As this issue unfolds, it will be pivotal to see how the city navigates between supporting its vibrant food scene and enforcing environmental regulations. The outcome could set a precedent for urban dining and environmental policy not just in NYC but in cities worldwide grappling with similar issues.

Article generated from legacy media reports.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has been under fire for approving lavish contracts for city employees just months before the catastrophic wildfires that have ravaged the city. According to city records, these contracts, which significantly boosted the wages of civilian workers, directly contributed to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) facing severe budget cuts, impacting its wildfire response capabilities.

Mayor Bass, who has been in office since 2022, signed off on contracts that saw civilian employees receiving between 20% to 25% salary increases over five years. The financial implications of these deals are estimated to cost the city around $4.5 billion over the contracts’ lifetime. This fiscal commitment led to a $17.6 million reduction in the LAFD’s budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, a decision that has now come under scrutiny as the city battles several devastating fires.

The Palisades Fire, which has become one of the most destructive in LA’s history, alongside the Eaton Fire, have caused widespread destruction, with thousands of structures burned and at least 16 lives lost. The reduced funding for the fire department meant fewer resources for training, equipment maintenance, and emergency response, at a time when the city was most vulnerable to such natural disasters.

Criticism has been mounting against Mayor Bass, with public figures and residents questioning the timing and prioritization of city spending. Firefighters have voiced concerns about the cuts’ impact on their readiness and effectiveness, particularly in light of the current disaster. The budget reduction has been described as “devastating” by some within the department, highlighting a significant shortfall in preparing for and responding to wildfires.

Public sentiment, as reflected in posts on X, shows a mix of frustration and disbelief over the allocation of funds towards city contracts while critical emergency services like the fire department faced cuts. The narrative on social media and in local news has been one of questioning leadership decisions at a time when the city’s safety and infrastructure were at stake.

Mayor Bass, upon returning from an international trip amidst the fires, has been largely silent on these specific decisions, focusing instead on the immediate response to the crisis. However, the controversy surrounding her financial choices has not abated, with many calling for a reevaluation of budget priorities to ensure better preparedness for future emergencies.

This situation underscores a broader debate on how cities manage their budgets, especially in areas prone to natural disasters like wildfires, where every dollar can mean the difference between life and death, or property saved versus destroyed.

Article generated from corporate media reports.