Silicon Valley’s alliance with Donald Trump was a mask off moment and showed the world we can’t depend on US tech companies. For the past few months, I’ve been trying to get off US tech and I put together a guide so you find alternatives too. I hope you find it helpful!

Freedom 250: “Don’t fight back.” Honestly, that’s a good summary a version of American freedom.

“One notable MIT study found that 95 percent of companies that integrated AI saw zero meaningful growth in revenue. For coding tasks, one of AI’s most widely hyped applications, another study showed that programmers who used AI coding tools actually became slower at their jobs.”

A third immigrant detainee at facility in El Paso has died, ICE says.

First order of business: Who gets the inaugural Prince of Peace Award for Peace from the Peace Board of Peace?

The author of a controversial memo from centrist think tank Searchlight telling Democrats to abandon the slogan “Abolish ICE” is a senior advisor for WestExec, a D.C. shadow lobbyist for corporations in the defense, surveillance, and immigration enforcement industries. prospect.org/2026/01/19/a...

A combat-wounded veteran's eight-hour detention by federal agents in Minneapolis raises concerns about due process in ICE facilities.

Someone in @ found it!

"I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace"

Dr. Gladys West, the pioneering mathematician whose work laid the foundation for modern GPS technology, has died. She was 95.

“The truth always lies somewhere in the middle” has to be one of my least favorite phrases. Sometimes, one side is actually truthful and one side is actually malicious and lying!

Welcome to the working class, Mark Zuckerberg.

An FBI agent conducted an initial review of the Renee Good killing and determined sufficient grounds existed to open a civil rights probe into the actions of the ICE officer who shot her. Justice Department says no inquiry is warranted. @perrystein.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

German finance minister supports Macron on readying EU trade ‘bazooka’ against Trump All eyes are on how far Germany and France can align on a riposte to Trump.

invading Switzerland after refusing to believe their claims that they have no power over the award of the Fifa Peace Prize

Taylor Sheridan is just Aaron Sorkin for chuds

Work for the Texas Observer! We currently have two openings accepting applications: ⚫McHam Fellowship for Investigative Reporting ⚫2026 Elections Internship Find out more and how to apply at www.texasobserver.org/jobs/

Todd Blanche letting every American know that *you too* can get shot in the face by the federal government, on camera, and nothing will be done.

Danish officials will not attend Davos as tensions with the US escalate, Bloomberg reports.

In a few years, this will all look as stupid as NFTs and MOOCs, but by then, a whole generation will have forgotten how to learn anything.

The World Economic Forum is about to convene in Davos Switzerland. The theme for this year is “A Spirit of Dialogue,” and they’re rolling out the red carpet for their star speaker, Trump. The hypocrisy, cowardice, complicity, normalization — it just goes on and on. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/b...

My mother hated JP and Gertrude.

Norwegian PM Støre says Trump repeatedly raises—complains about, pleads for, and demands—the Nobel Peace Prize every time they meet. Støre gives same answer each time: decision is made independently by Norwegian Nobel Committee, with no role for Norwegian gov—a concept Trump appears unable to grasp.

New snow for running.

Minnesota Sen. Steve Drazkowski: "Tim Walz is losing oil pressure rapidly. A large and growing number of Minnesotans would really like to see him in jail. We will see articles of impeachment introduced in the Minnesota House when the legislator convenes on the 17th of next month."

The American far right has always understood that misogyny against white women is the entry point. The Daily Stormer style guide advised writers to never open w/ rants about race or Jewish Americans but to focus on how WW were disappointing & then explain it's *because* of Black & Jewish Americans.

There is no online product or store that isn't unusable now because of popups. "Try our new AI." "Try our new AI." "Try our new AI." "Try our new AI." "Try our new AI." "TRY OUR NEW AI."

ICE agents at a hotel in St. Paul woke up this morning to news that they’re getting kicked out of their hotel today at noon.

This is who voted against establishing DHS

Pentagon readies 1,500 soldiers to possibly deploy to Minnesota, officials say Soldiers with the Army’s 11th Airborne Division in Alaska have been placed at the ready following Trump’s Insurrection Act threat, according to defense officials. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

I can’t believe the campaign that announced: “For Every Karen We Lose There's a Julio or Jamal Waiting To Ride with the MAGA Movement" is campaigning against white women.

I officially filed to run for City Council in District 3! 🎉 See the link in bio to get involved.

NEW: This week, Daily Show host Jon Stewart introduced his audience to Jenin Younes, describing her as a courageous civil rights attorney who had been canceled by both the right and left and therefore “must be doing something right.” Really, she spent years undermining public health—and Democrats.

that’s right

My graduate ethics course was canceled after I refused to censor discussions of race, gender, and sexuality. Ethics is about people and power, not scripted silence. This is bigger than one class. I address it in my next video, premiering at 5:00 PM today. youtu.be/wP_W3AHcDxY

American knitters about the riot.

Welcome to a “But I’m the Peace President!” edition of the MAGA Minute. Today Trump slaps sanctions on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Finland, declaring them enemies of world peace. #RadioFreeAmerica

Many “savvy” folks argue protests can’t work. Evidence suggests otherwise. “Muslim ban set off a fury of protests across US, garnering tremendous media attention and discussion… Portraying ‘Ban’ at odds with inclusive elements of American identity prompted some citizens to shift their attitudes…”

From a Minnesotan: a hearty HELL NO to this. This man is a professional political consultant in DC raising $$ for a political party. There are endless better places to donate to actually help people here suffering and fighting against this nazi invasion. Here’s a start: www.standwithminnesota.com

These are prisons. The criminalization of homelessness and push towards mandated, coerced medical interventions and civil commitment—a bipartisan project—was always going to lead us here. This is why when we talk about, strategize and organize around abolition, we must include ALL carceral spaces.

Just a reminder that Trump is selling Venezuelan oil and depositing the proceeds into a bank account in Qatar that is NOT under any control by the US government or Congress. He's just stealing it. It really is that simple.

Trophies will be accepted from Monday till Friday at the White House from 9–12.

Nothing to see here folks, just a sitting president investing in two companies whose merger he claims sole authority to approve or reject. Totally normal! 🙃

Gift link for this useful article about strategy and coordination on the ground, Trump and Co want to say its chaotic and rioting. Don't let them. Meanwhile, go white people. Finally stepping up in bigger ways. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/17/u...

What we are experiencing is 25x of the Midway Blitz.

I’m beginning to suspect that you could forge one of these and get away with it. share.google/ZP4cjE1X1vQY...

Copenhagen town hall square, Denmark right now. Massive solidarity with Greenland demonstrations. Source: dr.dk

there were - a lot - of cardinals out yesterday. apparently this tree was a #perfectperch #birdoftheday #birdsseenin2026