News

Summary

Americans are posting videos about 3D-printed guns on the Chinese video app RedNote, despite the content being illegal in China.

While some users are uncomfortable with the topic, others see it as an opportunity for cultural exchange.

The future of TikTok remains uncertain as the Supreme Court is expected to rule on the ban.

Since the Los Angeles wildfires broke out on January 7, a strain of online panic has painted the city as functioning a lot like The Purge, the horror movie about a 24-hour period where all crime is legal.

Take a purported conversation that former Tinder executive Brian Norgard relayed in a Twitter/X post that’s been seen over 2.5 million times. “My famous actor neighbor came by today after the looting gangs freaked him out,” he posted, “and whispered in my ear, ‘I guess I am a conservative now.’”

In sharp contrast to the doom and gloom pronouncements, the city has actually been smothered, sometimes even a little overwhelmed, in such acts of goodwill. When I went to drop off other donations at the Snail Farm and Bike Oven—an artists studio and community-run bike workshop, respectively—both were so thoroughly stocked there was hardly room to put anything down. “Please, no more children’s books,” begged a local bookstore, calling off a previous request for donations of reading material for evacuated kids. “Once again having to put a stop to Angelenos bottomless generosity at this time!!!” (As such messages attest, at this point, it is far more useful to send money to affected people; most places have stopped accepting physical donations.)

Homeowners in places most exposed to climate disasters are increasingly giving up on paying their insurance premiums, leaving them exposed to financial ruin, according to sweeping new government data.

Donald Trump has tapped three of his longstanding celebrity supporters – Mel Gibson, Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone – to purportedly make Hollywood “stronger than ever before” as “special ambassadors” to the movie capital.

The president-elect announced the new appointments, whose duties remain unclear, on Truth Social on Thursday, four days before his inauguration. “It is my honor to announce Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone, to be Special Ambassadors to a great but very troubled place, Hollywood, California,” he wrote.

“They will serve as Special Envoys to me for the purpose of bringing Hollywood, which has lost much business over the last four years to Foreign Countries, BACK—BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE! These three very talented people will be my eyes and ears, and I will get done what they suggest. It will again be, like The United States of America itself, The Golden Age of Hollywood!”

The world has lost a true visionary.

Summary

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey issued executive orders eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in state-run institutions and introducing religious exemptions to school vaccination requirements.

Morrisey claimed DEI initiatives foster “preferential treatment” and referenced the 2023 Supreme Court decision ending affirmative action.

The vaccine exemption policy overturns one of the nation’s strictest vaccination rules, which had historically maintained high rates.

Public health experts warn the change could threaten immunity levels and worsen health outcomes in a state already struggling with poor health metrics.

Summary

Stanford law professor Mark Lemley dropped Meta as a client, citing CEO Mark Zuckerberg's "descent into toxic masculinity and Neo-Nazi madness."

Lemley, who represented Meta in a 2023 AI copyright case, also deactivated his Threads account and vowed to avoid Facebook/Instagram ads.

Lemley criticized Zuckerberg’s recent changes, including reducing DEI initiatives and endorsing "masculine energy," moves echoing Elon Musk’s management style.

Zuckerberg has also shifted politically, restoring Trump’s Facebook account and building ties with him, contrasting with Meta’s earlier stance against Trump's rhetoric.

“Hamas has reneged on parts of the agreement reached with the mediators and Israel in an effort to extort last-minute concessions,” the statement said, adding that the situation had created a “last-minute crisis”.

...

According to an Israeli television report, Smotrich presented Netanyahu with a list of conditions for his support, including a pledge that Israel would return to fighting should Hamas manage to retain control of Gaza, and to strictly limit the quantity of humanitarian aid allowed into the territory.

Israeli media widely reported this week that the government was prepared to resume hostilities after the end of the first six-week phase of the truce, during which hostages are supposed to be released.

Almost as if genocide was the goal.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/24856877

[A very inspiring article - it helps make clear that a mass movement in the US to support Palestine is possible.]

Tara Sutton
Thu 16 Jan 2025 07.20 EST

Summary

An AP-NORC poll reveals skepticism about Donald Trump's ability to lower costs like groceries, housing, or healthcare in his first year, with only 2 in 10 Americans expressing strong confidence. Confidence is slightly higher for job creation (3 in 10).

Even among Republicans, less than half are very confident in his ability to address healthcare or food costs.

Health care remains a weak spot, with only 16% of Americans confident he can lower costs.

Summary

A Southwest Airlines pilot, David Paul Allsop, was removed from the cockpit and arrested for DUI before a flight from Savannah, Georgia, to Chicago.

Authorities reported signs of alcohol impairment, though his blood alcohol concentration (BAC) has not been disclosed.

FAA regulations prohibit pilots from flying within 8 hours of alcohol use or with a BAC of 0.04% or higher.

The incident follows strict FAA rules, including random alcohol testing for pilots.

Archived at https://archive.is/xW0qX

Summary

Former Presidents Obama, Clinton, and Bush, along with Hillary Clinton, will not attend Trump's inaugural lunch. Bush did not receive an invitation.

However, all three former presidents and their spouses, except Michelle Obama, will attend Trump's swearing-in ceremony.

The inaugural lunch, a tradition since 1897, typically includes speeches and toasts for the new administration.

None of the living former presidents endorsed Trump's candidacy, with Obama and Clinton actively campaigning for his opponents.

Summary

Parents and advocates fear a rollback of school vaccine mandates under Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), citing his anti-vaccine rhetoric and potential policy influence.

Experts warn Kennedy could lower vaccination rates by undermining trust, altering vaccine approval processes, or defunding federal vaccine programs. Such changes risk disease outbreaks, particularly for vulnerable children.

Critics also anticipate school board battles over vaccine mandates and highlight the impact of misinformation targeting minority communities.

Parents worry these shifts could have "life-or-death consequences" for children with chronic illnesses.

Archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20250116130101/https://thebarbedwire.com/2025/01/15/the-feds-found-sexual-abuse-of-kids-in-texas-juvenile-justice-department-will-the-legislature-act/

Summary

Cellphone bans in schools are gaining bipartisan momentum, with at least eight states, including California, Florida, and Virginia, enacting restrictions to combat classroom distractions and protect children’s mental health.

Governors from both parties, such as Arkansas' Sarah Huckabee Sanders and California's Gavin Newsom, support these measures, citing benefits of phone-free school days.

While some parents oppose bans, citing emergencies and transportation needs, proponents argue phones disrupt learning and may pose risks during crises.

States differ on implementation, from outright bans to district-level policies or funding for phone storage solutions.

Canadian political leaders say "nothing is off the table" when it comes to responding to potential 25% tariffs from the US, days before they could come into force.

But strains are showing in "Team Canada" when it comes to whether energy supply should be a tool in a possible tariff war with the US.

Canadian officials argue (tariffs) would undermine the US economy, increase inflation for American consumers - including raising prices at the petrol pump - and hamper investment.

They also warn tariffs could undermine national security, given Canada, a US ally, is a key source of energy and critical minerals.

DeSantis announced Monday he’s scheduling the special session for the week of Jan. 27, the week after Trump is sworn in, so that state lawmakers will be poised to help implement the incoming president’s policies immediately.

...

The Republican governor said he’s prepared to suspend elected officials from office if they are “neglecting their duties” under the new immigration mandates. DeSantis has removed multiple officials from office, including two state attorneys, arguing they were failing to prosecute certain crimes.

...

In a strongly-worded joint statement released Monday afternoon, Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Danny Perez said that without any specific guidance from the incoming administration and only “fragments of ideas” from the governor, it’s too soon for lawmakers to hold a special session.

“It is completely irresponsible to get out ahead of any announcements President Trump will make, especially when uninformed or ill-timed state action could potentially impair or impede the success of President Trump’s forthcoming efforts to end illegal immigration,” the Republican leaders said.

Archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20250116125719/https://apnews.com/article/florida-special-legislative-session-immigration-desantis-trump-5d15e20effb7a0c5eba523a833dca8c8

[Democratic] Gov. Maura Healey is proposing a residency requirement in the state’s right to shelter law, a dramatic overhaul that has long been called for by Republicans.

In a letter sent to legislators today, Healey asked to add a mandate to the law that would limit shelter to those who prove they have been in the state for three months. Applicants would be required to verify their “identity, residency, and status” through documents or “physical presence in the state” prior to being approved for the system and placed in an emergency assistance shelter.

Archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20250116125647/https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2025-01-15/healey-wants-to-limit-state-shelter-to-massachusetts-residents

U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin Beaton appeared skeptical of approving a police reform agreement between Louisville Metro and the Department of Justice during a hearing Monday.

The city and DOJ signed a proposed consent decree last month. The decree lays out hundreds of changes to policies and training that the Louisville Metro Police Department would have to undertake in the coming years. The agency’s progress would be overseen by Beaton, as well as an independent monitor.

In a lengthy hearing, the attorneys representing the DOJ argued the consent decree is necessary to address the pattern of unconstitutional and discriminatory policing practices outlined in a scathing report released two years ago. The DOJ found racial disparities in how LMPD officers enforced the law, as well as routine use of excessive force against residents.

Beaton, however, repeatedly asked whether some sort of other “less intrusive” arrangement could also get LMPD to comply with federal law.

Archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20250116130114/https://www.lpm.org/news/2025-01-13/federal-judge-questions-need-for-louisville-consent-decree