February 6, 2026

International Olympic Committee Asks Fans to Not Boo JD Vance at the Opening Ceremony

Story from yesterday so I'm posting in GD

Leading the U.S. delegation in Milan for the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony will be Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who arrived in Italy amid ongoing political unrest at home over killings in Minnesota. In fact, members of ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations unit are set to provide security for the Games, leading to massive protests in Milan last week.

The Guardian reported today that “Olympic officials have quietly expressed hope the ceremony will unfold without political demonstrations directed at American athletes or officials.” Whether or not that’s the case remains to be seen.

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/international-olympic-committee-asks-fans-210451359.html

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Watch the ceremony at 2p ET to see the if fans throw ice at him and Boobio.

January 30, 2026

Dons Lemon & Trump: A funny recollection

I never watched CNN with any regularity. In short, their political reporting always seemed stodgy. But for some reason I turned it on one spring evening in 2011. Since I was probably going to nap on the couch, it didn't matter what was on, and what was on CNN was Don Lemon at the news desk in a jocular phone interview with a true fascist-at-heart. It was the night after the White House Correspondents Dinner which trump had attended and where jokes were made at his expense. Some of those jokes were made by President Obama himself.

During the interview trump was his acerbic, loud, classless self throwing around various insults (though he complimented Obama on his comic delivery) while Lemon laughed off trump's more biting remarks with a lot of "aw shucks, come on Donald," before throwing more bait out for trump to attack. While this charade wasn't all that dangerous at the time, it certainly wasn't newsworthy. It was trump taking advantage of whatever demand there was of him. When you're a celebrity, CNN let's you do it.

Of course Don Lemon briskly cut off trump because of breaking news that the administration of the president that trump was attempting to undermine in those days had just successfully taken out Osama bin Laden.

Looking back, I don't really begrudge Lemon for being the company guy and engaging in that sort of "reporting" with someone whose only skill was self-promotion and whose only value was self-service. Of course, how could it ever have occurred to him back then "one day this guy is going to have me arrested because I disagree with him." Lemon's not saying "aw shucks, come on Donald" now.

January 29, 2026

"I fired 5 rounds and she had 7 holes. Put that in your book, boys"

That was a text sent by Border Patrol agent Charles Exum after shooting Marimar Martinez in Chicago back in October, 2025. They then tried to prosecute Martinez though charges were dropped. Charles Exum is still a free man. Charles Exum is a piece of shit. I wish I knew why Charles Exum isn't awaiting trial.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/5-shots-7-holes-border-patrol-supervisor-appeared/story?id=127249645

January 28, 2026

The kind of movie you'll cogitate over for days

I don't know what took me out of my boob-tube regimen one night, but I went to a streaming service I don't often visit and this movie popped up. Nikki Giovanni became a household figure in the early 70s when my mother bought Giovanni's album of poetry and gospel "Like a Ripple on a Pond."

Though this movie is almost three years old, it's among the best movies I've seen this year (and I've been watching them all). It's available through many of the corporate providers many here avoid, but it's also available on Kanopy if you have a library card. I don't know if the trailer does it justice, but if not... just check it out.

January 15, 2026

Ryan Coogler's developing a movie on the Epstein Files!

Oh crap! It's a reboot of "The X-Files."
Oh well. It would have been a great follow-up to "Sinners."

January 11, 2026

Live: Son of ousted shah says 'prepared to return to Iran' at first opportunity

Source: France 24

The US-based son of Iran's ousted shah Reza Pahlavi said Sunday he is prepared to return to the country and lead a transition to a democratic government. As new protests took place in Iran overnight from Saturday to Sunday, a new report from the NGO Iran Human Rights puts the death toll at least 192.

Read more: https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260111-live-iran-death-toll-rises-as-protesters-defy-crackdown

January 9, 2026

PBS TV Chef Dies of Ovarian Cancer at 49

Source: People

Boston chef, food stylist and television host Elle Simone Scott has died after a long battle with ovarian cancer, America's Test Kitchen confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE. She was 49.

Scott, born LaShawnda Sherise Simone Scott, was best known for her work on PBS’s America’s Test Kitchen, which she joined in 2016 as the show’s first Black woman to become a regular on-air presence. Over the years, she took on multiple roles at the brand, including test cook, host and executive editor, becoming one of the most visible and influential voices in food media.

Shortly after moving to Boston to work at America’s Test Kitchen in 2016, Scott was diagnosed with stage 1 ovarian cancer. She became an outspoken cancer advocate, sharing her symptoms and experiences publicly and describing herself not as a “survivor” but a “thriver.” She later went into remission before the cancer returned.

Read more: https://people.com/elle-simone-scott-dies-at-49-11881449

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Quite a shocker. I had no idea she had been in treatment for cancer.

January 8, 2026

So who killed Renee Good?

It's time to find out and make sure he has no peace. Of course he's being given as much cover and protection as possible by the accomplices in the administration, but he will be ID'd somehow soon. And when that happens, he should be made the face of the republican party.

January 7, 2026

We will now commemorate January 6th and 7th

I keep telling myself not to be surprised after each event because some more death and destruction will come tomorrow. Maybe this will be a watershed moment, but given the depths of the depravity of this ruling mob, I'm wondering if that even matters. They may double down and just start killing anyone they want to label "domestic terrorists."

If this is a tipping point, it's a shame it had to come to this. According to the Guardian, 2025 was the deadliest year for ICE detainees in decades (link below).

RIP Renee Good and all of those dead at the hands of the new and worsened ICE.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/jan/04/ice-2025-deaths-timeline

January 4, 2026

Danish PM tells Trump to stop 'threats' against Greenland

Source: BBC

Denmark's prime minister has told Donald Trump to "stop the threats" about taking over Greenland.

Mette Frederiksen said "it makes absolutely no sense to talk about the need for the United States to take over Greenland", adding: "The US has no right to annex any of the three nations in the Danish kingdom".

Her remarks come after Katie Miller - the wife of one of Trump's aides, Stephen Miller - tweeted a map of Greenland in the colours of the American flag alongside the word "SOON".

In her statement, posted on the Danish government website, Frederiksen said she was addressing the US "very directly".

She said Denmark - "and thus Greenland" - was a Nato member and covered by the alliance's security guarantee. Denmark already had a defence agreement with the US that gave it access to Greenland, she said, and Denmark had upped its investment in security in the Arctic region.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g0zg974v1o

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Why is it so hard for the rest of the world to unite and tell this saffron sack-o-shit to fuck off?