January 2, 2026
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Welcome to the news for independent thinkers
Leading the News . . .
Mayor Zohran Mamdani defiantly vows to stick to socialist agenda in fiery inauguration speech . . . Mayor Zohran Mamdani used his inauguration to promise an "audacious" expansion of government and a full-throated embrace of democratic socialism. Rising from obscure Queens lawmaker to City Hall's top office, Mamdani vowed to tax the wealthy and govern without apology. The speech signaled a sharp lurch left—and a return to big-government ambitions New York hasn't seen in years. New York Post
He certainly didn't do much to hide that he's a communist. The people will get what they voted for.
Socialist Zohran Mamdani's wife, Rama Duwaji, appears to wear luxury $630 boots to swearing-in ceremony.
Mamdani sworn in by Letitia James, who can barely pronounce his name . . .
America's Largest Fire Department Is Now Led By A Gay Woman With No Firefighting Experience
Mamdani Revokes Executive Orders That Adams Signed to Support Israel . . . On his first day, Mayor Zohran Mamdani scrapped executives order issued by Eric Adams since he was indicted, including two he'd promoted as pro-Israel. The rollback axed a ban on city boycotts of Israel and erased a broad antisemitism definition critics said blurred politics with prejudice—signaling a sharp ideological turn at City Hall. New York Times
Mamdani Names Al-Qaeda Defense Attorney As New York City's Chief Counsel . . . Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani named attorney Ramzi Kassem as New York City's chief counsel, drawing fire over Kassem's past defense of Al Qaeda operatives. Mamdani praised Kassem as a champion of the legally marginalized, but the pick fuels concern that City Hall's new leadership is blurring lines between civil rights advocacy and radical apologetics. Daily Wire
Politics
Virginia's Youngkin eyes White House, faces MAGA skeptics . . . As Glenn Youngkin exits Richmond, he's quietly testing national waters—but MAGA isn't sold. Allies tout tax cuts and a business-friendly record, arguing results should trump vibes. Influential conservatives disagree. Steve Bannon dismissed Youngkin to The Washington Times as weak and establishment, underscoring a base unconvinced he's one of them. Washington Times
DOGE at one year: Efficiency department sparks lasting changes in federal spending habits . . . The Department of Government Efficiency has fallen far short of its $1 trillion promise but claims real progress. Officials say $214 billion in federal spending has been cut, shrinking the workforce and saving taxpayers about $1,329 each. Now scaled down and decentralized, DOGE has shifted from bold launch hype to a quieter grind—exposing waste and tightening agencies. Washington Times
Ketanji Brown Jackson's Best Moments Of The Year
Trump rejects doctors' advice to take less aspirin: 'I want nice, thin blood' . . . President Donald Trump brushed aside medical advice to cut back on aspirin, telling The Wall Street Journal he's sticking with a habit he's followed for decades. Calling himself "a little superstitious," Trump said he wants his blood "nice and thin," even as health questions continue to shadow his second term at age 79. The Hill
Culture
'Defund the police' contributed to officer shortage through broken spirits more than tighter budgets . . . The "defund the police" chant reshaped policing—but not by shrinking budgets. Cities now face deep officer shortages even as leaders raise pay, add bonuses, and publicly retreat from the slogan born during the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. Former chiefs and researchers say the real damage was cultural: branding police work as shameful drove officers away, hollowing departments long after crime fears faded. Washington Times
Abortions rise despite Roe rollback . . . Abortions climbed again nationwide in 2025, defying post–Roe v. Wade expectations and tighter state laws. New data from Society of Family Planning shows monthly totals rising year over year, driven largely by mail-order abortion pills. Even states with abortion bans are seeing higher numbers, exposing loopholes that undercut enforcement and signaling that the pro-life fight has shifted from courts to the mailbox. Daily Wire
Tech Giants Are Racing to Embed A.I. in Schools Around the Globe . . . As A.I. floods schools, warning signs are flashing. A study by Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University found chatbots can weaken critical thinking while spreading confident-sounding errors and fueling cheating. The concerns echo past tech hype: the One Laptop per Child push failed to boost learning in Peru. More screens, it seems, don't guarantee smarter students. New York Times
Every "advance" in education over the last 50 years seems to make children dumber. Leftist academics and tech execs looking to sell computers "fixed" something that wasn't broken.
National Security
Trump vows to back Iran unrest . . . President Trump warned Tehran he's ready to act, declaring the U.S. "locked and loaded" if Iran's rulers crack down on street protests. With at least seven dead, Trump signaled support for demonstrators while offering no details and raising stakes abroad. The unrest stems from economic collapse under sanctions—pressure Washington helped apply—turning a volatile uprising into a risky test of resolve and restraint. New York Post
International
New Year's blaze kills dozens in Switzerland ski town . . . A deadly New Year's Eve fire tore through a packed bar in Crans-Montana, killing about 40 revelers and injuring more than 100. Authorities face a grim identification process as severe burns left many victims unrecognizable. The first named was 16-year-old Italian golfer Emanuele Galeppini. Officials warn it could take days to confirm all the dead, underscoring the scale of devastation in the Alpine resort. Reuters
AI catches cancer before it kills . . . A retired Chinese bricklayer's routine diabetes check turned lifesaving after an experimental AI tool flagged pancreatic cancer early. Doctors removed the tumor before it spread, a rare win against one of medicine's deadliest cancers. The case spotlights how artificial intelligence is reshaping diagnostics—quietly scanning patients while human doctors play catch-up to machines spotting danger first. New York Times
You should also know
Bitter Kennedy family feud explodes as RFK Jr is 'banned' from late cousin Tatiana Schlossberg's funeral . . . Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now serving as Health and Human Services secretary, was reportedly excluded from cousin Tatiana Schlossberg's funeral after long-simmering family tensions. Schlossberg, who died at 35, had recently branded him an embarrassment. Relatives are keeping the service small and private, opting to grieve without controversy. Daily Mail
CBS News Anchor Announces New Direction For 2026: Actual Journalism
What a longevity expert eats in a day . . . Physician Eric Topol says reaching "super ager" status isn't about biohacks but boring consistency. Regular exercise, solid sleep, healthy relationships, and a Mediterranean-style diet top his list. He urges cutting ultra-processed foods loaded with additives linked to chronic disease. The message cuts against miracle-cure culture: live clean, stay connected, and let discipline—not technology—do the heavy lifting. Washington Post
Hmm. I've been exercising Mediterranean style and eating exercise. Looks like I may have this backward.
Guilty Pleasures
Comedian Amy Sedaris gets mixed reaction over 'transphobic' joke on CNN's New Year's Eve broadcast . . . Comedian Amy Sedaris sparked backlash online after cracking a "transphobic" joke during CNN's New Year's Eve broadcast that left co-hosts Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper speechless. The 46-year-old "Strangers with Candy" star left the hosts and viewers stunned with her remark after being asked where she thought the best place to meet a man would be in 2026. "Oh, where's a good place to meet a man? I'd say the ladies' room," Sedaris quipped, as her joke was met with silence. New York Post
They need to lighten up.
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