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Trump Pulls National Guard from Chicago, LA and Portland
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he is withdrawing National Guard troops from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland following legal setbacks. The decision came after the Supreme Court declined his emergency request to deploy troops in Chicago last week.
The Supreme Court had ruled that the Trump administration failed to identify legal authority for the military to enforce laws in Illinois at this preliminary stage. The unsigned order focused on whether the circumstances met the criteria for federalizing the Guard under federal law.
In a Truth Social post, Trump claimed that crime "has been greatly reduced by having these great Patriots in those cities." He warned federal forces could return "perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again."
Republican narrative
Crime plummeted in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland only because National Guard troops stepped in to save cities that had already gone before federal intervention. These Democrat-run cities made great progress under Guard protection, yet local officials demanded their removal without a clear plan for sustaining these improvements. The withdrawal guarantees crime will soar again in these war-ravaged areas.
Democratic narrative
Trump's illegal military takeover of state National Guard troops violated federal law and the Constitution, as confirmed by the Supreme Court's rejection of his authority. Federal troops cannot perform routine policing under the Posse Comitatus Act, making these deployments unlawful intimidation tactics. The deployments never reduced crime because judges blocked troops from patrolling the streets.
Nerd narrative
There's a 3% chance that the U.S. will enter a second civil war before 2031, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Jack Smith Defends Trump Probes in House Testimony
The U.S. House Judiciary Committee released a 255-page transcript and video of former Special Counsel Jack Smith's testimony on Wednesday, in which he defended his decision to lead two criminal investigations into President Donald Trump. Smith stated "The decision to bring charges against President Trump was mine, but the basis for those charges rests entirely with President Trump and his actions."
Smith told lawmakers he "developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 election and to prevent the lawful transfer of power." He also stated that "powerful evidence" showed Trump willfully retained classified documents after leaving office in January 2021.
During the deposition, Smith testified that he never spoke to Joe Biden about the investigations and did not receive instructions from the former president. He stated he would have approached cases the same way if asked to investigate a Democratic president such as Biden or Barack Obama.
Republican narrative
Smith's prosecutions were politically motivated lawfare riddled with false claims and procedural abuses. Smith rushed to the Supreme Court to beat the election calendar, mischaracterized an unarmed protest as an attack, relied on obstruction statutes the Supreme Court later rejected, and spied on Republican lawmakers while hiding their identities from judges. His admission that star witness Cassidy Hutchinson provided inadmissible secondhand hearsay exposes the entire case as a partisan witch hunt.
Democratic narrative
Smith conducted a fair, impartial investigation, following the facts and the law without political interference. The career prosecutor built his case around credible Republican witnesses who put country over party, obtained lawmaker phone records through proper DOJ channels with Speech or Debate protections, and never communicated with Biden or the White House. Smith's robust defense of his work demonstrates he would have secured a conviction had Trump not won reelection.
Nerd narrative
There's a 19% chance that the U.S. House of Representatives will censure, expel or reprimand any of its members before April 1, 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Bulgaria Officially Adopts Euro
Bulgaria became the 21st country to adopt the euro on Thursday, replacing the lev, which had been in use since the late 19th century. The country joined the European Union in 2007.
During January, both the lev and euro will circulate simultaneously as legal tender, with the euro becoming the sole currency from Feb. 1. Citizens can exchange leva for euros free of charge at banks and post offices until June 30.
ATMs operated by UniCredit Bulbank, United Bulgarian Bank, Investbank, DSK Bank and Central Cooperative Bank in central parts of the capital were functioning normally and dispensed the requested amounts in the single European currency.
Government-critical narrative
Bulgaria's forced adoption of the euro ignores the will of its people and threatens economic disaster. The government rejected a referendum despite polls showing the population evenly split, imposing the currency change during severe political instability. Fear of following Italy's stagnation model rather than Baltic success looms large as small businesses suffer and citizens resent losing the lev after 144 years.
Pro-government narrative
Joining the eurozone represents Bulgaria's crowning achievement after years of reforms and strengthens its voice in Europe. The euro delivers tangible benefits through easier payments, better market access for businesses and improved credit ratings that were penalized for 28 years. Strong public backing across the EU confirms the single currency's success, and careful preparation, including dual pricing and free currency exchanges, ensures a smooth transition.
Establishment-critical narrative
Bulgaria's entry into the eurozone raises serious questions about EU due diligence. The country ranks among Europe's most corrupt, has held seven elections since 2021, and saw its prime minister forced to resign just weeks before the country joined. With income at only 59% of the EU average and weak institutions, finance ministers approved membership despite obvious governance problems. When a notoriously corrupt system submits the data used for approval, skepticism about those numbers isn't conspiracy theory — it's prudence.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that Sweden will adopt the euro before September 2048, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
CIA: Ukraine Didn't Target Putin's Residence in Drone Attack
The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has assessed that Ukraine did not target a residence used by Russian President Vladimir Putin in a recent drone attack. CIA Director John Ratcliffe has reportedly briefed President Donald Trump, with officials stating the strike was aimed at a previously targeted military site elsewhere in the region.
Russia's Defense Ministry had claimed that 91 drones were launched from northern Ukraine on Dec. 28–29, claiming they targeted a residence used by Putin near Valdai in the Novgorod region, and that all were intercepted, most of them hundreds of kilometers from the side.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Russia's claim as a "complete fabrication," intended to undermine diplomatic efforts with Trump's team. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha added that Moscow provided no credible evidence to support the alleged drone attack.
Pro-Russia narrative
It was entirely predictable that U.S. intelligence would claim the drone attack never happened, given the U.S.'s deep operational entanglement in Ukraine's war effort. Zelenskyy’s denial of an attack on Putin's residence reads as damage control, with signs he may not have been informed and that war-profiting actors drove the operation. Ukraine launched 91 drones in what amounts to an assassination attempt, then denied responsibility to keep European backing intact. Kyiv continues to escalate, rejecting compromise and obstructing any serious path toward negotiations.
Anti-Russia narrative
The CIA has definitively concluded that Ukraine never targeted Vladimir Putin's residence, exposing Moscow's drone-attack story as a deliberate fabrication. The claim was designed to poison the diplomatic track and derail emerging peace discussions. Trump initially echoed Putin's narrative but reversed course once intelligence briefings clarified the facts. The episode highlights a transparent Russian disinformation effort aimed at justifying continued aggression while blocking any genuine diplomatic progress.
Nerd narrative
There's a 45% chance that Ukraine will conclude a peace treaty with the Russian Federation by the end of 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Zohran Mamdani Sworn in as NYC Mayor
Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City's 112th mayor just after midnight on Thursday at the historic Old City Hall subway station in Manhattan. He became the city's first Muslim mayor and its youngest in generations at age 34.
The private swearing-in ceremony was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, with Mamdani placing his hand on a Quran as he took the oath of office. A larger public inauguration was scheduled for later at City Hall.
"This is truly the honor and the privilege of a lifetime," Mamdani said in a brief speech. In a press release, the Mamdani transition team said the midnight swearing-in was chosen to be held at a location that symbolizes how the subway system is the "lifeblood of New York."
Democratic narrative
Mamdani's swearing-in marks a historic turning point for New York, signaling a new generation of Democrats who build rather than divide and deliver real results for communities. This moment signifies the future of democratic participation and competence, not fear and cynicism. The energy from this victory can fuel a midterm comeback that finally checks Trump's presidency.
Republican narrative
Mamdani's DSA ties, statements praising Hamas supporters and radical socialist policies — defunding police, rent control, BDS advocacy — threaten NYC with economic collapse and crime surges. Swearing on the Quran demonstrates commitment to Islamic law over U.S. law, undermining separation of church and state by prioritizing religious doctrine over American legal traditions. NYC faces doom under this enemy within.
Nerd narrative
There's an 8% chance that the number of homicides in New York City will exceed 1,500 in any year before 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Dozens Dead in New Year's Fire at Swiss Alpine Resort Bar
Around 40 people died and 115 others were injured — "many severely" — after a fire broke out at Le Constellation bar in the Swiss Alpine resort town of Crans-Montana during New Year celebrations at approximately 1:30 a.m. local time on Thursday, according to police. Swiss President Guy Parmelin called the fire "one of the worst tragedies that our country has experienced."
The injured were transported to hospitals in Sion, Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich for treatment. Lausanne university hospital said it was treating 22 patients aged between 16 and 26, while 60 people are receiving care at Sion hospital. Parmelin announced the country will hold five days of mourning.
While early reports suggested an explosion of unknown origin likely caused the fire, State Councillor Stephane Ganzer said that "the initial investigation shows the explosion was in fact a consequence of the fire." Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud confirmed the incident is being investigated as a fire rather than a terror attack, adding that authorities are working to determine the circumstances. No arrests have been made.
Pro-government narrative
Emergency services responded heroically to the devastating fire at the Swiss resort, mobilizing 13 helicopters and 42 ambulances immediately. While the cause of this tragedy remains unknown, officials have declared a state of emergency to marshal all necessary resources for victims and their families.
Government-critical narrative
Authorities are stonewalling the public with vague reassurances and carefully crafted empty statements about what really happened at this Alpine resort. Officials rush to dismiss concerns while offering zero details, following the familiar European script of blood on the floor and unanswered questions.
Finland Detains Russian-Crewed Ship After Subsea Cable Damaged
Finnish authorities detained the cargo ship Fitburg on Wednesday after an undersea telecommunications cable between Helsinki and Tallinn was damaged in the Gulf of Finland. The vessel was discovered with its anchor chain lowered in Finnish waters.
The Fitburg sailed under the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and had departed St. Petersburg, Russia, en route to Haifa, Israel. The ship's 14 crew members are nationals of Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.
Helsinki police are investigating the incident as aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage and aggravated interference with telecommunications. The police said the anchor appeared to have been dragged for several hours.
Pro-Russia narrative
NATO and Finland are deliberately lying and escalating tensions with Russia through false accusations. Detaining a cargo ship and spreading propaganda about cable damage serves only to provoke conflict and justify aggressive posturing against Russia. This manufactured crisis protects a crumbling political narrative designed to demonize Moscow.
Anti-Russia narrative
Finnish authorities acted appropriately by seizing a vessel caught dragging its anchor directly over damaged undersea cables connecting Finland and Estonia. The ship departed from Russia and was found with its anchor chain lowered at the exact location of the cable damage, matching a pattern of similar incidents since 2022. Protecting critical infrastructure from deliberate sabotage is a legitimate security response.
Nerd narrative
There's a 10% chance that Russia will invade another European country before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
At Least 6 Reported Dead Amid Iran Protests
According to officials, at least six people have died as protests over Iran’s economy continue to spread, marking the first reported fatalities since the country’s largest demonstrations in three years began on Sunday.
It remains unclear whether the deaths were among demonstrators or security forces. However, Iranian state media reported that a 21-year-old volunteer member of the Basij paramilitary force was killed in Kouhdasht, Lorestan province, on Wednesday. Meanwhile, The Washington-based Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran reported that two of those killed were protesters.
Lorestan Province Deputy Governor Said Pourali stated that 13 Basij members and police officers were injured, while state media reported that seven people were arrested, including five linked to a U.S.-based "monarchist network" and two affiliated with "groups operating in Europe." A local prosecutor reported that 20 people had been detained.
Pro-Iran narrative
People are exercising their legitimate right to protest amid mounting economic pressure, but the moment is being actively exploited from outside. The hardship driving these demonstrations is inseparable from illegal Western sanctions that continue to squeeze daily life. Foreign actors, particularly Israel and aligned Western media, are amplifying selective narratives through disinformation to manufacture instability and legitimize further pressure on Iran.
Anti-Iran narrative
Iran's economic collapse has laid bare the regime's systemic failure, with the currency plunging 56% and basic necessities slipping out of reach for ordinary citizens. The protests spreading from Tehran’s bazaars to universities nationwide have moved beyond prices or wages and taken on a broader political character. Demonstrators are openly rejecting the regime's entire system, with demands no longer focused on reform but on ending the regime itself.
Nerd narrative
There's a 4% chance that the Iranian government will lose power before 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
UK Firm Launches 1,000°C Furnace in Orbit for Semiconductors
Space Forge, a Cardiff-based aerospace company, said Wednesday that it had successfully launched a microwave-sized manufacturing facility into orbit and demonstrated that its furnace can reach approximately 1,000°C. The facility was launched aboard a SpaceX rocket in June 2025.
The company aims to manufacture semiconductor materials in space that can be up to 4,000 times purer than those produced on Earth. These semiconductors would be used in 5G towers, electric vehicle chargers and aircraft electronics.
Microgravity conditions in space allow atoms to align in perfectly ordered three-dimensional structures, while the vacuum environment prevents contaminants from entering the manufacturing process. These conditions cannot be replicated in terrestrial factories.
Techno-optimist narrative
Space Forge's successful plasma generation aboard ForgeStar-1 marks a revolutionary breakthrough in semiconductor manufacturing, proving that advanced crystal growth can be achieved on a commercial satellite in low Earth orbit. This world-first capability enables production of ultra-pure wide-bandgap materials like gallium nitride and silicon carbide that are orders of magnitude cleaner than Earth-made alternatives, directly addressing critical supply chain needs for defense, quantum systems and power electronics. The microgravity environment eliminates defect formation and contamination that plague terrestrial production, opening an entirely new manufacturing frontier that will improve efficiency and resilience across industries central to technological progress.
Techno-skeptic narrative
Space-based semiconductor manufacturing remains an unproven concept plagued by prohibitive costs, regulatory chaos and uncertain commercial viability despite decades of experimentation dating back to NASA's Skylab in 1973. Space Forge operates from a cramped business park in Cardiff, has already lost one satellite to a failed Virgin Orbit launch and lacks even a re-entry license from Britain's fragmented regulatory apparatus overseen by ten poorly coordinated agencies. The company faces crushing energy costs and infrastructure expenses while American subsidies and European offers threaten to pull operations abroad, exposing the fundamental weakness of betting on orbital factories when terrestrial alternatives remain far more practical and economically sound.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that the first commercial in-orbit refueling will take place by Sept. 24, 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.