Worth Knowing, Probably Not Quite Threadworthy 1/8

[SVPete]

Telling the Truth Is Not Racist

https://hotair.com/david-strom/2026/01/08/telling-the-truth-is-not-racist-n3810585

One of the great advantages the left has is that every time a conservative speaks an uncomfortable truth, it sounds...racist.

The facts on the ground make certain groups look better as a class, while others look decidedly worse. We can argue about whether the correlations between violent crime and race have much to do with race itself or whether there is another factor involved, but the raw facts show that black men are more likely to be violent criminals than any other class of people.

The same can be said of Somalis and welfare fraud. Somalis make up about 0.07% of the US population, but the percentage of welfare fraud they commit is astronomical. Over 70% of Somalis are on some sort of welfare, and God knows how many of the rest are participating in providing them fraudulent "services."

Pointing out a too-real pattern is not the same as saying, "All ______s are (name of crime)."

[SVPete]

FireAid Funneled Cash to Podcasters, Illegals and Fungus Planting

https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/fireaid-money-podcasters-fungus/

“Top Gun: Maverick” actor Miles Teller shared an emotional promise during last year’s FireAid benefit concert.

“All of the money raised will go directly to people who need it now.”

Early reports suggested that was hardly the case. Last September, The New York Post revealed that of the $100 million raised by musicians such as Joni Mitchell, Lady Gaga, John Mayer, Billie Joe Armstrong and more, some of the funds went to nonprofits with very little connection to fire safety or reparations.

Think:

* The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
* Podcasters discussing the wildfires
* Sanitizing pre-schools
* NAACP Pasadena
* My Tribe Rise
* The CA Native Vote Project
* The Los Angeles Black Worker Center

Now, Rep. Jim Jordan has released a scathing update on the FireAid money matterLink.

There's a special level in the Inferno for betrayers of trust like this.

[SVPete]

Israel, Syria agree to share intelligence, seek military de-escalation after Paris talks

https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260106-israel-syria-intelligence-military-de-escalation-paris

Syria's new government and Israel will set up a joint group under US supervision to share intelligence and seek military de-escalation on the ground, they announced Tuesday after talks.

The Syrian foreign minister traveled to Paris in his country's first known meeting in months with Israel, which has pounded its historic adversary despite US unease over the pressure on the fragile government.

A joint statement issued by the US State Department after the talks in the French capital said that Syria and Israel were committed to "achieving lasting security and stability arrangements for both countries".

"Both sides have decided to establish a joint fusion mechanism – a dedicated communication cell – to facilitate immediate and ongoing coordination on their intelligence sharing, military de-escalation, diplomatic engagement and commercial opportunities under the supervision of the United States," the statement said.

[SVPete]

Will Walz Get His War?

https://hotair.com/david-strom/2026/01/08/will-walz-get-his-war-n3810622

Yesterday, Tim Walz declared that he was at "war" with the federal government and called out the National Guard to defend Minnesotans against "rogue" federal agents. As Ed wrote earlier today, Walz appears to be regretting saying that he wants a violent confrontation with Trump quite so openly, of course, but it's pretty clear that is is what he wants.

Well, the troops aren't out on the streets yet, but as the rhetoric ramps up across the country, the leftist agitators are already attacking federal officers, and the sun has barely risen here in the not-quite-arctic north.

Radical politicians like Tim Walz and Peggy Flanagan, our Lieutenant Governor and Democratic Party candidate for Senate, have been calling for confrontations with ICE, and their followers have been dutifully following their advice.

The basic idea being pushed by Democrats is that they get the equivalent of a "heckler's veto" on law enforcement. As long as they choose to impede law enforcement for whatever reason, they get to veto any law.

Dem pols have been inciting violence against Federal law enforcement, real incitement of insurrection.

[SVPete]

Washington State Auditor finds MILLIONS in overpayments by agency responsible for daycare oversight: report

https://thepostmillennial.com/washington-state-auditor-finds-millions-in-overpayments-by-agency-responsible-for-daycare-oversight-report

As independent journalists and citizen watchdogs continue raising alarms about possible “Minnesota-style” daycare fraud in Washington, the State Auditor’s Office is now finalizing an audit of a $770 million child care subsidy program run by the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), an audit that began before the recent fraud allegations went viral, that reportedly shows millions of dollars in overpayments.

According to KOMO News, the audit includes payments to more than 7,400 child care providers statewide, offering the most comprehensive look yet at how subsidy funds have been distributed and tracked.

DCYF provided the outlet a link to records showing 1,372 overpayments totaling $2,092,513 between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. The report attributes many of those overpayments to missing attendance records and overbilled hours or days. 265 overpayments were tied to a lack of attendance records, and roughly 21 percent were linked to overbilled hours or days, highlighting recurring weaknesses in documentation and verification.