Worth Knowing, Probably Not Quite Threadworthy 1/26

[SVPete]

Rioter Arrested After Laying Traps to Disable ICE Vehicles

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/josephchalfant/2026/01/25/woman-arrested-after-laying-traps-to-disable-ice-vehicles-n2670043

The Department of Homeland Security has announced the arrest of an anti-ICE agitator who was reportedly using caltrops to deflate federal vehicles.

The individual was apparently detained after obstructing law enforcement by employing homemade tire deflating devices. The objects were constructed using hose and large screws. Officials found a bag full of the devices in the individual’s possession during the arrest.

One individual online reported that MS Now briefly showed some of the caltrops in the roadway, but quickly cut away without mention.

Disable ICE vehicles, box them in ... ambush attack.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Here's Another Healthcare Professional Who Refuses to Care for Conservatives

It's a day ending in -y, and here's another so-called medical professional vowing to discriminate against conservative patients. This time, it's a nurse in Florida who says he won't give Republicans undergoing surgery anesthesia, and that it's not only his right but ethical for him to do so.

Libs of TikTok
@libsoftiktok
Meet Erik Martindale, a registered Florida nurse.

He says he won’t give anesthesia for Republicans undergoing surgery and believes that’s his right and is ethical.

He needs to be fired and stripped of his license immediately.
@FLNursingBoard

Actually, the Left has made it very clear that businesses cannot discriminate against customers. Bake the cake and all that. And if you want to stay in business, does advertising that you will actively harm at least half of your potential customer base help you get patients? Probably not.

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2026/01/26/doc-refuses-to-give-conservatives-anesthesia-n2670084

[SVPete]

How Hollywood Confuses Attention With Authority

https://pjmedia.com/david-manney/2026/01/26/how-hollywood-confuses-attention-with-authority-n4948755

A man routinely walks out on a balcony because the people below keep clapping. Before too long, he began to believe applause meant wisdom.

That's been Hollywood the past few decades, mistaking their noise and attention for authority.

The Celebrity Microphone Problem
Combine a microphone and a famous face, and you'll get an opinion, polished by confidence living in their bubble instead of experience.

An actor's career is spent memorizing lines written by others; in other words, other people write the words that come out of their mouths.

It's hard to pinpoint the exact beginning of this trend, but the habit hardened during the tenure of President George W. Bush, when red carpet outrage became a shortcut to relevance. That's when political complexity gave way to emotional performance, and celebrity commentary became its own genre.
...
Actress Kristen Stewart recently described life under President Donald Trump as oppressive and unrecognizable.

IMO, celebs started using their fame as some sort of moral authority back in the 1970s, e.g. Hanoi Jane's antics in North Viet Nam and her "China Syndrome" anti-nuclear power movie (BTW, the nuclear plant she was trying to prevent starting operation is now having its retirement postponed).

[Ralph Wiggum]

How Hollywood Confuses Attention With Authority

https://pjmedia.com/david-manney/2026/01/26/how-hollywood-confuses-attention-with-authority-n4948755

IMO, celebs started using their fame as some sort of moral authority back in the 1970s, e.g. Hanoi Jane's antics in North Viet Nam and her "China Syndrome" anti-nuclear power movie (BTW, the nuclear plant she was trying to prevent starting operation is now having its retirement postponed).

Politics aside, "The China Syndrome" is actually quite a good film. But I agree with the premise of the PJ Media article.

[SVPete]

Trump’s Demands

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/01/trumps-demands.php

Following President Trump’s conciliatory account of his phone call with Tim Walz, some thought the administration might be caving out of a desire to get federal agents out of harm’s way in Minnesota. Apparently not: a few hours ago, Karoline Leavitt laid down the President’s conditions for cooperating with local authorities:
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Full text:

BREAKING: Karoline Leavitt has outlined President Trump’s DEMANDS for Tim Walz and Mayor Frey in Minnesota https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2015854392881398238/video/1

If Walz DOESN’T acquiesce, ICE operations will CONTINUE AS IS.

1. Walz and Frey must turn over ALL CRIMINAL ILLEGALS currently in their custody, along with any illegals with active warrants or known criminal histories for immediate deportation

2. State and local police must agree to turn over ALL illegals arrested by police to the federal government

3. Local police MUST assist in apprehending illegals wanted for crimes — especially vioIent ones

These should NOT be controversial demands!

I do not think Trump is holding his breath, TBH.

[SVPete]

Los Angeles homeless services CEO charged with defrauding taxpayers to pay for luxury lifestyle

https://srnnews.com/los-angeles-homeless-services-ceo-charged-with-defrauding-taxpayers-to-pay-for-luxury-lifestyle/

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The CEO of a Los Angeles homeless services charity faces federal and state fraud charges after prosecutors said he lived a luxury lifestyle that included lavish vacations and designer clothes paid for with $23 million in public money meant to keep people off the streets.

Alexander Soofer, 42, was arrested Friday at his $7 million home that investigators believe he afforded using funds that were supposed to support his nonprofit Abundant Blessings, said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli.

The charitable group was contracted with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, a county agency, to use taxpayer money to find shelter and provide three meals a day for more than 600 homeless residents.

Instead, prosecutors said Soofer bought a $125,000 Range Rover, a $2,450 Hermes jacket, a vacation home in Greece and a trip to Hawaii, where he stayed at the Four Seasons hotel that was famously the setting for the HBO TV show “The White Lotus.”
...
If convicted as charged, Soofer could receive a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, Essayli said. An email was sent Monday seeking comment from Soofer’s attorney, Hilary Potashner.

The circle in Dante's Inferno for exploiting charity meant for the poor is a very deep one.

Sadly, fraudsters like this are FAR from unqiue in CA, and the fraudsters know state bureaucrats are much less than diligent in verification of funds use.

[RonE]

Actress Kristen Stewart recently described life under President Donald Trump as oppressive and unrecognizable.

Boo effin hoo! Please share some of the "oppressive and unrecognizable" burdens Trump has forced on you.

[SVPete]

Stewart was a serial bed-hopper with men until her 2009-2012 affair broke up her partner's marriage. Since then she bed-hopped with several women until settling with the woman to whom she finally "married". Her film/TV careers seems unaffected, in both Trump 1.0 and the current Trump 2.0. I guess what she finds "oppressive and unrecognizable" is some mix of immigration laws being enforced, Trump's support for Israel, and society being less accepting of self-destructive and self-indulgent sexuality.

She's one of many reasons I do not look to Hollyweird denizens for wisdom or moral examples.