The Watches 1.29.26
ICE tensions thawing? Maybe. US Tik Tok? Maybe. Atheist rails against existence of God. He can try.
“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.” ~ 1 Corinthians 2
First Watch:
Attack at Omar Town Hall A man rushed Rep. Ilhan Omar at a Minneapolis town hall, spraying her with a foul-smelling liquid. Omar was unharmed and continued speaking. The suspect’s brother described him as a “right-wing extremist” with anger issues, while a neighbour cited pain medication.(The Independent)
Old is new Again A video of President Obama has resurfaced online, highlighting how Democrats once supported deportations of illegal immigrants. (Maze via X)
Podcaster Allie Beth Stuckey had an exhortation, particularly for Christians who she says are being manipulated emotionally into believing media narratives without questioning:
US Tech, Russian War Investigative outlet Hunterbrook claims a US tech company is a key partner in Russia’s war effort, supplying drone technology to the Kremlin.(Hunterbrook)
AI Outsourcing Hits Jobs Amazon and Pinterest are both reportedly laying off staff as more work is outsourced to AI systems.(CNBC, CNBC)
Le Ban French lawmakers have fast-tracked legislation that would ban social media use for children under 15. (WNG)
The Drone Umbrella A personal “drone umbrella” that autonomously follows its owner has been unveiled. (PopSci)
The Blue–Red Divide A biotech company has installed a direct phone line between one of America’s deepest-blue districts and reliably red rural one. (Not the Bee)
Second Watch:
Fallout continues in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of activist Alex Pretti by ICE agents. Newly surfaced messages from infiltrated group chats show a highly organized anti-ICE network, including vehicle databases, street-corner “spotters,” and real-time coordination to obstruct operations. A former Green Beret said the tactics resembled foreign insurgent groups he encountered overseas. Pretti appears to have been active in this network and was reportedly involved in an earlier altercation with agents, damaging an ICE vehicle’s taillight days before the fatal incident. As Democratic leaders and media figures continued to compare ICE to the Gestapo and likened illegal alien children hiding from authorities to Anne Frank, Republicans, including DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE leadership were criticized for commenting on the shooting before all facts were known. FBI director Kash Patel blundered that guns cannot be brought to a protest, upsetting firearms associations. President Trump reassigned Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino to California and sent Tom Homan to take over operations. Trump spoke with both Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, asking that they support his efforts to remove illegal aliens already in Minnesota jails or under active deportation orders. Conservative commentators remain divided over whether the President prudently defused tensions or rewarded sanctuary-city resistance.
Mixed Messages, Chinese Whispers Leadership for the new US-based TikTok entity has been announced, with the company claiming full control over the platform’s data and algorithm. President Trump extended the sale-or-ban deadline despite congressional objections, arguing the arrangement qualifies as a divestment from the Chinese parent company. Senator Ed Markey said lawmakers have not seen evidence the platform is “truly free of Chinese influence.” In other China news, President Trump was upset at the idea of Chinese goods flowing into the USA through Canada, warning he would impose 100% tariffs on Canadian goods if Prime Minister Mark Carney pursues a trade deal with China. But after last week’s fractious WEF meeting in Davos, Europe may also be recalibrating away from US trade. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to visit China, while the European Union just brokered a historic free trade agreement with India.
Third Watch:
🍞 Pity the poor bakers getting up in the dark on these cold mornings
🏴 The pioneer of jazz bagpipes
🔭 How to spot the International Space Station
🤫 The tactile silent wedding of a deaf bride and groom
And…
An atheist own goal? A self-desired humanist on X has set out to prove that you don’t need a Creator to have order come from disorder.
Yet despite himself, he illustrates beautifully the need for an intelligent “source” for the order that we see. Alas, he didn’t see it, but St Paul nailed it when he asked, “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?”
Let us pray. Almighty God, You show mercy to Your people in all their troubles. Grant us always to recognize Your goodness, give thanks for Your compassion and praise Your holy name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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