🚨 Thin Mints – January 08 2025

*Stock data as of market close, cryptocurrency data as of 5:00pm AM.

Lead: Los Angeles Inferno

credit: associated press 

The massive Palisades Fire in Southern California is burning at a rate of about “five football fields per minute” with no end in sight.

The fires are fed by the Santa Ana winds and dry conditions in Los Angeles and two more fires broke out in Los Angeles County on Wednesday.

Does Los Angeles have the support they need from their government? Well, you decide.

First, Mayor Karen Bass is on a foreign trip to Ghana and her constituents are understandably incredulous.

The fire hydrants are empty because Los Angeles refused to fill the water reservoirs. Angelenos were told just a few days ago that their water supply was good but that hasn’t helped this tragedy one little bit.

Residents are also wondering if their fire department has been a victim of DEI priorities. In 2022, the city council voted to appoint Deputy Chief Kristin Crowley, the first woman and openly gay person to lead the Los Angeles Fire Department. When she took the job, she said that her priority was “diversity” and “inclusivity,” while fighting “climate change.”

WEF is Panicking 

credit: x

The World Economic Forum says that “global collaboration” has “flatlined.” Meaning, countries are not using their cabal to collaborate.

The WEF published this statement in the wake of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation. We can’t help but wonder if they are panicked that their most powerful puppets are losing power. The Biden administration is outgoing, Trudeau is outgoing, Germany and France have had to shake up their governments in the wake of left-wing losses. How will they set their agenda without their favorites?

Børge Brende, President and CEO of the World Economic Forum, says that he is worried about “new governments” that are forming this year and their “agendas.” He says this has presented a “fragmented landscape.” Is “fragmented” a euphemism for “sovereign,” which the WEF has constantly worked against?

The WEF 2025 Davos meeting is scheduled to begin on the same day that President Trump is inaugurated, January 20. It will focus on “geopolitical shocks.” Like their chosen leaders losing elections?

Media Bias Is Real, Here’s How to Avoid It

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Trump’s Legal Manuever

President Trump is set to be sentenced for his bookkeeping case related to the payment to Stormy Daniels on Friday but he his lawyers have asked the Supreme Court to block the sentencing hearing.

“This Court should enter an immediate stay of further proceedings in the New York trial court to prevent grave injustice and harm to the institution of the Presidency and the operations of the federal government,” his lawyers argued.

His lawyers did not argue that the President’s Sixth Amendment rights were violated by this trial, which they were. His argument revolves around the office of the presidency. There is no guarantee that the court takes up this case to prevent the hearing but the judge in the case, Juan Merchan has indicated that he would not sentence the President-elect to prison time.

Meanwhile, the Special Counsel Investigation by Jack Smith has been put on hold for publication by a U.S. District Judge. The President-elect’s lawyers had argued against publication but so had the co-defendants who are still defending themselves. Publishing this before those people had a full right to a defense would be wrong, especially since they are still defending their not-guilty pleas.

Attorney General Merrick Garland opposed the ruling and says that it would like to release at least part of the report that pertains to President Trump. He has just days to do it before the President-elect takes office and he clearly wants to.

Fact Checkers Fact Checked

credit: ap

The fact checking industry is in a panic after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that he would phase out fact checking at Facebook in favor of Community Notes. Fact checking was big business during the authoritarian Biden regime and now that industry is in a panic.

This headline from the New York Times is not comedy: “Meta Says Fact-Checkers Were the Problem. Fact-Checkers Rule That False.” One fact checking executive said he doesn’t “believe” they were “doing anything, in any form, with bias.” He fact checks with his belief? LOL!

The International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) has reportedly convened an emergency meeting to figure out how to stay relevant and profitable. They said that Meta’s decision “disappointing and a backwards step that risks a chilling effect around the world.”

Now that X and Meta will no longer employ this industry, who is left? Google. They still employ the IFCN but for how long now that the industry is moving away from this model?

I wish I could pour a little out for this industry but….nope. They’ve squandered public trust by censoring true information and protected speech. They can pound sand.

News By The Numbers

credit: ap

$40 million. That is how much Amazon has reportedly agreed to pay Melania Trump for a documentary about her life. It will reportedly feature President Trump and her son Barron Trump.

13. That’s how many weeks Melania’s newest book has remained on the New York Times best seller’s list.

3 days. That is how many days a dead man’s body sat in a tanning bed at a Planet Fitness in Indiana.  He went in for a tan on a Friday but wasn’t found until the next Monday.

What’s Trending?

Girl Scout Cookies are trending because the organization announced its 2025 cookie season but two flavors will be discontinued: S’mores and Toast-Yay.

Zion Williamson is trending because he returned to the basketball court after a 27-game absence due to an injury. His team didn’t win his first game back but he put on a good show!

Sam Altman is trending. He is the founder of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. His sister filed a lawsuit against him alleging that he sexually abused her from the age of 3. He denies it.

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