Ezra Klein - the internet

An interesting conversation about the internet with Tim Wu and science fiction writer Cory Doctorow. They talk about how the internet has changed from when they were kids, how optimisitic they felt then about it, and how that feeling has changed.

My first computer at home was in the mid 90s, when my sister loaned me her Macintosh Color Classic. We felt so enthusiastic and hopeful about the internet back then, even about Amazon - I placed my first order there in 1999. I still like the internet, but it has become more human over the years, with all of our frailties represented.

The video

Trump’s racist post about Obamas is deleted after backlash despite White House earlier defending it

The Republicans in Congress could impeach Trump, but they will won't, no matter what terrible things he does. Republican lawmakers, I hope you rot.

25 or 6 to 4

Chicago, 1970 at Tanglewood, 25 or 6 to 4. One of my favorite Chicago songs. Peter Cetera is singing. I'm always intrigued by his teeth - his jaw was once broken in a fight and had to be wired shut for a time, thereafter making him wary of opening his mouth very wide.

Renee Good's brothers

Renee Good's brothers and a woman shot five times by CBP decry DHS' tactics



No Republicans attended the hearing.

All the best people

The recent release of Epstein documents by the DOJ has revealed the names of many more famous people. It's discouraging to see the names of people I had once respected or liked. And it reinforces some of my worst beliefs about the wealthy and powerful.

People will say, of course, that just having a name mentioned doesn't mean that person participated in wrongdoing. I would say that the company a person keeps reveals who they are - if you simply enjoy the company of a man like Epstein, there is something effing wrong with you.

Thought experiment. Imagine someone saying "Yes, I was friends with Hannibal Lecter, often visiting his home, but that doesn't mean I knew he was a cannibal or that I ever helped him murder and eat people. I just loved his witty repartee and his amazing recipe collection."

Anyway, read a who's who in this article from CNN - There are many famous names in the Epstein files

See a more complete list of Epstein's buddies at Wikipedia: Epstein files

Won't Get Fooled Again

I have this song in my head today ...



Won't Get Fooled Again by The Who, 1971.

Rafah border crossing open

60 years ago

Released in 1966, "For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield captured the restless spirit of a generation grappling with social upheaval, yet its message still resonates today.
pic.twitter.com/i2LGyTiKUI

— Music and lyrics! 🎙️🎵🎸🎼🎹🤘 (@somethingrand77) December 31, 2025

The Buffalo Springfield. Saw them once, here at the state fair when I was in high school. They were only around for a couple of years, and later morphed into Crosby, Stills & Nash. My favorite song of theirs was this one ...

In the yard

It's sunny today so I took out the camera.

Here are some privet tree berries. Pretty but poisonous ...

Here's a picture of Hansel. Her tortie colors make her kind of blend in ...

Tiny yellow flowers ...

And some periwinkles ...

And more berries, but I don't know what these are called ...

Prince Wendell naps on top of a (pretty dirty) cat condo ...

Latest video analysis

The New York Times has a new video analysis of the killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents (CBP) ...



When Alex Pretti was laying on the ground, surrounded by agents, he held his phone in one hand and his glasses in the other :( After watching this, I have no doubt that this was an unprovoked killing ... an apparent murder. It's important for us to keep abreast of the available facts, because if you think that the DOJ or Homeland Security or the FBI is going to do an impartial and complete investigation of what happened, think again.

Some hope?

I sure hope Pete is right.

But being the pessimist that I am, I worry Tim might be more right ...

Last hostage returns home

Israel launches 'large scale operation' to locate last hostage in Gaza

Israel said Sunday its military was conducting a “large-scale operation” to locate the last hostage in Gaza, as Washington and other mediators pressure Israel and Hamas to move into the next phase of their ceasefire ...

I’m keeping my hostage pin in my pocket.

We paid a terrible ransom to get the hostages out, because we had no choice.

But ransoms teach kidnappers that taking hostages pays. They will strike again. pic.twitter.com/OH67h7KJFs

— Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) January 26, 2026

Adam Schiff

My Senator on Meet the Press today ...

Video analysis

There is a new video analysis by The Washington Post of the killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents. Sadly, I'm not a subscriber so haven't seen it, but here is an earlier analysis from CNN with commentary by Andy McCabe, former deputy director of the FBI under James Comey.

Both videos show that the victim never had his gun in his hand, and that his gun was taken from him before he was then shot 10 times by the agents ...



Despite all the public evidence, the administration continues to lie about what happened.

Another protester shot dead

I've seen the videos. I'm sure more will be revealed about what happened, but this is what I've read/heard so far ...

Seems that the victim was killed while trying to help a woman that ICE agents knocked down. He had a gun, but Minnesota is a state that allows open carry and concealed carry of guns, and he did not have the gun in his hands, just a phone. He was apparently shot multiple times after his gun was taken away from him and while he was laying on the ground, surrounded by agents.

Kristi Noem said the victim arrived on the scene planning "to kill law enforcement" ... an apparent lie.

A statement made by the victim's parents ...



What we know about Alex Pretti, VA nurse killed by federal agent in Minneapolis

Videos appear to show federal officer took gun away from Alex Pretti just before fatal shooting, CNN analysis finds

And a discussion about what happened by The Bulwark's Sarah Longwell and law professor and former lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller's Special Counsel's Office Andrew Weissmann ...

Jared's plan for Gaza

At Davos ...



He says everything depends on Hamas demilitarizing, but I haven't seen any plan for who is going to make them give up their weapons and their political power. No country has agreed to force Hamas to do this - no country is willing to fight them. So ... ?

And then there's the de-radicalization of Gaza. Peace won't naturally follow rebuilding if the Gazans still hate Israelis and want to kill them all. What's the plan for this problem?

I fear Jared believes money can buy eveything and everyone. I think he's wrong.

Davos

We laugh so we won't cry.

World rule?

Given the recent news, I'm not just worried about Greenland, I'm worried about the whole world. Why? Because ... the Board of Peace.

If I understand correctly, the Board of Peace is not just about ruling Gaza. That is part of it, but there is also a part that plans to take the place of, and do away with, the United Nations. The Board will be composed of Trump friends, like Viktor Orbán and Vladimir Putin, and the one billion dollars they will each pay to be on the Board will not go to the US government or to an international agency - it will go directly to Trump himself.

Here's The Times of Israel's daily briefing from yesterday, and an article from TIME ...

Trump Sets Price Tag for Peace Board Membership

[...] Countries will have to cough up at least $1 billion in order to secure a permanent seat on the board, according to a draft charter, while other members will have three-year terms. Bloomberg first reported on the high fee, and The Times of Israel posted a copy of the draft charter text ...

It’s unclear how exactly the contribution will be used. The Washington Post reported, citing an unnamed senior European official, that European leaders are in talks over Trump’s ambitions for the board, which appear to be more expansive than just settling the Gaza conflict. The official also reportedly said that despite Europe’s commitments to the Strip, there’s little appetite to significantly fund an organization that advances a Trump-led world order, amid speculation that the Board of Peace is being devised as an alternative to the United Nations, which the U.S. under Trump has increasingly been hostile to.

Bloomberg added, citing unnamed sources, that most countries that could have joined the board have found it unacceptable that the draft appears to suggest Trump—who would be the board’s inaugural chair—would manage its funds ...

And ...



More from CNN ... Trump says Board of Peace established to oversee reconstruction of Gaza ‘might’ replace the United Nations

Pete

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

California defies Trump, makes admission free for over 200 parks on MLK Day

The letter

Trump’s Letter to Norway Should Be the Last Straw

Let me begin by quoting, in full, a letter that the president of the United States of America sent yesterday to the prime minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre. The text was forwarded by the White House National Security Council to ambassadors in Washington, and was clearly intended to be widely shared. Here it is:

Dear Jonas:

Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a “right of ownership” anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only a boat that landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT ...

Republicans, you must be so proud.

Eylon Levy

Keep Turkey out of Gaza. It’s Hamas’ state sponsor. ❌🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/XnpDmRQxLE

— Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) January 18, 2026

More on the Board of Peace

Over-board: Making sense of the various Gaza oversight committees created by Trump

Government of Palestinian technocrats will run daily affairs in Gaza, be supervised by Board of Peace along w/ two executive boards with inexplicably near-identical nameshttps://t.co/371L14DNg1

— Jacob Magid (@JacobMagid) January 17, 2026

And ...

"Gaza is our show": U.S. pushes its plan over Netanyahu's objections

And ...

Trump’s Billion-Dollar Board of Peace

Imagine you’re the president of a midsize country, and you’re offered a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. The only condition: You have to pay the secretary-general of the United Nations $1 billion.

This is something like what Donald Trump is now offering world leaders.

The U.S. president has sent letters of invitation to various heads of government to join a new Board of Peace, which he will chair. The organization was envisioned as part of the United Nations–backed effort for the reconstruction and transitional governance of Gaza. But the new board’s charter, details of which have not been previously reported, appears to give the board a global remit, according to a copy we reviewed. And the price of a permanent position on the board is very steep ...

Of course Trump would put his favorite buddies on the Board, and of course he would find a way to make a buck off the situation.

Read more about the Board of Peace at Wikipedia.