Category: News
Hall of Fame announcer Al Michaels will be back to call NFL games on Prime Video in 2026
LOS ANGELES — Al Michaels has been making play-by-play calls for prime-time NFL games for 40 years.
His next game will be Saturday, when the Chicago Bears play host to the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field in an NFC wild-card game on Amazon Prime Video.
It won’t be his last.
Michaels will return to call games for Prime Video’s NFL coverage next season, the streaming service confirmed Friday. The 81-year-old Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer has been the play-by-play announcer for “Thursday Night Football,” with color commentator Kirk Herbstreit, since Prime Video acquired the rights to those games starting in the 2022 season.
Amazon’s Prime Video has the Chicago Bears-Green Bay Packers playoff game. Here’s how you can watch.
After initially receiving a three-year deal from Amazon, which expired after 2024, Michaels reportedly worked this season under a one-year deal. Michaels told Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina in November that he would be happy to return in 2026 if Amazon would have him.
“It’s a two-way street here,” Michaels said. “They could tell me, ‘We got to move on, it’s time to make a transition,’ all that. I don’t know, that could happen. But as of the moment as we sit here on this mid-November afternoon, I feel really good, still love what I do and, again, work with a tremendous crew. So, yeah, I think at this moment in time, I would like to continue, yes.”
One of Michaels’ first jobs out of college was a very brief stint with the legendary Chick Hearn on Los Angeles Lakers radio broadcasts in 1967. Since then, he has gone on to announce some of the biggest moments in sports history, including his signature “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” call of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team’s upset of the Soviet Union.
Michaels was the play-by-play voice of ABC’s “Monday Night Football” from 1986 to 2005 and NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” from 2006 to 2021. He has called 11 Super Bowls, most recently on Feb. 13, 2022, when the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium.
©2026 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/09/al-michaels-prime-video-nfl-2026/
Three Takeaways From Trump’s Seizure Of A Russian-Flagged Tanker In The Atlantic
Three Takeaways From Trump’s Seizure Of A Russian-Flagged Tanker In The Atlantic
The overarching trend is that the US is militarily reasserting its historical “sphere of influence” over the Americas, and enforcing the maritime component of “Fortress America” is so important for Trump 2.0 that it’s willing to rubbish the “rules-based order” over it and even risk an accidental war with Russia.
The Russian-flagged Marinera tanker was just seized by the US in the Atlantic. It was earlier named the Bella 1 and is under US sanctions due to connections to Hezbollah. It sailed under the Guyanese flag from Iran to Venezuela and attempted to break the US’ blockade. It failed, turned around, changed its name to the Marinera, and received a temporary permit to sail under the Russian flag before being seized. Russian then demanded that its citizens on board be treated humanely and returned home.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posted that “The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT — anywhere in the world.” This preceded Attorney General Pam Bondi threatening that criminal charges might be pursued against the crew. Her tweet and Hegseth’s other one about how the US will only permit “legitimate and lawful” energy commerce with Venezuela shows that it’s once again assuming so-called “police” functions. Here are three takeaways from this incident:
1. The US Is Surprisingly Nonchalant About An Accidental War With Russia
It was brazen even by the US’ standards to seize a Russian-flagged tanker, especially after Western media reported that Russia had dispatched ships and a submarine to escort it, which Russia didn’t confirm and none were nearby during the seizure. Nevertheless, Trump 2.0 calculated that there’d be no retaliation despite the deputy chairman of Russia’s parliamentary defense committee warning that “any attack on our carriers can be regarded as an attack on our territory, even if the ship is under a foreign flag.”
This incident interestingly occurred in parallel with the US backing European ceasefire guarantees for Ukraine that include British and French commitments to deploy troops there during that time even though Russia has repeatedly warned that they’d be legitimate targets. Quite clearly, the US is now surprisingly nonchalant about an accidental war with Russia, whether over seizing one of its flagged ships at sea or over NATO allies getting killed in Ukraine. This observation won’t be lost on Russia.
2. “Fortress America” Also Includes An Important Maritime Component
The goal of restoring the US’ unipolar hegemony over the Americas, which is described as the highest regional priority in its new National Security Strategy, can be referred to as building “Fortress America”. This isn’t being pursued just for reasons of prestige but also pragmatism in the sense of enabling the US to survive and even thrive if it’s ever expelled from the Eastern Hemisphere or decides to retreat from there since control over the hemisphere’s resources and markets would all but ensure this outcome.
As can be seen by this incident as well as Hegseth’s and Bondi’s posts about it, there’s also an important maritime component related to controlling the export of oil from Venezuela, which has the world’s largest reserves. This can only be achieved by maintaining the unilateral blockade and seizing all ships that violate it, both on law enforcement pretexts that embody the concept of extraterritoriality. Without this maritime component, “Fortress America” could never truly be built, but it’s not without some costs.
3. The US Is Dismantling The “Rules-Based Order” That It Built Over The Decades
The abovementioned point segues into the last one about how the US’ militarily enforced extraterritoriality vis-à-vis Venezuela dismantles the “rules-based order” that it built over the decades for maintaining its unipolar hegemony over the world after the end of the Old Cold War. This violates the international laws that the US used to selectively police across the world according to its arbitrary standards. Instead of international ones, the US is now policing its own, but also in pursuit of hegemony.
International law has increasingly become illusory due to the UN’s innate dysfunction, which is related to the deadlock among the UNSC’s five permanent members, with one usually vetoing significant proposals from the others. Even so, if the Great Powers abided by it in their ties with one another, then there’d be more predictability and less risk of war by miscalculation. The US is no longer interested in even that as proven by this incident, however, since building “Fortress America” now takes precedence over all else.
The trend connecting the three aforementioned takeaways is that the US is militantly reasserting its historical “sphere of influence” over the Americas, and this is so important for Trump 2.0 that it’s willing to rubbish the “rules-based order” over it and even risk an accidental war with Russia. The maritime component off of Venezuela’s Caribbean coast that’s been built before all else is justified by the administration as a law enforcement operation that prioritizes domestic laws over international ones.
Since this is taking place on the other side of the world where neither half of the Sino-Russo Entente has any military bases, they can’t challenge this even through indirect means, unlike how the US challenged Russia’s reassertion of its own historical “sphere of influence” in Ukraine through the ongoing proxy war. This doesn’t mean that the US’ grand strategic goal of restoring its unipolar hegemony over the Americas will succeed, just that if it doesn’t, then it’ll be due to intra-hemispheric reasons and not external forces.
Tyler Durden
Fri, 01/09/2026 – 20:00
Gobierno de Trump no puede bloquear fondos para asistencia pública a 5 estados, por ahora, dice juez
Por GEOFF MULVIHILL
Un juez federal falló el viernes que el gobierno del presidente Donald Trump no puede bloquear, por ahora, el flujo de dinero federal destinado a subsidios para guarderías infantiles y otros programas diseñados para apoyar a niños necesitados y sus familias en cinco estados con gobiernos demócratas.
Los estados de California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota y Nueva York argumentaron que una política anunciada el martes para congelar fondos para tres programas de subvenciones está teniendo un impacto inmediato en ellos y creando un “caos operativo”. En documentos judiciales y en una audiencia el viernes, los estados sostuvieron que el gobierno federal no tenía una razón legal para retener el dinero de esos estados.
El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Estados Unidos dijo que pausaría la financiación porque tenía “razones para creer” que los estados estaban otorgando prestaciones a personas que viven en el país ilegalmente, aunque no proporcionó evidencia ni explicó por qué estaba apuntando a esos estados y no a otros.
Los programas afectados son el Fondo de Cuidado y Desarrollo Infantil, que subsidia guarderías para niños de familias de bajos ingresos; el programa de Asistencia Temporal para Familias Necesitadas, que proporciona asistencia en efectivo y capacitación laboral; y la Subvención en Bloque para Servicios Sociales, un fondo más pequeño que proporciona dinero para varios programas.
Los cinco estados dicen que reciben un total de más de 10.000 millones de dólares al año de los programas.
El fallo del juez de Distrito federal Arun Subramanian, quien fue nominado para el cargo por el expresidente Joe Biden, estará vigente hasta que se presenten más argumentos en la corte.
El gobierno había solicitado una gran cantidad de datos de los cinco estados, incluidos los nombres y números de Seguro Social de todos los que recibieron asistencia de los programas desde 2022.
Los estados argumentan que tal intento es inconstitucional y que tiene como fin perseguir a los adversarios políticos de Trump en lugar de erradicar el fraude en los programas gubernamentales, algo que los estados dicen que ya hacen.
Jessica Ranucci, abogada de la Fiscalía General de Nueva York, dijo en la audiencia del viernes, que se llevó a cabo por teléfono, que al menos cuatro de los estados ya habían tenido retrasos en el dinero después de solicitarlo. Expresó que si los estados no pueden obtener fondos para el cuidado infantil, habrá una incertidumbre inmediata para los proveedores y las familias que dependen de los programas.
Kamika Shaw, abogada del gobierno federal, manifestó que, según su entendimiento, el dinero no había dejado de fluir hacia los estados. ___
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
La resistencia y habilidad de Jalen Hurts serán puestas a prueba en el duelo de comodines de la NFC
Por DAN GELSTON
FILADELFIA (AP) — Jalen Hurts señaló a A.J. Brown — y simplemente mostró a todos los que estaban mirando, incluida una defensiva desventurada — dónde lanzaría el balón.
Efectivamente, Hurts envió un pase por la banda a Brown para una anotación fácil a principios de esta temporada en una victoria sobre Minnesota.
Fue una belleza. El tipo de jugada que en realidad frustró a los fanáticos de los Eagles esta temporada porque querían más de ellas.
Algo así como el pase conocido como la “Daga” en el Super Bowl.
La jugada en la que Hurts fingió darle el balón a Saquon Barkley, retrocedió y lanzó un pase de 46 yardas a DeVonta Smith fue el golpe final — o bien la daga — en el intento de los Chiefs por un tricampeonato y envió a los Eagles en camino al segundo título de Super Bowl en la historia de la franquicia.
Hurts tiene las virtudes atléticas, la movilidad y todos los elementos esenciales necesarios para ser un gran quarterback. A veces se le pregunta qué ha definido su capacidad para estar a la altura de la ocasión más importante — tiene un premio a Jugador Más Valioso del Super Bowl para respaldarlo.
No es su brazo, sus piernas ni ninguna acción diseñada en el libro de jugadas. Es simplemente la forma en que está programado.
“Algunas cosas están en ti”, dijo Hurts.
Los Eagles necesitan más de esos grandes partidos de Hurts en la postemporada mientras juegan por títulos consecutivos de Super Bowl. En cambio, deben cesar los períodos de inconsistencia que en gran medida definieron esta temporada.
Hurts lanzó un récord personal de 25 touchdowns — sin embargo, tuvo dos segundas mitades esta temporada en las que no logró completar un pase. Lanzó solo seis intercepciones — pero tuvo cuatro en un encuentro, que incluyó la ignominiosa hazaña de lanzar una intercepción y perder un balón suelto en la misma jugada.
Durante mucho tiempo una doble amenaza, las 421 yardas por tierra de Hurts fueron su total más bajo desde su año de novato en 2020 y las defensivas rivales parecían haber resuelto el “tush push”.
Gran parte de la culpa de su temporada errática recayó en el coordinador ofensivo de primer año Kevin Patullo.
La pregunta es, ¿podrá Hurts activar el interruptor proverbial y transformarse en una estrella de la postemporada el domingo, cuando los Eagles, campeones de la División Este de la Conferencia Nacional, reciban a San Francisco en un duelo de comodines de la NFC?
Hurts — quien ostenta récords de mariscal de campo en la postemporada en yardas por tierra durante un solo juego y touchdowns por tierra en un encuentro — cree que puede volver a estar a la altura del momento.
Tuvo tanto las estadísticas como el campeonato contra los Chiefs.
Completó 17 de 22 para 221 yardas y dos touchdowns, y corrió para 72 yardas y una anotación. Se unió al miembro del Salón de la Fama Joe Montana como los únicos mariscales de campo en lanzar para al menos 200 yardas y dos touchdowns y correr para al menos 50 yardas y una anotación en un Super Bowl.
“La experiencia es el mayor maestro”, dijo Hurts. “Hay muchos momentos en los que puedes apoyarte”.
Hurts tiene un récord de 6-3 en la postemporada con dos viajes al Super Bowl en las últimas tres temporadas. Hurts es uno de los tres quarterbacks en los playoffs de esta temporada que ha ganado un campeonato de la NFL (Aaron Rodgers y Matt Stafford son los otros).
___
Deportes en español AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Watch: Conservative Honduran Lawmaker Narrowly Survives Bomb Hurled At Her In National Congress
Watch: Conservative Honduran Lawmaker Narrowly Survives Bomb Hurled At Her In National Congress
A shocking scene played out in a Latin American country Thursday, but this time it’s not Venezuela, but nearby Honduras.
A Honduran legislator from the country’s conservative National Party of president-elect Nasry Asfura was speaking to the press within the halls of the Honduran national congress, or just outside, when suddenly an explosive device was thrown, detonating just behind her head. The disturbing incident, which she survived, was filmed given the many cameras around at the time of the attack.
Deputies had been summoned to meet, and the attack victim – Gladis Aurora López – collapsed to the floor during the explosion, her jacket left torn apart.
Witnesses immediately rushed her to begin giving her medical attention, and authorities in a later update announced that her injuries were thankfully not life-threatening.
Lawmakers had gathered to debate a proposal from LIBRE calling for an election recount, despite electoral officials having already declared a winner in December.
Quickly after, accusations and threats are flying, threatening to unleash severe infighting or instability among rival political factions.
Tomás Zambrano, head of the National Party’s congressional delegation, charged the outgoing governing leftist Liberty and Refoundation Party, known as LIBRE, with being behind the incident.
Zambrano denounced the incident as nothing less than attack on the National Party, and it comes at a sensitive moment, where a fiercely contested presidential election at the end of November led to a vote count that dragged on for weeks and ended in a disputed result.
The National Party’s candidate, Nasry Asfura, was eventually proclaimed the victor nearly a month later.
“Today I speak not as a representative, but as a Honduran,” a fellow conservative deputy, Antonio Cesar Rivera, later stated on social media. “I condemn with absolute firmness the cowardly attack against Gladis Aurora Lopez and I stand in solidarity with her.”
Honduran National Party lawmaker Gladis Aurora López Calderón was injured after far-left protesters hurled an explosive device at her outside the National Congress. pic.twitter.com/YDGuvfUUzQ
— Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) January 9, 2026
He linked the political violence to attacks on the Right, accusing LIBRE groups of attacking him, too. “Those who promote hatred and intimidation are attacking democracy,” he wrote.
It’s as yet unclear what an ongoing police investigation has uncovered, or just who the culprit was. But clearly the country’s congressional building needs to quickly beef up its security protocol.
Tyler Durden
Fri, 01/09/2026 – 19:30
Rare copy of the comic book that introduced the world to Superman sells for $15 million
A rare copy of the comic book that introduced the world to Superman and also was once stolen from the home of actor Nicolas Cage has been sold for a record $15 million.
The private deal for “Action Comics No. 1” was announced Friday. It eclipses the previous record price for a comic book, set last November when a copy of “Superman No. 1″ was at sold at auction for $9.12 million.
The Action Comics sale was negotiated by Manhattan-based Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect, which said the comic book’s owner and the buyer wished to remain anonymous.
The comic — which sold for 10 cents when it came out in 1938 — was an anthology of tales about mostly now little-known characters. But over a few panels, it told the origin story of Superman’s birth on a dying planet, his journey to Earth and his decision as an adult to “turn his titanic strength into channels that would benefit mankind.”
Its publication marked the beginning of the superhero genre. About 100 copies of Action Comics No. 1 are known to exist, according to Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect President Vincent Zurzolo.
“This is among the Holy Grail of comic books. Without Superman and his popularity, there would be no Batman or other superhero comic book legends,” Zurzolo said. “It’s importance in the comic book community shows with his deal, as it obliterates the previous record,” Zurzolo said.
The comic book was stolen from Cage’s Los Angeles home in 2000 but was recovered in 2011 when it was found by a man who had purchased the contents of an old storage locker in southern California. It eventually was returned to Cage, who had bought it in 1996 for $150,000. Six months after it was returned to him, he sold it at auction for $2.2 million.
Stephen Fishler, CEO of Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect, said the theft eventually played a big role in boosting the comic’s value.
“During that 11-year period (it was missing), it skyrocketed in value.,” Fishler said “The thief made Nicolas Cage a lot of money by stealing it.”
Fishler compared it to the theft of Mona Lisa, which was stolen from the Louvre museum in Paris in 1911.
“It was kept under the thief’s bed for two years,” Fishler noted. “The recovery of the painting made the Mona Lisa go from being just a great Da Vinci painting to a world icon — and that’s what Action No. 1 is — an icon of American pop culture.”
Vivek Ramaswamy’s family bodyguard arrested on drug trafficking charges
Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has expressed alarm that a man who worked as his family’s bodyguard is facing federal drug trafficking charges.
Justin Salsburey, 43, of Bellefontaine, and his wife, Ruthann Rankin, were each charged late last month with conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute large amounts of narcotics through the U.S. mail.
Salsburey was employed by a private security firm hired by the Ramaswamys for protective services, according to campaign spokesperson Connie Luck. She said that ARK Protection Group removed him from the family’s security detail immediately upon learning of the matter.
According to the criminal complaints, 261 parcels containing counterfeit OxyContin and other pills were delivered to the couple’s western Ohio home between August 2024 and last month. Rankin has been removed from her employment as a schoolteacher in nearby Urbana, according to a statement posted by the district.
Salsburey is being held in the Franklin County jail in Columbus, according to the facility’s website. Rankin was held and later released.
“Vivek’s family contracts with a private security firm for protective services and was alarmed to hear this disturbing news,” Luck said in a text.
She said that Salsburey had cleared multiple background checks run by the security company, the FBI and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation prior to his employment. The most recent one was conducted by Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center in September, she said.
Salsburey also passed a pre-employment drug test and never failed a random drug screening, Luck said. A message left with an attorney who represented Salsburey in the past was not immediately returned.
“Vivek and his family take matters of safety seriously and support efforts to hold these individuals accountable for these allegations if they are proven,” Luck said.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/09/vivek-ramaswamys-family-bodyguard/
Taste Buds Kitchen, a cooking class ‘experience’ business, seeks Naperville liquor license
Taste Buds Kitchen, which offers cooking class experiences for children and adults, is facing hurdles in obtaining a liquor license for its planned Naperville location.
“It’s going to be a large kitchen studio,” Jackie Burton, owner of the Naperville franchise location, told the Naperville Liquor Commission at its Thursday meeting. “The guests will come in, they’ll learn to prepare their own food, like sushi, cupcakes, pasta and more. The concept of Taste Buds Kitchen is very similar to how you would think of an art class (at) Pinot’s Palette.”
And similar to Pinot’s Palette, Burton would like participants to be able to purchase beer and wine as part of the experience.
There are two things standing in her way. The first is the city’s cap on Class M liquor licenses, which allow for the sale of beer and wine at businesses designated as recreational or lifestyle facilities, including art studios, salons, indoor sports venues and beauty shops.
In order for Burton to receive a license, the Naperville City Council would need to increase the license limit to 15. Currently there are 13 Class M licenses issued and a 14th pending.
The other is its proximity to a day care facility. Burton’s location at 620 N. River Road is less than 100 feet from the Cypruss School early childhood center that’s to open at 628 N. River Road. Only a parking lot separates the two businesses.
Under city ordinances, the sale of alcohol within 100 feet of schools is prohibited, although exceptions can be made by the Liquor Commission.
Burton called the liquor license “a very crucial piece” to the success of her proposed business.
“It’s very important,” she said. “I think (access to alcohol) is an expectation that individuals would have in being able to attend an adult event.”
All of the 19 other Taste Buds Kitchens sell or allow alcohol, including the only other Illinois location in suburban Bannockburn. Some have liquor licenses and others operate under a “bring your own bottle/beverage” (BYOB) model, which is not allowed in Naperville, she said.
“I wasn’t aware of the distance,” said Jennifer Bonner, senior assistant city attorney for Naperville, “and I’m still not sure whether it’s applicable because our code requires that you notify the day care if it’s within 100 feet when you’re seeking an exception, so there’s a process that has to be followed,”
The commission tabled the Taste Buds license request Thursday and will review the matter at a later point after consulting with the city’s Transportation, Engineering and Development department about the request.
“I’ve been a resident of Naperville for over 15 years, and my children have grown up here, so I would have loved something like this when they were younger,” Burton said when asked why she wanted to bring this business to Naperville.
In particular, she said she liked that the cooking classes allow people to share a love for food and be present with one another.
“I think sometimes that can get lost these days. And just being able to bring that back, away from the screens and having a family experience or (experience) with people, face to face, that’s really what I’m looking for … out of this,” Burton said.
cstein@chicagotribune.com
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/09/taste-buds-naperville-liquor-license/
Daily Horoscope for January 10, 2026
General Daily Insight for January 10, 2026
Opportunity costs have today balancing on a knife’s edge — are the gains of our potential actions worth their price? The Sun opposes grandiose Jupiter at 3:42 AM EST, which spurs us to measure ambition against care in a search for the middle ground. Energetic Mars also faces Jupiter, heightening today’s urgency. Gentleness can return this afternoon, once the nurturing Moon mirrors healing Chiron. We’re allowed to sacrifice our own comforts in pursuit of our goals, but we shouldn’t make that choice for other people.
Aries
March 21 – April 19
Take the reins on what matters most. With fiery Mars in your driven 10th house shoving Jupiter in your domestic zone, you’re well-equipped to handle both bold leaps and thoughtful promises. A manager may ask for extra hours while someone you love requests help at home. Aim high professionally, even as your foundational commitments remind you that steadiness and care make success feel worthwhile. Speak clearly about timelines, then commit to a realistic plan. Stay focused to avoid dividing your effort among needless minutiae.
Taurus
April 20 – May 20
New ideas are tugging you toward wider horizons. Your 9th House of Travel speaks up as the giving Sun opposes lucky Jupiter, urging you to stretch your mind without venturing onto dangerously shaky ground. You may weigh personal investments against community ones. Don’t worry too much — both options should improve your future. For the time being, focus on setting reasonable goals for growing your mind, then consider sharing them with others. You might get tons of peers interested in learning alongside you!
Gemini
May 21 – June 20
Financial discussions shouldn’t be terrifying. Even if they usually intimidate you, today you’ve got the Sun and Jupiter on your side! Their opposition emboldens your resourceful 8th house and your accountable 2nd house, weighing fairness against generosity. You could be renegotiating a loan with a lender or outlining spending limits with a partner. Any money situation can be navigated, as long as you think it through and ask the questions you need answered. Speak plainly — clarity protects the interests of everyone involved.
Cancer
June 21 – July 22
Today will likely have an easy rhythm — as long as you communicate your needs honestly. The radiant Sun in your partnership sector opposing joyous Jupiter in your fine-tuned sign highlights give-and-take, so you look for promises that feel generous and doable. In any close bond, clear expectations reduce friction and invite more warmth. Consider this a cosmic reminder to honor your needs without overshadowing another’s voice. At the end of the day, make an effort to check in with one another.
Leo
July 23 – August 22
Leo, remember that internal progress is still progress, even if no one else can see it just yet. Your productive 6th house and your resolute 12th house are both impacted by the vibrant Sun opposing wise Jupiter. This is an ideal moment to look at any life routines you’d like to update. It also encourages you to look for moments of quiet that stoke your creative fire. Tidy your desk, then focus on a single task until it is complete. Pacing yourself will be crucial.
Virgo
August 23 – September 22
Just have fun with it, Virgo! Creativity blossoms as the sparkling Sun opposes Jupiter, lining up your friendship zone and your creativity quadrant. Today’s most crucial task: express yourself! Anything works for this, from a movie night to a crafting class. Whatever your plans may be, they’ll benefit most from having your full attention. You don’t need to be “good” at your activity of choice; you just need to be mindful of how you feel along the way. Let play teach you what truly works.
Libra
September 23 – October 22
Kindness toward yourself changes every conversation. As the empathetic Moon opposes wary Chiron, your sense of self asks for care. When you follow through on that care, you can present yourself with calm, even when you’re feeling rather wobbly. Your boundaries are reasonable, and you’re allowed to stand up for them! Even as Chiron in your 7th House of Pairings calls for concessions, you can lead with fairness and ensure no one (including you!) has to sacrifice too much. Offer yourself grace.
Scorpio
October 23 – November 21
Say less, but say it with depth. The spitfire Sun opposing auspicious Jupiter revitalizes your 3rd House of Information and your 9th House of Philosophy. This is a superb reminder that the way you talk about things influences your perception of them. Think about the words you use when discussing big topics, like religion or even politics. How might your vocabulary shape your beliefs? The universe is calling you to explore those big ideas in depth. You could also enjoy discussing them with trustworthy peers.
Sagittarius
November 22 – December 21
You can be optimistic without being foolish. Your 2nd House of Finances and your 8th House of Sharing are bolstered by the opposition of Mars and Jupiter. In turn, this boosts your ability to align your purchases with your real priorities. You might skip a flashy gadget to clear a nagging bill — be proud of that! Other people could have requests that strain your budget, but you can negotiate fair terms without losing your generous spirit. A clear budget now protects freedom later.
Capricorn
December 22 – January 19
Own your path — no one can walk it like you. With the Sun and Jupiter colliding across your sign and your partner-focused 7th house, you may notice different aspects of yourself coming forward in different social bonds. You’re a different person when talking to an authority figure versus talking to your best friend, and that’s normal! That said, it may be time to adjust one of those presentations. You could update a profile or refine a title, because first impressions currently carry real weight.
Aquarius
January 20 – February 18
Listen to the universe to access cosmic inspiration. You’d be wise to sequester yourself away from the world’s noise for at least an hour or two today, since the Sun and Jupiter are activating your solitude sector and your practicality zone. If someone tries to intrude upon your peace, consider offering to support them later so you can continue recharging. Your resting periods are essential to prevent mistakes and spark better solutions for everyone involved. Protect your energy so insight can land.
Pisces
February 19 – March 20
Your circle lights up with caring exchanges. Community ties are strengthened by the sparring session between the Sun and Jupiter, since it strikes your friendly 11th house and your playful 5th house. Consider inviting a friend to a hobby event rather than just getting coffee together — unless coffee is your hobby, of course. You could also lead a volunteer effort or coordinate a simple meetup that lets new faces feel welcome. Kindness paired with practical plans helps every promise land beautifully. Share generously!
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/09/daily-horoscope-for-january-10-2026/
Prosecutor Calls Newsom ‘King Of Fraud’ For Oversight Failures
Prosecutor Calls Newsom ‘King Of Fraud’ For Oversight Failures
Authored by Dave Mason via The Center Square,
U.S. First Assistant Attorney Bill Essayli Thursday called California Gov. Gavin Newsom “the king of fraud,” accusing him of a lack of oversight on spending to address homelessness.
Essayli made the comments on the “Fox and Friends” telecast, during which he discussed the federal fraud charges that were filed in October against real estate executives Steven Taylor and Cody Holmes for allegedly misusing grant money meant for homeless housing.
Holmes, 31, of Beverly Hills was charged with mail fraud charge that was allegedly linked to millions of dollars in grant money that the state paid Shangri-La Industries to purchase, build and operate homeless housing in Thousand Oaks, just north of Los Angeles. Holmes was Shangri-La’s chief financial officer.
Taylor, 44, of Brentwood, was charged with seven counts of bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of money laundering.
Essayli Thursday said the charges are the “tip of the iceberg” in an investigation he launched with a task force in April. He said more charges would be coming, probably later this month.
The state spent $24 billion in the last five years to address homelessness and can’t account for where the money went, Essayli said on “Fox and Friends.”
President Donald Trump on Tuesday on X said, “California, under Governor Gavin Newscum, is more corrupt than Minnesota, if that’s possible??? The Fraud investigation of California has begun.”
Newsom’s press office fired back on X. It called Trump a liar and noted Newsom has “BLOCKED $125 billion in fraud, arrested criminal parasites leaching off of taxpayers, and protected taxpayers from the exact kind of scam artists Trump celebrates, excuses, and pardons.”
The Center Square reached out Thursday afternoon to the governor’s office, but did not get a response.
When The Center Square asked the White House Thursday about Newsom, the press office pointed to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s comments during a press briefing on Wednesday. Leavitt told reporters that Trump has directed all agencies to look at federal spending programs “in not just Minnesota, but also in the state of California, to identify fraud and to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law, all those who have committed it.”
The Center Square also reached out to the U.S. Department of Justice, but spokesperson Ciaran McEvoy said the DOJ had no additional comment.
But two Republican legislators in Sacramento Thursday shared their views about Newsom with The Center Square.
“When you talk about the amounts of billions of dollars the governor’s spent in homelessness, he could almost buy a home for every homeless person,” state Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Huntington Beach, told The Center Square at the Capitol after Newsom’s final State of the State address.
“There’s no question there is waste in there, and certainly, we need to look to see if there’s fraud and abuse,” Strickland said. “So I welcome the investigation, because we need to maximize every dollar that comes into the state coffers.”
Strickland stressed he wants to learn the truth.
“Those who abused the power and those who wasted dollars and abused tax dollars should be prosecuted,” he said. “Then we should root out waste, because every dollar that is wasted is a dollar that we take from a hard-working citizen who is just trying to make it.
“In California right now, we have an affordability crisis and these are precious dollars, and by Gov. Newsom’s own admission, revenues are up, so California doesn’t have a revenue problem,” Strickland said. “It has a wasteful spending problem.”
Izzy Swindler, a spokesperson for Assemblymember Tom Lackey, said the Palmdale Republican has always supported oversight on spending.
“It is his belief that we should be accountable to our dollars and be able to track the results that come from the taxpayer funded programs,” Swindler said, answering The Center Square’s questions by email. “Accountability should always be at the forefront of discussions. Especially when we are referring to homelessness programs that have been allocated billions of dollars over the past few years.”
Tyler Durden
Fri, 01/09/2026 – 19:00
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/prosecutor-calls-newsom-king-fraud-oversight-failures
