Category: News
WNBA and players union will not extend CBA deadline — sides will continue to negotiate ‘in good faith’
NEW YORK — The WNBA and its players union will not agree to another collective bargaining agreement extension after the current deadline passes Friday night, WNBPA vice president Breanna Stewart said.
That does not mean players will strike or the league will lock them out. Stewart told reporters Thursday at an Unrivaled practice that the players would continue to negotiate in good faith.
With the deadline just before midnight Friday night, the league wouldn’t confirm that the sides won’t reach an extension. A WNBA spokesperson did say the league would “continue to negotiate in good faith with the goal of reaching a deal as quickly as possible.”
“Our focus remains on reaching an agreement that significantly increases player compensation while ensuring the long-term growth of the business,” a league spokesperson said.
The league and players have had two extensions and have met in person several times this week. Any stalled negotiations could delay the start of the 2026 season. The last CBA was announced in the middle of January 2020, a month after it had been agreed to.
It could easily take two months from when a new CBA is reached to get to the start of free agency, which was supposed to begin later this month.
While a strike or lockout isn’t imminent, the sides could change their viewpoints.
Stewart said calling a strike is “not something that we’re going to do right this second, but we have that in our back pocket.” The league hasn’t been considering a lockout, according to a person familiar with the decision. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations.
As of Thursday, the sides remained far apart on many key issues, including salary and revenue sharing, and it seems unlikely a deal could have been reached before Friday’s deadline.
Revenue sharing a sticking point in talks
The league’s most recent offer last month would guarantee a maximum base salary of $1 million in 2026 that could reach $1.3 million through revenue sharing. That’s up from the current $249,000 and could grow to nearly $2 million over the life of the agreement, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told the AP. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations.
Under the league’s proposal, players would receive in excess of 70% of net revenue — though that would be their take of the profits after expenses are paid. Those expenses would include staff, travel, security, arenas and charter flights.
The average salary in 2026 would be more than $530,000, up from its current $120,000, and grow to more than $770,000 over the life of the agreement. The minimum salary would grow from its current $67,000 to more than $250,000 in the first year, the person told the AP.
The proposal also would financially pay young stars such as Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers, who are all on their rookie contracts, nearly double the league minimum.
Revenue sharing is one of the major sticking points in negotiations.
The union’s counterproposal would give players around 30% of the gross revenue. The players’ percentage would be from money generated before expenses for the first, year and teams would have a $10.5 million salary cap to sign players. Under the union’s proposal, the revenue sharing percentage would go up slightly each year.
Union wants expansion fees included; league saying no
The union feels that the $750 million in expansion fees that the league just received with the addition of Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia franchises by 2030 should be considered revenue and included in projections. The league says the money goes to all the current teams that were in place before expansion to make up for the future money they’ll be losing by dividing the total revenue by more franchises.
Other major sports leagues like the NBA, NHL and NFL don’t include expansion fees in their revenue-sharing structures. Major League Baseball’s salary structure is not tied to its revenue, so expansion fees don’t matter.
League wants players to pay for own housing
The league has proposed making players pay for their housing instead of having teams continue to incur the costs. With the potential new minimum salary over $250,000, the WNBA has said that like most every other pro league, players should pay for their own housing.
The union’s stance is that teams should continue to pay for players’ housing.
Why stalled negotiations could delay the season
An extended delay in getting a deal done could cause a number of problems, specifically getting the season started on time or even played for several reasons. There are several factors that indicate that time is near.
Free agency: With nearly all the veteran players free agents this offseason, this will be the biggest year in the league’s history as far as potential movement. Free agency was supposed to start later this month. However, once a new CBA is reached, it could take both parties two months to get free agency started.
Revenue-generating events could be delayed: The league can’t release a schedule to its teams to sell game tickets until the new CBA is decided. Arenas will be clamoring to fill calendar dates with events. With so many players potentially changing teams as free agents, new merchandise wouldn’t be able to be sold.
Expansion draft: With Portland and Toronto entering the league this year, an expansion draft has to be held for the new teams. Last year when Golden State came into the WNBA, a draft was held in December. Current teams need to figure out who they will protect from being drafted, and that is made more complicated due to all the free agents.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/wnba-players-union-negotiations-cba-deadline/
Doug Casey On The Death Of Privacy… And What Comes Next
Doug Casey On The Death Of Privacy… And What Comes Next
International Man: In practically every country, the allowable limit for cash withdrawals and transactions continues to be lowered.
Further, rampant currency debasement is lowering the real value of these ridiculous limits.
Why are governments so intent on phasing out cash? What is really behind this coordinated effort?
Doug Casey: Let me draw your attention to three truths that my friend Nick Giambruno has pointed out about money in bank accounts.
#1. The money isn’t really yours. You’re just another unsecured creditor if the bank goes bust.
#2. The money isn’t actually there. It’s been lent out to borrowers who are illiquid or insolvent.
#3. The money isn’t really money. It’s credit created out of thin air.
The point is that cash is freedom. And when the State limits the utility of cash—physical dollars that don’t leave an electronic trail—they are limiting your personal freedom to act and compromising your privacy. Governments are naturally opposed to personal freedom and personal privacy because those things limit their control, and governments are all about control.
International Man: Governments will probably mandate Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) as the “solution” when the next real or contrived crisis hits—which is likely not far off.
What’s your take? What are the implications for financial privacy?
Doug Casey: CBDCs are proposed as a solution, but in fact, they’re a gigantic problem.
Government is not your friend, and CBDCs are not a solution.
If they successfully implement CBDCs, it would mean that anything you buy or sell, and any income you earn, will go through CBDCs. You will have zero effective privacy. The Authorities will automatically know what you own, and they’ll be in a position to control your assets. Instantly.
They’ll be able to add CBDCs to the accounts of favored people and subtract from or block access to the accounts of those who aren’t. Digital dollars will be easy to implement since everybody already has a government ID and a Social Security account. Everybody has a smartphone. Soon everybody will have a CBDC account as well. If you lack any of these things, it will certainly ding your oncoming Social Credit Score.
I’ll go so far as to say that Central Bank Digital Currencies and digital “health passports” may be the most dangerous threats to the freedom and independence of the average human being in modern history. They will allow the State to easily control where you can go, what you can do, and what you can own. They’re both very big deals, and they’ll be daily facts of life.
In today’s world, it’s increasingly dangerous to say things that run counter to what’s considered politically correct. If you can’t say something, it’s much harder to do something. And indoctrination through education and the media are making it hard to even think. We will soon be living in a society where you can neither think, say, nor do anything that isn’t PC. Again, the problem is promoted as a solution.
It’s much like what happened during the great COVID hysteria, which was a relatively minor problem from a medical point of view. The State solution was mass lockdowns and mass vaccination. The solutions were much worse than the problem.
In any event, free speech is dying with cancel culture, trigger warnings, safe spaces, and penalties for so-called hate speech. Free speech should be an absolute—including so-called hate speech.
I’d like to reemphasize that although “hate speech” is typically impolite, unpleasant, and acrimonious, it is, perhaps paradoxically, a good thing. Why? Because it allows you to identify what’s going on in the mind of the person who utters it. And I would much rather know what somebody’s thinking and what somebody’s likely to do than have a tight lid put on so-called hate speech. I prefer knowing who I’m dealing with and what they think and feel.
International Man: It’s not just financial privacy but privacy across the board that is being buried.
Cellphones, so-called “smart” appliances, electric vehicles, social media, and other electronic devices create an all-encompassing surveillance system that most people voluntarily opt into.
What is really going on here?
Doug Casey: It’s been said that while art imitates life, life also imitates art. Especially when we look at George Orwell’s famous novel, 1984. In the book, Big Brother had ubiquitous video screens monitoring what the plebs did. We now have hundreds of millions of cameras all around the world—not counting billions more in smartphones. Universal surveillance is making for very grim times.
Recently, Klaus Schwab of the World Economic Forum said that everything will be “transparent”—a euphemism for darker things. But don’t worry: you have nothing to fear, he said, if you do nothing wrong. That’s ridiculous. It’s exactly what the Stasi, the KGB, and the Gestapo said.
I wonder if Schwab would be willing to have a camera observe him in his bathroom and bedroom, when he visits his safe deposit box and has a private conversation with friends—or fellow conspirators? Of course not. Transparency is only for the potentially dangerous plebs, who may not share the views of their betters.
One of the differences between a civilized society and a primitive, barbaric society, is privacy. In primitive societies, privacy doesn’t exist. You have paper-thin walls in your hut. Everybody sees everything you do and everybody you talk to.
One of the nice things about civilization is that you can get away from other people and keep them from observing you. Privacy is one of the central elements of civilization itself.
Eliminating privacy, whether it be personal or financial, is not only an aggression against individuals but destructive of civilization itself. Schwab’s “transparency” is a regression towards barbarism.
International Man: It seems privacy is dead for most people.
If that is the case, what comes next? Where is this trend headed?
Doug Casey: The first time that it became apparent to me on a personal level was at a police station in D.C., where I was paying a fine for some traffic violation. I got to chatting with the cop in back of the computer screen. This was a long time ago, in the late 70’s.
And as we talked, he said, in a friendly way, “Look, you don’t have any idea how much information we have on you—but it’s a lot.”
He wasn’t trying to intimidate me; he was just observing a fact. And that was a long time ago.
About 25 years ago, Larry Ellison, the head of Oracle Corporation, came out and made a shocking statement to the effect of “Privacy doesn’t exist, forget about it.” At the time, I thought it sounded like Ellison approved of it, but now I don’t think that was the case. He was just pointing out a reality.
Arnold Schwarzenegger made an ad during the COVID hysteria. He said, “To hell with your freedom,” encouraging people to stop protesting about getting their shots.
Children no longer say, “Hey, it’s a free country,” when one says or does something that another doesn’t like.
People have been programmed not to take privacy seriously. Worse, they’re now suspicious of it and passively accept the fact that it doesn’t exist.
With China’s Social Credit System, everything you do, everywhere you go, and even everything you say is recorded and reported. We’re going to get our own version. You’ll be rewarded or punished according to what the ruling elite think is good or bad.
So the question is: when, if ever, will this trend turn around? Well, I’m not sure it’s any longer a question of “when.” It’s more a question of “if”—at least within a reasonable time frame. The trend is not only still in motion but accelerating. A lack of privacy means a lack of freedom. And a lack of freedom is what characterizes a serf—although in today’s world, you’re a serf with a high standard of living.
International Man: How can the average person protect their privacy and limit their exposure to State and corporate surveillance?
Doug Casey: Limit airing your personal thoughts and actions on Facebook, LinkedIn, and similar types of social media. It’s all accessible to anybody and makes it much easier for the State to control you.
In my case, I’ve made part of my living by doing the opposite of what you should do. I understand it’s a contradiction. It’s the path that I’ve chosen. But from a personal freedom point of view, it’s not a wise path. I’m reluctant to say so, but I’d advise others not to choose it. It amounts to painting a target on your back.
At this point, if you want to maximize your personal freedom, you ought to consider living in a country where you’re not a citizen. That’s because governments consider citizens to be their subjects, their assets, their property. However, when you’re a foreign citizen living in a foreign country, the local government tends to consider you a non-threat, almost a non-person. Sad to say, in today’s world, from a personal freedom point of view, you’re better off not living in your own country. That certainly includes the US and Canada.
From a financial point of view, it’s very important that you own and hold physical gold and silver, physically in your own possession, as opposed to electronically. Paper or electronic accounts are fine for speculating. But you want to have a considerable cache of the physical metals for safety. Plus, at some point, they will revert to day-to-day money.
Lastly, put a layer of protection between you and the bad guys. Don’t be afraid to use corporations and trusts in the right jurisdictions. Create barriers to make it harder for the bad guys to find out who owns something and where that person really is.
* * *
The political and economic climate is constantly changing… and not always for the better. Obtaining the political diversification benefits of a second passport is crucial to ensuring you won’t fall victim to a desperate government. That’s why Doug Casey and his team just released a new complementary report, “The Easiest Way to a Second Passport.” It contains all the details about one of the easiest countries to obtain a second passport from. Click here to download it now.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 01/08/2026 – 19:45
https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/doug-casey-death-privacy-and-what-comes-next-0
Gov. JB Pritzker signs sweeping Illinois energy law boosting batteries and renewables that GOP opposed
Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday signed into law sweeping energy-related legislation that promotes battery storage and makes wind and solar power more effective, among other initiatives, with the goal of reducing electricity prices amid rising utility bills for consumers.
“This was one of the most comprehensive responses to the energy crisis that we’re in in the entire nation because it was important to us,” the governor said during a ceremony at Joliet Junior College, flanked by a group of Illinois lawmakers and the law’s advocates. “There’s no time to waste in the race to make electric bills more affordable.”
Dubbed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, the new measure comes as state officials have warned that Illinois may face energy shortages and higher bills as data centers and artificial intelligence needs drive a surge in demand.
But whether the new law will meaningfully reduce electric bills remains uncertain. When the law was passed in the fall, it pitted Democrats against Republicans, who noted the massive battery installations would be partly backed by a surcharge on consumers’ monthly bills.
GOP lawmakers on Thursday criticized the measure, which received no Republican votes in the legislature.
“The Governor has signed a bill that weakens consumer protections, expands regulatory authority, and locks Illinois into costly policies,” state Sen. Sue Rezin, a Republican from Morris, said in a statement. “This law will fundamentally reshape how energy decisions are made in Illinois, and the consequences will be felt for years.”
GOP state Sen. Terri Bryant of Murphysboro said Republicans have warned that previously approved green-energy mandates in Illinois have driven up costs and weakened energy reliability, and that the 1,000-plus-page legislation Pritzker signed Thursday didn’t address either issue.
“When those warnings became reality, the Governor and his party did not course correct,” Bryant said in a statement.
Gov. JB Pritzker, left, gives a thumbs-up before signing the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act at Joliet Junior College on Jan. 8, 2026, accompanied by state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, right. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
Pritzker, who is running for a third term and is considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, blamed President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress for higher electricity prices across the nation, accusing them of taking action that “abruptly and arbitrarily canceled major clean energy projects that expand the supply of energy.”
State Sen. Bill Cunningham, a Chicago Democrat and a co-sponsor of the new law, said it will allow Illinois to increase the supply of energy to the power grid and reduce its price by making it easier to develop renewable energy. The law will also lift an existing moratorium on new large-scale nuclear construction and add battery storage.
“That’s what we’re doing with this bill,” he said. “That’s all going to bring more supply onto the grid and that will help hold the line on our electrical bills.”
The law was a result of negotiations between lawmakers, organized labor, environmental interests and other groups in response to an especially high demand for electricity in the last couple of years.
That high demand is partly due to the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, which aims to promote greater use of renewable energy by 2030 and eventually phase out fossil fuels, as well as the prevalence of data centers that have taken up a significant share of the electrical supply due to the emergence of AI technology. The policy shift also stems from the state’s plan to retire 28 gigawatts of coal- and natural-gas generating capacity by 2045 to improve air quality.
The new law authorizes the Illinois Commerce Commission to sign long-term contracts and allows for funding of pilot programs for geothermal energy networks. It also increases subsidies to retrofit homes to use less energy.
The batteries that comply with the law would work with wind and solar to make the electricity they supply more consistent. They require billions of dollars in upfront investment to be financed by battery developers and secured through the utility bill surcharges.
But according to an estimate released in the fall by the Illinois Power Agency, the batteries would reduce average residential electricity bills by a few dollars per month by 2031 by lowering anticipated rate increases for future capacity on regional electricity grids.
The cost of deploying 3 gigawatts of batteries on the grid by 2031 would add 58 to 68 cents per month to the average residential bill for Ameren customers in mostly downstate Illinois and 40 to 48 cents for Commonwealth Edison customers in the Chicago region, according to the IPA analysis.
But the batteries would pay for themselves by reducing the anticipated rate increases for future space on regional transmission grids, the agency said. In total, by 2031, the batteries would reduce average Ameren residential bills by $3.90 to $8.28 per month and average ComEd residential bills by $1.46 to $1.85 per month, according to the agency.
Including all its other provisions, the IPA has said, the energy law would reduce average Ameren residential bills by $4.49 to $10.59 per month and average ComEd residential bills by $1.46 to $2.03 per month by 2031.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/pritzker-signs-new-illinois-energy-law/
Border Patrol Agents Shoot Two People In Sanctuary City Portland
Border Patrol Agents Shoot Two People In Sanctuary City Portland
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents shot two individuals in the sanctuary city of Portland on Thursday evening, according to local media. The incident comes one day after the ICE-involved shooting of an “ICE Watch” left-wing activist in Minneapolis on Wednesday. While details surrounding the Portland shooting remain scarce, the risk of overnight protests or riots is elevated, given the metro area’s established Antifa presence and left-wing activist networks.
Portland-based KATU reports:
Portland police said their officers were called to 102nd and Southeast Main Street at about 2:20 p.m., where they said they confirmed federal agents were involved in a shooting.
The condition of the two people who were shot wasn’t immediately known but Portland City Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney said as far as she knew they were still alive.
Portland police said at a 2:24 p.m., they had learned that a man who had been shot called to request help near Northeast 146th Avenue and East Burnside. Arriving officers found a man and a woman wounded from apparent gunshot wounds. Police confirmed federal agents were involved. The two people who were wounded were taken to the hospital.
“The call log also shows a 911 call from Border Patrol stated that a husband and wife who were shot almost ran the agent(s) over. ABC News is reporting that the shooting occurred near East Burnside and 141st Avenue,” citizen journalist Andy Ngo wrote on X.
Breaking: Two people have just been shot by Border Patrol during an immigration operation in Portland, Ore. Anti-ICE accounts have circulated screenshots alleging that a 911 dispatcher leaked to them information about a call for police assistance.
The call log also shows a 911… pic.twitter.com/IVukXHnGD7
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) January 8, 2026
We must note that from Minneapolis to Portland, these incidents are escalating in sanctuary metro areas that are home to Antifa cells, Antifa-aligned groups, or left-wing activist nonprofit networks, suggesting a broader pattern of escalation.
Choose your current conflict:
Minneapolis civil war
Drone strikes in Kyiv
ICE shooting in Portland
Second Iranian Revolution
Which way, Western Situation Monitor?
— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) January 9, 2026
*Developing…
Tyler Durden
Thu, 01/08/2026 – 19:26
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/border-patrol-agents-shoot-two-people-sanctuary-city-portland
Pilot Who Landed Plane After Panel Blew Out Sues Boeing, Claims Company Unfairly Blamed Him
Pilot Who Landed Plane After Panel Blew Out Sues Boeing, Claims Company Unfairly Blamed Him
An Alaska Airlines pilot who was universally praised as a hero after safely landing a Boeing jet after a door plug panel flew off shortly after takeoff is suing the company because he says the plane maker wrongly tried to blame him and the rest of the crew.
Captainn Brandon Fisher received accolades from the heads of the National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA, along with some Boeing executives, when he safely landed flight 1282 in January 2024 with 177 people on board.
According to Fisher’s lawyers, however, Boeing’s attempts to deflect liability in past lawsuits caused some passengers to sue the pilot, causing him great distress, AP reports. Four flight attendants previously sued Boeing over the incident last summer.
Fisher claims that Boeing suggested it wasn’t responsible because the plane was ‘improperly maintained or misused’ by others.
“It was clear Boeing’s words were directed at Captain Fisher in attempt to paint him as the scapegoat for Boeing’s numerous failures,” his lawyers, William Walsh and Richard Mummolo wrote in their lawsuit filed in an Oregon court.
Bolts Were Missing
An NTSB investigation of the incident revealed that four bolts securing what is known as the door plug panel were removed and never replaced during a repair on the Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft while it was being assembled. Both Boeing and Spirit Aerosystems – which has since been acquired by Boeing, were both implicated.
The bolts in question are hidden behind interior panels on the plane, so they aren’t something that could have been easily checked in a preflight inspection by the pilot or anyone else from the airline (i.e. Boeing’s assembly line was responsible). NTSB investigators concluded that the door plug was gradually moving upward over the plane’s 154 flights prior to the incident before ultimately flying off.
“Boeing’s lie infuriated Captain Fisher as well, as he was being castigated for his actions as opposed to being lauded,” wrote Fisher’s attorneys. “Because he had flown Boeing aircraft for the entirety of his employment with Alaska Airlines, Boeing’s attempts to blame him felt like a deep, personal betrayal by a company that claimed to hold pilots in the highest regard.”
The NTSB was unequivocal in its determination that this was a manufacturing issue, and the crew’s actions were exemplary.
The Blowout
The incident occurred minutes after the flight took off from Portland, Oregon – creating a significant air vacuum in the cabin. Seven passengers and a flight attendant sustained minor injuries, but Fisher was able to land the plane safely.
The blowout caused a 2×4 foot piece of fuselage covering an unused emergency exit behind the left wing to be ejected from the plane.
During the investigation, Boeing factory workers told NTSB investigators that they felt pressured to work too fast, and were asked to perform duties they weren’t properly trained for.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 01/08/2026 – 19:20
Federal immigration officers shoot and wound 2 people in Portland, Oregon, authorities say
PORTLAND, Ore. — Federal immigration officers shot and wounded two people in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday, authorities said.
The FBI’s Portland office said it was investigating an “agent involved shooting” that happened around 2:15 p.m. “involving Customs and Border Patrol Agents in which 2 individuals were wounded.”
The Portland Police Bureau said its officers responded and found a man and woman with apparent gunshot wounds. They were transported to a hospital and their conditions are unknown, the bureau said in a statement.
The Department of Homeland Security’s agencies include Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Border Patrol.
The shooting comes a day after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed a woman in Minnesota.
Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney said during a Portland city council meeting that Thursday’s shooting took place in the eastern part of the city and that two Portlanders were wounded.
“As far as we know both of these individuals are still alive and we are hoping for more positive updates throughout the afternoon,” she said.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/federal-immigration-shooting-portland-oregon/
Daily Horoscope for January 09, 2026
General Daily Insight for January 09, 2026
Bravery is a virtue we all have today! With the emotional Moon harmonizing with transformative Pluto in the early hours, we’re ready to release old weights and notice useful truths. By 6:41 AM EST, the powerful Sun conjoins passionate Mars, and our will meets action. Once we’re certain of our priorities, we can take steps to achieve them. As romantic Venus then opposes expansive Jupiter, we balance desire and growth by checking expectations, honoring limits, and making room for give and take.
Aries
March 21 – April 19
Pick a goal that truly excites you. The radiant Sun is uplifting ambitious Mars in your 10th House of Goals, sharpening your focus so you can take the lead on a visible task or conversation. Even if deadlines are pressuring you, you’ve got the capacity to propose a plan that will actually work in reality, then act on it. That said, you may need to check your tone with a manager, client, or teammate to avoid confusion. Choose decisive steps over a confusing kerfuffle!
Taurus
April 20 – May 20
Finding another point of view has a lot of advantages at present. With caring Venus in your curious 9th house opposing auspicious Jupiter across your busy 3rd house, you’re invited to stretch what you thought was possible while keeping everyday facts in sight. This aspect creates the ideal energy for learning just about anything! You could also enjoy revisiting a travel or class idea, since a small tweak to the budget or schedule can make it doable. Patient steps create solid anchors for lofty goals.
Gemini
May 21 – June 20
Honesty can clear up any recent messy misunderstandings. Shared resources are best handled by being direct with all people involved, so consider this your reminder to check numbers and expectations before promises are made. With the willful Sun embracing passionate Mars in your 8th House of Deep Bonds, cooperation will be key. If someone else demands a quick answer, you may pause, run the math, and then explain what feels fair to you. Honesty is the best way to nourish trust and ease stress.
Cancer
June 21 – July 22
Connection grows when you show gentle courage. You won’t know the answers unless you speak up and ask questions, after all. All deep connections, platonic or not, could benefit from an honest chat. This is underlined by the opposition between thoughtful Venus in your partnered 7th house and generous Jupiter in your empowered sign. Someone could push for a fast decision, but in response, you can slow down and suggest a more realistic option. Ask your questions and stay willing to answer theirs!
Leo
July 23 – August 22
Small systems can ensure a busy day flows freely. Your 6th House of Wellness lights up as vibrant Sun hugs action-oriented Mars there, boosting your ability to streamline tasks and build routines. You may clear your desk of clutter, which simultaneously clears your mind of confusion. Protect your focus and care for your body. Though another person involved may stall out, you can offer your aid or guidance without taking over. Your steady structure turns effort into real pride for everyone involved.
Virgo
August 23 – September 22
Play can function alongside real responsibilities. Your 5th House of Inspiration hosts Venus as she opposes joyous Jupiter in your communal 11th house, inviting joy while reminding you to honor team plans or community commitments. You may need to revamp your plans to function on a smaller scale due to budget or energy constraints. Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourselves! Try to craft a simple plan that fits both fun and responsibility. Working together to build happiness is the most sustainable path.
Libra
September 23 – October 22
Home and work ask for balance. Compassionate Venus faces expansive Jupiter across your 4th House of Inner Needs and 10th House of Respect, urging choices that protect your home without diminishing your reputation. Sometimes you’ll have to prioritize one or the other, but your ultimate goal should be balance between your private and public lives. Share your needs kindly, and keep committing to small, daily steps that reduce pressure at home and in a crowd. Gracious boundaries make for steady, sustainable progress.
Scorpio
October 23 – November 21
You’re allowed to be scared, but you have to keep moving. Today, the Sun and Mars unite in your loquacious 3rd house, empowering direct words that seek the truth without burning bridges. You may address a rumor or request a clearer deadline. Being polite about the topic at hand will help your conversations stay productive. If someone grows defensive, slow the pace and name the shared goal to reduce social heat. Speak with courage and kindness to complete your goals without wounding innocent bystanders.
Sagittarius
November 22 – December 21
Money choices deserve your focus. Your 2nd House of Resources activates as the life-giving Sun conjoins combative Mars, motivating you to polish your skills, then price your improved work fairly. In any current financial situation, you’ll likely need a little extra courage. Thankfully, the Sun and Mars are here to boost your spirits and ensure you get your just rewards. Avoiding impulsive or risky purchases is another good way to ensure today ends with more money in your wallet. Self-control increases your confidence (and cash)!
Capricorn
December 22 – January 19
Your presence sets the tone for everything. Don’t hesitate to claim your space, choose a clear pace, and move through the day with calm intention. As the almighty Sun merges with aggressive Mars in your steadfast sign, the universe energizes your voice and empowers you to reflect upon who you are becoming. You may set up a fresh training schedule or reveal something to family. Regardless, you can keep things cool with calm humor. Lead with heart, because integrity makes every step lighter.
Aquarius
January 20 – February 18
Silence is deeply restorative at the moment. With charming Venus in your subtle 12th house nudging lucky Jupiter in your dutiful 6th house, your time will be best spent in quiet, practical actions. Resting supports your to-do list by clearing mental clutter. Taking regular breaks energizes you to finish tasks faster and show up kinder for others. If toxic productivity goals try to incite guilt, banish them — ideally with a nice nap. Honest efforts to refuel fortify your overall presence today.
Pisces
February 19 – March 20
Friends matter, yet your joy matters too. Community invitations bring happy energy, while your heart asks for a little personal playtime to recharge your imagination. Free‑loving Venus opposes jolly Jupiter between your 11th House of Social Networks and your 5th House of Creativity, reminding you to seek equality between your shared plans and private indulgences. If a group chat expects instant replies, you can turn off notifications for an hour and return with fresh warmth. Honor both needs, because joy brightens how you give back.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/daily-horoscope-for-january-09-2026/
Trump Seeks $6 Million Legal Fee Reimbursement For Dismissed Georgia Election Case
Trump Seeks $6 Million Legal Fee Reimbursement For Dismissed Georgia Election Case
Authored by Bill Pan via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),
President Donald Trump is asking the state of Georgia to reimburse $6.26 million in attorney fees and costs he incurred defending against his now-dismissed election interference case in the state.
In a motion filed Jan. 7 in Fulton County Superior Court, Trump’s legal team cited a 2025 Georgia law under which if a prosecutor is disqualified from a case because of improper conduct and the case is subsequently dismissed, defendants in that case are entitled to request “all reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred” in their defense.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis had indicted Trump over an alleged unlawful conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, one of four criminal cases he faced while running for another term as president.
The Georgia Court of Appeals later disqualified Willis due to an “appearance of impropriety” stemming from her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, whom she had hired to lead the case. The ruling was subsequently upheld by the Georgia Supreme Court.
The case formally ended in late November 2025, when the special prosecutor who took over chose not to move forward with any charges.
Trump’s motion seeks a total reimbursement of $6,261,613.08. The filing includes more than 200 pages of documentation to show how the money was spent, most of it on legal fees.
According to the filing, over $2.31 million went to the law firm of Jennifer Little, Trump’s longest-serving attorney on the case. Drew Findling, who represented Trump in the case for about a year, was paid $1.46 million to his firm. Steve Sadow, who replaced Findling as lead counsel in the Georgia case, received $1.52 million to his firm.
“In accordance with Georgia law, President Trump has moved the Court to award reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred in his defense of the politically motivated, and now rightfully dismissed, case brought by disqualified DA Fani Willis,” Sadow said in a statement.
The request will be decided by Superior Judge Scott McAfee. If he awards the fees and costs, the money would be paid from the budget of the Fulton County district attorney’s office.
Under the new state law, the judge is required to grant such a motion if he finds that the amount requested is “reasonable.”
Trump’s co-defendants could also seek reimbursement for their own legal bills. A total of 18 people were indicted alongside Trump in August 2023, including former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
Most defendants, including Trump, pleaded not guilty. Four accepted plea deals, which remain in force.
The Fulton County district attorney’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
The Georgia case was the last remaining criminal prosecution against Trump. A pair of federal cases, one focused on his actions in the weeks leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol and another on his handling of classified documents, was dropped after he returned to the White House earlier in 2025.
The fourth case, in which Trump was accused of approving a scheme to falsify business records to conceal a hush-money payment to an adult film actress, concluded in January 2025, when a New York judge sentenced him to an “unconditional discharge.” The ruling spared him any penalty, including jail time or a fine, but did not vacate his criminal conviction.
Trump has maintained his innocence in the New York case, and his legal team is appealing to overturn the conviction.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 01/08/2026 – 18:55
Arsenal empata 0-0 con Liverpool y pierde oportunidad de sacar 8 puntos de ventaja en la Premier
Por STEVE DOUGLAS
Arsenal perdió la oportunidad de alejarse ocho puntos en la cima de la Liga Premier, tras resignarse el jueves a un empate 0-0 como local ante Liverpool.
Decepcionante en gran parte de la campaña en la que buscaba revalidar su título, Liverpool dio al menos una buena actuación bajo la lluvia en el Emirates Stadium, para poner fin a la racha de cinco victorias consecutivas del Arsenal en la liga.
La ocasión más cercana a un gol llegó cuando el lateral derecho del Liverpool, Conor Bradley, intentó un globo sobre David Raya tras un malentendido entre el portero español del Arsenal y el defensa central William Saliba, pero el balón rebotó en el travesaño.
El Arsenal realizó apenas nueve tiros en todo el partido, su cifra más baja en casa en cuatro años, y se mostró inusualmente desarticulado, lo que llevó a la frustración de los aficionados locales durante la segunda mitad.
Aun así, los Gunners tienen algunos motivos para estar contentos. El Arsenal terminó la fecha más reciente como la comenzó, con una ventaja de seis puntos sobre el Manchester City, que ocupa el segundo lugar, y el Aston Villa, que está tercero.
Con 17 partidos restantes, el Arsenal sigue siendo favorito para conseguir su primer título de liga desde 2004.
City y Villa empataron sus partidos el miércoles, contra Brighton y Crystal Palace, respectivamente.
“Tuvimos algunos momentos en los que contamos con ventaja en la posición para realmente hacerles daño y, luego, cuando llegamos a las áreas, nos faltó calidad para elegir a los jugadores”, reconoció el español Mikel Arteta, técnico del Arsenal. “Hemos venido de un calendario muy exigente… con los seis partidos que hemos jugado en este período navideño… y hemos salido de eso en una posición realmente fuerte.”
Diez partidos invicto
El Liverpool se mantuvo en el cuarto lugar y extendió su racha invicta a diez partidos. Los campeones vigentes carecieron de chispa en el ataque sin los delanteros lesionados Alexander Isak y Hugo Ekitike. Además, Mohamed Salah está con la selección de Egipto en la Copa Africana de Naciones.
Pese a todo, los Reds se han fortalecido a la defensiva y dominaron la batalla en el mediocampo en la segunda mitad.
“Nos enfrentamos a un equipo increíble, pero hoy mostramos nuevamente por qué nos convertimos en campeones la temporada pasada”, consideró el mediocampista del Liverpool, Dominik Szoboszlai. “Esto fue un paso adelante después de las últimas semanas”.
Un aspecto negativo para el Liverpool fue la salida de Bradley, propenso a las lesiones, en camilla durante el descuento de la segunda mitad con un aparente problema en la pierna tras caer de manera incómoda al despejar.
Mientras Bradley se retorcía de dolor cerca de la línea de banda, el brasileño Gabriel Martinelli dejó caer el balón encima de su rival lesionado, a quien empujó además en un intento por sacarlo del terreno de juego.
Ello provocó empujones entre los jugadores, y Martinelli fue amonestado.
___
Steve Douglas está en https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Republican candidate for governor Darren Bailey distances himself from President Trump but defends immigration crackdowns
SPRINGFIELD — Darren Bailey, the two-time Republican candidate for governor who has ardently courted President Donald Trump’s support in past bids for office, sought Thursday to distance himself from Trump in the minds of voters while staunchly defending the president’s aggressive immigration enforcement tactics one day after a federal agent fatally shot a U.S. citizen in Minnesota.
Responding to a reporter’s question on the shooting death Wednesday of 37-year-old Renee Good in Minneapolis, Bailey said at a Statehouse news conference in Springfield that “it breaks my heart when anyone loses their life.” But the GOP candidate for Illinois governor said the Trump administration’s federal intervention was due to Illinois and Minnesota sanctuary policies and because the Democratic governors of both states, JB Pritzker and Tim Walz, don’t uphold federal immigration laws.
“None of this should be happening if state government would be upholding the law. If we were doing this in Illinois, if they were doing it in Minnesota, the federal government would have no need to be there,” he said. Bailey added that he was “not familiar at all with the details” of the Minnesota shooting, videos of which ran counter to the federal Department of Homeland Security’s description of events, as has been the case in other immigration agent encounters.
“A life was lost and it shouldn’t have been lost,” Bailey said. “I feel like the federal government is upholding the law that is written in the absence of the state doing so.”
Pritzker, seeking reelection to a rare third term, said at an unrelated news conference in Joliet that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem should quit or be removed and said he had directed the Illinois State Police to work closely with the Minnesota Bureau of Investigation “to support their efforts to pursue justice.”
Gov. JB Pritzker talks with attendees after signing the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act at Joliet Junior College, Jan. 8, 2026. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
“We’ll do everything within our authority and capacity to ensure accountability is delivered,” Pritzker said, adding that the shooting incident in Minnesota mirrored many of Illinois’ experiences with federal immigration actions during Operation Midway Blitz in the fall as agents sowed fear and chaos in Chicago-area communities.
“It is harrowing. It is unimaginable to think that this can happen in our country or that when it does happen, the government immediately tries to cover it up,” Pritzker said after reviewing a video of the Minnesota shooting. “It should anger you. It angers me. It should compel you to peacefully stand up for justice. It’s time for Kristi Noem to go.”
Bailey, of downstate Louisville, is one of four candidates seeking the GOP nomination for governor in the March 17 primary, along with conservative activist Ted Dabrowski, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick and real estate developer Rick Heidner.
Bailey has actively courted Trump’s backing and has regularly visited the president’s Mar-a-Lago compound in Florida, winning his endorsement for Bailey’s unsuccessful 2022 bid for governor but failing to get it when he unsuccessfully challenged veteran Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bost of Murphysboro in the 2024 GOP primary.
Following the tragic deaths of his son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren in a Montana helicopter accident in October, Bailey cited a letter of condolence he received from Trump that urged him to “Fight! Fight! Fight! for your beloved state in honor of your beautiful family.”
But even as he supported Trump’s immigration push and has backed the president’s attempts to deploy the National Guard in Chicago for law enforcement activity, which were blocked by the courts, Bailey sought to create some space between himself and a controversial president who has alienated voters in the critical Chicago suburbs that were once the center of Republicanism in the state. Bailey’s association with Trump also was a major factor in his near 13 percentage point loss to Pritzker four years ago.
Voters, Bailey said, are “going to have to get over the federal (Trump administration) situations. Then we’re going to understand we have our own problems in Illinois. I am my own person and I’ve proven that regardless of who I like, who I support.”
“I’m running this campaign. I believe we’ve got an avenue to win. If it comes, great. If it doesn’t, fine. I’m here for Illinois,” Bailey said. “This (campaign) doesn’t revolve around Donald Trump and I want the people of Illinois to truly understand that. I want them to come and have a conversation with me. We’ve got our own unique problems and solutions and it’s time that we stop this political divisiveness.”
Still, Bailey said he supported the Trump administration’s move to freeze $1 billion in federal social service and child care funding for Illinois, among $10 billion in funds frozen that were earmarked to five Democratic states, alleging massive fraud.
“I think it’s fair for any administration to demand accountability, and, when they suspect fraud and they ask for accountability and transparency, and they’re not given that,” he said of the freeze.
But he faulted Pritzker for not going to “sit down with the president” to “work that out,” saying “that is money that Illinois needs desperately.”
“I put that full blame on JB Pritzker that we don’t have it instead of President Trump,” Bailey said. “Our out-of-touch billionaire governor has allowed his hatred of Donald Trump to consume him.”
Pritzker said in addition to reviews by the state auditor general, Illinois has a “very robust system of oversight checking in on the child care centers across the state.”
“There is no specific allegation of any fraud against the state of Illinois. There’s been no investigation that the federal government has yielded some evidence to come forward about any of it,” he said. “And note that they picked five states to cut off funding for. All of them are run by Democratic governors that he doesn’t like. And so it’s clear this is political, this isn’t about going after fraud. This is simply about politics for Donald Trump and attacks on people that he disagrees with.”
Bailey’s comments came as he unveiled what he called his campaign’s “Blueprint for Illinois,” a list of largely aspirational Republican goals such as repealing sanctuary, no-cash bail and energy efficiency laws backed by Pritzker and Democratic legislative supermajorities.
He also proposed capping local property taxes, the primary source of funding for Illinois public schools, while increasing state tax funding for education — though he did not say where the dollars would come from.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Ted Dabrowski shows his charts on spending at a news conference on Jan. 6, 2026, in Chicago. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
Like his rival, Dabrowski, Bailey also said he would create a federal-style Department of Government Efficiency to review contracts and programs to root out fraud and encourage transparency. But, like Dabrowski, he identified no sources of fraud.
Of DOGE, the Trump administration’s federal program run by Elon Musk that significantly failed to achieve much-ballyhooed estimates of $2 trillion in savings, Bailey’s running mate, Aaron Del Mar, who would run the state program, said, “You know what? People may not like the brand and they may not like the name, but I guarantee you they are going to love the results.”
But Pritzker said, “I don’t think anybody in Illinois thinks that we ought to do what Elon Musk did to the federal government in the state of Illinois.”
Tribune reporter Jeremy Gorner contributed from Joliet.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/darren-bailey-dismiss-loyalty-to-trump/
