Category: News
Judge rules that Alabama’s Charles Bediako, who played 3 seasons in the G League, is no longer eligible
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — An Alabama circuit judge on Monday denied Alabama basketball player Charles Bediako’s motion for a preliminary injunction, ending the 7-foot center’s college eligibility and his season with the Crimson Tide.
County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Pruet cited that Bediako “failed to demonstrate that he is entitled to the injunctive relief that he seeks,” according to court documents.
Bediako was playing under a temporary restraining order that allowed the former NBA G League player to join Alabama in the middle of the season despite questions regarding his college eligibility.
NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a statement that he was glad the court “upheld the rules of our members.”
“Common sense won a round today,” Baker said. “The court saw this for what it is: an attempt by professionals to pivot back to college and crowd out the next generation of students.
“College sports are for students, not for people who already walked away to go pro and now want to hit the ‘undo’ button at the expense of a teenager’s dream. While we’re glad the court upheld the rules our members actually want, one win doesn’t fix the national mess of state laws. It’s time for Congress to stop watching from the sidelines and help us provide some actual stability.”
The 23-year-old Bediako was averaging 10 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in five games. Alabama went 3-2 in those games.
Attorneys for both sides — Bediako and the NCAA — argued their cases Friday. Bediako sued college basketball’s sanctioning body in an effort to regain eligibility despite leaving Alabama for the NBA draft in 2023, signing a two-way NBA contract and playing the last three seasons in the developmental G League.
Bediako spent two seasons (2021-23) at Alabama, averaging 6.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks, and helped the Crimson Tide make the NCAA Tournament twice. He wasn’t selected in the 2023 draft, but he played for the Motor City Cruise in the NBA’s G League as recently as mid-January.
His lawyers argued that Bediako remains within his five-year college eligibility window. The NCAA denied Alabama’s initial petition, and NCAA President Charlie Baker and SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey had made it clear they were opposed to Bediako’s reinstatement.
Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats said Friday that, regardless of the outcome of the case, Bediako will be allowed to remain on scholarship and work toward a college degree.
Alabama (16-7, 6-4 SEC), which faces Mississippi on Tuesday, did not immediately comment on the court decision.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/09/charles-bediako-alabama-ineligible/
Daily Horoscope for February 10, 2026
General Daily Insight for February 10, 2026
Acts of service are a universal love language at present. As the emotive Moon enters Sagittarius, curiosity opens our minds to fresh ideas. Once Venus dances into Pisces at 5:18 am EST, we can let our conversations wander, with faith they’ll reveal new possibilities. We may gain the ability to forgive past wounds and offer one another emotional safety. We’re ready to listen to our loved ones genuinely, even during disagreements. Choosing our words with love and care moves complicated situations forward.
Aries
March 21 – April 19
Celebrate every step forward, no matter how small. With loving Venus entering your 12th House of Karma, privacy is even more valuable than usual. Other people don’t have to see your progress for it to be meaningful. Your dreams may surface useful clues, so consider writing them down and looking up the symbolism later. If an apology is due, offer it before being pressured — that’s the best way to release the weight of the past. You’re in charge of your peace.
Taurus
April 20 – May 20
Keep your eyes peeled for exciting invitations. Venus, planet of connection, is twirling into your sociable 11th house, enhancing group ties and reminding your independent heart to welcome supportive networks. If a friend proposes an in-person meet-up or online project, choose the setting that matches your pace, then share an idea of your own. Your reliability builds trust, so gentle follow-through can bolster a casual pitch into something that nourishes lasting community. Reach out kindly to receive the same positive energy from those around you.
Gemini
May 21 – June 20
The morning hum favors brave conversations. Relationship-oriented Venus glides into your 10th House of Status, which helps you quickly frame (or re-frame) ideas with bosses, clients, and other gatekeepers. You may get yanked into last-minute meetings, but if you’re already knowledgeable about your plan, that shouldn’t be too intimidating. You can negotiate tone as well as terms, because grace helps feedback land and keeps doors open for future options or collaborations. Polish your pitch so thoughtful allies rally around you all throughout the day.
Cancer
June 21 – July 22
Caring acts can be felt far and wide. With romantic Venus rolling into your 9th House of Education, your nurturing instincts are empowered to care for yourself whilst you investigate new areas of life. If you’re planning time away, do plenty of research beforehand! Look for experiences that teach love by inviting real conversations with people you meet. You can bridge differences with sincere curiosity that doesn’t discount differing points of view. Seek warmth so that it can nourish your wisdom.
Leo
July 23 – August 22
Your generosity may flow down unique channels at the moment. As Venus makes her way into your powerful 8th house, you have a chance to make a difference in the lives of your loved ones. Whenever a conversation about shared expenses arises, speak frankly and invite transparency. Pay attention to everyone’s words (including your own), especially if finances are tight. Your warmth can melt guarded moments without crossing boundaries. If you want your closest connections to grow beyond surface-level smiles, lead with candor.
Virgo
August 23 – September 22
Good company is worth its weight in gold at this time. Connected Venus soars into your partner zone, ensuring that cooperation feels natural and fair agreements come easier. Whether you’re reviewing a contract or planning a hang-out, clarify expectations in simple language, then set a time that honors both schedules without overthinking details. Your precise eye fixes friction early by making adjustments that prevent snags and give your bonds room to blossom. When everyone pitches in, cooperation grows into enduring comfort.
Libra
September 23 – October 22
Small tasks should be performed with love. Appealing Venus is parading into your 6th House of Habits, bringing sweetness to routines and smoothing dynamics, which suits a diplomatic style of handling events. You might brighten a tense email by opening with appreciation or encourage happiness by complimenting someone’s outfit. Every-day pleasures count as care, so add a touch of beauty to your workspace and enjoy a nourishing lunch to keep your energy steady. Nourishing your habits can make productivity feel natural again.
Scorpio
October 23 – November 21
You can access the truth indirectly — in fact, you might have to. Venus begins her journey through your theatrical 5th house today, making this an excellent time to handle sensitive topics with artistic tools. Whether you’re folding origami, sewing a quilt, or working on any other creative pursuit, you put part of yourself into your creations. You don’t have to think about the opinions of others. All that matters is your act of creation and what you get out of it.
Sagittarius
November 22 – December 21
Sagittarius, your spark lights the path ahead. With the emotional Moon in your sign, your energy is likely surging. You may feel ready to launch something exciting. On the other hand, Venus’s entry into your domestic sector could tug you closer to home. Combine these two impulses by looking into home projects, like tidying your kitchen cupboards or even repainting an entire room. Taking initiative is sometimes the only way to transform ideas into reality. Just be sure to pace yourself!
Capricorn
December 22 – January 19
The universe presently favors practical, considerate messages. You’ve got the practicality, and Venus has arrived in your chatty 3rd house to gift you with verbal warmth. That way, your ideas can land without sounding stern. You may need to talk over upcoming events or plans several times, especially if they involve your neighbors or siblings. Showing one another respect encourages cooperation in busy moments. In all interactions, keep in mind the golden rule: treat others as you wish to be treated.
Aquarius
January 20 – February 18
A calm glow settles around your priorities. Esteemed Venus is strolling into your 2nd House of Satisfaction, supporting thoughtful choices that align with your independent values and strengthen confidence through stewardship. Review recurring subscriptions or renegotiate a service politely, because a friendly tone often brings a fair offer while you protect what matters. You can refresh your space with useful touches that make it easier for you to function on a day-to-day basis. Choose mindful spending so security grows without squeezing joy away.
Pisces
February 19 – March 20
When kindness meets courage, hearts feel safe. Sweet Venus enters your thoughtful sign, empowering you with justified confidence in your powers of attraction. If you need support, ask for it — contrarily, if you don’t want well-meaning advice or gifts, say so! Be nice about it, of course, but don’t forget that you’re allowed to set boundaries. Letting your soul make authentic decisions is the best way to show up all throughout this transit. Your natural empathy can guide you through any ongoing storms.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/09/daily-horoscope-for-february-10-2026/
Iran Offers To Dilute Enriched Uranium If US Lifts All The Sanctions
Iran Offers To Dilute Enriched Uranium If US Lifts All The Sanctions
Iran has just made a significant overture amid the US pressure campaign, and as the two sides are set for a next round of indirect negotiations in the coming days. “Iran could agree to dilute its most highly enriched uranium in exchange for all financial sanctions being lifted, its atomic chief said on Monday, one of the most direct indications so far of its position at talks with Washington,” Reuters reports.
Tehran has rejected White House demands that the country’s ballistic missile arsenal also be subject of the talks, but this fresh Iranian offer to dilute its nuclear stockpile marks a significant turn, showing a willingness to entertain serious compromise on the nuclear front.
Reuters recounts, “Washington has demanded Iran relinquish its stockpile – estimated last year by the UN nuclear agency at more than 440 kg – of uranium enriched to up to 60% fissile purity, a small step away from the 90% that is considered weapons grade.”
But now the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, is strongly signaling Tehran is ready to play ball, even if it is on Washington’s terms – and after a history of the US side breaking its word (starting with the first Trump admin’s unilateral pullout from the JCPOA nuclear deal).
“The possibility of diluting 60% enriched uranium… depends on whether, in return, all sanctions are lifted or not,” Eslami made clear.
All of this stems from last month’s very bloody protests and riots inside Iran, largely the result of the stranglehold that US sanctions have on the population. The White House since then has threatened regime change and dialed up the sanctions.
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed the issue in Monday televised remarks. He urged citizens to participate in the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution this week, said they must show “resolve” against foreign powers plotting the demise of the Islamic Republic.
“The presence of the people in the march and their expression of loyalty to the Islamic Republic will cause the enemy to stop coveting Iran,” Khamenei said.
As for the ongoing negotiations base in Oman, which are at a very early and delicate stage, the geopolitical commentator Moon of Alabama has outlined some astute observations and expected outcomes as follows:
The likely outcome: Trump will have to lift some sanctions and, in exchange, will get some limited nuclear agreement with Iran. I assume that it will be softer on Iran than the JCPOA agreement which had been signed under Obama only to be trashed later by Trump.
The other demands on Iran which the Israelis had made through Trump: – no enrichment, a curb on the number and range of its ballistic missiles, an end of support for militia in the region – will not be part of the negotiations.
Those points are not of interest for Trump. He wants and needs an agreement – any agreement – that can be sold to the public has his personal success. The details will matter less to him than the fact that an agreement was made.
Israel will not like this. It wants Iran to be destroyed as a potential regional leader. Israel itself is too weak to defeat Iran. It may well try false flag strikes or terrorism to get the U.S. to finally do what it wants.
Monday’s overture by Iran reflects just the above scenario, but it’s unclear what the US reaction will be at this point.
The US continues putting a huge amount of military assets in place in the Mideast region, and in Europe with an eye on supporting CENTCOM operations.
Despite this ominous build-up, Moon of Alabama concludes: “But the U.S. is no longer the all powerful force in the Arab region that it had been 30 years ago. It is lacking the means to defend its ships and bases against attacks by ballistic missiles and drones. This while Iran has systematically build up such weapons and forces.”
This could mean the conditions for a last-ditch major deal to avert military conflict remain favorable. But Trump is also as unpredictable as ever, and there are still hardline pro-Zionist hawks speaking in his ear.
Tyler Durden
Mon, 02/09/2026 – 18:50
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/iran-offers-dilute-enriched-uranium-if-us-lifts-all-sanctions
Column: Olympic halfpipe skier Hunter Hess is easy to root for if you value freedom of speech in America
I knew less about Olympic halfpipe skier Hunter Hess on Sunday than I did about Bad Bunny.
You couldn’t help but hear about Bad Bunny after months of debate over whether he would ruin the Super Bowl by singing in Spanish. Hess was an athlete in a sport I never paid any attention to, and didn’t really plan on watching, at the Milan Cortina Winter Games.
But by Monday morning, Hess was my second-favorite Olympic skier after Billy Kidd, just as Bad Bunny was my second-favorite Super Bowl performer after Santana.
Both Hess and Bad Bunny managed to get under the thin skin of America’s snowflake-in-chief for being themselves, and that’s something we can all be thankful for.
Hess, a 27-year-old halfpipe skier from Bend, Ore., was asked at a news conference Friday what it means to him “to wear Team USA gear and the American flag.”
Instead of saying he was proud of America, Hess told the truth.
U.S. Olympians Kate Gray, Hunter Hess, Birk Irving, Alex Ferreira, Nick Goepper, Svea Irving, Riley Jacobs and Abby Winterberger attend the Team USA Welcome Experience at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 5, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
“It brings up mixed emotions to represent the US right now, I think,” he said. “It’s a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t … If it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it, (but) just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.
“So yeah, I just kind of want to do it for my friends and my family and the people that support me getting here.”
Naturally, that sent President Donald Trump scurrying to his social media account Sunday, where he took a break from posting a racist video about the Obamas to attack Hess as a “real loser.”
Trump insisted Hess “says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics. If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team, and it’s too bad he’s on it. Very hard to root for someone like this.”
Actually, it’s very easy to root for someone like Hess, who was only saying out loud what I’m sure a lot of his fellow Olympians think about the current state of the United States. Whether they’re brave enough to say it in public is another matter, and after their president called one of their teammates a “loser,” I’d guess even the ones who agree with Hess are more likely to keep their mouths shut for the duration of the Olympics.
But some courageous athletes have defended him, including the megastar, two-time gold medal-winning snowboarder Chloe Kim, whose parents emigrated to the U.S. from South Korea. Kim said she was proud to represent the U.S., but added: “I also think that we are allowed to voice our opinions of what’s going (on) that we need to lead with love and compassion.”
This shouldn’t need repeating, but you can still love your country and criticize parts of it you think are wrong. Freedom of speech still exists in America, but now it comes at a cost if you disagree with the most powerful man in the world. Not only can he make your life miserable with a single social media post, siccing his lemmings on you in an attempt to intimidate, but he also takes perverse pleasure in the personal attacks.
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show in photos
Hess, however, didn’t back down on Monday when he reacted to the “loser” comment.
“I love my country,” he wrote on Instagram, adding an American flag emoji.
“There is so much that is great about America, but there are always things that could be better,” he continued. “One of the many things that makes this country so amazing is that we have the right and the freedom to point that out. The best part of the Olympics is that it brings people together, and when so many of us are divided we need that more than ever. I cannot wait to represent Team USA next week when I compete. Thanks to everyone for their support.”
Hess isn’t the first Olympic athlete to bring politics into the games. The first Olympics I remember watching were the Summer Games in Mexico City in 1968, when U.S. sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos made a statement on the medal stand by wearing black socks without shoes and one black glove. Both raised their arms — Smith’s right and Carlos’s left — and made a “Black power” salute in protest of racial discrimination.
Smith, who won the gold medal in the 200 meters, told ABC’s Howard Cosell afterward: “I represented Black America … I’m very proud to be a Black man, and also to have won a gold medal. And this, I thought, I could represent my people by letting them know I’m proud to be a Black man.”
It was one of the first political statements in the modern Olympic Games, and still resonates some 58 years later. Hess’s statement about having “mixed feelings” on the state of America was much more benign, and might have been forgotten by the end of the Olympics if Trump hadn’t decided to call him a “loser” and suggest Americans shouldn’t root for an American athlete who voiced an opinion he didn’t like.
This came on the same day Trump posted that Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl appearance was “the worst EVER!” and that “nobody understands a word this guy is saying.” His cult-like followers concurred, as though songs in Spanish were forbidden at the big game, and many opted for the alternative Turning Point USA halftime show featuring a lip-syncing Kid Rock.
They conveniently forgot that Santana performed “Oye Cómo Va” in Spanish before Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003. America didn’t have a meltdown over it, and even if they didn’t understand the words, most actually enjoyed hearing the classic rock song played by the iconic guitarist, with Beyoncé joining in.
At the establishment where I watched Super Bowl LX, the entire place stopped talking when Bad Bunny came on, even though the place was full of people unfamiliar with his music. Everyone wanted to see what the big deal was and why Bad Bunny made MAGA so angry. When they saw it was just another typical, big Super Bowl halftime production with lots of dancing, they realized the Trump-created controversy was much ado about nothing.
Hess’s freeski halfpipe event is scheduled for Feb. 19, so all his new fans have over a week to learn what exactly a freeski halfpipe is.
But we’ll all be watching and also waiting to see who the alternative freeski halfpipe performer will be on the Turning Point USA channel.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/09/olympic-skier-hunter-hess-freedom-of-speech/
Chicago Tribune offers 30% premium to buy Daily Herald suburban newspaper
A new potential buyer has thrown its hat in the ring for the Daily Herald.
On Sunday, the Chicago Tribune took out a full-page ad in its own paper offering the employee owners of the Daily Herald a 30% premium over “anyone else” to acquire their newspaper.
The Tribune declined to comment Monday.
The publisher of the Daily Herald filed notice with the state last month that it is considering a sale of the northwest suburban newspaper.
In the Jan. 6 letter to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Paddock Publications said it was notifying the state and its employees 120 days before the potential sale, a requirement of a new law to support the dwindling number of local news outlets across Illinois.
Executives at Paddock Publications did not respond to a request for comment Monday, and the name of the prospective buyer was not disclosed in the filing.
It has been reported that Crystal Lake-based Shaw Media, a 175-year-old, family-owned company whose portfolio includes dozens of smaller newspapers across northern Illinois, has made a bid for the Daily Herald.
Shaw executives did not respond to a request for comment Monday.
Founded in 1872 as the Cook County Herald, the suburban Chicago newspaper has grown into the third-largest daily print publication in Illinois, with a current circulation of 52,410, according to its website. Owned by the Paddock family for more than a century, the newspaper was converted to an employee stock ownership plan in 2018.
In its full-page ad Sunday, the Tribune made its pitch directly to the employee owners of the Daily Herald to “encourage Paddock’s management” to consider a higher offer.
“We at the Chicago Tribune, can pay the highest price to acquire Paddock, 30% more than anyone else,” the ad read. “If you are an equity holder of Paddock through the ESOP, you will be the direct beneficiary of the highest and best sale price.”
The Tribune and the Daily Herald already have a working relationship.
In 2023, Tribune Publishing bought the Daily Herald printing plant for an undisclosed price, shifting its own operations there the following year when the Chicago newspaper vacated the Freedom Center to make way for the permanent Bally’s Chicago casino, which is now under construction and set for a delayed opening next year.
Paddock Publications fired up the presses at the $50 million printing plant on 21 acres by the Elgin-O’Hare Expressway in 2003 to churn out its flagship Daily Herald. As part of the Schaumburg plant acquisition, Tribune began printing the Daily Herald under contract.
Enacted on Jan. 1, 2025, the Strengthening Community Media Act requires a local news organization to give 120 days’ written notice to employees, the DCEO, county officials and “any in-state nonprofit organization in the business of buying local news organizations” before selling to a new company.
The legislation cites the declining number of local newspapers and reporters across the state and the need to combat misinformation and provide trusted news sources as the impetus for the required advance sale disclosure.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/09/chicago-tribune-daily-herald/
Doblete de Malen mantiene a la Roma cerca del grupo de cabeza en la Serie A
ROMA (AP) — Donyell Malen anotó en cada mitad y la Roma venció el lunes 2-0 al Cagliari para mantenerse en contacto con el grupo perseguidor en la cima de la Serie A.
El líder Inter de Milán estaba ocho puntos por delante de su rival de ciudad, el AC Milan, y nueve por delante del campeón vigente, el Napoli. La Roma estaba tres puntos más atrás junto con la Juventus.
El centrodelantero holandés había anotado solo una vez en cuatro apariciones desde que se unió en préstamo desde el Aston Villa en enero y demostró su valor el lunes con dos excelentes definiciones.
Corrió hacia un ingenioso pase filtrado de Gianluca Mancini y su sutil toque por encima del portero estuvo a la altura de la asistencia.
Su segundo gol fue más un esfuerzo de cazador, ya que se colocó en el lado correcto de una defensa abarrotada para convertir un centro a ras 20 minutos después del descanso.
El resultado sirvió como un impulso de confianza antes del crucial partido del próximo fin de semana visitando al Napoli.
Cagliari, que buscaba una cuarta victoria consecutiva en la Serie A por primera vez en más de una década, se mantuvo en el puesto 12.
Atalanta vence al Cremonese
Atalanta se acercó a dos puntos de los puestos europeos después de vencer 2-1 al Cremonese.
Atalanta estaba invicto en sus últimos siete partidos de liga y en el séptimo lugar, dos unidades detrás del Como y siete detrás de la Roma y Juventus.
Nikola Krstovic puso a Atalanta por delante después de 13 minutos cuando conectó un buen centro de Giacomo Raspadori. Davide Zappacosta hizo el 2-0 minutos después con un elegante gol individual.
Lazar Samardžić y Berat Djimsiti también estuvieron cerca en una primera mitad dominante para el Atalanta.
Krstovic desperdició la mejor oportunidad de la segunda mitad y Berat Djimsiti tuvo un gol anulado en el tiempo de descuento mientras Atalanta continuaba dominando.
El gol de consolación de último minuto de Morten Thorsby para Cremonese dio al marcador un aspecto más respetable de lo que la acción sugería.
Cremonese no había ganado en diez partidos y se encuentra en el 16to puesto, a solo cinco puntos de la zona de descenso.
___
Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Leftists Lose It As Pro-ICE Ad Plays During Super Bowl
Leftists Lose It As Pro-ICE Ad Plays During Super Bowl
Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news,
A powerful pro-ICE advertisement aired during Super Bowl 60, spotlighting the everyday heroes in Immigration and Customs Enforcement who risk their lives to protect communities from violent criminals.
The spot, which ran right after Bad Bunny’s trash halftime performance, portrayed ICE agents as friends, neighbors, fathers, veterans, and Little League coaches dedicated to making America safer. Sponsored by the conservative group American Sovereignty, it struck a nerve with leftists already seething over recent ICE operations.
The 30-second spot opens with aerial views of American neighborhoods at sunset, cutting to scenes of ICE agents as family men and community members. Narration states: “These are Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers. They are friends and neighbors, sons, fathers, their little league coaches and veterans… people who love this country. They are removing violent criminals from our streets and neighborhoods. It’s dangerous and difficult work, but ICE has one mission: to make America a safer place to live, and that’s what they’re doing. This is law enforcement. This is ICE.”
They’re people who love this country.
These are Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers. pic.twitter.com/9PyEua3ojV
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 9, 2026
The ad comes amid heightened tensions around immigration enforcement, with ICE ramping up deportations of criminal aliens under the Trump administration. The commercial aimed to humanize agents often demonized by open borders advocates, emphasizing their role in removing threats from neighborhoods.
It also comes after Trump advocated a “softer touch” to immigration enforcement.
Leftists wasted no time venting their rage on social media, particularly on X, where unhinged reactions poured in.
Fuck that ICE Super Bowl ad
— Tzar (#cornwatch) ????? (@Gore2024) February 9, 2026
ICE AD FOR THR SUPER BOWL BITCH GET THR FUCK OUTTA HERE NIGGA pic.twitter.com/jgFcZCa6Sz
— itxmi (@the_Itxmi) February 9, 2026
Aw yes, paid for by American Sovereignty, a right-wing, just made up group that somehow is non-profit but found the funds to make a pro-ICE ad in a month and pay the exorbitant post-Halftime shows Super Bowl ad fee…mmhmm…fuck ICE. https://t.co/vYWpNuFowZ pic.twitter.com/E3olA5S29A
— Erin$Giant34 (@EGiant49) February 9, 2026
Yep. Theyre so proud that they cover their faces.
— Nunya234 (@Nunyab234) February 9, 2026
Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses.
— PNWCatDaddy69 (@PNWCatDaddy69) February 9, 2026
Sometimes you love your country so much, you have to terrorize and occasionally murder its citizens
— Chris Miller (@hchrismiller) February 9, 2026
Did I just see a fucking ICE ad on my fucking Super Bowl commercials? LMAO
— Lawlbringer (@lawlbringer) February 9, 2026
These extreme responses highlight the desperation among open borders extremists, who view any support for law enforcement as a threat to their agenda.
This backlash echoes recent moves by prominent leftists to undermine ICE. Just days ago, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced training sessions for agitators on how to block ICE agents and doxx federal officials.
The Super Bowl ad is part of a larger push by American Sovereignty, which also placed provocative billboards in San Francisco praising ICE as “Defensive Player of the Year.” These efforts coincide with ICE’s intensified operations, including recent raids in Minneapolis that sparked leftist outrage after the shooting of an armed suspect.
Critics like AOC and her allies promote resistance tactics that endanger agents and obstruct justice, all while ignoring the victims of criminal aliens.
Democrats used to be all for immigration enforcement.
As ICE continues its vital work, ads like this one serve as a reminder: enforcing immigration laws isn’t optional – it’s essential to preserving American safety and sovereignty. Leftists can rage all they want, but the tide is turning against unchecked borders and spots like this push back against the madness.
Your support is crucial in helping us defeat mass censorship. Please consider donating via Locals or check out our unique merch. Follow us on X @ModernityNews.
Tyler Durden
Mon, 02/09/2026 – 18:25
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/leftists-lose-it-pro-ice-ad-plays-during-super-bowl
Mayor Brandon Johnson and budget critics trade blame over City Hall janitor layoffs
A series of layoffs targeting City Hall custodians have sparked the latest budget back-and-forth between Mayor Brandon Johnson and aldermen.
Johnson’s administration has pinned the recent firings of nine custodians on the 2026 budget aldermen passed against his will. The mayor’s City Council opponents have insisted the onus is on him.
But details of the city’s budget process show all sides had a hand in making the decisions that led to the custodians getting laid off.
The situation was first reported by NBC 5 Chicago.
Johnson’s budget recommendations published in October included a spending cut on contracts for office and building services in the Department of Fleet and Facility Management from $30.8 million last year to $18.5 million.
Spokesperson Cassio Mendoza confirmed Monday that the layoffs are tied to cut. The department is in the process of substantially reducing contracts, which may trigger vendors to reduce staffing, he said.
“It is unfortunate whenever City vendors or contractors reduce their workforce,” Mendoza said in a Monday statement. “The vendors/contractors make their own decisions on layoffs, terminations, and severance packages. The City is not involved with those determinations.”
A representative for the company that employed the custodians, Westchester-based A&R Janitorial Services, declined to comment.
The spending cut was inspired by the report Johnson solicited last year from consulting firm Ernst & Young to find efficiencies, according to Mendoza. The report includes a recommendation to find “improvement in efficiency and cost management” in the Department of Fleet and Facility Management.
The $12 million reduction in the Fleet and Facility Management budget suggests the nine custodians, represented by the Service Employees International Union Local 1, could be just the first contract employees laid off.
Johnson’s team said his budget included $80 million in cuts inspired by the report. But the aldermanic opponents who ultimately passed a budget argued the consulting firm’s recommendations should be used to cut far more.
But Ald. Gilbert Villegas, a leader in the push to pass the alternative budget, argued the report never specifically recommended a janitor layoff and said the mayor’s administration should have found more savings elsewhere.
“We’re talking about the lowest of the lowest positions,” he said. “You’re telling me that there’s no other areas that you can cut?”
Villegas, who has long championed pursuing savings by using new technology, such as automated timekeeping, said he disagrees with the idea that reducing spending must mean labor reductions and layoffs.
“There’s a lot of other places where we can find efficiencies,” he said. “There’s tons of opportunities to find savings.”
Mendoza pushed back against the potential savings from technology.
“There are no short-term savings from any technology that could yield the cost reductions necessary to reach the departmental goals set in this budget,” he said. “Implementing new technologies adds additional costs in the short term as well.”
An employee pushes a cleaning cart past the mayor’s office at City Hall in Chicago on Oct. 1, 2019. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
Asked why he and other aldermen who voted to pass the budget should not be blamed for the cut triggered by the budget, he pointed to the mayor’s initial recommendation.
The alternative budget only changed 1.4% of the mayor’s initial proposal, he said. That’s in part because the budget process is “flawed from the get-go,” he added. Only the mayor, and not aldermen, has the staff, tools and time to properly analyze the full plan, he said.
He also noted the budget needed to be passed at the end of December to avoid a government shutdown. Aldermen will try to take more control of the process next year, especially as they question Johnson’s implementation of their plans, Villegas said.
“We’re going to do more in the 2027 budget,” he promised. “This is beginning to look like it’s all political, and it’s frustrating. … Carry out the budget that passed.”
The mistrust between aldermen and the mayor cropped up in the City Council’s Finance Committee on Monday during a hearing on the city’s ongoing cashflow issues.
The renegade group of aldermen who passed the budget against Johnson’s will forced the meeting after Johnson’s administration paid only half of a roughly $260 million advance payment to help fund the city’s woefully underfunded public pensions. They also won support from 32 aldermen in a resolution demanding the full amount be paid immediately.
Underlying their effort is a belief that Johnson’s team was secretly angling to break away from the city budget they passed. Johnson had called for a smaller advance pension payment to be made during budget negotiations, but a council majority insisted upon the larger payment aimed at stabilizing the city’s pensions.
But Johnson’s team argued Monday the initial half payment was not an effort to breach the budget. His finance leaders promised the full payment will be made and pinned the delay on a late transfer of property tax revenues from the county.
“This is really about a timing issue,” Budget Director Annette Guzman said. “We have a ton of expenditures going out in the first quarter, and so we’re trying to prudently manage the cash flow as those other revenues come in throughout the year.”
According to records from the Cook County Treasurer, the city of Chicago received about 95% of its distribution — $1.68 billion of a levied $1.77 billion — by Dec. 29. That includes levies for Chicago Public Libraries and a special building improvement fund. Those disbursements would traditionally happen around August and September.
Steven Mahr, the city’s new acting chief financial officer, said he does not expect the delayed payment to be considered negatively by credit rating agencies. Though finance leaders warned the Cook County issues triggering the delay could persist, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said she did not anticipate delays related to bills due April 1.
Japón gana otra medalla en snowboard mientras la reina del big air, Anna Gasser, se despide
Por EDDIE PELLS y JOSEPH WILSON
LIVIGNO, Italia (AP) — En una noche helada en los Alpes italianos, la reina del big air, Anna Gasser, se despidió de su evento olímpico favorito.
Se fue sin una medalla, pero eso no lo hizo del todo malo. Los snowboarders que las ganaron, liderados por la nueva reina, Kokomo Murase, de Japón, sabían que tenían que agradecerle a Gasser por empujar los límites para ayudar a que el deporte luciera tan bien como lo hizo el lunes por la noche.
“Estoy feliz de pasarle la corona, la gran corona, a Kokomo”, afirmó Gasser, quien terminó octava. “Ella realmente lo merece y, sí, es increíble ver hasta dónde ha llegado el deporte en los últimos años”.
Kokomo, la medallista de plata, Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, y la tercera clasificada, Seung-eun Yu, llegaron al podio con saltos de triple cork de 1.440 grados, es decir, tres volteretas con otra rotación incluida, algo que no se había visto en el big air femenino en los últimos Juegos Olímpicos, donde Gasser ganó su segunda medalla de oro consecutiva.
“Progresión”, un término que los snowboarders han adoptado durante sus más de 30 años en el negocio, se vio así en la final femenina:
—Las tres medallistas combinaron cinco triples corks de los seis saltos que contaron para sus puntuaciones.
—La británica de 19 años Mia Brookes, quien inició la tendencia del 1.440 hace tres años, intentó un 1.620 esta vez. Solo se ha logrado una vez en una competencia, y ella lo logró esta vez, pero giró media revolución extra, lo que redujo su puntuación.
“Definitivamente puedo irme a casa diciendo que lo di todo”, expresó Brookes, quien terminó cuarta.
—Gasser, sabiendo que los saltos que usó para ganar hace cuatro años solo serían buenos para un quinto o sexto lugar en esta ocasión, comenzó su noche con un 1.440 que no aterrizó. Intentó otro, también fallido. No tuvo remordimientos.
“Sabía que hoy era un día para ir con todo con los trucos, así que no me culpo”, manifestó. “Dejé todo ahí afuera”.
Disfrutando de todo esto desde la multitud estaba Donna Carpenter, la propietaria de la compañía de snowboard, Burton. Su difunto esposo, Jake Burton Carpenter, convirtió ese snowboard en un deporte, y el nombre “Burton” estaba estampado en la parte inferior de más de la mitad de las 12 tablas utilizadas en esta competencia.
“El concurso más progresivo que he visto”, comentó Carpenter. “Fue increíble. Jake habría estado feliz con esta noche”.
Prácticamente cada gran día en un parque de nieve olímpico es un tributo a Burton Carpenter. Este se sintió un poco como un tributo a la Gasser de 34 años.
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Deportes en español AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Villarreal inflige la mayor derrota del Espanyol en La Liga esta temporada
VILLARREAL, España (AP) — Villarreal anotó dos veces en cada mitad para aplastar 4-1 al Espanyol en La Liga y propinar al club catalán su derrota más abultada de la temporada el lunes.
El resultado puso fin a una mala racha en la que Villarreal había sumado un punto en sus tres partidos anteriores. La victoria lo elevó a igualar en puntos con el tercer clasificado, el Atlético de Madrid, y siete por delante del Real Betis, aunque Villarreal tiene un partido menos que ambos.
Georges Mikautadze dio la ventaja a Villarreal diez minutos antes del descanso cuando conectó un cabezazo perfectamente amortiguado de Tajon Buchanan y remató con una espectacular tijera.
El autogol de José Salinas seis minutos después duplicó la ventaja de Villarreal. Nicolas Pepe añadió el tercero cinco minutos después de iniciada la segunda mitad cuando disparó un tiro raso desde fuera del área tras una hábil maniobra.
Alberto Moleiro hizo el 4-0 cinco minutos después al culminar un incisivo contraataque.
El cabezazo de Leandro Cabrera tras un córner de Cyril Ngonge a dos minutos del final fue la única respuesta del Espanyol.
El Espanyol no ha ganado desde antes de Navidad y lleva seis partidos sin victoria en La Liga. El resultado del lunes marcó la primera vez esta temporada que encajó cuatro goles en un partido. Se mantuvo en el sexto lugar.
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Deportes en español AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
