Kristi Noem & Stephen Miller Caught Dancing to ‘Ice Ice Baby’

January 1, 2026

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Homeland Security adviser Stephen Miller became the unexpected stars of a viral video after they were filmed dancing and singing along to “Ice Ice Baby” during the New Year’s Eve party at Mar‑a‑Lago. The clip — reportedly captured by Miller’s wife — shows the pair enjoying a live performance by early‑90s rap artist Vanilla Ice as he performed his signature hit.

In the footage, Noem is seen smiling broadly and mouthing lyrics while standing beside Miller, who sways to the music and appears to be fully engaged in the moment. The setting was the opulent Mar‑a‑Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, where former President Donald Trump’s circle typically rings in the New Year with music, food, and high‑profile guests.

Vanilla Ice has become a recurring performer at Mar‑a‑Lago’s New Year’s Eve events in recent years, often drawing enthusiastic responses from partygoers nostalgic for his 1990s chart topper. His sets frequently pull crowds onto the dance floor, and this year’s performance was no exception.

The video of Noem and Miller, two of the Trump administration’s key figures on immigration and border enforcement, quickly circulated on social media. Reactions were mixed. Supporters praised the moment as a fun and humanizing slice of political life, celebrating the officials letting loose and enjoying themselves. Some commenters lauded Noem’s enthusiasm and Miller’s rhythm, viewing the footage as proof that political figures can be relatable.

Critics, however, seized on the optics of the moment. Some argued that the lightheartedness stood in contrast to the seriousness of national security and immigration issues both officials handle. Others mocked the duo’s dance moves or questioned the appropriateness of the scene at a high‑profile political gathering.

As viral political clips often do, the video sparked debate across the political spectrum, with commentary ranging from amusement and support to derision and suspicion. The clip underscores how moments of levity — especially involving well‑known government figures — can quickly become focal points in broader cultural conversations.

The Stirrup Effect: Why AI Will Change War More Than the Atom Bomb

January 1, 2026

How a Forgotten Medieval Innovation Explains the Legal, Moral, and Strategic Crisis of Autonomous Warfare

Phil Hotsenpiller

One of the more peculiar remarks I heard during my postgraduate studies at Oxford University came from a professor lecturing on the history of warfare. He argued that the single greatest technological advance to ever change war was not gunpowder, aircraft, or even the atomic bomb—but the stirrup.

At first, the comment sounded absurd. Surely nothing could rival the destructive power of nuclear weapons. But history has a way of humbling our assumptions.

For thousands of years after horses. . .

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Somali Daycare Fraud Minneapolis Scandal Deepens

January 1, 2026

Police in Minneapolis have raised questions about claims made by a Somali-operated daycare center that “important documents” disproving fraud allegations were stolen during a recent break-in.

The Nokomis DayCare Center said a burglar entered through the facility’s rear kitchen entrance on Tuesday, damaged a wall, and rifled through the main office. Manager Nasrulah Mohamed told reporters that documents related to child enrollment, employee records, and checkbooks were taken.

However, according to the Minneapolis Police Department, no losses were initially reported to officers. While the center reportedly followed up with additional information, an updated police report has not been made public.

Video released by the daycare showed a hole in a wall, possibly in a utility closet, but it remains unclear what exactly was taken or if the damage shown supports the account provided.

Mohamed suggested the incident may have been spurred by a viral video from citizen journalist Nick Shirley, who has been investigating alleged fraud across Minnesota daycare centers. Nokomis was not featured in Shirley’s report, but Mohamed said the center has since received hateful and threatening messages.

“This is devastating news, and we don’t know why this is targeting our Somali community as one video made by a specific individual made this all happen,” he said, calling the ordeal “frightening and exhausting.”

Meanwhile, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson recently stated that Minnesota has lost nearly half of $18 billion in federal welfare funding to fraud since 2018. He warned the state has become a hub for what he called “fraud tourism,” where individuals arrive specifically to exploit government programs.

South Korea School Closures Surge as Nation’s Birth Rate Collapses

January 1, 2026

South Korea flag (Stephanie Nakagawa/Unsplash)

South Korea has shuttered over 4,000 schools since 1980, the Education Ministry revealed this week, as the nation grapples with a catastrophic plunge in birth rates and plummeting student enrollment. The closures include nearly 3,700 elementary schools, with another 107 schools projected to close in the next five years.

School enrollment has fallen by nearly 5 million students since 1980. Experts expect another 800,000 fewer students by 2030. The Education Ministry cited the country’s record-low birth rate—now at 0.79 children per woman, the lowest in the world—as the primary reason for the closures.

Teen mental health has also worsened, with 221 teen suicides recorded in 2024, more than doubling since 2021. The government is pledging to hire mental health professionals and expand crisis services in schools as part of a national emergency response.

The collapse of the child population has also hit pediatric care. With fewer babies being born, hospitals are closing pediatric units and medical students are avoiding the specialty. In two highly publicized 2023 cases, a 17-year-old and a 5-year-old both died after being rejected by multiple hospitals lacking pediatric staff.

Although the government reported a modest 8.7% rise in childbirths from April 2024 to April 2025, experts say it will take far more than incentives to reverse the cultural hostility toward raising children. The spread of “no-kid zones” in cafes, museums, and even libraries—including the National Library of Korea—has become symbolic of the nation’s demographic crisis.

South Korea’s fertility crisis is part of a broader global trend. The UN Population Fund warned in June that many countries now face population decline due to a mix of economic strain and anti-natalist social norms.

Shamima Begum Strikes Bac, ISIS Bride’s Citizenship Case

January 1, 2026

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has reopened the case of Shamima Begum, the so-called “ISIS bride” who was stripped of her British citizenship in 2019 after joining the Islamic State. The decision has reignited national debate in the UK over citizenship and national security, with critics warning of foreign interference in British sovereignty.

Begum left London in 2015 as a teenager to join ISIS in Syria, along with two friends. She later ended up in a Syrian detention camp following the collapse of the Islamic State. During interviews in 2019, she expressed little remorse for her decision, once stating that she was unfazed by seeing a decapitated head because it belonged to an “enemy of Islam.” Her remarks sparked widespread outrage, leading to her citizenship being revoked by the UK government.

Begum and her legal team have since made several appeals in British courts to overturn the decision, all of which have been unsuccessful, including a Supreme Court ruling. Her lawyers are now appealing to the ECHR, claiming that the UK failed to consider whether Begum had been groomed or trafficked before joining ISIS.

The ECHR has now requested the UK government to explain whether its actions complied with the court’s human rights obligations. Once both sides submit written arguments, the ECHR will decide whether to hold a full hearing.

Critics of the court’s intervention argue that it undermines national sovereignty. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called the move “outrageous,” stating that a foreign court should not dictate British national security policy. He said Begum “must not be allowed back,” and reiterated his party’s position that the UK should leave the ECHR altogether.

Chris Philp, home affairs spokesman for the Conservative Party, echoed that sentiment, declaring that Begum has “no place” in the UK. He highlighted the atrocities committed by ISIS, including rape, murder, and persecution of minorities, which Begum chose to support by joining the group.

Robert Jenrick, another senior Conservative figure, suggested that if European courts are so concerned for Begum, she should be granted citizenship by a European Union member state instead. “She can go and live in Belgium, Luxembourg, or Strasbourg,” he said. “Most people in this country rightly do not want someone associated with ISIS coming here to live among us.”

The case is unfolding as debates around citizenship and immigration dominate British politics. The UK government recently faced criticism for quietly granting citizenship to a controversial Egyptian blogger imprisoned in his home country, only for calls to rise for his deportation upon arrival.

With the ECHR now stepping into the fray, the Begum case could become a flashpoint in broader tensions over British identity, international law, and the limits of foreign influence on domestic policy.

TPUSA Headquarters Renamed

January 1, 2026

turning point TPUSA — (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Turning Point USA’s headquarters has been renamed the Buckman Campus after the organization received a $10 million gift from Nelda and Karl Buckman.

The gift, the largest in TPUSA’s history, was given prior to Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

“What I loved about Charlie was he wasn’t afraid to ask,” Nelda Buckman told The Daily Wire. “I know that it’s well invested, and I know that it’s gonna be well used. I just am so excited to have that opportunity. We were able to give it in June, so he knew. It’s a joy to be able to do it, really and truly.”

“The thing about Charlie that was fascinating to me is I would get text messages, and I would think, ‘Oh, how neat, he’s got a great intern sending me a Bible verse,'” Buckman added. “Then I found out, no, that was Charlie. Sometimes I would send him a verse back or maybe something funny, but I always thought it was very interesting that Charlie was not too busy to reach out to the people he cared about.”

The headquarters will now be called the “Buckman Campus.”

Josh Thifault, Turning Point and Turning Point Action’s senior director, celebrated the dedication on social media, explaining that “Charlie loved Nelda and Karl so much. They love Jesus, they love this country, and they have spent years working to transform American culture.”

TPUSA is also working to get Vice President JD Vance elected in 2028. Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, endorsed Vance during the recent Turning Point USA conference. “We are locked in and mission-focused for both 2026 and 2028,” she told the audience, describing that the organization aims to invest “in states and not just in races. So what I mean by that is we are building the red wall — Arizona, Nevada, New Hampshire. That’s going to be very important to us.” Kirk added, “We are going to get my husband’s friend JD Vance elected for 48 in the most resounding way possible.”

Kennedy Ends Forced Vaccine Data Collection

January 1, 2026

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has dropped the requirement that health care providers report the vaccination status of patients.

In a letter to state health officials, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) wrote, “CMS is removing the following four measures related to pediatric and prenatal immunization status from the 2026 Child and Adult Core Sets,” going on to list childhood immunization status, immunizations for adolescents, and prenatal immunization statuses for those under 21 and for those over the age of 21.

“In 2026 and beyond, CMS will explore options to facilitate the development of new vaccine measures that capture information about whether parents and families were informed about vaccine choices, vaccine safety and side effects, and alternative vaccine schedules,” the letter read. “CMS plans to engage with stakeholders, including states, quality measure stewards, immunization registry managers, providers, and electronic health record vendors to learn how new measures could capture person and family preferences related to vaccines.” The agency will also assess how religious exemptions for vaccines “can be accounted for in the data and the subsequent measures.”

Kennedy discussed the new guidelines on social media, declaring, “Government bureaucracies should never coerce doctors or families into accepting vaccines or penalize physicians for respecting patient choice. That practice ends now.”

“Under the Trump administration, HHS will protect informed consent, respect religious liberty, and uphold medical freedom,” he added.

Kennedy’s leadership has also reinforced religious exemptions for childhood vaccine mandates. “By specifically mandating that a state’s plan for administering Medicaid must respect state laws regarding religious exemptions, Congress recognized the importance of Americans’ religious convictions regarding vaccines and laws protecting such,” the September letter said. [Vaccines for Children Program] providers are responsible for following state laws ‘relating to’ religious and other exemptions to vaccination laws. Express religious exemptions contained in compulsory vaccination statutes are examples of such laws; so, too, are state statutes that mirror the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).”

Lockheed Martin to Sell Equipment to Taiwan

January 1, 2026

THAAD Missile (Image from Lockheed Martin/Getty Images)

The Pentagon announced that Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract to provide Taiwan with military equipment.

According to a statement from the Pentagon, the contract “provides for the procurement and delivery of fifty-five Infrared Search and Track Legion Enhanced Sensor pods, processors, pod containers, and processor containers required to meet the urgent operational need of the Taiwan Air Force.”

The contract is expected to be completed by 2031 and is worth up to $328,500,000.

The development comes as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) launched military drills around Taiwan following the United States’ new weapons package for the country. “With vessels and aircraft approaching Taiwan Island in close proximity from different directions, troops of multiple services engage in joint assaults to test their joint operations capabilities,” said PLA Eastern Theater Command spokesperson Shi Yi. A press statement explained that the drills serve as a “stern warning” against “Taiwan Independence separatist forces and external interference, and a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity.”

Similarly, Boeing secured an $8.57 billion U.S. Air Force contract to produce new F-15 fighter jets for Israel. Twenty-five F-15IA aircraft will be developed under the contract, with production centered in St. Louis, Missouri. The jets are expected to be completed by December 31, 2035.

Meanwhile, Boeing describes the modern F-15 fleet as having a “sensor envelope that will provide efficiency and a comprehensive operational response to all missions.” The fighter jets also have “lower operating costs, longer-distance flight capability, better performance, and wider armament carrying capacity than ever before.” The aircraft will have the “most powerful computer flying” ability and a powerful radar.

States Push Back Against New CDC Guidance

January 1, 2026

child vaccine — (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Some states are choosing not to abide by recent CDC guidance pertaining to hepatitis B vaccines.

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) said in a statement that it “continues to firmly recommend that all newborns receive a hepatitis B vaccine birth dose within 24 hours of delivery, regardless of the hepatitis B infection status of the birth parent, and that all children complete the full vaccination series within 18 months.”

“I strongly support the Rhode Island Department of Health’s choice to continue recommending universal Hepatitis B vaccination for all infants,” said Dr. Michael Koster, Vice President of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “The birth dose is a simple, effective way to protect newborns from a serious infection and promote lifelong health. Ensuring vaccine access at birth helps every baby, no matter their background, have the same opportunity to start life healthy. Strengthening access keeps our communities safe, resilient, and thriving.”

Alaska issued similar guidance, with health officials recommending a vaccine within 12 hours of birth to infants. “The birth dose HepB vaccine offers protection when infants are most vulnerable, helping to prevent lifelong infection and liver cancer,” a bulletin reads.

Last month, the CDC adopted a new policy allowing for individual-based decision-making for hepatitis B vaccinations for newborns. Parents may now choose whether to give their child the vaccine if the mother tests negative for the virus. For infants not receiving the birth dose, it is suggested that they be vaccinated no earlier than two months old.

Texas Curriculum to Teach Reality of Communism

January 1, 2026

New Texas social studies curriculum will require educators to teach students about the reality of communism, Western civilization, and other areas of history.

Under the new framework, described as a “comprehensive” model, as per the Houston Chronicle, a chronological approach to history will be taught. “The model, favored by conservatives on the board, boosts the proportion of Texas history, and removes standalone world cultures courses,” the report details. “Third grade will now begin with ‘birth of Western civilizations’ and eighth grade will become a Texas history-only capstone course.”

According to the outlet, the curriculum is written by those on the 15-member State Board of Education, which consists of 10 Republicans and 5 Democrats. The new standards will be implemented in the fall of 2030, while the communism portions will be implemented during the 2026-2027 academic year.

Under a recent state law, students are to learn the “atrocities attributable to communist regimes” as well as the “oppression and suffering experienced by people living under communist regimes.”

“In adopting the essential knowledge and skills for the social studies curriculum for each grade level from grade 4 through grade 12, the State Board of Education shall, as appropriate, adopt essential knowledge and skills that develop each student’s understanding of communist regimes and ideologies and include age appropriate and developmentally appropriate instruction with information,” the law reads. Students are to learn the “history of and tactics used by communist
movements in the United States,” such as the events surrounding the Cultural Revolution and the Great Leap, the Ukrainian Famine, the Great Terror, the Cambodian genocide under Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, communism in Cuba, and Latin American guerrilla movements.