NICE WORK: DeSantis announces 10,000 illegal immigrants arrested in ‘Operation Tidal Wave’ with DHS.

DeSantis made the announcement at the “Deportation Depot” illegal immigrant detention facility – formerly Baker Correctional Institution – in Sanderson, WKMG reported.

Of those arrested, “63% had criminal arrests or convictions, including violent offenders and sex offenders,” DeSantis said. “Although you don’t have to have committed a crime to be subject to immigration enforcement. If you’ve come illegally, that is the offense.”

He also said about 1,000 people have left voluntarily, using Florida’s program to receive plane tickets back to their home countries. There have been deportation flights since July from Alligator Alcatraz, a new migrant detention center.

DeSantis said that 93 flights have left Deportation Depot in just four months, and no other state has participated more than Florida in the push to stop illegal immigration, WCJB reported.

“The federal government has stationed an immigration judge at both Baker and Alligator Alcatraz. Now, these aren’t Article III judges, they aren’t real judges. They are executive branch employees whose function it is to adjudicate immigration claims,” DeSantis said.

Nearly 3,000 people have been deported so far, Florida officials said Monday.

Got a couple more zeros, Governor?

“LEFTY MELTS DOWN” IS THE NEW “DOG BITES MAN”: Hostin Melts Down Over Maduro Takedown, Accuses Trump of ‘Almost Piracy.’

BEEGE WELBORN HAS A LOT OF COUNTING TO DO: How Snatching Maduro Screws Up Everyone Else’s Plans – Lemme Count the Ways. “China, as I noted in my earlier post, now has a real problem on its road to Taiwan conquest. With the US in control of one of its two sources of oil and the other – Iran – looking as if the China-friendly regime there is not long for this world, Xi may literally not have the gas to go to war.”

At the very least, China has to factor in our increasingly impressive cyber-warfare ability.

ICYMI: Trump’s Entire Foreign Policy in Just Six Words.

No, not the five you were thinking of.

SOMEBODY REALLY DOESN’T WANT THE BUD LIGHT TREATMENT:

BREAKING: Hilton statement to @FoxNews:

"Hilton hotels serve as welcoming places for all. This hotel is independently owned and operated, and the actions referenced are not reflective of Hilton values. We are investigating this matter with this individual hotel, and can confirm… https://t.co/e9UHjL4L1m

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) January 5, 2026

Developing…

BATTLESWARM: Venezuela Fallout Roundup For January 5, 2026.

IT ALWAYS SEEMS LIKE COMMIES GET PAID BY THE WORD: A Mouthy and Defiant Maduro Makes First Court Appearance, Enters a Plea.

BUT HE GOT HIS TOTALLY GRASSROOTS $30 AN HOUR OR WHATEVER FOR SHOWING UP, SO IT’S ALL GOOD:

Pro-Maduro protester knows nothing about Maduro. pic.twitter.com/nXGyLsJBuv

— Crazy flix (@Crazyflix94) January 5, 2026

VICTORIA TAFT: Fire Lies 2: L.A. Mayor Karen Bass’s Silence After ‘Life Threatening’ Weather Warning Says It All.

Part 1 here if you missed it.

NORTH CAROLINA: Republican registrations outnumber Democrats.

For the first time in North Carolina history, Republican voter registrations outnumber Democrats.

It’s a consolation prize at this point, with those choosing to be unaffiliated nearing the unprecedented 3 million mark and growing the last half of a year at a rate of 7 in 10 registration changes. Still, for a state once a stronghold of the liberal movement, the new order and 2,077 registration advantage is monumental.

For it was a mere 16 years ago when Democrats were in eight of 10 seats for the Council of State and commanded 30-20 and 68-52 majorities in the General Assembly. Then came the historic 2010 midterms, and both chambers being won by Republicans for the first time since Reconstruction 140 years earlier.

Today those figures are 5-5 in the executive offices, and Republicans hold advantages of 30-20 in the Senate and 71-49 in the House of Representatives.

This is no time to get complacent.

DOES HE HAVE ANY UNDERSTUDIES WILLING TO RELOCATE TO VENEZUELA? Milei to the Latin America Lefties: ‘Not Today, Comrades.’

REQUIRED READING:

The Invoice of Power

For all the crying haters of U.S. power projection. You mistake American peace for a donation.

Peace is not mailed out like aid packages. It’s underwritten. By carriers you don’t build, by logistics you don’t maintain, by men and women you didn’t raise, and…

— InfantryDort (@infantrydort) January 4, 2026

Exit quote: “I sometimes blackpill too hard. But lately, I’m starting to see America might not be in total decline, just hitting puberty. So yea, it’s about to get weird. But we aren’t going anywhere.”

IF KIPLING WERE ALIVE TODAY, HE MIGHT WRITE “THE WHITE PROGRESSIVE’S BURDEN” INSTEAD:

noooo latins how dare you want to get rid of your tormentors you must respect the same international law that didn't move a finger to help you nooooo pic.twitter.com/1X3kgPajpO

— Sol 🌞 (@summerpard) January 5, 2026

Of course, 19th century colonists built useful infrastructure and such. Today’s cultural imperialists just deliver lectures.

THAT’S JUST A NICE WAY OF SAYING HE ALREADY HAS ONE: What’s Next for Iran? Marco Rubio Needs a Plan…

BOTTOM STORY OF THE DAY: Academics (mostly negatively) chime in on Trump Venezuela endeavor.

PR PRO SCOTT PINSKER: The PR Fallout of Tim Walz’s Political Demise: The Somalia Scandal Is About to EXPLODE.

CIVIL RIGHTS UPDATE: Appeals panel says California’s ban on open carry in more populated counties is unconstitutional. “The ruling was issued Friday by two judges on a three-judge panel for the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The judges found that the state’s policy of limiting open carry to counties with a population of less than 200,000 is inconsistent with the Second Amendment.”

ALL SOCIALISM IS THEFT:

Mamdani’s Tenant Director, Cea Weaver, says NYC will transition private property to being a “collective good.”

She says, “It will mean that especially white families…are gonna have a different relationship to property than the one we currently have.”pic.twitter.com/B8MlAvWaRR

— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) January 5, 2026

Escape from New York while you still can.

More from Brianna Wu: “I spent a decade working in progressive politics. They all talk like this behind the scenes. Eventually, I came to the conclusion they were morally unfit to hold any power whatsoever.”

INDEED: Democrats’ Reaction to Maduro’s Capture Is Very Telling.

IF MADURO ENDS UP FORCED TO SETTLE FOR A PUBLIC DEFENDER, THAT WOULD BE *CHEF’S KISS*:

Venezuela: With immediate effect, Switzerland is freezing any Swiss-based assets linked to Nicolás Maduro. If any assets turn out to be of illicit origin, Switzerland will do its best to ensure that these benefit the Venezuelan population. https://t.co/VdnJczonua

— Swiss Federal Government (@SwissGov) January 5, 2026

Even if he does end up dead broke, you know some high-profile lefty defense attorney will almost certainly rise to Maduro’s occasion.

CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN: NFA $200 Tax Stamps On Most Popular NFA Items Relegated to the Ash Heap of History. “Thanks to the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, in the US House, the repeal of the $200 tax on suppressors, short-barreled rifles and shotguns and “any other weapons” officially took effect on January 1. Every single Democrat opposed this measure, along with two RINO Republicans in the House, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Tom Massie of Kentucky.”

STATE GOVERNMENT HAD TO BE IN ON IT NOT TO CATCH SOMETHING SO OBVIOUS:

This is the listed location of the auditing firm that performed the audits for both the Minnesota and Ohio on the NGOs we have linked to potential fraud.

You cannot make this stuff up. pic.twitter.com/kthb9LYoTi

— Walter Curt (@wcdispatch) January 5, 2026

MEANWHILE, OVER AT VODKAPUNDIT: Trump’s Entire Foreign Policy in Just Six Words.

YES:

Hegseth is the most effective SecWar the US has had in a very long time.

But he doesn't talk with the bland polish of a managerial class striver, which is the only thing that matters to the hollow men. https://t.co/Dw4TOB1Fld

— John Carter (@martianwyrdlord) January 5, 2026

The first indicator that Hegseth would be an effective Secretary of War was that pretty much the entire defense establishment came out against him. The second indicator was pretty much everything that followed his swearing-in.

BREAKING: Shots Fired at Vance’s Home.