OPEN THREAD: Ring out the weekend.
Author Archive: Glenn Reynolds
January 4, 2026
SAFETY FIRST: SpaceX lowering orbits of 4,400 Starlink satellites for safety’s sake. “The downward migration in 2026 involves roughly half of SpaceX’s Starlink megaconstellation, which currently consists of nearly 9,400 operational spacecraft (though that number is always growing). The fleet is highly reliable; there are just two dead Starlinks currently in orbit, according to Nicolls.”
Think about that. And think about all the coordination, and command-and-control, that this sort of evolution involves. But for SpaceX it’s pretty much a day at the office. The understated excellence of this operation is what’s most impressive.
MY LATEST SUBSTACK ESSAY: Trump, Maduro, and What’s Next: Five dimensional chess? Or is it six?
As always, if you like these essays, please take out a paid subscription. I appreciate it when you do.
BLOOD IN THE FACE: Blushing May Have Hidden Social Advantages, Experts Suggest. “This can actually help build trust, because people often see blushing as a sign of honesty or sincerity – especially as it’s involuntary. Blushing can signal a non-verbal apology for a social misstep that can help to maintain social bonds after a transgression. Different emotions can make us blush – but the mechanism is the same: increasing blood flow to the face and making us feel hot.” Can’t read my, can’t read my, can’t read my poker face.
COMPARISON TEST: M5 vs. M5: The BMW M5 takes on its homonymous rival, the Kubota M5.
IT’S ALMOST LIKE THEY’RE GARBAGE PEOPLE IN A GARBAGE INDUSTRY: When the Mainstream Media Encourages Violence Against Their Competition.
YOU CAN TELL THINGS ARE GETTING SERIOUS WHEN THE RECRUITING ADS FEATURE WHITE GUYS AGAIN, AND THIS IS WHY:
Everyone loves to hate on white guys until they need someone to black-bag a head of state and be home in time for breakfast. https://t.co/XTmOzivZ1K
— Dale Stark (@DaleStarkA10) January 3, 2026
It’s not just me noting this:
The US Army's latest ad is based around a white man, which is an ominous sign. They do not turn to diversity when they need a war to be fought. pic.twitter.com/rL9ObWk1ej
— Way of the World (@wayotworld) November 7, 2023
The US Army and US Marines are running ads featuring white males again all of a sudden.
I think this means we are definitely going to war.
— Wall Street Mav (@WallStreetMav) October 12, 2023
Related:
Pete Hegseth deserves an apology from all the bed-wetters who screamed he was unqualified. Turns out prioritizing lethality over dudes pretending to be women is actually good for the military.
— Dale Stark (@DaleStarkA10) January 4, 2026
Plus:
Hey @grok, give me a list of all the prominent democrats who said Pete Hegseth was unqualified to run the Pentagon.
— Dale Stark (@DaleStarkA10) January 4, 2026
FOLLOW THE SCIENCE: The FDA knows this popular decongestant doesn’t work—so why is it still legal?
It’s a distraction from the fact that Sudafed — which actually works — got put behind the counter, allegedly to protect us from meth. How’s that worked?
MENTALLY ILL THEATER KIDS SHOULD STAY OUT OF POLITICS:
Luigi Mangione should be allowed to execute American civilians with zero consequences but Trump removing Maduro is Le “War Crime”
The left is a joke. Nobody cares what you idiots think anymore. https://t.co/wFXwRIRkdy pic.twitter.com/xneiRPESZ8
— Drew Pavlou 🇦🇺🇺🇸🇺🇦🇹🇼 (@DrewPavlou) January 4, 2026
Related:
Not a word, and no outrage from the loony left when President Joe Biden had President 'Juan Orlando Hernandez' of Honduras arrested and extradited to the United States for drug trafficking. pic.twitter.com/OsozAABLXn
— Clinton (@614clinton) January 3, 2026
THEY NEED A NEW SCAM. WHAT WILL IT BE?
Climate is over.
Pack it up.
When Yglesias feels comfortable openly making such pronouncements you can be assured the thing is done. pic.twitter.com/AMiQtghETw
— Coddled Affluent Professional (@feelsdesperate) January 3, 2026
Whatever it is, the “solutions” will involve higher taxes, expanded government, more regulation, censorship, and worse standards of living for normal people. The solutions are always the same, only the crises change.
NOT BAD BUT NEEDS ANOTHER ZERO OR TWO, OR THREE. After 5 years, teachers falsely accused of Jan. 6 ‘insurrection’ get $120,000 in damages.
SUNLIGHT IS THE BEST DISINFECTANT: MSU Denver deletes web page saying standard English ‘privileges white communities’ after Campus Reform report.
THIS MAKES SENSE, AND EXPLAINS WHY WE HAVE SO MANY BATMAN VILLAINS IN POLITICS NOW.
CHAT GPT SOUNDS JUST LIKE THE PROFESSORS ON THE INTERNATIONAL LAW PROFESSORS EMAIL LIST:
I asked ChatGPT & Grok whether it was a crime for Trump to arrest Maduro (a common & important question today)
ChatGPT said yes:
– falsely assumed that Maduro was legitimately elected
– defaulted to referencing the UN charter and "international experts"
– has an anti-American… https://t.co/nrv98JmKmi pic.twitter.com/zQGg0tWPIP— Arthur MacWaters (@ArthurMacwaters) January 4, 2026
THE PROBLEM IS ALWAYS JUST THAT TRUMP IS DOING IT:
I was told the problem was that we were killing narcoterrorists rather than using force to detain and prosecute them.
Turns out detaining and prosecuting them wasn’t acceptable either.
— Sunny (@sunnyright) January 3, 2026
UPDATE:
most political issues nowadays can be explained by understanding that american leftists dont have positions, they have oppositions.
their entire belief system is defined by negation of whatever the right supports.
this is why portland chants “free maduro” while actual… https://t.co/EY5fLWaxG4— vittorio (@IterIntellectus) January 4, 2026
NOW INCREASE THE PRESSURE UNTIL THE MULLAHS COLLAPSE: Obama failed to support Iran’s freedom protesters two decades ago, but Trump just rectified that.
THIS IS HOW YOU KNOW THE LEFT IS WORRIED: BREAKING: Rachel Maddow Works on a Weekend.
DON SURBER: The Three Hour War in Venezuela. Well, Act I is over. There’s more to come.
HAHA:
For the first time in years, the Democrats are opposed to a Venezuelan criminal entering our country.
— Rob Jenkins (@profontheright) January 3, 2026
YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON THE LEFT COMING OUT FOR THE ENEMIES OF CIVILIZATION: The Maduro Defenders Come Out.