Police sources estimated 500,000 participants gathered and marched to the Galata Bridge while waving Palestinian and Turkish flags under the slogan “We won’t remain silent, we won’t forget Palestine.” The event, organized by over 400 civil society groups and featuring a speech from Bilal Erdogan (son of the Turkish president), included prayers, cultural performances, and a rendition of “Free Palestine” by singer Maher Zain, with organizers highlighting ongoing solidarity amid the humanitarian crisis. Serves as an important reminder that the broad swath of the population is frustrated by and stands against the genocide taking place in Gaza.

India officially took over the rotating BRICS chairmanship this year in an expanded bloc now representing nearly 49% of global population and focusing on reforms to institutions like the WTO, IMF, and UN Security Council. Priorities include amplifying the Global South's voice on issues such as debt restructuring, climate finance, and supply chain stability, while advocating clear membership criteria and local currency settlements amid U.S. tariff threats, including 50% duties on Indian goods. BRICS is perhaps the most important global institution of the last hundred years and it is good to see emerging powers like India have an opportunity to stand at the front of the pack.

Widespread demonstrations triggered by economic collapse, inflation, and currency devaluation have spread from major cities to smaller towns, resulting in at least three confirmed deaths and injuries to security forces amid violent clashes. President Trump issued a direct threat, stating U.S. forces are "locked and loaded" to intervene if the regime kills peaceful protesters, prompting Iranian officials to warn that American bases would become targets in response. This level of hostility is truly alarming and while there is much to be said about the U.S. president promoting the virtues of free speech and association, this itching for conflict and violence stands in contrast to the no war ethos Trump ran on.

The Justice Department is recruiting approximately 400 additional lawyers from criminal, national security, and U.S. attorneys' offices to vet over 5.2 million previously unreviewed Epstein-related pages, diverting resources from other areas like immigration enforcement. This effort complies with the Epstein Files Transparency Act mandating public release with victim protections, though delays have pushed the next disclosure to late February amid questions over the sudden discovery of this vast material volume. Budgets mean nothing as the Justice Department needs to resolve this investigation expeditiously as these criminal actors must be dealt with in a swift and aggressive fashion.

An internal review revealed $5.8 billion in potentially fraudulent payments during fiscal year 2024, including $77 million to over 30,000 deceased tenants and funds to individuals with invalid Social Security numbers, attributed to deteriorated controls and poor record-keeping. HUD leadership described the issues as systemic fraud enabled by weak oversight in rapidly expanded programs, with ongoing investigations to recover funds and hold accountable those responsible. Good governance requires prudence and I think some of these issues could be aided by lowering expectations and slowing the pace of what we expect from the government in a free society.

Mali and Burkina Faso immediately imposed visa bans on American citizens citing reciprocity and sovereign equality, following their inclusion in the U.S.'s broadened entry prohibitions effective January 1 alongside Niger and others. The tit-for-tat measures reflect escalating tensions over U.S. security-driven restrictions on identity management and information-sharing from these nations, with limited exceptions for diplomats and existing visa holders. I think this is a great decision on the part of these African countries and this exchange demonstrates the importance of diplomatic combat in international disputes.

State officials delayed revoking around 17,000 commercial licenses issued to noncitizens until March, defying a federal January 5 deadline tied to safety concerns after crashes involving unqualified drivers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatened to withhold $160 million in highway funds, criticizing the extension as unlawful, while California leaders cited agreed-upon additional time for enhanced vetting and accused the federal government of mismanagement. California should probably comply with this demand as it seems that in a highly regulated industry that involves high levels of danger, the oversight of practitioners has to be pretty rigorous and routine.

A court injunction halted a new law empowering a Californian state board to regulate private-sector labor conditions and union rights, intended to address federal board dysfunction from unfilled vacancies and a fired chairperson. The ruling upheld exclusive federal preemption under longstanding labor acts, potentially prolonging delays in union negotiations and worker protections at major employers amid a growing national backlog. This is an interesting showdown regarding the ways a state can intervene in labor disputes. It seems like the federal government needs to enhance its capacity to do its job if it doesn't want states like California to fill in the gap with overly intrusive legislative solutions like this one.

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, families can apply to any public school with open seats through a statewide lottery system if oversubscribed, eliminating traditional residential boundaries. The policy seeks to equalize opportunities by allowing choices based on program fit, proximity needs, or electives, though athletic participation rules may require coordination for transferring high school students. It seems to me that keeping kids closer in proximity to their homes and neighbors is preferable to ensuring they have unlimited choice in where they go to school.

Governor Katie Hobbs raised daily rates by 50% for children aged 6 and older, boosting monthly payments to an average of $1,700 per child to attract more licensed families amid only 3,000 available for 7,600 in care. The increase aims to reduce costly group home placements, retain providers facing financial strain, and provide greater stability for vulnerable youth through expanded family-based options. While it is a good idea to increase the incentive for families to adopt kids perhaps the solution is in bolstering institutions which can house kids at scale so that all kids can have housing options that are safe and facilitate their development.