Japan Is Placing Missiles on Island Near Taiwan as Tensions EscalateJapan’s defense minister announced the deployment of Type 12 surface-to-ship and medium-range surface-to-air missiles to Yonaguni Island, located just 110 km east of Taiwan and within sight of the Taiwanese coast. This marks the first permanent missile placement on Japan’s westernmost territory. China’s foreign ministry responded furiously, labeling the move a dangerous provocation that “crosses a red line” and accusing Japan of abandoning its postwar pacifist stance while threatening “resolute and forceful countermeasures” to defend its territorial claim over Taiwan. From our perspective, this represents a meaningful prospect of major warfare as China is trying to suss out how other nations are going to react when it advances its plans to rejoin Taiwan to mainland China.

Malaysia Will Ban Social Media for Children Under 16Malaysia’s cabinet gave final approval to a 2026 law that will require all platforms with more than 8 million users (TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and X) to implement government-approved electronic ID verification and biometric age checks. These checks will automatically ban anyone under 16, even with parental consent. Privacy groups and opposition lawmakers warn the mandatory national digital ID system will create a massive centralized database vulnerable to hacking and state surveillance, but the government insists the measures are necessary to combat rising cyberbullying, grooming, and online scams targeting minors. The effort in Malaysia reminds us of the tension between ensuring youth are protected from harmful tech apps and unrolling the mechanism to enforce such a law without, at the same time, ushering in a dystopian surveillance state in which access to the internet is heavily policed.

EU Rejects Critical Elements of Russia-U.S. Peace Plan, Offers CounterproposalEU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen publicly rejected any forced change to Ukraine’s 1991 borders and a proposed permanent 600,000-troop cap on its army. She declared that Ukraine must retain the right to join NATO and rebuild its full military strength without artificial limits. The EU counterproposal raises the troop ceiling to 800,000, calls for an immediate ceasefire along the current front line, refuses to recognize Russian annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, or Kherson, and commits €50 billion in new weapons, reconstruction funds, and budget support through 2027. The leadership at the EU has absolutely lost its mind, and we hope more European leaders embrace the Euroskeptic movement and continue to undermine the dominance and power of the EU.

U.S. Declares Maduro Head of a Terrorist Organization, Labels Venezuelan Government a Terrorist NetworkThe State Department formally designated Nicolás Maduro, Diosdado Cabello, and over 100 senior officials as members of the “Cartel de los Soles” foreign terrorist organization. It accused them of using the Venezuelan military to traffic tons of cocaine into the U.S. and Central America. This triggers immediate asset freezes worldwide and authorizes lethal force under Operation Southern Spear, which has already deployed two carrier strike groups to the Caribbean. Analysts warn the unprecedented move against a sitting head of state could collapse the government without a transition plan, while Maduro has reportedly reached out through back channels for negotiations similar to the 2019–2020 Doha talks. At this point, it is clear the U.S. will return to its imperial doctrine in South America and overthrow a standing government. However, the evidence is stacking up that Maduro was, in fact, ruling his regime as though he were Suge Knight in the ’90s.

Governors of Coastal States Condemn Federal Plans to Increase Offshore DrillingCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom and a bipartisan coalition including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Rick Scott denounced the Interior Department’s new five-year plan. The plan offers up to 34 lease sales across 1.27 billion acres in the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic, Pacific, and Alaska waters. They warn that even one spill could devastate tourism, fishing, and the $1.7 trillion coastal economy. Newsom invoked the 1969 Santa Barbara blowout that killed thousands of marine animals, while DeSantis demanded permanent protection for Florida’s military training ranges and beaches and vowed legal action if the administration lifts existing moratoriums. The question that has to be answered with clarity is; how (un)safe is offshore drilling?

New FEMA Chief Says She Plans to Aggressively Rein In the Unwieldy AgencyNewly confirmed FEMA Administrator Karen Evans told staff she will personally sign off on every contract and grant over $100,000, mandate 20 percent staff reductions by March, and install a real-time spending dashboard. This follows a Democratic congresswoman’s indictment for allegedly diverting $5 million in COVID-relief FEMA funds to her campaign and luxury purchases. The overhaul comes after the abrupt resignation of acting administrator David Richardson amid criticism that the agency wasted billions on no-bid contracts and duplicate payments during the 2025 hurricane season. FEMA is in crisis, so it seems necessary for new leadership to come in with a heavy hand and a no-nonsense attitude.

New Jersey Governor Says She Wants State to Stop Paying Taxes to Federal GovernmentGov.-elect Mikie Sherrill declared New Jersey’s $70 billion annual net contribution to Washington “unacceptable.” She floated the idea of an escrow system or state tax credits to withhold federal payments until the state receives fair treatment on infrastructure, healthcare, and disaster aid. Although New Jersey lacks direct authority to stop IRS collections, her transition team is studying California-style lawsuits and legislative workarounds used during past federal shutdowns to pressure Congress. As we continue to warn of dissolution of our federal system, this serves as a stark example of how noncooperation can undermine the stability of our government.

Regulators in Maryland and Pennsylvania Wrestle with Managing the Energy Burden of Data CentersMaryland lawmakers estimate unchecked AI-driven data-center expansion could raise residential electric bills by $70 to $100 per month and force rolling blackouts by 2028, as the facilities are projected to consume 40 percent of the state’s power by 2030. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania and PJM Interconnection are finalizing rules requiring new centers to install on-site generation, curtail usage during peak hours, and pay grid-upgrade costs currently borne by households. One of the most problematic elements of the current tech revolution is that the burdens and benefits won’t be distributed evenly and, especially initially, will be carried by those already in economic distress.

Pittsburgh City Council Poised to Raise Taxes for First Time in 12 YearsWith the loss of federal pandemic funds creating a $15 to $35 million deficit and property reassessments lowering revenue, Pittsburgh City Council members are advancing proposals to raise property taxes by 0.5 to 1 mill or impose a new 0.5 percent unearned-income tax. They rejected Mayor Ed Gainey’s no-tax-increase budget that would eliminate 120 paramedics, close 12 recreation centers, and halt all street paving. Council members in Pittsburgh, and all throughout the nation, will have to come to terms with the fact that they can’t tax their way out of fiscal constraints and will have to embrace serious budget cuts to appropriately manage American cities after years of reckless spending.

Following Meeting With Trump, Mamdani Says the President Is Still a Fascist and NYC Will Remain Sanctuary City Under His LeadershipHours after a surprisingly warm Oval Office meeting in which President Trump called the mayor-elect “a guy I could work with” and backed away from threats to withhold federal funds, Mamdani reiterated that Trump remains “a fascist and a despot.” He emphasized they found common ground on slashing zoning restrictions and freezing Con Edison rates. Mamdani pledged to maintain New York City’s sanctuary policies, barring NYPD and city agencies from assisting ICE on civil immigration warrants or non-felony cases to protect the city’s more than 500,000 undocumented residents. We remain convinced that Mamdani’s regime will have negative consequences for the residents of NYC but remain resolute that the people of NYC are well within their rights to usher in his regime no matter how people in other parts of the country feel about it.