#lemonde

From the French newspaper, Le Monde.

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TRUMP CONTINUES TO LOSE

TCinLA

Jan 27, 2026

There are 279 days to the mid-terms.

Trump’s approval ratings on immigration have dropped to a record low, according to the new Reuters/Ipsos survey results: Only 39% of respondents in the Monday survey said they approved of Trump’s immigration policies, and 53% said they disapproved. He’s now underwater on his signature issue.

ICE is in deep shit: Late Monday, Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz for the District of Minnesota did something federal judges almost never do: he ordered the acting director of ICE, Todd Lyons, to appear in person and explain why he should not be held in contempt. Schiltz’s order makes the blunt conclusion that ICE has repeatedly failed to comply with bond-hearing orders in Minneapolis immigration detention cases, despite assurances from government counsel that compliance problems had been fixed. Citing the case of Juan T.R. v. Noem, et al., Case No. 26-CV-0107 (PJS/DLM), Schiltz recites that on January 14, 2026, the court granted habeas relief and ordered ICE to provide a § 1226(a) bond hearing within seven days - or release the petitioner. Counsel later notified the court that no hearing occurred and the petitioner “remains detained.” From there, Schiltz widens the lens: this was “one of dozens” of recent noncompliance episodes, with predictable real-world consequences: extended detention, transfers out of state, and people dumped far from home. He cites one individual being shipped to Texas, released there, and told to figure out how to get home. His order includes the line that belongs in every federal-courts casebook: “The Court’s patience is at an end.” Schiltz set a show-cause hearing for Friday, January 30, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. and ordered Lyons to “appear in person” to explain why he should not be held in contempt for violating the January 14 order. The judge also signaled a classic judicial off-ramp: if the parties stipulate that the petitioner has been released, the court will cancel the hearing and Lyons won’t have to appear. But there are dozens of other similarly situated cases so this will not solve the problem for ICE. Schiltz explicitly acknowledges the step is “extraordinary,” but says the scale of violations is likewise extraordinary and “lesser measures have been tried and failed.” Schiltz’s order frames the issue as a systemic pattern, not a one-off administrative mistake.

Strip away the politics and what remains is a baseline proposition: court orders govern the parties. If an agency believes an order is wrong, it can seek reconsideration, appeal, or a stay. But it cannot quietly ignore deadlines, reroute detainees, or treat release conditions as negotiable - especially in habeas cases, where unlawful detention is the harm. Schiltz’s order reads like a judge concluding that the normal feedback loop (orders → compliance → docket moves on) has broken, and that the only way to restore it is to attach consequences to noncompliance. Friday’s hearing (or its cancellation via a release stipulation) will tell us what kind of confrontation this is. If ICE cures the immediate problem and the hearing disappears, that’s still a judicial win: the court forced compliance. If Lyons appears and the court develops a record of recurring violations, the judiciary is positioning itself for stronger remedies - sanctions, structured compliance steps, or further orders that are harder to evade. Either way, Schiltz has put a marker down: Minnesota’s federal bench is not going to run an immigration court on “trust us” representations while orders go unmet.

The fissures become canyons: Trump met with Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski in the Oval Office for nearly two hours Monday evening. The lengthy meeting comes as Maladministration II scrambles to contain the fallout from its disastrous immigration crackdown and the growing backlash against those seen as responsible: Noem, Lewandowski, Greg Bovino and Stephen Miller. The meeting was arranged at Noem’s request. In a desperate bid to save herself, Noem Noem has agreed to testify to the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 3. CBS reported that sources said Noem is not likely to be fired, but “her focus is expected to shift from immigration enforcement operations in the interior of the country to securing the southern border and other priorities.” In other words, she’s being sidelined. Trump can’t take the hit of a full-on firing.

It’s not just happening in Minnesota: Dozens of protesters in Phoenix, Arizona were hit in a drive-by mace attack Monday night by an ICE thug. The event happened at the end of an ICE raid at the Zipps on 32nd and Shea. In the video, around two dozen demonstrators can be seen protesting ICE on a sidewalk near a sports grill just outside of Phoenix’s downtown area as apparent ICE vehicles drive by. As a silver truck bearing sirens passes by, an individual in the front passenger seat can be seen spraying protesters with what appears to be mace as the vehicle passes by. “Oh my god, oh my god,” a voice can be heard shouting moments after the protesters were sprayed.Not every one of these lunkheads has read the news since Sunday and realized they’re going to be left out to dry if they continue their out of control assaults. But then, would anyone with a brain be part of this gang of goons?

ICE gets “deported”: Lehigh County in Pennsylvania kicked ICE out of their local offices after the agency failed to pay more than $115,000 in rent over three years. Lehigh County Executive Josh Siegel said he was ripping their agreement to shreds and that they “should consider themselves evicted.” He added: “The department’s failure to pay rent, combined with DHS’s national reputation for recklessness, chaos, and public disorder, warrants ending any relationship with the County. We will not accept their blood money.” Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley said in an official letter: “I think the county should be unequivocal and tell ICE: ‘pay your bills, pack your sh*t, and get the hell out.’We can give the Trump regime a taste of their own medicine. We’re going to deport ICE.”

Monday, in his last press conference, Greg Bovino confirmed that the two agents who shot Alex Pretti were already back on duty, but not in Minneapolis, and refused to identify them. Journalists who have covered pro-Donald Trump militant groups suspect some of the agents involved in immigration crackdowns are drawn from former convicted J6 seditionists. Independent journalist Sandi Bachom said: “Because I filmed the Proud Boys for years, because I was in Charlottesville and at the January 6 riot, and spent five months filming the ICE agents in Federal Plaza I’m convinced they are the same people. It’s impossible to find a whole new army of aggressive, violent, immature, Call to Duty Trump sycophants. That’s why they’re masked. People are gonna start figuring it out. That’s why he pardoned them all. I remember thinking when I got back from January 6, well Hitler had an army and Trump doesn’t. He does now.” Journalist Robert A. George posted: “IOW, the masks represent a LITERAL coverup. Now, we know this isn’t universally the case: Jonathan Ross who shot Renee Good is an ICE veteran. But the spiriting out of Minneapolis the agents who killed Alex Pretti is certainly…curious.” University of Washington professor Carl T. Bergstrom said: “Anyone else notice how the Proud Boys, Three Percenters, Oath Keepers, Patriot Front, etc. were always out there marching to support and protect law enforcement...until recently? They’re never out there supporting ICE. It’s so odd, like Superman and Clark Kent.” A Minneapolis legal observer was quoted: “It became clear very quickly that ICE is the Proud Boys, the Boogaloo boys. They’ve given them uniforms and let them run wild.”

In an interview with Greg Sargent, Senator Christ Murphy said that Senate Democrats are in agreement that the following reforms must be in the DHS funding bill to obtain Democratic support to passt he entire budget package: DHS required to cooperate with state probes; CBP stays at the border; warrants for arrests; IDs and bodycams; ICE out of churches and schools.

We have to remember how all this is happening. In public appearances only three weeks ago, Trump, Vance, and Miller all told us they no longer believe that domestic or international law apply to them and the regime. That the regime was somehow OUTSIDE the law, the US Constitution, Senate ratified treaties, the UN Charter. They have renounced the very concept of law itself. This is full-on fascism.

When Trump loses the World’s Dumbest Mick, he’s in real trouble: Fux Snooze host Sean Hannity said ICE should not be conducting raids at Home Depot or other businesses. Here’s what he said last night on his show: “Now, is ICE perfect? They’re not. Can they do a better job? They can. Do I think that, you know, some of the optics at times, do I think that going into Home Depots and arresting people there is a good idea? I don’t. I don’t think the people that - if you’re working at a place, you’re not the immediate problem. Eventually, we’ll have to deal with those people that didn’t respect our laws, borders and sovereignty.” That’s as close to a public admission that Murdoch is over with supporting Trump’s goon squads.

“Baghdad Barbie” Trisha McLughlin is sticking to her story: In an interview with Dana Perion on Fux Snooze, she was asked if she is still committed to calling Ales Pretti, who did not draw his weapon, a terrorist. Her response: “That situation we have seen on the ground in Minneapolis is a highly coordinated campaign of violence against our law enforcement. Your viewers have seen the images. In this case, we saw an individual who was armed,” she began. “He got into a physical altercation with law enforcement. He was in the course of obstructing a federal operation, which is a federal crime. The Department of Homeland Security, we work every day to make sure we give the American people swift, accurate information, and so we’ll continue to do that.” Perino immediately countered, “But, are you standing by calling him a domestic terrorist?” “Well, we’ll let this investigation that Homeland Security investigators are leading, the FBI is supporting, that CBP is doing a separate internal investigation as well, Dana.”

Last year, Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on South Korea, a country that produces goods ranging from washing machines to cars and pharmaceuticals. Trump announced in a Lies Anti-Social spew on Monday that he is increasing tariffs on South Korea from 10% to 25% because of the country’s alleged failure to ratify the trade agreement struck last year. “Our Trade Deals are very important to America. In each of these Deals, we have acted swiftly to reduce our TARIFFS in line with the Transaction agreed to. We, of course, expect our Trading Partners to do the same. South Korea’s Legislature is not living up to its Deal with the United States. President Lee and I reached a Great Deal for both Countries on July 30, 2025, and we reaffirmed these terms while I was in Korea on October 29, 2025. Why hasn’t the Korean Legislature approved it? Because the Korean Legislature hasn’t enacted our Historic Trade Agreement, which is their prerogative, I am hereby increasing South Korean TARIFFS on Autos, Lumber, Pharma, and all other Reciprocal TARIFFS, from 15% to 25%. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Yeah, because extortion is such a great way to win friends and influence people.

This is a Big Deal: Venezuela has had “enough” of taking orders from the Trump administration, the country’s acting leader has said just weeks after Washington claimed she would “run” the country under their instruction. Delcy Rodriguez assumed the role of president earlier this month after US forces captured Nicolas Maduro in a dramatic overnight raid, plunging the country into chaos. “Enough already of Washington’s orders over politicians in Venezuela. Let Venezuelan politics resolve our differences and internal conflicts. Enough of foreign powers,” she told oil workers in Puerto La Cruz city, according to state-run channel Venezolana de Televisión. Maladministration II has Rodríguez and others allow greater investment from US energy companies in Venezuela’s oil industry. Rodriguez said Venezuela would address longstanding disputes “face to face” with Washington. She said, “We are not afraid, because what must unite us as a people is guaranteeing peace and stability for this country.” On Saturday she appealed for talks with the opposition to reach “agreements” on the country’s political future, declaring that there must be “no political or partisan differences when it comes to peace in Venezuela”. The new law would create new opportunities for private companies to invest in the oil industry and establish international arbitration for investment disputes.The draft shows a dramatic change from the economic nationalism of Chavez, who accused multinationals of colonial exploitation and considered the country’s oil wealth to be state property. It would allow private companies to operate oil fields independently and collect cash revenues, despite remaining on paper minority partners to the state oil company. This is how colonialism works, folks.

This is another big deal: Former president of FIFA Sepp Blatter is suggesting President Trump’s foreign policy moves are grounds for a boycott of this year’s World Cup, which will hold several matches in major U.S. cities during competition. In a social media post on Monday, Blatter referenced an interview Swiss attorney Mark Pieth gave to a European news outlet in which he urged soccer fans to “stay away from the USA.” “I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup,” Blatter wrote.

Tasteless Queens bozo gets another slap on his face: Renowned composer and pianist Philip Glass announced he will be pulling his world premiere from the Kennedy Center, becoming yet another artist to cancel their scheduled appearance at the theater that has been remade in Donald Trump’s image. The composer was scheduled to perform his new and highly-awaited Symphony No. 15: “Lincoln” at the Kennedy Center this June. Glass said he could no longer perform under the Kennedy Center’s current leadership. “After thoughtful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my Symphony No. 15 ‘Lincoln’ from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,” Glass wrote. “Symphony No. 15 is a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and the values of the Kennedy Center today are in direct conflict with the message of the Symphony. Therefore, I feel an obligation to withdraw this Symphony premiere from the Kennedy Center under its current leadership.”

I love it when MAGAts get butt-hurt: The new rageathon among Life’s Losers is a drag queen’s performance as Erika Kirk, widow of assassinated fascist scum Charlie Kirk. Emily Flinn - some bozo stupid enough to appear on Real America’s Voice - says: “A mockery of a conservative icon. A firestorm is erupting online as a drag performer goes viral, mocking Erika Kirk, widow of the late conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. The performer known as Erika Kwerk has posted videos on TikTok dressing up, lip syncing, and dancing to clips of Kirk’s speeches, raking in millions of views and even fundraising for the American Civil Liberties Union. Outrage has boiled over with conservatives calling it a heartless exploitation of grief and a new low in the culture wars. “Critics say this isn’t just satire, it’s a personal attack. And once again, the left celebrates mockery of conservative figures.” Co-host David Brody gasped, “Not surprising that the left and pure evil go in the same sentence. Leave this poor woman alone. Enough already. These are men! These are - these are men to leftists, dressed up as women. That’s called a transvestite in 1974! You can’t say that word today!” Co-host Terrence Bates said “I think it’s tasteless, particularly, as you said earlier, she’s basically making fun, poking at a grieving widow,” Bates said. “And because it’s so tasteless, not only is it not my cup of tea, but it’s not something that I’m going to give oxygen to.” Co-host Gina Loudon agreed: “I just think that’s so gross. It so flies in the face of her. I mean, and you know, I know people who are friends of mine who will go to like these, you know, these shows and things featuring these, like in Vegas and things, it has always rubbed me and bristled me the wrong way. God made woman and man, and you were just not - I just don’t - I don’t understand it. I will never understand it. I can’t comment without being just blithering. So I will just shut up.” These talentless droolers have the self-awareness of rocks.

A final note: Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) announced he’s retiring from Congress this morning. The 20-year member of the House Ways and Means Committee announced he would leave his post representing the red Gulf Coast 16th District. “Serving the people of Southwest Florida has been the honor of my lifetime. Every achievement worth doing began with listening to my constituents and fighting for their priorities. I came to Congress to solve problems, to fight for working families and to help ensure this country remains a place where opportunity is available to everyone willing to work for it. After 20 years of service, I believe it’s the right time to pass the torch and begin a new chapter in my life.” Further proof that we are going to win November.

Rep. Sarah McBride gets today’s last word. “Previous generations of Americans had every reason to give up hope, very reason to believe that our politics and our democracy could not deliver for them because it never had. And yet, they still summoned their hope. They found the light. They changed the world. And I have to believe if previous generations of Americans could do it, then so too can we.”

What happens when you arrive in Paris for a photo shoot but you couldn’t fit your gown in your luggage??  Well this didn’t pose a problem for super Make-up Artist Wayne Chick. She simply grabbed Le Monde, the staplers, a roll of sticky tape and got to work..

Some lose their hand...some lose their soul...but worse some lose their dreams