Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, breaking with his party once again, said he favors the United States intervening in Iran against the tyrannical regime that is reportedly brutally murdering its own citizens in order to retain power. “The ruthless Iranian regime has been callously slaughtering civilians who aren’t even involved in the nationwide anti-government protests, horrified witnesses said — as the death toll surged on Tuesday to roughly 2,000,” The New York Post reported. “Chilling eyewitness accounts of the bloodshed started emerging late Monday after Iranians were finally able to make international calls after authorities cut the country’s internet supply as part of its merciless crackdown.” On Monday, speaking of possible strikes on Iran, Fetterman said on CNN, “Those strikes make sense, absolutely. I do support those things. … I’m saying I’m open to that. And I am actually inspired by the real kinds of courage that those protesters in Iran are demonstrating now. “ “So I don’t know why we can’t all want to support that to back them and now bring that awful regime to its knees,” he continued. “Now, that’s where it’s at right now. They’re so desperate. They killed the internet, and now they’re mowing down their own citizens. Now they’re even so desperate, offering six dollars a month as some kind of a payoff now, too. Now for me, I think we can all agree that the world would be better, safer and more just if you could break that regime.” ? NEW: Senator John Fetterman BREAKS RANKS with Democrats to support President Trump taking military action in IRAN to protect the protestors pic.twitter.com/ys33osDkHy — TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) January 12, 2026 Fetterman’s rhetoric echoed the words of former Speaker of the House and eminent historian Newt Gingrich, who bluntly stated on X, “It is not enough to sympathize with the Iranian people in their struggle to get free from the dictatorship which is clearly killing dissidents and fighting for its very survival. It is not enough to have government leaders publicly talking about support for the Iranian people but failing to do anything real. It is also not enough to send token support but fail to take the steps necessary to replace the dictatorship. In a few weeks either the dictatorship will be gone or the Iranian people will have been defeated and suppressed and a campaign to find the ringleaders and kill them will have begun.” “There is no middle ground,” he continued. “The goal of every western [sic] leader should be to destroy the Iranian dictatorship at this moment of its vulnerability. Nothing will do more to move the Middle East toward peace, safety, and prosperity than the destruction of the Ayatollah’s dictatorship. The time to act is NOW.” It is not enough to sympathize with the Iranian people in their struggle to get free from the dictatorship which is clearly killing dissidents and fighting for its very survival. It is not enough to have government leaders publicly talking about support for the Iranian people but… — Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) January 12, 2026

In a disturbing incident in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, an Orthodox Jewish family was targeted in a violent, hate-fueled attack while celebrating Shabbat. Isharae Summers, 35, allegedly stalked a 26-year-old father, his wife, and their four young children—ranging in age from six months to six years—near the corner of Nostrand and Willoughby avenues. According to court records, Summers unleashed a torrent of antisemitic threats, screaming, “I’m gonna kill you Jews” and “Your kids are dead tonight,” before sucker punching the father in the chest and head. Despite the severity of the unprovoked attack and the clear presence of hate speech threats, the legal system’s response has sparked outrage. Summers was charged with assault and multiple counts of aggravated harassment as a hate crime. At her arraignment, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office requested $50,000 cash bail to ensure the safety of the community and the victims. However, Judge Margaret Martin rejected this request, allowing Summers to walk free on supervised release. Judge Martin’s decision to release a defendant accused of a violent hate crime could be seen as a direct reflection of her professional background. Before her 2017 appointment to the bench, Martin spent over 21 years with the Legal Aid Society, including a tenure as a Senior Staff Attorney in the Capital Division. Critics, such as former Lt. Governor Betsy McCaughey and former Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, argue that the Legal Aid Society functions less as a defense organization and more as a lobbying group dedicated to “handcuffing the police” and prioritizing the interests of criminals over victims. The Legal Aid Society has been instrumental in pushing for the elimination of cash bail and the implementation of discovery reforms that often result in cases being dismissed on technicalities. Ray Kelly noted that such a background creates systemic friction for law enforcement, as officers risk their lives to make arrests only to see suspects released by judges conditioned by a “pro-crime” legal philosophy. In this case, the transition from public defender to judge appears to have significantly influenced the outcome, as Martin’s refusal to set bail allowed a woman accused of terrorizing a Jewish family and their infants to return to the streets, further demoralizing local police and endangering the community.

'Temporary means temporary'

On Australia’s Kangaroo Island, cat-proof fencing is protecting native species from predation following a devastating wildfire and allowing them to recover in numbers that are shocking biologists. The third-largest island controlled by Australia, Kangaroo Island saw a large fire burn through much of its scrub habitat in 2020, and conservationists knew this would leave native […] The post Endangered Species Are Bouncing Back to 90% on Kangaroo Island Thanks to Predator-Proof Fence appeared first on Good News Network.

Books cover reveals Revealing The Devil Knows Her Name by C. N. Vair A witch sold her soul to save her life — but now she must stop the devil from collecting his due… By Reactor | Published on January 13, 2026 Photo credit: Elizabeth Snyder Photography, LLC Comment 0 Share New Share Photo credit: Elizabeth Snyder Photography, LLC We’re thrilled to share the cover of C. N. Vair’s debut horror novel The Devil Knows Her Name, available August 25, 2026 from Berkley Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. A hundred years ago, a witch sold her soul to save her life—but now she must stop the devil from collecting his due in this gripping and nuanced debut horror novel.The devil was as my mother and grandmother had always described him: polite enough that you might forget yourself, so beautiful that you’d want to, so dangerous if you did.Attacked by a man she trusted and at the brink of death, Tess Wynn vowed she would do anything to live—and the devil heard her. Their bargain meant she would remain unaging and tethered to the land she nearly died on, near the isolated Appalachian town of Burrsville. Her home is now a wildlife sanctuary, and the spells she’s woven keep the land and the community safe. Every autumn, the devil returns, gentle but perilously offering Tess more power in exchange for a foothold from which to corrupt the human world. And every autumn, the witch refuses. But when a new pastor comes to town and begins chipping away at the trust she’s gained with the people there, threatening the sanctuary and its animals, the careful edges of Tess’s world begin to fray. The devil whispers in her ear that it’s time to pay his price—and Tess must decide if she will fight for everything she holds dear—or succumb to his will. Cover design by Stephen Meditz Buy the Book The Devil Knows Her Name C.N. Vair Buy Book The Devil Knows Her Name C.N. Vair Buy this book from: AmazonBarnes and NobleiBooksIndieBoundTarget C. N. Vair (she/her) is a horror and dark fantasy author living in western New York. A former journalist, she’s interested in the history and haunted corners of small towns, the magic and malice of the natural world, and power in all its forms. When she’s not writing, you can find her wandering in woods and cemeteries, growing poisonous plants in her garden, or spending time with her husband and dogs. The post Revealing <i>The Devil Knows Her Name</i> by C. N. Vair appeared first on Reactor.

Books Necessary Whimsy Necessary Whimsy: Wintry Reads for Hibernating Goblins We could all use a little more light and laughter right now, so let’s get reading… By Lish McBride | Published on January 13, 2026 Hogfather cover art by Josh Kirby Comment 0 Share New Share Hogfather cover art by Josh Kirby If you’ve been on this site for a minute—and by a minute, I mean many years—you might remember a handful of posts on here called Necessary Whimsy, where I talked about funny and whimsical SFF books. At the time it felt like we were all struggling and needed some joy. (Oh, past me. You had no idea what horrors lay in store.) And now… well, now we need it even more. It made sense for me to start up again in these early days of January, in a month where darkness is shifting back into light. I live in the Pacific Northwest, friends, where sunset is at four PM as I write this, but I think we all could use a light in the darkness. For people that don’t know me well, it might surprise some that I love the holidays so much. I mean, I used to work retail. I should hiss every time I hear a holiday song. Maybe it’s because my mother loves the holidays and passed that along to me and my brothers. Maybe it’s because there are several Muppet holiday films, and I am a die-hard Muppet fan. It could also be that I love any excuse to burrow into blankets with a hot drink, my mom’s homemade Chex mix or cookies, and read a book while surrounded by fairy lights. Winter is made for goblin mode, and I, my friends, am all goblin. I don’t love the stress holidays bring. The hectic pace at a time when we should be hibernating and slowing down. And for many people, the inescapable social obligations with people you’d rather not see. The holidays can be rough. So why am I, after we have survived the holiday gauntlet, offering up books featuring winter holidays? Isn’t it a little late? The thing is that some people will want to drag out the feeling of joy or catch up on the fun bits they haven’t had time for yet. For others…well, sometimes reading can help you process the bad stuff, and escaping for a few pages into a world of whimsy can do just that. So, whether you love it or hate it, whether you delight in the early nights, or struggle with seasonal depression, here’s some whimsy from me to you. A gift with no obligations. Hogfather by Terry Pratchett I must, of course, start with a book that’s, “supposed to be jolly, with mistletoe and holly… and other things ending in olly.” If you’ve never read it, the Hogfather is the Discworld’s version of Father Christmas. The Hogfather has gone missing and Death has donned the suit and must deliver all the toys in his place. It’s filled with tooth fairies, wizards, assassins, and humor, of course, but because it’s Pratchett, he’s snuck in a ton of discussion about social issues, class, and poverty. What I also love is that there are great audio and film adaptations of Hogfather. This year I listened to the newer audiobook with Peter Serafinowicz as Death, Sian Clifford as the narrator, and Bill Nighy performing the footnotes, and I think they do an amazing job. If you’ve been reluctant to watch the two-part 2006 miniseries, don’t be—Sir Terry had a hand in it, and it is very faithful to the original. I watch it every year. Sanctuary by Ilona Andrews This is kind of a hear me out, because it doesn’t sound whimsical. Sanctuary is set in the world of Kate Daniels, following Roman, the Black Volhv, who serves Chernobog the god of destruction, darkness and death. There’s a pretty high body count in this novella for a work that’s supposed to be full of whimsy. But that’s why it’s kind of perfect—this is a story of joy in the darkness. Whimsy and gallows humor make great dancing partners as they tango their way into a solid coping mechanism. Roman might work for a dark god, but he’s also a kind person doing his best in a rough world. He’s out of eggnog, his house is full of freeloading mythical creatures who all have a different feeding time and system, and there is glitter everywhere. Even if you haven’t read any books in the series, I think you can still pick this one up as Team Andrews does a good job catching you up on any info you need to know. For audiobook fans, Chris Brinkley is the narrator on this one and I absolutely adored his performance. A Lot Like Christmas by Connie Willis This collection started out life as Miracle and Other Christmas Stories and is like a sampler platter of whimsy: Twelve stories packed with insight, joy, and heart. I personally felt very vindicated by the first story that has a running joke about how everyone thinks It’s a Wonderful Life is the best, except the narrator who is Team Miracle on 34th Street (the original) and same, Willis. Same. I also think the second story about a very human-like robot who wants to be a Rockette is particularly timely. Willis’ writing is very accessible and if you’ve never read her stuff before, this might be a good place to start. Winterfair Gifts by Lois McMaster Bujold I came to Bujold’s work late and have been making up for lost time. Her stories have really kept my sanity together the last few years and I think if you’ve read Pratchett and haven’t read Bujold, you should fix that. They’re both hilarious and kind but also sneak in some really pointed commentary that I love. Winterfair Gifts is a short read set in the world of her Vorkosigan series, but again I think you can read this without reading everything else, though you will run into some spoilers. If you want something wintery, romantic, and holiday-like, but not full of tinsel and ornaments, this is a good one. You can find this novella on its own, but I read it as part of the collection Miles in Love. Ring the Bells by C.K. McDonnell This is part of The Stranger Times series, which is about a motley crew of journalists, except the paper focuses on things like haunted toilets and possessed pets. In book one, the crew quickly realizes that some of their stories are very, very real. Personally, you can put the “ragtag group of heroes that becomes a slightly dysfunctional family” trope directly into my veins, thanks. And while like Sanctuary, there’s a high body count in this one—it starts out with a book club turned horrific triple murder, which I’m honestly surprised isn’t how more book clubs turn out—it’s also packed cheek to jowl with silliness and comedy. Old gods bent on vengeance, possessed Santas, delightful banter, and an ongoing incredibly awkward romance…this book has it all. Caimh McDonnell started out life as TV writer and stand-up comedian and it shows in his writing. I’ve listened to all of these books on audio, and I think Brendan McDonald, the narrator, is very engaging. (And while you will miss out on some of the series’ ongoing storyline, I do think you could read this book before the others if you so choose. Or you could find a cozy spot and just read all of them. You do you, boo.) The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore Somehow the Publishing Gods decided that Christopher Moore writes fiction, not SFF, which has baffled me on many occasions as most of his books have things like vampires, demons, giant sea monsters, gods and so forth. What I’m saying is, that if you mostly haunt the SFF section of your bookstore, you might be missing out on his work, which would be a shame. This book takes place in Pine Cove, a fictional California town, where a lot of Moore’s earlier books were set. I grew up in a small, seaside town, and Pine Cove reminds me of that—scenic, at times quaint, full of tourists, with a large percentage of absolutely unhinged locals. But, like, in a fun way. Moore has even tucked a Pine Cove version of “The Gift of the Magi” into this book, which plays out between the town constable, Theo, and his wife, Molly. If you’ve ever wanted to read a book that has a talking fruit bat, an incompetent angel, and a zombie Santa in it, Moore has created this bite-sized morsel just for you. While it likely can be read on its own, the book probably will be funnier if you’ve read the rest of the series.[end-mark] The post Necessary Whimsy: Wintry Reads for Hibernating Goblins appeared first on Reactor.

NEW: Iran Death Toll at 3,000; US Orders Citizens Out

CBS’s Stephen Colbert welcomed incoming Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger to Monday’s taping of The Late Show to discuss how she might react if the Trump administration sent ICE agents or National Guard soldiers to Virginia. Both argued that what the administration is currently doing in places like Minneapolis is simply trying to "instill” or “sow fear.” Colbert began by hailing a lawsuit that should go nowhere, “Governors have recently across the United States, have been put in a sort of, untenable situation having their states invaded by their own federal government, you know, against their wishes, sending National Guard troops from other states when they weren't asked to do so. Minnesota and Illinois, and we just found this out. This is actually right before I came out here, it was announced that Minnesota and Illinois have announced that they are suing the Trump administration over—Illinois already won over the National Guard. Now they are suing over ICE being sent in. What's your reaction to what's happening?”     The idea that the federal government would have no-go parts of the country where it can’t enforce federal law seems like an obvious non-starter. As for Spanberger, she began her response by repeating some autobiographical details in an attempt to give credence to Colbert’s anti-ICE disposition, “I worked on task forces with local, state, and federal police, and what I learned every single day in law enforcement is your ability to do your job is built on trust and what we are seeing day in and day out when people are going in, wearing masks, terrifying communities, is that they are breaking down that trust, and it is actually impeding the ability to keep our communities safe, to enforce the law.” Spanberger also hinted that the administration’s law enforcement operations are actually making it more difficult to enforce the law, “As governor I will ensure that we are a place where, yes, we uphold the law, but people know that if they are a victim of a crime, or if they are a witness of a crime, or if they are a community member, that they are in a place where there is trust that is being built and not degraded day in and day out by the tactics we are seeing.” Colbert then wondered about two hypotheticals, “Just take these two scenarios. National Guard troops are sent in from another state, say Texas to Virginia. Or ICE was sent in at this level of force and seemingly for—just to harass and to instill fear. What responses can you have as a governor within Virginia law that is not superseded by federal law to actually protect the citizens of your state or the residents of your state?”     After declaring that she will be in charge of the Virginia National Guard, Spanberger echoed Colbert’s anti-ICE sentiments, “I will make known to the Trump administration that we do not want—we do not want them trying to sow fear, to sow division within our communities. And if there is a warrant, absolutely. If there is a warrant for someone's arrest, there’s room for coordination between law enforcement agencies. But what we have seen in places like Minnesota, it is not meeting any end goal of making us safer.” She also repeated her earlier idea about how the administration’s actions are actually making law enforcement more difficult, “And as someone who used to focus on counterterrorism cases when I was a CIA officer after my time in law enforcement, what really worries me is the fact that so many of our law enforcement capabilities are being pivoted away from investigating crimes and investigating potential threats that exist within our communities, as they are leveraging people to pivot over towards sowing fear in communities.” Spanberger was Colbert’s first elected political guest of the year, but the old pattern remained the same: the host says one thing, and then the guest repeats it to make the host and audience feel validated. Here is a transcript for the January 12-taped show: CBS The Late Show with Stephen Colbert 1/13/2026 12:21 AM ET STEPHEN COLBERT: A lot of responsibility as a governor. ABIGAIL SPANBERGER: Yeah. COLBERT: Governors have recently across the United States, have been put in a sort of, untenable situation having their states invaded by their own federal government, you know, against their wishes, sending National Guard troops from other states when they weren't asked to do so. Minnesota and Illinois, and we just found this out. This is actually right before I came out here, it was announced that Minnesota and Illinois have announced that they are suing the Trump administration over—Illinois already won over the National Guard. Now they are suing over ICE being sent in. What's your reaction to what's happening? SPANBERGER: So, I am the incoming governor of Virginia, but I began my career as a federal agent. I used to work narcotics and money laundering cases. I carried a gun every day. I worked on task forces with local, state, and federal police, and what I learned every single day in law enforcement is your ability to do your job is built on trust, and what we are seeing day in and day out when people are going in, wearing masks, terrifying communities, is that they are breaking down that trust and it is actually impeding the ability to keep our communities safe, to enforce the law. And as governor I will ensure that we are a place where, yes, we uphold the law, but people know that if they are a victim of a crime, or if they are a witness of a crime, or they are a community member, that they are in a place where there is trust that is being built and not degraded day in and day out by the tactics we are seeing. COLBERT: Well, what if—just take these two scenarios. National Guard troops are sent in from another state, say Texas to Virginia. Or ICE was— SPANBERGER: Yeah. COLBERT: — sent in at this level of force and seemingly for—just to harass and to instill fear. What responses can you have as a governor within Virginia law that is not superseded by federal law to actually protect the citizens of your state or the residents of your state? SPANBERGER: Well, at the end of the day if there's an emergency in Virginia that requires the support of the Guard, first and foremost we have an incredible Guard in Virginia, and it is up to the governor to bring forth the Virginia Guard to help our citizenry. We do not need outside support unless the governor is the one who makes that request. And so as the incoming governor of Virginia, I will make known to the Trump administration that we do not want—we do not want them trying to sow fear, to sow division within our communities. And if there is a warrant, absolutely. If there is a warrant for someone's arrest, there’s room for coordination between law enforcement agencies. But what we have seen in places like Minnesota, it is not meeting any end goal of making us safer. And as someone who used to focus on counterterrorism cases when I was a CIA officer after my time in law enforcement, what really worries me is the fact that so many of our law enforcement capabilities are being pivoted away from investigating crimes and investigating potential threats that exist within our communities, as they are leveraging people to pivot over towards sowing fear in communities.

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot anti-ICE activist Renee Nicole Macklin Good last week in Minneapolis.It is abundantly clear, thanks in part to the multiple videos taken of the Jan. 7 incident, that: Good was blocking traffic with her vehicle in an apparent effort to interrupt a federal law enforcement operation; federal agents repeatedly ordered Good to exit her vehicle while her romantic partner issued derisive comments nearby; Good ignored the lawful orders and accelerated toward an ICE agent; and the ICE agent opened fire in self-defense as Good drove into him.'Each one is a micro-intifada which can spread and inspire others until we may finally shake off this noxious ruling order all together [sic].'Despite all the evidence to contrary, Democrats and the liberal media have worked overtime to portray Good as a blameless victim of a callous federal agent. This task will likely be more difficult in light of new findings concerning the radical nature of Good's anti-ICE group and its embrace of a "micro-intifada" stratagem.Local sources recently informed the New York Post that Good was an anti-ICE "warrior" involved in an "ICE Watch" group dedicated to tracking and disrupting immigration enforcement operations as well as other law enforcement initiatives. The group also has a history of doxxing federal immigration agents on social media, providing illegal aliens with tips on how to evade arrest, and pushing leftist calls for revolution.Neighbors told the Post that Good regularly attended the local chapter's meetings and received "thorough training" from the radical group.Homeland Security sources not only confirmed Good's association with the group to Fox News but indicated that she had followed ICE agents to multiple locations before her fatal encounter last week.RELATED: 'You don't want this smoke': Philly DA and sheriff threaten ICE officers — DHS just laughs Photo by Jason Alpert-Wisnia/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty ImagesThe specific group to which Good apparently belonged shared various pieces of leftist agitprop and radical literature to Instagram, including a "de-arrest primer," reported the Post.The subversive instruction manual, which was apparently published in 2024, advocates for "pulling and pushing an officer off of an arrestee and/or breaking their grip on an arrestee"; helping arrestees escape by carrying handcuff keys to protests and opening the doors of law enforcement vehicles; and "totally surrounding the officers who have the arrestee or otherwise blocking them and/or their vehicle.""A hostile crowd at protest that's shown its willingness to act often makes officers think twice," says the manual.The manual also features an image of masked radicals interfering with a fellow traveler's arrest. The image is captioned, "Each de-arrest is a 'shaking off' which is to say each one is a micro-intifada which can spread and inspire others until we may finally shake off this noxious ruling order all together [sic]."Good's anti-ICE group makes repeated references in other posts to engaging in an intifada, an Arabic term meaning uprising that is often associated with violent radicalism.In a Sept. 10 post, for instance, the group shared a graphic advocating for the globalization of the intifada, stating, "We call to resist colonial and imperialist oppression in all its forms, transcending borders in our unified struggle for our collective liberation."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!