Happy Tuesday Everyone! Today’s newsletter: 1,075 words…4 mins
🗞 Today’s Edition: SCOTUS Blocks National Guard Deployment in Chicago, Ukraine Pulls Back From Siversk, Greta Arrested For Supporting Terrorists, Elon Wins In Delaware, Pentagon Brings In Musk’s Grok…& much more!
📜THE HIGHLIGHT
One killer insight to stash in your back pocket
⚖ SCOTUS Blocks Trump’s Chicago Troop Move
The Supreme Court just shut down President Trump’s bid to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago.
In an unsigned 6–3 ruling on December 23, the Court denied Trump’s emergency request, backing lower courts that blocked the move since October.
The reason: the administration failed to show clear authority under the Militia Act or an exception to Posse Comitatus, which bars military involvement in domestic law enforcement.
Justices Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch dissented—silently.
What triggered this:
🔴 Trump argued troops were needed to protect ICE agents and federal property amid immigration enforcement.
🔵 Illinois and Chicago pushed back, saying there was no rebellion, no collapse of local policing, and no legal basis to federalize troops.
Courts agreed, warning the deployment would escalate tensions and override state control.
💡 Why it matters: This isn’t a final ruling on the merits—but it’s a sharp warning shot. Presidents can’t stretch 19th-century laws to militarize immigration crackdowns in blue cities.
⚡What’s next: Similar cases are brewing in Los Angeles and Portland, setting up a bigger showdown over executive power vs. state authority.
♟️THE CHESSBOARD
Geopolitics Decoded In 3 Moves
🇺🇦 🇷🇺 Ukraine Pulls Back From Siversk — Russia Grinds On
Ukraine withdrew from Siversk after months of brutal fighting, citing Russia’s manpower and equipment edge plus winter conditions.
The town—pre-war pop. ~11,000—held out 41 months and shielded key hubs Kramatorsk and Sloviansk (~30 km west).
Kyiv says the move was tactical, preserving forces while maintaining fire control and striking Russian logistics.
Moscow is claiming a “win” as it presses Donetsk ahead of talks.
💡Why it matters: This cracks Ukraine's Donbas "fortress belt" right as peace talks heat up. Putin's negotiating position just got steroids.
🚓 Greta Thunberg Arrested Under UK Terror Law
Climate activist Greta Thunberg was arrested in London during a pro-Palestinian protest outside Aspen Insurance.
Police detained her under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act, saying her placard backed Palestine Action, a group designated as terrorists in July after attacks on defense-linked sites.
Thunberg’s supporters call it political policing; authorities say it’s strict enforcement.
The numbers: 2,300+ arrests, 254 charges tied to Palestine Action protests.
💡 Bottom line: Britain’s terror laws just collided head-on with protest culture—and the free speech fight is only getting louder.
🤝 Trump Courts Central Asia Ahead of G20 Miami
President Trump says he’ll invite Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to the 2026 G20 in Miami as guest nations after calls with leaders Tokayev and Mirziyoyev.
Neither country is a G20 member—but hosts often extend strategic invites.
The play: Central Asia produces ~50% of global uranium and sits atop critical minerals tied to EVs, jets, and smartphones.
💡 Why it matters: The summit will be held at Trump’s Doral resort, underscoring a push to deepen economic ties—while signaling who’s in (and out) of Washington’s orbit.
🗽THE EMPIRE FILES
Political Drama From DC To NYC
💸 Student Loan Garnishments Are Back
The Education Department says wage garnishment for defaulted federal student loans resumes January 2026, ending the pandemic-era pause.
Borrowers default after 270 days of missed payments, allowing the government to seize up to 15% of disposable wages after notice.
About 1,000 borrowers get the first warnings in early January, scaling up monthly.
⚡ Officials frame it as legal enforcement; critics call it a gut punch during a cost-of-living crunch.
💰 Delaware Court Reinstates Musk’s Mega Pay
Delaware’s Supreme Court reinstated Elon Musk’s 2018 Tesla pay package, reviving an award now valued at $139B+.
The court overturned a lower ruling that scrapped the deal, citing errors in applying the “controller doctrine” and affirming a 77% shareholder re-vote.
Musk received a symbolic $1 penalty; the package stands.
⚡ Musk celebrated on X as a win for shareholders and against "activist judges." Tesla's stock rose, boosting Musk's net worth past $679 billion.
🤖 CODES & POWER
Tech Wars, Crypto Chaos, and AI’s Black Mirror Moments
🤖 Pentagon Brings Musk’s Grok Into GenAI.mil
The Pentagon is adding xAI’s Grok to GenAI.mil, its secure AI platform for military and civilian staff.
The deal allows Impact Level 5 use—handling controlled unclassified info—with rollout eyed for early 2026.
Grok joins Google’s Gemini and other models under the Defense Department’s AI push.
⚡Why it matters: Washington is betting that multi-model AI, not a single vendor, will power faster decisions from paperwork to the front lines.
📲Alexa+ Tries to Become the App Store
Amazon is expanding Alexa+ with new integrations for Angi, Expedia, Square, and Yelp, rolling out in 2026.
Users can book hotels, schedule home services, or make salon appointments via natural language—no apps required.
⚡The move mirrors ChatGPT’s app-style integrations, betting consumers want AI as a one-stop concierge.
📺 FUN FACTS & TRIVIA
Vatican City
Vatican City is widely recognized as the smallest country in the world by land area, spanning just 0.44 square kilometers (about 109 acres).