//The Wire//2300Z January 29, 2025//
//ROUTINE//
//BLUF: CONFLICT CONTINUES TO ESCALATE IN THE DRC. PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCES PLAN TO SEND ILLEGALS TO GITMO. F-35 CRASHES IN ALASKA, PILOT UNHARMED.//

 -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----

-International Events-

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): Rioting continues throughout Kinshasa as the rebel advance in the east becomes more solidified. Overnight, M23 rebels consolidated control of Goma on the eastern border of the DRC, with some reports indicating further advances being planned. South of Kivu Lake, another axis of advance has possibly opened up, as locals report M23 forces in the vicinity of Bukavu. In the west, factional violence has broken out in force.

-HomeFront-

Alaska: One F-35 aircraft assigned to the 354th Fighter Wing crashed at Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks yesterday afternoon. Video footage of the incident indicates that the pilot was able to eject before impact. No official statement has been released indicating the cause for the aviation mishap.

Washington D.C. - President Trump announced plans to house captured illegal immigrants at the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, while deportation operations continue. AC: While not exactly a new plan (this idea was floated during Trump's campaign) this facility will reportedly house the most violent offenders, which are unable to be housed in the standard minimum-security detention facilities that most other illegal immigrants are housed in. This is probably an attempt to separate out the baddest-of-the-bad from the general population.

-----END TEARLINE-----

Analyst Comments: In the DRC, various groups who oppose Rwanda (and the M23 rebels) have taken to the streets to attack any ally of their arch enemy. Since the capital of Kinshasa is located 1,000 miles from M23's advance (and thus nowhere near the warzone), those who oppose M23 have taken out their anger locally, in the form of attacking anyone who is aligned with Rwanda or the Tutsi ethnic group, such as international diplomatic missions in the DRC. Various government offices were also ransacked overnight as well. Other than the general call to evacuate, most diplomatic missions in Kinshasa have not really addressed the growing violence, or provided much information on the status of foreign nationals (or international humanitarian efforts) in the DRC.

Of note, this afternoon the Rwandan Defense Forces social media account posted a statement regarding the capture of 280 Romanians who were allegedly acting as mercenaries for the DRC's armed forces. This somewhat innocent post is largely a de facto admission that the M23 "rebels" are really just mercenaries acting on behalf off Rwanda to invade the DRC. This has been known for some time, however the increasingly casual descriptions of this relationship must be noted as this has the potential to drag other nations into this fight at some point, if the "soft" invasion becomes more methodical or deliberate.

Analyst: S2A1
Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground
//END REPORT//

//The Wire//2300Z January 28, 2025//
//ROUTINE//
//BLUF: DEPORTATION OPERATIONS CONTINUE NATIONWIDE. CONFLICT WIDENS IN DRC. WHITE HOUSE STATES NEW JERSEY DRONES WERE FRIENDLY FORCES.//

 -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----

-International Events-

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): The situation regarding the rapid advance of M23 rebels has gone from bad to worse. Despite being located on the exact opposite side of the country (and thus 1,000 miles away from) the rebel advance in Goma, mass pandemonium and widespread looting was reported in the capitol city of Kinshasa. Various media outlets have claimed that the Embassies of the United Nations, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and even the United States were all either assaulted or overrun by rioters overnight.

AC: As of this report, no statements have been made with regards to status of the American diplomatic mission in the DRC. However, this afternoon the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa urged American citizens to either shelter in place, or immediately evacuate the country, whichever option is possible for them. As is typical for the region, civil unrest can (and usually does) emerge without much warning, which presents logistical challenges. Right now, the usual extortionary roadblocks are being emplaced on most major roads, which makes travel difficult. As a reminder, there are two main airports in Kinshasa that are likely to be used for evacuation operations. The N'Dolo Airport is located in the city center, but has a shorter runway (roughly 1,000 ft) which is only capable of hosting smaller aircraft or helicopters. The other, much larger international airport (N'Djili Airport) is located east of the city. This airport, while larger, is a roughly 1-2 hour drive from the Kinshasa city center under ideal conditions, and has dubious perimeter security. Alternative evacuation plans can be carried out terrestrially, as Kinshasa sits on the border with the Republic of the Congo, which lies across the river to the north and hosts another international airport. However, there is no bridge between these nations, so highly unreliable ferry crossings are the only means of amphibious transport out of Kinshasa, in the event that airports become overrun.

-HomeFront-

New Jersey: During a press conference, the White House has stated that the recent drone scare that swept through the region was not activity from a malign actor, but research platforms that were authorized to fly by the FAA. No further comment was provided regarding who was operating these aerial platforms.

AC: This statement will be interpreted in many ways. For one, if this statement is to be believed, this is more evidence in the pile that supports this whole scandal largely involving testing being done at Picatinny Arsenal or by some other unknown clandestine government agency. This was always the most likely theory from the very beginning, but in the absence of any real data to analyze, any theory was just as good as the next. However, for those who personally do not believe this narrative, no piece of evidence is likely to alter their view.

USA: ICE raids began in New York City this morning, mostly focusing on well-known strongholds harboring illegals in the Bronx. Similar raids were conducted in Maryland. In Miami, local media reported that 40x illegals from China were arrested in Coral Gables this morning.

During this morning's raids, at least one High Value Individual (HVI) was captured, who was allegedly a senior leader involved in the Tren de Aragua (TdA) cells operating in Denver. 

Throughout Colorado, raids have intensified following renewed efforts to target TdA enclaves throughout the state. Sunday morning, a TdA-operated nightclub in Adams County, CO was raided by federal and local officials, resulting in the arrest of 49x people affiliated with the infamous Venezuelan gang.

-----END TEARLINE-----

Analyst Comments

//The Wire//2300Z January 27, 2025//
//ROUTINE//
//BLUF: DIPLOMATIC SCANDAL ERUPTS, IS QUICKLY RESOLVED, BETWEEN THE U.S. AND COLOMBIA. SKIRMISH BREAKS OUT ON SOUTHERN U.S. BORDER NEAR FRONTON, TX.//

 -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----

-International Events-

France: A 14-year-old was murdered by two as-yet-unidentified assailants in Paris. The boy died after being stabbed for refusing to give up his phone to the attackers, who were later arrested. Local police have stated that both assailants had previously been arrested for violent crime.

Colombia: Diplomatic tensions remain high following a brief scandal involving deportations over the weekend. Trouble began when Colombian authorities refused to allow two American deportation flights to land in their country. Immediately following this development, the United States imposed a 25% tariff on all Colombian trade with the United States, and canceled all of the visas for all Columbian government officials in the United States. A few hours after President Trump posted these terms on his social media account, Colombia relented and will now accept all deportation flights as previously agreed. As a result, the United States has removed the threat of tariffs, and has resumed the status quo. AC: While short-lived, this diplomatic spat has largely served as a very strong message in the diplomatic arena, and proven that the United States government will not hesitate to impose tariffs.

Middle East: Tensions have flared again following the ceasefire in Gaza as territorial aspirations have become more publicly known. Over the weekend, President Trump made his policy position more clear by desiring Gaza to be completely abandoned by the Palestinians. Specifically, he stated that "You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing".

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): Conflict has intensified once again following the rapid advance of M23 rebels in the eastern region of the war-torn nation. Over the weekend the Rwandan-backed (and ethnically Tutsi) M23 rebels conducted a rapid advance into the city of Goma in eastern DRC.
 
-HomeFront-

Texas: One individual was shot by military police as they attempted to breach the perimeter of JBSA - Fort Sam Houston Saturday afternoon. AC: So far, very few details have been released regarding this incident, however the individual was reportedly attempting to enter the installation via the Walters Gate. The assailant was treated at a local hospital.

Indiana: Mathew Huttle was shot and killed by State Police during a traffic stop in Jasper yesterday evening. AC: Huttle was recently pardoned by President Trump as part of the J6 pardons. Right now, the circumstances of this incident are unclear, however the shooting allegedly took place after Huttle resisted arrest. What originally prompted the traffic stop, and the attempt to arrest him remains unknown. As such, in the absence of information the larger context of many J6 prisoners being re-arrested on state charges must be considered as many loose ends pertaining to the J6 incident remain unresolved.

USA: Deportations continue as before, with many ICE raids taking place in many major cities throughout the United States. Fortification efforts at the southern border continue as thousands of troops arrive and begin deterrence and security operations.

This afternoon, Texas DPS officials reported a skirmish along the border in the Rio Grande Valley Sector, near the town of Fronton. A suspected Cartel element (of unknown size) attempting to aid illegals in their entry to the United States opened fire with small arms on unidentified American forces on the American side of the river. No casualties were reported on either side as a result of the engagement, though the crossing of illegals was halted as the suspected Cartel members broke contact and egressed from the area.

//The Wire//2300Z January 24, 2025//
//ROUTINE//
//BLUF: HORRIFIC DETAILS OF SOUTHPORT MURDERS BECOME PUBLIC DURING SENTENCING TRIAL. DISASTER AID EFFORTS INCREASE IN NORTH CAROLINA. SOUTH AFRICAN EXPROPRIATION BILL PASSED INTO LAW.//

 -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----

-International Events-

United Kingdom: Outrage continues following the sentencing of Southport murderer Axel Rudakubana. Specifically, the censorship regarding the details of this case, the arrest and imprisonment of native Britons who voiced the truth of this case months ago, and the continuing media censorship surrounding the deliberate actions that allowed the murderer to remain in Britain (despite a long history of displaying his violent intentions) have been cause for concern.

South Africa: Following years of societal issues, the beleaguered nation has reached another critical milestone. This morning the highly-controversial Expropriation Bill was signed into law, which allows the government to seize any private land they so choose, and not compensate the owners for it. AC: Considering the historical context of South Africa's decline, this move is being assessed by many to be a major development that will result in even more land-grabs and an intensification of the genocide of white farmers throughout the nation.
 
-HomeFront-

North Carolina: During President Trump's visit to the damage-stricken western region of the state, he announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is being deployed to assist in rebuilding roads and bridges throughout the region, to supplement the efforts already undertaken by private citizens to recover from this disaster without much help from federal authorities. Trump also pledged to sign an Executive Order this afternoon that removed all permitting requirements for re-building residential homes in the disaster area, in addition to committing more substantial permanent housing solutions for affected citizens.

USA: The release of J6 prisoners following President Trump's pardon continues, with around a dozen prisoners still having not yet been released at a few federal detention facilities. AC: Many J6 prisoners have also been immediately re-arrested on state charges, and are back in the custody of state authorities.

-----END TEARLINE-----

Analyst Comments:

Generally speaking, it is exceptionally rare for a Presidential election to result in such stark differences that affect the daily lives of everyday citizens. However, this effect is certainly amplified when disaster aid is in play. Now that Americans can see what is possible to do immediately with regards to disaster response in western North Carolina, Americans are asking why this response was completely impossible a few days ago, but is comparatively easy to implement now. As such, these efforts have made it all the more obvious that western North Carolina was specifically and intentionally neglected by the Biden regime. Even more poignantly, at the height of the disaster response, everyone knew that the federal government (and even some state-level agencies) were deliberately dragging-feet, and causing harm as a result. However, even knowing all of this at the time, there was absolutely zero recourse to be had with regards to accountability during hte height of the crisis. This is one of the main reasons a parallel society emerged, with private, self-funded disaster relief efforts taking place alongside government (being delicate enough to avoid outright conflict or jurisdictional issues), but still getting the job done. It was this delicate balance that resulted in the most success at the time, as complaining without action and outright hostility toward federal authorities (while justified) did not solve problems. Now, in hindsight, we can see the level of malice demonstrated by the federal bureaucracy. Having to tell disaster victims to hang in there, and hold out a few more weeks

//The Wire//2300Z January 23, 2025//
//ROUTINE//
//BLUF: TRUMP ORDER ON BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP BLOCKED BY JUDGE. GOVT AGENCIES ATTEMPT TO SUBVERT COMPLIANCE WITH DEI BAN. IMMIGRATION ISSUES CONTINUE NATIONWIDE.//

 -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----

-International Events-

United Kingdom: The sentencing of Southport murderer Axel Rudakubana took place today. He was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum sentence of 52 years.
 
-HomeFront-

Washington D.C. - Hostility to President Trump's initial executive actions is mounting, with Senior U.S. District Judge John Coughenour in Seattle issuing an order to block Trump's order pertaining to birthright citizenship.

Following President Trump's orders to dismantle all DEI programs from federal agencies and organizations, many entities (to include military organizations) have been observed to take measures to camouflage DEI positions and programs by simply changing their name, but not actually changing the content of a program or firing any staff.

AC: This sneaky move will probably not work in the long run, as the internet has a long memory. The definition of what qualifies as a "DEI" position can be based on what a person was initially hired to do, not what their title was changed to be. As such, a simple name-change won't really slow down counter-DEI efforts that much.

USA: Immigration raids continue in many major cities. Approximately 1,500x active duty troops have been deployed to the southern border. A major raid in Boston has entered it's second day, as primarily Haitian illegals are being detained and deported. In Providence, Rhode Island, the law offices of Joseph Molina Flynn were raided, which is a major law firm that is well-known for primarily representing immigrant clients and generally being involved in immigration issues. AC: This raid was likely conducted in conjunction with various human-trafficking operations. Somewhat interestingly, Flynn is both an immigration lawyer, and a municipal court judge in Central Falls. As such, the mayor of Central Falls announced the resignation of Molina Flynn this afternoon.

California: This morning a hiker was shot multiple times in Jacumba during a mugging by suspected Cartel members, who are assessed to have crossed the border to conduct extortion operations in the local area. AC: These types of Cartel operations are relatively common, but likely will increase in intensity for the foreseeable future.

-----END TEARLINE-----

Analyst Comments: Regarding the pardon's issued by the White House prior to President Trump being inaugurated, even more questions have emerged. For instance, Anthony Fauci's pardon has been back-dated to cover any and all crimes he committed since 2014. This has led many to raise the question of what he was doing post-2014 that might require a pardon in the first place. After all, if the previous regime was scared Fauci might be unjustly targeted for his work during COVID, why backdate his pardon all the way back to 2014, during the Obama administration? This has raised more questions than answers, and reignited scrutiny as to how this pardon may be linked to other pardons issued with the same date.

Regarding remigration efforts, most ICE raids have only resulted in the arrest of a few hundred illegals, however what is being observed now is likely the rapid action on heavily-populated encampments of illegals that are the low-hanging-fruit. Most likely, larger, more logistically-intensive operations are being stood up right now.

Analyst: S2A1
Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground
//END REPORT//

//The Wire//2200Z January 22, 2025//
//ROUTINE//
//BLUF: STABBING ATTACK STRIKES GERMANY. TRUMP CONTINUES EXECUTIVE ACTIONS. WILDFIRE BREAKS OUT NORTH OF SANTA CLARITA IN CALIFORNIA.//

 -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----

-International Events-

Panama: As the increased rhetoric continues to put the spotlight on the small (but important) Central American nation, Panama has filed a formal complaint with the United Nations regarding President Trump's remarks regarding ownership of the Canal.

Germany: This morning a stabbing attack was conducted on a daycare group of small children in the city of Aschaffenburg. One two-year-old child and one adult man were killed in the attack. The suspect has been identified as "Enamullah O.", an immigrant from Afghanistan who had a long police record of violent acts and mental illness, who was protected from deportation by government agencies (as Germany does not normally deport anyone to Afghanistan due to the logistical difficulty in doing so and a general government policy of protecting these individuals).
 
-HomeFront-

California: Earlier today the Hughes Fire broke out northeast of Santa Clarita, and as of this report has rapidly expanded to over 3,000 acres in size.

Washington D.C. - President Trump continues to sign the previously-indicated plethora of Executive Orders, many of which have resulted in controversy (as expected). For instance, Trump's order to mandate all federal workers to physically return to their place of work has resulted in controversy from two main groups: Federal workers who want to continue tele-"work", and the citizenry who is becoming aware of how few federal employees were actually working in their offices over the past four years.

Other controversy has emerged following the announcement of The Stargate Project, which is a conglomerate of commercial efforts to build AI infrastructure. AC: Considering the recent scandals with OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, and the highly suspicious death of Suchir Balaji (an OpenAI whistleblower who's death occurred right after his disclosure of crimes OpenAI was alleged to have committed), this project is interesting. Considering that this Stargate Project did not just originate out of the ether overnight, many further suspicions have been raised regarding Balaji's death. At the time, it was hard to believe that an AI company would silence a whistleblower over the allegations that Balaji brought to the table. However, in hindsight we now know that major billion-dollar contracts with the US government were in the works at the time, which drastically increases suspicions of his death.

Regarding the developing situation of the J6 prisoners, the slow-walking of their release continues for some. Of the remaining prisoners, approximately a dozen still have not yet been released as mandated by Presidential order, though the process is ongoing.

Gulf Coast: Many states along the Gulf of America have reported power outages as significant snowfall took place throughout the region yesterday afternoon. From Louisiana to Florida, in some places over 12 inches of snow fell, which has broken many previous precipitation records.

Vermont: More details have emerged regarding the murder of a Border Patrol agent on I-91 Monday. The suspects (a male and a female) have not yet been identified, but the male suspect is of German nationality, while the female is American. AC: This does not appear to be a case of routine immigration violence, and there probably is more to this story than meets the eye. Though the male suspect (now deceased) was originally stated to be an illegal alien, he appears to have at least entered the U.S. legally as he had a valid visa. However, he could have overstayed that visa, not enough information has been released yet regarding this case to know either way.

-----END TEARLINE-----

Analyst Comments: Somewhat interestin

//The Wire//2300Z January 21, 2025//
//ROUTINE//
//BLUF: CONTROVERSY ERUPTS AS D.C. CENTRAL PRISON HESITATES TO COMPLY WITH TRUMP PARDON OF J6 PRISONERS.//

 -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----

-International Events-

United Kingdom: Controversy has emerged once again following developments in the case of the Southport murders. On Monday, the mugshot of the attacker (Axel Rudakubana) was released to the public after months of suppressing the courtroom sketches of him, and mainstream media using photos of him when he was a child. As confirmed by the mugshot, the attacker is an adult, not a child. Additional details have confirmed that the attacker did indeed have terrorist ideations,  (a detail that was deliberately covered up and denied from the very start, even though authorities knew this was true).

AC: This move was probably timed to coincide with Trump's inauguration, so that global media organizations were occupied with the shenanigans across the pond, and not focusing on tensions in Britain becoming inflamed again. When this story initially broke, British citizens were targeted, fired from their jobs, and in many cases arrested for stating the known facts of this case...that Axel Rudakubana was indeed not an 8-year-old child as the British government attempted to push, and was instead a full grown man with direct and open terroristic ideations. Now that these details have been confirmed as being true, the British people are wondering why they were arrested for stating these facts months ago.

Panama: Anti-American sentiment is mounting following the statements by President Trump indicating efforts to return control of the Panama Canal to the United States. AC: Limited demonstrations and flag-burning events were reported in Panama City overnight, though these protests appear to be fairly limited at the moment.
 
-HomeFront-

Washington D.C. - Overnight, substantial issues were reported at multiple federal prisons hosting the J6 political prisoners that were pardoned by President Trump yesterday afternoon. Most of the trouble appears to originate at the Washington D.C. Central Prison. At this facility specifically, despite the clear and lawful order, many prison staff members refused to release the pardoned prisoners, in clear, direct, and open violation of the order. Beyond this, several J6 prisoners who had communication with the outside world reported being abused and assaulted by the corrections officers at their facility after the pardon order was announced. As of this report, there are still approximately 21x J6 prisoners who have not yet been released over 24 hours after Trump pardoned them.

Oregon: Limited skirmishes were reported at an ICE detention facility in Portland overnight. AC: So far, initial indications suggest the usual ANTIFA suspects were involved, and the summary of events is not entirely outside the norm of activity for the region.

USA: Nationwide immigration raids have begun, with deportation operations beginning in several major cities. As expected, the claims of immigration raids taking place throughout Chicago were accurate, and the "rescheduling" of this raid was of course a ruse intended to deceive locals into thinking that the plan had been rescheduled due to the previous leak.

-----END TEARLINE-----

Analyst Comments: Though the details are sketchy at best, reports emerged overnight indicating corrections officers intentionally stonewalled the release of J6 prisoners, which in some cases may have included the beating of the prisoners. At the Washington D.C. Central Prison facility, at least one person was observed exiting the facility on a medical gurney, though the circumstances of this medical evacuation remain unconfirmed. Many prisoners inside the facility (i.e. the ones with access to electronic devices) reported that the guards were beating prisoners severely. Again, sourcing remains dubious at

//The Wire//2300Z January 20, 2025//
//ROUTINE//
//BLUF: DONALD TRUMP INAUGURATED AS AMERICA'S 47TH PRESIDENT. MASS DEPORTATION OPERATIONS CURRENTLY BEING PLANNED, EXPECTED TO ENTER OPERATIONAL PHASE IMMINENTLY. USA DESIGNATES CARTEL GROUPS AS FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS.//

 -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----

-International Events-

Panama: Following President Trump's speech committing a return of the Panama Canal to American control, Panamanian President Mulino has rejected all of Trump's aspirations and committed to the Canal remaining in the control of Panama.
AC: Per the Trade Promotion Agreement, the U.S. funds roughly 19% of Panama's entire GDP and over 50% of all trade and services.
 
-HomeFront-

Illinois: Significant efforts are underway to prevent the carrying out of deportation operations by federal authorities. Over the weekend, alleged plans to carry out mass deportation operations were leaked to the press, resulting in Governor Pritzker actively taking measures to aid and abet illegals in avoiding deportation. Following the leak, Gov. Pritzker's office has provided training materials, legal advice and services, and significant other resources to protect illegals from deportation. Following this development, border czar Tom Homan voiced concern with the leak, but also stated that he was not sure as to why the focus was placed on Chicago specifically, as his deportation plans are more broad than just Chicago.

Washington D.C. - Inauguration Day events proceeded without much incident, with President Trump and Vice President Vance being sworn in during a closed ceremony in the Capitol rotunda.

Overnight, the last-minute actions by the outgoing Biden regime have resulted in controversy, as the White House issued last minute pardons and acts of clemency. Anthony Fauci, the entire J6 committee and most of those who testified in support of that endeavor, Gen. Mark Milley, and many other highly controversial individuals were pardoned overnight. This morning, a few minutes before President Trump was sworn in, the White House issued pardons for most of the Biden family. AC: Much like the highly-controversial pardoning of Hunter Biden, the pardons of the Biden family go back to any and all crimes committed since 2014.

Texas: Following the transfer of power in Washington, the official Port of Entry in El Paso has been closed. This afternoon, the CBP One app used by illegal immigrants to gain easy access to the United States illegally, was shut down.

Arizona: Yesterday afternoon the Cochise County Sheriff's Office released details of a series of arrests that were made last week. Four individuals (including two asylum seekers) were arrested on unknown charges after a traffic stop on I-10 that revealed over 10,000 rounds of .50 BMG, and almost 20,000 7.62x39 small arms rounds. AC: Though the details of the initial traffic stop and subsequent arrests are not entirely clear (and the possession of this ammunition is usually legal in the United States), transporting this much firepower at once is highly suspicious, leading many to assess that this is likely related to cartel activity. In turn, this has lead to concerns becoming more solidified with regards to the potential use of larger crew-served weapons by cartels in the United States.

Vermont: A Customs and Border Patrol agent was shot and killed by an illegal alien on Interstate 91 near mile marker 168 while conducting a traffic stop this afternoon. AC: As of this report this is a developing situation, with follow-on details expected later.

California: Aid efforts continue as wildfire risks remain high. Weather forecasts continue to call for increased winds throughout the region over the next few days.

-----END TEARLINE-----

Analyst Comments: The Presidential pardons issued overnight are a novel experiment in American politics, as the White House has set the

//The Wire//2000Z January 17, 2025//
//ROUTINE//
//BLUF: FIRE BREAKS OUT AT CALIFORNIA BATTERY FACILITY. INAUGURATION PLANS CONTINUE IN WASHINGTON D.C.//

 -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----
 
-HomeFront-

California: A fire broke out at the Vistra Power Plant in Moss Landing overnight. So far the cause of the fire has not yet been disclosed, however the fire appears to have originated in one of the battery storage facilities at the plant. AC: The Vistra Power Plant is not a standard power plant, having been retrofit over the years to comply with California law. What began as a standard natural gas power generation facility, has increased to become what is claimed as being the largest Lithium-battery-based energy storage facility on Earth, storing roughly 750 megawatts of power. It is one of these annexes (one of the facilities housing exceptionally large battery banks) that the fire reportedly originated in. As such, this is not simply a fire at a natural gas plant, but rather a fire at a lithium battery storage facility.

In Los Angeles, societal disorder continues as the recent wildfires have spread authorities thin. Yesterday afternoon, multiple assailants on dirt bikes carried out an hour-long joyriding spree in Los Angeles, interfering with traffic throughout the afternoon.

Washington D.C. - Plans continue for the inauguration of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance on Monday. This morning, the plan was announced to move the swearing in ceremony indoors, to the Capitol rotunda, allegedly due to cold weather concerns.

-----END TEARLINE-----

Analyst Comments: This is almost certainly not due to weather concerns. Considering the high-profile nature of the event, the multiple attempts on Trump's life (specifically due to sniper threats), and the difficulty of securing the National Mall in the wake of the various proficiency concerns present amongst the US Secret Service, this event moving indoors is almost certainly more of a security precaution than anything else. This is certainly not a bad idea, and quite helpful for the various counterterrorism agencies working the event. However, concealing these concerns when everyone can see the weather excuse is flimsy, is disingenuous at best.

Analyst: S2A1
Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground
//END REPORT//

//The Wire//2300Z January 16, 2025//
//ROUTINE//
//BLUF: CALIFORNIA RECOVERY EFFORTS CONTINUE. INCIDENT IN GEORGIA CAPITOL BUILDING RESULTS IN ARREST OF SENATOR.//

 -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----
 
-HomeFront-

California: The Los Angeles wildfires continue as firefighting efforts make gains overnight. Recovery efforts have also continued to expand. Team Rubicon, a veteran-led humanitarian organization has expanded volunteer efforts into San Pedro and Riverside County, in addition to the initial efforts in Pacific Palisades. Regional food banks have continued increased requests for donations to meet the increased demand for services. The World Central Kitchen has also established approximately 20 sites offering hot meals throughout the Los Angeles area.

Georgia: This morning scandal erupted following an incident on the House floor. Senator Colton Moore was arrested following him carrying out his duties as an elected official during the joint session.

-----END TEARLINE-----

Analyst Comments: In Georgia, Senator Moore had been previously banned from entering the House floor by House Speaker Jon Burns, who banned him from entering because Senator Moore did not support naming a building after former Speaker Ralston. Sen. Moore, while speaking his disapproval for this naming of a structure a few weeks ago, allegedly made offensive comments about the late former Speaker Ralston, who was previously embroiled in scandal for allegedly abusing his power as Speaker to protect predators and conceal illicit behavior. Because of his remarks on this matter, Senator Moore was banned from the House floor. However, following the incident it appears as though Senator Moore was indeed allowed to be present during a joint session being held on the House floor, which is what led to him attempting to gain entry as his duties mandate.
As such, the activities pertaining to Senator Moore of Georgia are largely being considered by many to be beyond the pale of civilized society at large, much less that of an allegedly democratic political system. One elected official banning a peer from their place of work for comments they made last year is generally not in keeping with any sort of normalcy. However, the law enforcement officials loyal to Speaker Burns were more than willing to not just enforce Burns' orders, but also allowed Senator Moore to be physically assaulted by bystanders in the process.

Analyst: S2A1
Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground
//END REPORT//