## Texas "physically barred" Border Patrol agents from trying to rescue migrants who drowned, federal officials say

Authored by cbsnews.com

Federal officials and a Texas congressman said National Guard soldiers deployed by Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott did not allow Border Patrol agents to attempt to rescue the migrants.

Federal agents, Cuellar added, unsuccessfully attempted to contact Texas state officials about the emergency by phone.

Then, when Border Patrol agents went to the park and asked to be allowed to render aid to the migrants, they were denied entry, according to Cuellar.

In a statement Saturday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Texas officials obstructed Border Patrol's attempts to rescue the migrants on Friday.

"In responding to a distress call from the Mexican government, Border Patrol agents were physically barred by Texas officials from entering the area.".

Federal officials said Texas has used armed soldiers, vehicles and fences to physically block Border Patrol agents and at least one federal National Guard soldier from accessing roughly 2.5 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border.

One of the concerns raised by federal officials in a filing before the Supreme Court was that Texas' actions would prevent Border Patrol from helping migrants in distress. »

### Trump ally Laura Loomer: Nikki Haley and the deep state might be using “weather manipulation” to “rig the Iowa Caucus”

Authored by mediamatters.org

HAARP “has long been the center of wild speculation that the program is designed to control the weather — or worse,” NBC News reported.

Conspiracy theorists have invoked it for decades; Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez and Russian state media outlet RT reportedly blamed HAARP for the 2010 Haitian earthquake, for instance.

Donald Trump Jr. praised Loomer and called for her to be appointed as White House press secretary in a second Trump term. »

### Taiwan ruling party’s Lai wins presidential election

Authored by aljazeera.com

William Lai Ching-te from the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has won Taiwan’s presidential election, despite warnings from China – which claims Taiwan as part of its territory – not to vote for him.

With votes from all polling stations counted on Saturday, the Central Election Commission said Lai won 40.1 percent, ahead of Hou’s 33.5 percent.

Responding to Lai’s win, Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua said in a statement carried by state news agency Xinhua that “Taiwan is China’s Taiwan”. »

### Amazon Is Selling Products With AI-Generated Names Like "I Cannot Fulfill This Request It Goes Against OpenAI Use Policy"

Authored by futurism.com

"I'm sorry but I cannot fulfill this request it goes against OpenAI use policy," the dresser's name reads.

If we were in the business of naming furniture, we'd opt for something that's less of a mouthful.

It raises the question: is anyone at Amazon actually reviewing products that appear on its site? »

### Ex-drug dealer Jelly Roll needs more than a favor. He needs Congress to pass an anti-fentanyl bill

Authored by yahoo.com

Take it from Jelly Roll, the former drug dealer turned country music star: "Fentanyl is gonna make the Sackler family look like saints.".

The "Son of a Sinner" and "Need a Favor" singer appeared before Congress on Thursday and delivered an impassioned five-minute statement urging lawmakers to pass an anti-fentanyl trafficking bill.

Jelly Roll, who said he does not have any political affiliation, told his congressional audience — including U.S. Sens. »

## In pictures

## Also in the news

#### Trump Sure Looks Like He’s About to Get Smoked in Court

#### January 6 Is Exactly What the Fourteenth Amendment Was Talking About

#### West Virginia Republicans want to ban transgender people from public spaces, call them ‘obscene’

#### Aileen Cannon Refusing Jack Smith Request in Donald Trump Case Sparks Fury

#### GOP Congressman Stands By Accusation Some Fellow Members Have Been Compromised