Except for timely election info, the extensive list of voting resources will now be at the end.

“There’s a reason why you separate military and police. One fights the enemy of the State. The other serves and protects the People. When the military becomes both, then the enemies of the State tend to become the People.” ~ Commander Adama, “Battlestar Galactica” (“WATER”, Season 1 episode 2, at the 28 minute mark.)

“… In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.

The first is freedom of speech and expression …

The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way …

The third is freedom from want …

The fourth is freedom from fear …”

VIDEO: FDR’s Four Freedoms Speech (1941) (FOUR FREEDOMS SPECIFIC EXCERPT WITH TAX FAIRNESS — 31:13 to 33:29  

FULL SPEECH TRANSCRIPT: Voices of Democracy: The U.S. Oratory Project

Welcome to Thinkwing Radio with Mike Honig on KPFT Houston at 90.1-HD2, Galveston 89.5-HD2, and Huntsville 91.9-HD2. KPFT is Houston’s Community radio.

And welcome to our international fans from Singapore, India, Brazil, and elsewhere.

On this show, we discuss local, state, national, and international stories that may have slipped under your radar. At my website, THINKWINGRADIO-dot-COM, I link to all the articles I read and cite, as well as other relevant sources. Articles and commentaries often include lots of internet links for those of you who want to dig deeper.

It’s the 25th week of Trump’s military occupation of Washington DC; 15 weeks since Trump deployed National Guard troops to Memphis, Tennessee; and an ongoing federal law enforcement invasion in Chicago, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and elsewhere.

Due to time constraints, some stories may be longer in this show post than in the broadcast show itself. 

1. There are still run-off elections in Harris County, Tarrant County, and elsewhere in Texas. So runoff elections aren’t limited to CD-18.
   1. Early Voting runs through Tuesday, JAN 27^th.
   2. Early voting poll hours are 7AM – 7PM, except Sunday, January 25 when hours are Noon – 7PM
   3. Election Day Polling hours are Wednesday, January 31— 7AM – 7PM
   4. It’s always important to remember that if you are on line to vote by 7pm, you cannot be turned away.
   5. The Texas Secretary of State’s office still doesn’t show any runoff elections. That seems to me to be a dereliction of duty on the part of the Abbott-appointed Secretary of State Jane Nelson. Remember that if-and-when she’s up for election.
   6. If you are unsure whether you qualify for voting in a runoff election, check for your personalized sample at HarrisVotes-dot-com.
   7. Outside of Harris County, election information and ballots can be found at your local county clerk or election clerk website. Links for nearby counties can be found at the bottom of this show post. Please notify me of any bad links.
   8. You are permitted to bring your pre-marked sample ballot to the polling place with you as long as you take it when you leave.
   9. I already returned my mail-in ballot for the CD-18 run-off. If you applied for a mail-in ballot and haven’t mailed it yet, you should do so immediately, but if at all possible, I’d suggest bringing it to your polling location, turning it in to the election clerk for “spoiling’, and voting in person.
   10. Remember: If you don’t vote, someone else is making the choices for you, and elections have consequences.
2. From Dana in the Morning on SUNNY 99.1, there is this piece of helpful recycling information — Goodwill Houston offers responsible electronics recycling!; By Joseph Bond | SUNNY99.IHEART.COM | Jan 16, 2026. TAGS: Goodwill Houston, environment, Electronics recycling,
   1. Goodwill Houston is making it easier than ever for Houstonians to do good—for their community and the environment. Goodwill Houston has partnered with CompuCycle to offer responsible electronics recycling at local Goodwill donation centers.
   2. Now, residents can drop off items like laptops, desktops, tablets, monitors, and small printers. Electronics that can be resold help fund Goodwill Houston’s career pathway training and education programs, creating opportunities for individuals across our community.
   3. And for items that can’t be reused, CompuCycle steps in. All materials are securely recycled at CompuCycle’s certified Houston facility, ensuring harmful electronics stay out of landfills.
   4. Together, Goodwill Houston and CompuCycle are proving that doing the right thing for the planet can also open doors to economic opportunity—right here in our community.
   5. For more information, visit [the link provided in the story]: https://compucycle.com/goodwill-houston-e-waste-recycling/
   6. MIKE: I have a number of items that I haven’t been able to recycle previously. I will definitely be taking advantage of this!
   7. MIKE: The web site linked to the story has an important caveat: “Before donating any electronic device, you are solely responsible for backing up, deleting, or otherwise removing all personal, confidential, or sensitive information stored on the device. Goodwill of Greater Houston and CompuCycle do not access, inspect, delete, recover, or verify data on donated electronics and assume no liability for any data, passwords, software, or digital content that remains on a device after donation. Most devices include built-in tools to perform a factory reset or data wipe, and manufacturers provide publicly available instructions for securely erasing your information.
   8. MIKE: So doing the right thing is important, but caveat emptor applies here.
3. Houston mayor unsure whether ICE will monitor warming centers amid freeze; By Ahmed Humble, Senior Trending Reporter | CHRON.COM | Jan 23, 2026. TAGS: Houston Mayor John Whitmire, Immigration Enforcement (ICE), City-Run Warming Centers,
   1. Houston Mayor John Whitmire on Friday sought to reassure residents ahead of a dangerous Arctic blast, pledging that city-run warming centers will be open to everyone — regardless of immigration status — while declining to say whether immigration enforcement would be present.
   2. Addressing concerns from residents who fear immigration enforcement could deter vulnerable people from seeking shelter, Whitmire offered an unequivocal message — but stopped short of addressing whether ICE would be present.
   3. “All residents are welcome,” he said. “Regardless of their immigration status. Come to the warming centers if you need shelter — no questions asked. Food, blankets, cots. We’ll take care of everyone.”
   4. Speaking Friday afternoon at the City of Houston Emergency Center, Whitmire was joined by public safety, infrastructure and health officials as city leaders urged residents not to underestimate the severity of the storm.
   5. [He said,] “We’re fixing to be attacked by a severe Arctic blast. … It’s here to stay for several days.”
   6. Notably absent from the press conference was Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who sources say was not invited to attend the event. When Whitmire was asked if she was asked to join, his response was: “Get in contact with her office.”
   7. A spokesperson for Hidalgo told Chron that her office held a press conference on Thursday, “where Whitmire was invited.”
   8. The mayor stuck to speaking about the incoming freeze and how the city is preparing.
   9. [Warning that the incoming Arctic front could bring prolonged freezing temperatures, icy roads and life-threatening conditions across the region, Whitmire said,] “The advice I’m giving folks is that there is going to be a severe storm like very few Houston residents have experienced,”
   10. Forecasters say temperatures are expected to drop sharply after the cold front moves through Saturday, with freezing conditions likely persisting into early next week. Even if precipitation totals remain uncertain, officials warned that prolonged cold alone could create dangerous travel conditions, frozen pipes and serious risks for anyone exposed to the elements.
   11. [Whitmire said,] “I am urging everyone that at midnight Saturday night, be where you need to be for the next 72 hours. Sunday night will be really, really cold. As much as we want to go to church Sunday, be cautious. Be smart. Use common sense.”
   12. The storm system, dubbed Winter Storm Fern, isn’t just a Houston problem. Across the state, the impacts are expected to be dramatic. Despite Houston forecasters suggesting this would not be a replicate of Winter Storm Uri in 2021, Whitmire claimed it would not be like the 2025 freeze. 
   13. [Whitmire said,] “People played in that snow. … But not at the temperature that we’re fixing to experience for the next 72 hours.”
   14. Forecasters say temperatures will drop quickly after the front moves through Saturday, with freezing conditions likely lasting into early next week. While there’s still uncertainty about how much precipitation Houston could see, confidence is growing that cold alone will create problems for travel, pipes and anyone spending time outdoors, especially on Sunday. 
   15. Several Houston-area schools have already canceled classes on Monday due to the severity of icy conditions freezing from the weekend. Whitmire also noted how appreciative he was that Superintendent Mike Miles would cancel school on Monday and noted City employees would be working from home on Monday. 
   16. [Whitmire said,] “I cannot stress enough, listen up Houstonians…the city is working as we speak, treating the streets, we’re gonna open warming centers and prepare to open right now 12 warming centers that will officially open up at 5 p.m. [Saturday].”
   17. Nine of the warming centers, Whitmire noted, have generators, and the other three (due to logistics purposes) have been unable to get serviced, but are “priority.”
   18. MIKE: Before criticizing Mayor Whitmire for his non-response to the safety of undocumented immigrants, and really anyone who is not white, from the tender mercies of ICE, I wanted to do some quick research.
   19. MIKE: I asked Google Ai, “Can Houston Block ICE From City Property?” I’ll follow with my comments after reading the response I got.
   20. GOOGLE Ai: While cities may attempt to restrict access to their property, Texas law generally prohibits municipalities from adopting policies that hinder law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
   21. GOOGLE Ai: As of late 2025, the City of Houston has been cooperating with ICE, with police conducting over 100 interactions with federal agents since early 2025. 
   22. GOOGLE Ai: Key details regarding ICE access in Houston include:
   23. GOOGLE Ai: Legal Constraints: Texas Senate Bill 4 prevents cities from prohibiting or limiting cooperation with ICE, meaning a total ban on city property is difficult to enforce legally.
   24. GOOGLE Ai: Operational Cooperation: The Houston Police Department (HPD) has confirmed it works with federal officials to hold suspects accountable and does not actively impede ICE operations.
   25. GOOGLE Ai: Recent Shifts: While some cities are attempting to limit the use of city-owned property for immigration enforcement, Texas state law limits such actions.
   26. GOOGLE Ai: Warrant Requirement: While local cooperation is high, ICE agent actions at specific locations generally require a valid judicial warrant for entry into private, non-public spaces.
   27. GOOGLE Ai: Rights in Public: Individuals have the right to remain silent and, if not detained, are free to walk away from questioning, though local police may not be allowed to impede federal agents. 
   28. GOOGLE Ai: Although proposals have been made to limit HPD’s role in certain immigration detentions, the current legal framework in Texas largely facilitates, rather than blocks, ICE operations. 
   29. MIKE: Digging deeper into Ai, I got this:
   30. GOOGLE Ai: In 2026, the City of Houston’s ability to block Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from city property is severely limited by Texas state law and current municipal policy.
   31. GOOGLE Ai: Legal Limitations in Texas:
   32. GOOGLE Ai: Senate Bill 4 (SB 4) Restrictions: Texas state law (SB 4) prohibits local governments and law enforcement agencies from adopting policies that “prohibit or materially limit” cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
   33. GOOGLE Ai: Enforcement Mandates: Under state law, Houston cannot legally institute a blanket ban on ICE accessing city-owned property for enforcement purposes. Municipalities that attempt to block federal law enforcement risk losing state funding and facing legal action from the state. 
   34. GOOGLE Ai: Current Houston Policy (as of January 2026):
   35. GOOGLE Ai: Active Cooperation: Mayor John Whitmire confirmed in late 2025 that Houston is actively cooperating with ICE, noting that refusing to work with federal agents could lead to an even larger federal presence in the city.
   36. GOOGLE Ai: Police Protocol: The Houston Police Department (HPD) is currently instructed to contact ICE if they encounter individuals with active deportation orders (administrative warrants) in national databases during routine stops.
   37. GOOGLE Ai: Blocked Proposals: Efforts by some City Council members to limit HPD’s cooperation — such as prohibiting officers from holding drivers while waiting for ICE agents — have failed to gain enough support to pass due to concerns about violating SB 4. 
   38. GOOGLE Ai: Distinction: Public vs. Private Property:
   39. GOOGLE Ai: While the city cannot block ICE from its properties, general legal protections still apply regarding how ICE enters different types of spaces: 
   40. GOOGLE Ai: Public Areas: ICE may enter any public space (including city-owned parks, lobbies, or public areas of municipal buildings) without a warrant.
   41. GOOGLE Ai: Private/Employee-Only Areas: To enter non-public, secure areas of city buildings (such as private offices or secure employee-only zones), ICE typically needs a judicial warrant signed by a judge, rather than just an administrative warrant issued by DHS. 
   42. GOOGLE Ai: For residents seeking local assistance, the Immigrant Rights Hotline (1-833-468-4664) provides resources on asserting legal rights during ICE encounters. 
   43. MIKE: Based on all of that, here are my views.
   44. MIKE: If Mayor Whitmire really wanted to protect all residents of Houston from unreasonable searches and seizures by ICE, he would order HPD to slow-walk ICE requests, and he would require that HPD only respond to judicial warrants for individuals.
   45. MIKE: If Mayor Whitmire was being honest about Houston warming shelters being open to all, he would make a public statement that he cannot protect people in those shelters from ICE. By not saying that in his comments, he is lying by omission.
   46. MIKE: If refusing to work with federal agents could lead to an even larger federal presence in the city, that does put Mayor Whitmire in a tough spot, assuming he actually wants to protect all Houston residents from ICE.
   47. MIKE: But is that equivalent to WW2, where some officials in occupied countries rationalized their cooperation with the Nazis as avoiding even worse outcomes?
   48. MIKE: Honestly, I don’t know, so I did some more research on Google, asking: “Did officials in Nazi-occupied Europe rationalize cooperating with the Nazis to avoid worse outcomes?”
   49. MIKE: I kind of knew the answer to this, but wanted to see how Google Ai articulated it. Without reading the whole thing, this is how it started: “Yes, officials, administrators, and political leaders in Nazi-occupied Europe frequently rationalized their cooperation with the German authorities as a way to “avoid worse outcomes” or to act as a “lesser evil. This strategy, often referred to as a form of “administrative” or “moderate” collaboration, aimed to maintain some level of local autonomy, protect national economies, or prevent more brutal direct military rule.”
   50. MIKE: The longer Ai deep dive concludes with this: “Ultimately, for many, this rationalization allowed them to navigate the immediate trauma of occupation, but it often led to deep, direct, and, in some cases, ideological complicity in the crimes of the Nazi regime.”
   51. MIKE: I’m providing my search terms so you can replicate my results. I’m providing links in this show post at the bottom of this item that might be informative on the subject of collaboration with oppressive regimes.
   52. MIKE: So, back to my point … I think that Mayor Whitmire qualifies as a collaborator with a fascist regime. On the one hand, he is constrained by law, and violating the law might lead to worse outcomes both for the city and for Whitmire personally. On the other hand, I don’t “feel” like he’s doing everything he could to protect Houston residents from ICE brutalities. History will judge him.
   53. MIKE: I use the word “feel” deliberately, because I’m not sure.
   54. MIKE: Could Whitmore limit HPD cooperation with ICE to judicial warrants? I suspect he could.
   55. MIKE: Could Mayor Whitmire use his authority to designate warming shelters as “non-public secure facilities” with some kind of official razzle-dazzle or hocus-pocus in an attempt to limit ICE access to these shelters? Maybe, maybe not. City lawyers would have to weigh in on that.
   56. MIKE: And of course, even if Whitmire could do all of the above, all ICE would have to do is wait outside the shelter to look for people leaving who might “look” [air quotes] illegal.
   57. MIKE: To sum up, I wish that the Whitmire recall effort had had more resources to require a recall election for Mayor Whitmire.
   58. MIKE: These are the titles of the articles I’m linking to:
   59. REFERENCE: Hitler’s Collaborators: Choosing between Bad and Worse in Nazi-Occupied Western Europe — ARMYUPRESS.ARMY.MIL
   60. REFERENCE: Collaboration in Europe, 1939-1945 — EHNE.FR/EN/ENCYCLOPEDIA (Digital Encyclopedia Of European History)
   61. REFERENCE: Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy — From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
4. Along those lines, in a story from the HOUSTON CHRONICLE — Will John Whitmire raise Houston’s property taxes? A new interview hints at the possibility.; By Abby Church, Staff Writer | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM | Jan 22, 2026. TAGS: Mayor John Whitmire, Property Taxes,
   1. Mayor John Whitmire hinted at a potential need for Houston officials to raise property taxes during his tenureas the city’s financial challenges continue to grow.
   2. Whitmire talked taxes and other topics in an interview with prominent lawyer Tony Buzbee on his podcast, “Swimming with the Sharks,” during which he also reiterated that he will run for reelection.
   3. The mayor told Buzbee that what frustrated him most is the politicization of issues that aren’t political. He gave the example of the city’s recent vote to allocate $30 million from a stormwater fund to tear down blighted buildings that were impeding the drainage system.
   4. Whitmire pivoted to how the city’s past neglect also frustrated him. He pointed to Houston’s revenue cap, which limits the amount of property taxes officials can collect each year from residents.
   5. That local cap, often more stringent than the state cap, adjusts the tax rate by inflation and population growth. The rate cannot increase by more than 4.5% in a given year, but officials will raise taxes up to 4.5% if that percentage is lower than inflation and population growth.
   6. [Whitmire said,] “If you’re not going to raise property taxes, how are you going to fund public safety, infrastructure? … I have a plan, and we’re going to do it again this spring, of efficiencies, of consolidating departments. We’re going to get it done. Now, at some point in my administration, I’m going to say, ‘I’ve done everything I can. What do we want to do?’ And I’ll work with Austin, I’ll work with the county.”
   7. … The mayor’s statement marks a slight departure from his past remarks on raising taxes, and is significant given Houston’s projected budget deficits. Houston could face a $227 million deficit next year, and that could balloon to $463 million if the city continues to spend more than it brings in. Whitmire has yet to publicly present a plan for new revenue.
   8. Some officials have argued that a higher revenue cap is needed to collect more taxes to bolster struggling departments.
   9. Whitmire has said he would do everything he could to eliminate inefficiencies, fraud and abuse before asking taxpayers for more money. He has implemented a voluntary retirement program, a hiring freeze and departmental consolidations to cut costs.
   10. Other officials have called for a garbage fee as the city’s solid waste department continues to struggle. Trash and recycling pickup reigned as two of the most complained about issues last year through the city’s 311 line.
   11. In his interview with Buzbee, Whitmire also talked the potential for a trash fee.
   12. [Whitmire said,] “There will be a time and place to do that, but you’ve got to have a plan.”
   13. Whitmire and his spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on a potential tax hike. Whitmire’s office as mayor has not responded to any Chronicle reporters’ request for comment since Aug. 17, though Whitmire’s campaign has issued responses.
   14. Here are some of the other top takeaways from Whitmire’s appearance on Buzbee’s podcast.
   15. No run for governor — Whitmire’s time as mayor will be his last political office.
   16. The mayor told Buzbee he wasn’t shopping around for the next political position and denied he would seek office as governor when asked.
   17. [Whitmire said,] “I will run for another term as mayor, and plan on serving two four-year terms. … I think it takes that long to at least correct some of the mistakes, get us back on the right path, and finish some of my reorganization. We’re transforming City Hall.”
   18. Whitmire told a New York Times reporter in a recent profile that he anticipated needing and winning a second term.
   19. A nonpartisan mayor — Whitmire also discussed the criticism he’s faced for his appearance at a fundraiser for Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, which ended in the mayor losing potential future endorsements from the Harris County Democratic Party.
   20. The mayor said Crenshaw has been helping the city secure money to repair its rapidly failing East Water Purification Plant, which supplies around 75% of the city with water. He added most of the Democrats he knows have gone to Republican receptions at some point.
   21. [Whitmire said,] “I’m not interested in being a Republican. … I’m interested in being a nonpartisan, effective mayor of Houston.”
   22. MIKE: I’ve been saying for a year that Houston needs to raise property taxes, and I prefer that to user fees like for trash pickup. User fees are often the worst, most regressive kind of flat, non-progressive tax.
   23. MIKE: With a property tax increase, even though it’s currently a flat tax, at least people with the most expensive properties will pay more money.
   24. MIKE: I will also repeat what I’ve been saying for years now: The most expensive properties in Houston should pay proportionately more. That would be as close to a progressive tax as we might get.
   25. MIKE: Maybe a home appraised at $1 million or more should pay a property tax surcharge at a slightly higher rate, and maybe escalate that surcharge further at values of $2-or-5 million. Then link that valuation to the rate of real estate inflation.
   26. MIKE: Maybe there could even be a hardship appeal based on income filed on federal tax forms.
   27. MIKE: There’s really no good justification for flat taxes except to benefit the wealthy and well off.
   28. MIKE: As for Whitmire running again for Mayor …I wish that he had run for Texas governor the first time he ran for mayor. I think he had a good shot at winning. But maybe there was some sort of backroom deal with Governor Greg Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, and the Texas Republican Party that made that a non-option.
   29. MIKE: But I certainly hope that if does run for mayor again, he loses, unless all the other options are actually worse. And I don’t know if that’s possible.
5. I think history is both important and significant. So, I’m going to cite a story from COMMUNITYIMPACT-DOT-COM, but I’m going to take it in a completely different direction — Watts Plantation Road in Missouri City renamed to Henry Watts Road; By Tomer Ronen | COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM | 3:10 PM Jan 21, 2026 CST. TAGS: Missouri City, Watts Plantation Road, Henry Watts Road,
   1. Missouri City is renaming Watts Plantation Road due to the area’s historic relevance and to remain consistent with the new Watts Road extension …
   2. MIKE: The rest of the story is about the details of the change. But I got curious about the source of the name and the reason for the name change. Was it because of the word “Plantation” and its associations? Was Missouri City just trying to get right with history?
   3. MIKE: That sent me down a shallow rabbit hole of research. Using the search term “Watts Plantation Road history”, Google Ai gave me this:
   4. Google Ai: “Watts Plantation Road, located in Missouri City, Texas, is a historically significant route closely tied to the post-Civil War African-American community and the legacy of the Watts family. In January 2026, the city council voted to rename the road to Henry Watts Road to honor a formerly enslaved person who became a local landowner. 
   5. Google Ai: Key historical details include:
   6. Google Ai: … To align with local development and honor Henry Watts, Missouri City renamed the road to Henry Watts Road.
   7. Google Ai: The road is home to Watts Plantation Cemetery, a historic cemetery with 66 known burials, with the earliest recorded burial dating back to January 28, 1862.
   8. Google Ai:… Descendants of the families buried there, along with the Fort Bend County Historical Commission, have worked to maintain the site, which is often threatened by neglect and wildlife.
   9. Google Ai:… The area represents a deeply rooted, historically African-American community in Fort Bend County. 
   10. MIKE: For those who may be interested, I’m also linking to a Houston Landing story from 2024 about the family members who still care for and maintain the cemetery.
   11. MIKE: So now you know the rest of the story.
   12. REFERENCE: Keeping history alive: Family preserves legacy of Missouri City’s historic Black cemetery — by Briah Lumpkins February 21, 2024
   13. REFERENCE: Watts Plantation Cemetery | Fort Bend County — Here’s some information about Watts Plantation Cemetery in Missouri City
6. Next from the TEXASTRIBUNE — Texas A&M abruptly cancels ethics course over race, gender policy; by Jessica Priest | TEXASTRIBUNE.ORG | Jan. 15, 2026, 5:43 p.m. Central. TAGS: Texas A&M University, Diversity-Equity-Inclusion (DEI), Professor Leonard Bright, Critical Race Theory, Race and Gender,
   1. Texas A&M University canceled a graduate ethics course three days after the semester began, saying Professor Leonard Bright did not provide enough information to let administrators determine if the course meets new standards for discussing race and gender.
   2. Bright disputes that characterization.
   3. The decision is distinct from earlier course changes at Texas A&M as the class had already met once before administrators canceled it.
   4. In a schoolwide email explaining the decision Wednesday, Bush School Dean John Sherman said system policy required the cancellation because Bright declined repeated requests to provide information on his planned instruction. Without that, Sherman said, administrators could not comply with system policy that bars courses from advocating race or gender ideology or topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity.
   5. Courses that venture into those topics require an exemption from top university officials. A university official said the deadline for department submissions is Friday, and the university expects to know before the Jan. 28 add-drop deadline how many courses will be canceled or changed under the policy.
   6. In an interview with The Texas Tribune, Bright said he made clear that issues of race, gender and sexuality would arise throughout the course, rather than on specific days that he could share in advance.
   7. “I told them it was going to come up every day,” Bright said. “During discussions, book reviews, case studies, throughout the course. There is no one day. That’s how this class works.”
   8. According to the syllabus, Bright’s Ethics and Public Policy (PSAA 642) would examine how race, gender, religion, sexual orientation and other social identities shape public policy and the ethical responsibilities of public servants. Bright said he might share his perspectives on related issues and matters of public concern, but that students were not expected to agree with him.
   9. One week of the course would have been devoted to equity and social justice in public administration, with readings about diversity, equity and inclusion; critical race theory; and John Rawls’ “A Theory of Justice.”
   10. Bright said this was the only ethics class offered in the Bush School this semester. Ten students were initially enrolled. After he warned the class about the administrative review and the potential for cancellation, two students enrolled in another class.
   11. The university said it is working to help remaining students find alternative courses.
   12. In his email to faculty, Sherman said Bright’s class was one of two Bush School courses requiring exemptions from the vice provost of academic affairs. In the other course, he wrote, administrators were able to request an exemption because the syllabus provided sufficient detail, allowing those courses to proceed as designed.
   13. Sherman said he took “no pleasure” in canceling Bright’s course but said the decision was required under system policy.
   14. “I want us to continue to teach hard topics and to engage with controversial issues,” Sherman wrote. “But I also expect us to follow the process laid out for the approval of syllabi and to ensure alignment between our syllabi and our course descriptions. Put simply, transparency does not equal censorship.”
   15. Last week, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences told faculty that roughly 200 of the college’s courses could be affected by the policy, and a philosophy professor said he was told to remove Plato readings related to race and gender or be reassigned to teach another class. The university said at the time that the decision did not amount to a ban on teaching Plato, noting other courses include the philosopher’s teachings that do not touch on race or gender.
   16. Emails obtained by the Tribune show Bright was not asked to remove or change his course content before it was canceled.
   17. Bright, who has taught this class since 2018, is also president of the Texas A&M Chapter of the American Association of University Professors, a faculty group that opposes the system’s new race and gender ideology policy.
   18. The Board of Regents passed the policy last year after a classroom discussion involving gender identity was secretly recorded and circulated online, drawing criticism from conservative activists and elected officials. The episode reverberated across Texas higher education, prompting reviews of course content at other public university systems, including Texas Tech University System, which has imposed similar restrictions.
   19. No state or federal law prohibits discussion of race, gender or sexuality in college classrooms. State law does require public universities to post course syllabi online, but in the wake of the backlash at Texas A&M, professors have been required to submit them for administrative review before certain courses can proceed.
   20. Michael Johnson, associate provost for academic enhancement and interim vice provost for academic affairs, said the university established written guidance, timelines and a framework for the syllabus and course review under the policy. Instead of “prescriptive, one-size-fits-all directives” for individual courses, he said, the policy is interpreted and applied by faculty, department heads and deans within their academic fields.
   21. “When additional clarification has been needed, we have continued to refine our guidance and respond to questions,” Johnson said.
   22. MIKE: This is basically a follow-up on a story I covered on last week’s show. I don’t have anything else to add except that the fascists are in control in Texas and the thought police are in the building.
   23. MIKE: Assuming that elections will still be reasonably honest, it’s never been more important to vote in American history than it is right now. Don’t let someone else decide for you who is in power.
7. In the realm of some personal reporting, in January 2026, reports identified a Domino’s Pizza franchise owner in Nashville and his son for providing dozens of free pizzas and sodas to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents; TAGS: ICE, Domino’s Pizza,
   1. A user on THREADS posted a video that appears to confirm this in the son’s own words.
   2. Based on my research, the specific location associated with this owner, often cited in Nashville local discussions and reviews, is Domino’s Pizza at 835 4th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37210
   3. Videos circulated in mid-January 2026 showing the franchise owner preparing for a “pizza party” at the local ICE facility to support the agents’ work. For verification or direct inquiries, this location can be reached at 615-244-3232.
   4. I have written a media inquiry to Domino’s corporate asking for their position on this matter and what their corporate position is on this franchisee’s support of ICE.
   5. So far, I have not received any response. I’ll let you know if that changes.
8. In a story from the Pentagon’s news organization, Stars and Stripes — Pentagon says it will ‘refocus’ Stars and Stripes content; By Corey Dickstein | STRIPES.COM (Stars and Stripes) | January 15, 2026. TAGS: Pentagon, Military, Pentagon’s Public Affairs, Censorship, First Amendment, Propaganda,
   1. The Pentagon said on social media Thursday [last week that] it would take over editorial content decision-making for Stars and Stripes in a statement from the Defense Department’s top spokesman.
   2. [Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s top public affairs official and a close adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, wrote in a statement posted to X,] “The Department of War is returning Stars & Stripes to its original mission: reporting for our warfighters. We are bringing Stars & Stripes into the 21st century. … We will modernize its operations, refocus its content away from woke distractions that syphon morale, and adapt it to serve a new generation of service members.”
   3. The statement appears to challenge the editorial independence of Stars and Stripes, which while a part of the Pentagon’s Defense Media Activity has long retained independence from editorial oversight from the Pentagon under a congressional mandate that it be governed by First Amendment principles.
   4. The move was met with pushback from several Democratic senators, who accused the Pentagon of tampering with the newspaper’s reporting.
   5. Stars and Stripes, which is dedicated to serving U.S. government personnel overseas, seeks to emulate the best practices of commercial news organizations in the United States. It is governed by Department of Defense Directive 5122.11. The directive states, among other key provisions, that “there shall be a free flow of news and information to its readership without news management or censorship.”
   6. Editor-in-Chief Erik Slavin, in a note to Stars and Stripes’ editorial staff across the globe Thursday, said the military deserves independent news.
   7. [Slavin wrote,] “The people who risk their lives in defense of the Constitution have earned the right to the press freedoms of the First Amendment. … We will not compromise on serving them with accurate and balanced coverage, holding military officials to account when called for.”
   8. Stars and Stripes first appeared during the Civil War, and it has been continuously published since World War II. It is staffed by civilian and active-duty U.S. military reporters and editors who produce daily newspapers for American troops around the world and a website, com, which is updated with news 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
   9. [Parnell, the Pentagon PR official, said Thursday] that the military newspaper would now “be custom tailored to our warfighter” with a focus on “warfighting, weapons systems, fitness, lethality, survivability, and ALL THINGS MILITARY.”
   10. He said Stars and Stripes would no longer post “repurposed DC gossip columns” or “Associated Press reprints.”
   11. [Defense Secretary] Hegseth reposted Parnell’s statement.
   12. Jacqueline Smith, Stars and Stripes’ ombudsman, said Thursday that in her two years in the role she has found the news organization has remained focused on the U.S. military.
   13. [She said,] “I can say with assurance that Stripes does focus on ‘warfighters’ in every aspect that affects them and their families.”
   14. Spokespersons for Hegseth’s office declined to provide additional comment or detail about Parnell’s statement Thursday.
   15. A White House spokesperson referred questions about the Pentagon’s plans for Stars and Stripes to comments published in a story by the Daily Wire.
   16. [MIKE: The Daily Wire is a rightwing outlet. Nonetheless, I’m adding a link to that article. Continuing …]
   17. [White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said, according to The Daily Wire,] “The Department of War, under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, is continuing to revitalize, restore, and modernize. … Stars and Stripes is just the latest example of a broader effort to adapt long-standing institutions to how today’s service members live, work, and consume information.”
   18. [MIKE: I’ll offer a useful reminder that “Department of War” is still cosplaying by the Trump regime. Until and unless renamed by an act of Congress, it’s still the “Department of Defense. Continuing …]
   19. The Pentagon plans for active-duty service members to produce all of Stars and Stripes’ content moving forward, according to The Daily Wire, citing unnamed Defense officials. Some 50% of the content on its website would “be composed of War Department-generated materials, including digital or print materials made by War Department writers and images captured by combat cameras,” the organization reported.
   20. [MIKE: In other words, the Trump regime is attempting to make Stars and Stripes a new propaganda organ for the regime. Continuing …]
   21. Smith, [the Stars and Stripes’ ombudsman,] said such changes would amount to “unnecessary control and the perception of propaganda.”
   22. [She said,] “That is public relations, not independent journalism. … The other ‘fifty percent’ of the content would hold no credibility.”
   23. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., a Marine Corps veteran who in November co-sponsored a resolution recognizing Stars and Stripes, again voiced his support on Thursday.
   24. [Said Senator Gallego,] “Like thousands of servicemembers and veterans, I read Stars and Stripes when I was in Iraq. Stars and Stripes’ independence is exactly why troops trust it, and the Pentagon’s attempt to take over its editorial decisions undermines that trust. I’ll fight any attempt to turn Stars and Stripes into another mouthpiece for this administration’s propaganda.”
   25. Parnell’s post came a day after a Washington Post report revealed that applicants for positions at Stars and Stripes were being asked how they would support President Donald Trump’s policies. The questionnaire appears on the USAJobs portal, the official website for federal hiring. Stars and Stripes was unaware of the questions until the Post inquired about them, organization leaders said.
   26. [MIKE: I’ve added the link to that job posting. Continuing …]
   27. The Pentagon statement comes several years after the Defense Department attempted to shut down Stars in Stripes in 2020, during Trump’s first administration. The Pentagon asked Congress then to cut funding for the publication — which is about 50% funded by tax dollars and 50% funded by advertising and subscription sales — before ordering it closed.
   28. DOD ultimately shifted course after bipartisan lawmakers vowed to support the organization, and Trump announced Stars and Stripes would remain in operation and “continue to be a wonderful source of information to our Great Military!”
   29. The Pentagon does not appear to be considering shutting the publication down.
   30. [Pentagon public affairs official Parnell wrote in his statement,] “Stars & Stripes has a proud legacy of reporting news that’s important to our service members. … The Department of War is committed to ensuring the outlet continues to reflect that proud legacy.”
   31. Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday said any efforts to change Stars and Stripes’ editorial independence amounted to an attack on the First Amendment.
   32. Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts; Mark Kelly, of Arizona; Richard Blumenthal, of Connecticut; and Tammy Duckworth, of Illinois, all members of the committee, voiced support for Stars and Stripes’ editorial independence.
   33. Stars and Stripes reached out to several Republican lawmakers, but none immediately responded to requests for comment.
   34. [Blumenthal, a Marine Corps veteran,] called the move a “disrespect to our military, men and women,” [saying,] “I certainly will push back because I think that the independence of Stars and Stripes is absolutely essential to the public knowing the truth about what’s happening in our military and also a measure of respect to our men and women who serve and sacrifice.” …
   35. Kelly, a Navy veteran, said the effort was an attack on the free press.
   36. [Senator Kelly said,] “I still read Stars and Stripes today. I read it in the 1980s and it is important that members of the military get uninfluenced and unfiltered news. … It’s very disappointing. It’s also not unexpected.”
   37. MIKE: The Daily Wire story says in part, “Until now, [Stripes] has republished content from the Associated Press and Reuters. This will no longer be the case, War Department officials explained to The Daily Wire. They plan to bring the publication ‘into the 21st century’ and modernize its operations, refocusing content ‘away from woke distractions that siphon morale.’”
   38. MIKE: If it was up to the Trump regime, every media outlet would toe their propaganda line as if they were TASS, RT News, Xinhua, or Fars News. CBS News has already been co-opted by a pro-Trump American oligarch, while some US universities and law firms are also toe-ing the line.
   39. MIKE: Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying that we had a republic, if we could keep it. The times we’re living in will see if Franklin was correct. Now is the time for all good Americans to come to the aid of their country.
9. In case you missed this next story from TheIndependent, I think it’s revealing about the kind of vetting DHS does when hiring recruits for CBP and ICE — Anti-Trump journalist claims ICE offered her a job after six-minute interview and ‘sloppy’ vetting; By Joe Sommerlad | THE-INDEPENDENT.COM | Wednesday 14 January 2026 11:56 EST. TAGS: Ice, Department of Homeland Security, Donald Trump, Immigration,
   1. [MIKE: I went to her SLATE story, and wasn’t paywalled for me, but it’s at least twice as long as this one. I’m including a link to the SLATE article here in this show post if you want to read it.]
   2. A journalist has claimed she was offered a job with ICE after an interview that lasted less than six minutes and without her having to write “a single signature on agency paperwork,” although the Department of Homeland Security has disputed her story.
   3. Slate reporter Laura Jedeed recounts her visit to an ICE Career Expo event at the ESports Stadium Arlington near Dallas in Texas last August, which was offering on-the-spot hiring for deportation officers.
   4. Jedeed joined the Army after graduating from high school and been deployed to Afghanistan twice with the 82nd Airborne Division, subsequently working as a civilian analyst.
   5. But the 38-year-old is a Trump critic and describes herself as “anti-ICE”, something she assumed would rule her out of contention for a role when picked up [during] vetting.
   6. However, after booking an appointment with a recruiting officer and joining a short line, she claims the interviewer asked only her name, date of birth and age, whether she had any law enforcement or military experience, and about the circumstances in which she left the service.
   7. Jedeed says she was subsequently told by the officer: “They are prioritizing current law enforcement first. They’re going to adjudicate your resume.” She was told to look out for an email advising her of next steps.
   8. Speaking to a working deportation officer before departing, she was told that, if she were hired, she would be unlikely to “hit the streets right away.”
   9. When Jedeed suggested she might be more comfortable with a desk job anyway, she claims to have noticed an “attitude shift” from the officer, who she says told her: “Just to be upfront, the goal is to put as many guns and badges out in the field as possible.”
   10. The journalist says she received the promised email on September 3, which suggested she was being made a “tentative offer” and instructed her to sign into a jobs website and return a number of attached forms, which sought information about her driver’s license and any prior domestic violence convictions, as well as consent for a background check to be carried out.
   11. Jadeed says she completed none of the steps required but nevertheless received a follow-up email three weeks later thanking her for proceeding and asking her to submit a drug test.
   12. She did so and, nine days later, logged into the jobs website.
   13. [She claimed,] “Somehow, despite never submitting any of the paperwork they sent me – not the background check or identification info, not the domestic violence affidavit, none of it – ICE had apparently offered me a job.”
   14. The site claimed she had accepted a final offer and, as of September 30, been entered on duty, assigned to her home state of New York.
   15. [Jadeed writes,] “By all appearances, I was a deportation officer. … Without a single signature on agency paperwork, ICE had officially hired me.”
   16. She claims that the site also listed her as having passed a fitness test and a background check on October 6, despite its being only October 3 at the time. She ultimately declined the position.
   17. A DHS spokesperson told The Independent: “Applicants may receive a Tentative Selection Letter following their initial application and interview that is not a job offer. This individual was NEVER offered a job at ICE.”
   18. The Independent has also reached out to ICE for further comment.
   19. Jadeed concludes by cautioning those opposed to the federal agency against taking comfort from the idea that its recruitment process is “sloppy.”
   20. [She writes,] “The truth, my experience suggests, is perhaps even scarier. … ICE’s recruitment push is so sloppy that the administration effectively has no idea who’s joining the agency’s ranks. We’re all, collectively, in the dark about whom the state is arming, tasking with the most sensitive of law enforcement work, and then sending into America’s streets.”
   21. Before President Donald Trump took office a year ago, ICE had roughly 10,000 agents by its own count.
   22. It added another 12,000 in 2025 as a result of its hiring spree, which, as Jadeed points out, means it now has more new recruits than old hands, enough to oversee a major cultural shift within its running.
   23. MIKE: You can take or leave the response from DHS, but I think that proof on the ground, particularly in Minneapolis, tends to support Jadeed’s account.
   24. MIKE: I think we can all rest assured — although “rest” is probably the wrong word here — that DHS and ICE are hiring all the wrong people through willful ignorance of their actual psychological, political, and motivational reasons for joining up.
   25. MIKE: Evidence so far is that a great many of these recruits are literally the worst of the worst.
   26. MIKE: So referring back to the earlier stories, are these the people and institutions that Mayor Whitmire appears to be collaborating with in order to prevent an ICE presence in Houston that is even worse? And how will history judge that collaboration? Only time will tell.
10. This next opinion piece from THEHILL raises some important strategic points — OPINION: Decommissioning the USS Nimitz is a gift to China; by Gordon G. Chang, opinion contributor | THEHILL.COM | 01/14/26 8:00 AM ET. TAGS: Admiral Phil Davidson, Aircraft Carriers, China, George C. Marshall, Pete Hegseth, Secretary Of Defense Pete Hegseth, US Navy, US-China Tensions, USS John F. Kennedy, USS Nimitz, Xi Jinping,
    1. The USS Nimitz, the world’s oldest aircraft carrier, returned to its homeport, Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington, last month from its final deployment, a nine-month tour through the Third, Fifth and Seventh Fleets. The U.S. Navy is scheduled to decommission Nimitz this yearin Norfolk, Virginia. 
    2. But America’s four-star admirals, by taking the carrier out of service, are about to make a critical mistake. 
    3. As an initial matter, U.S. law requires the Navy to maintain no fewer than 11 aircraft carriers. Today, the fleet consists of 10 Nimitz-class flattops and one Ford-class one. The delivery of the second Ford-class carrier, USS John F. Kennedy, has been delayed until at least 2027, leaving the U.S., after the Nimitz decommissioning, with just 10 carriers for an extended period.
    4. [MIKE: As a matter of practical reality, it’s important to note that about 7 of those carriers are at sea at any given time due to normal service rotations for shore leave, maintenance, and resupply. Continuing …]
    5. More important than meeting legal mandates, the Navy needs every carrier available. Today in many respects resembles 1939, when General George C. Marshall took command as Army Chief of Staff. As he saidthen, “critical times are upon us.”  
    6. These times are critical as well. China’s regime is engaged in the fastest military buildup since the Second World War; it is stockpiling grainand other commodities; it is reportedly calling up reservists and it is seizing privately owned factories and turning them over to the military. The Chinese Communist Party is trying to sanction-proof the country. Xi Jinping, who repeatedly issues warlike pronouncements, is mobilizing all of Chinese society for prolonged battle.  
    7. Many even think the Chinese will invade Taiwan soon. The Pentagon’s latest annual reporton the People’s Liberation Army, released last month, says “China expects to be able to fight and win a war on Taiwan by the end of 2027.” “The PLA,” it states, “continues to refine multiple military options to force Taiwan unification by brute force.” 
    8. The 2027 timeframe fits in with what has become known as “the Davidson window.” Adm. Phil Davidson, then head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, in 2021 talked abouta Chinese invasion of Taiwan by 2027.
    9. The window is closing, and the Pentagon’s civilian leadership is moving fast.
    10. [Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth saidon Sept. 30, to an unprecedented gathering of hundreds of America’s generals and admirals in Quantico, Virginia,] “From this moment forward, the only mission of the newly restored Department of War is this: Warfighting. … Prepare for war,” he added.
    11. The Pentagon brass says it is preparing for war, but, judging from its actions, it is not particularly serious. Take the case of the Nimitz. The Navy late last year awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries a $33.5 million contractto begin the planning and material procurement for the inactivation and defueling of Nimitz’s twin reactors. 
    12. War games indicatethat the U.S. will lose two aircraft carriers in a conflict with China. It would, therefore, be handy to have a spare carrier tied up at Bremerton, ready to surge into battle. 
    13. [Paul Giarra, a former U.S. Navy aviator and Navy-designated strategic planner, told me this month,] “Retiring Nimitz is driven by long-range plans formulated years ago, immune to change, and designed to make room in the budget for new ships. … To even the most casual observer, the decision to decommission Nimitz was made with no regard for readiness, China, or warfighting capacity.”
    14. [He added,] “The decision to take Nimitz out of service in the face of a massive Chinese navy buildup … is a reflection of the unsustainable U.S. Navy planning process that is distributed over numerous organizations and over such long periods of time that it is impossible to have a single directing purpose driving the procurement process with any sense of strategic coherence.” 
    15. The People’s Liberation Army Navy now operates three carriers and 393 other ships, according to James Fanell, a former U.S. Navy captain and co-author of “Embracing Communist China: America’s Greatest Strategic Failure”. That makes it the world’s largest naval force by ship count.  
    16. America’s ship count is about 296, but that number includes the USS Pueblo, seized by North Korea in 1968 and operated since then as a museum, and the Revolutionary War-era USS Constitution. Although America’s ships — especially the carriers — are larger and more capable than China’s, China’s naval forces probably can overwhelm America’s in a fight in Asian waters. 
    17. [Giarra, now president of Global Strategies and Transformation, added,] “That the U.S. Navy’s right hand does not know what the left hand is doing is excruciatingly evident. … The decision to decommission Nimitz makes absolutely no sense when every U.S. Navy and allied flight deck and missile tube and torpedo are needed to balance the explosive and threatening growth of China’s navy.” 
    18. MIKE: I’ve said on this show a few times over the years that it feels like we are in a pre-war period. I said that a couple of years before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. (Although I’ll admit that at the time I said that, I was expecting any war to start around the South China Sea.)
    19. MIKE: If we compare our current era to the 1930s, the Russian invasion of Ukraine could be equivalent to the Imperial Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931, which Asians consider the actual start of WW2.
    20. MIKE: I’ve occasionally speculated that the Russian invasion of Ukraine, whether you choose 2014 or 2022 as that starting point, may someday be considered the start of WW3.
    21. MIKE: The US was woefully unprepared for war in the 1930s, and it was partly dumb luck and largely due to the leadership of President Roosevelt that we had made some progress in rearming and preparing for war by December 7^th, 1941 when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.
    22. MIKE: I’ve also discussed on this show over the past year that between now and 2030, the US military will be at its nadir in a rebuilding stage as many old ships, planes and other major equipment is being retired to pay for replacements.
    23. MIKE: At the same time during the same period, China will likely be at its military peak with modern equipment, a large and increasingly capable naval fleet, an air force that may have some of the best fighter and battlefield-awareness aircraft in the world, massive excess industrial capacity that can be rapidly mobilized, and the largest potential manpower pool it’s likely to have for generations, if not centuries.
    24. MIKE: Meanwhile, we’re retiring aircraft carriers and aircraft, pissing off our allies, and threatening to invade Greenland.
    25. MIKE: This certainly isn’t your grandfather’s kind of war preparation.
11. On a totally different note, from Boston-dot-com back in July about a battle that’s apparently still going on — A battery storage facility is being proposed in a rural Mass. town. Residents are pushing back.; By Beth Treffeisen | BOSTON.COM | updated on July 11, 2025. TAGS: Lithium Battery Storage, Renewable Energy,
    1. Signs reading “STOP! Lithium Battery Storage” and “No Battery Park in Oakham” dot front yards across the rural community in Central Massachusetts. The signs show opposition to a proposed 180-megawatt energy storage facility slated for a 43-acre site …
    2. … Rhynland Energy wants to build the facility on a former auto salvage yard. But locals say the location poses a serious risk. If a fire were to break out, they warn, pollutants could enter the Ware River Watershed, which feeds the Quabbin Reservoir, a drinking water source for 2.7 million people.
    3. The proposal is now under review by the state’s Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB), leaving residents facing a tough fight against a powerful regulatory agency and a private energy developer. …
    4. The town has fought this battle before. In 2022, residents successfully stopped another proposed lithium-ion battery storage project by amending their zoning bylaws prohibiting it. 
    5. However, Rhynland Energy plans to circumvent the bylaw by going directly to the state.
    6. The new clean energy law that Gov. Maura Healey signed in 2024 allows energy storage system projects of at least 100 megawatt-hours to receive a comprehensive exemption from local zoning bylaws if the EFSB issues a certificate. …
    7. … The lithium-ion batteries in phones, laptops, and wearable electronics are the basis of the technology used in energy storage facilities. 
    8. The company buys power to charge the batteries during low-peak times by siphoning it off the power lines. It sells it back to the grid during high-peak times …
    9. Residents raised safety concerns following several fires at battery storage facilities, including a January [2025] incident at Vistra Energy’s Moss Landing site in California that [left] nearby residents feeling ill following the blaze; a 2024 fire in San Diego that burned for five days; and a 2023 fire in Warwick, New York, that lasted three days and forced local school closures. …
    10. MIKE: There’s quite a bit more detail in the story, which you can read at this show post at ThinkwingRadio-dot-com. As of my most recent research today, the political and legal struggle is still ongoing.
    11. MIKE: I don’t dismiss the community’s objections to this battery storage site. There was a similar public debate in League City in 2024, which I discussed on this show.
    12. MIKE: Utility-scale storage batteries are essential for our energy future. They represent the only way that renewable energy can truly replace fossil-fueled power plants. But like any industrial facility, the risks posed and the locations selected matter.
    13. MIKE: Current technology leans heavily on lithium-ion batteries. The majority of Battery Energy Storage Systems — often described using the acronym, BESS — use this technology. Defective lithium-Ion batteries can overheat, release toxic fumes, and even explode or burn in fires that require special technology to extinguish.
    14. MIKE: Other, potentially safer, battery technologies are in the pipeline. All have pros and cons. I’ve provided a link in this show post at ThinkwingRadio-dot-com.

 There’s always more to discuss, but that’s all we have time for today.