Good day everybody, this is Honor News Now, you're welcomed to the 9th of January, 2026. I'm Connor McIver, it's Friday.
We're gonna talk about what's happening, I'm not here to tell you what to think, but I'm here to give you the facts, show you what both sides are saying, and let you decide what's right in this particular news update.
Today we have a packed show. Minneapolis ICE shooting is now triggering political warfare right here in Los Angeles County. It's made it all the way over here. We've got breaking news on Venezuela oil tankers, a surprising healthcare vote with Republican defections, and Indiana wants to bring back firing squads. And that's what's happening in Los Angeles right here in Santa Clarita Valley.
Think for yourself. Act with honor and also always use critical thinking. Let's get into it.
Story Number One: Minneapolis ICE Shooting and Los Angeles's Ice-Free Zones
The Facts: Two days after an ICE agent fatally shot 37-year-old Rene Good during an immigration operation in Minneapolis, the political fallout has finally reached California.
The shooting is still under investigation. Good was a U.S. citizen, a mother of three. Circumstances of the confrontation remain disputed. Federal agents say she posed a threat. Witnesses say she was acting as a legal observer.
Here's what's happening now: Los Angeles County Supervisors are scheduled to vote Tuesday on an ordinance that would ban ICE from using any county property as staging areas, creating official ICE-free zones across L.A. County.
The Right says conservative media is laser-focused on two things. First, the ICE agent faced a dangerous situation and agents have every right to defend themselves against violent protesters who obstruct federal operations.
Second, this is the bigger story for the right. LA County's response is lawless sanctuary policy. They're pointing out this could cost LA County up to 1 billion dollars in federal funding. The argument is simple. You can't obstruct federal law enforcement and then expect federal money.
The Left says progressive media is focused on lethal force against the civilian and the lack of accountability in federal policing. They're asking why was deadly force necessary against an unarmed observer? The Los Angeles County proposal is being framed as a human rights protection, a moral stand against what they call aggressive deportation agenda that's terrorizing immigrant communities. For the left, this is about protecting vulnerable people, not politics.
My take: Here's the deal. I spent 20 years with the LAPD. When federal and local authorities clash, everybody loses. If you're for this policy, understand there are real financial consequences. If you're against it, understand why communities feel threatened. Both things can be true. But as far as absolute truth, yeah, we'll have to go back to the constitution for that.
Story Number Two: Trump Targets Venezuelan Ghost Fleet
The facts: The Trump administration has ordered the U.S. Coast Guard to aggressively target and seize what they're calling Ghost Fleet oil tankers. These are vessels attempting to bypass sanctions to export Venezuelan oil for the Maduro regime.
Here's the escalation: The administration is now soliciting specialists to repair and command these seized vessels so they can be brought to U.S. ports, not just turned away.
The right says this is America's first foreign policy in action. Enforcing U.S. sanctions and showing decisive leadership on a global stage. The message to Maduro and anyone doing business with him is clear: We're not just watching anymore.
The left says critics are calling this gunboat diplomacy with risks of military escalation in the Caribbean. Some are arguing this is a resource grab designed as enforcement. There are also environmental concerns. Seizing decrepit tankers on the high seas could lead to oil spills and disasters.
The bottom line: Whether you see this as strong leadership or dangerous overreach depends on your view of American power projection. The facts are, we're now actively seizing foreign vessels and keeping them.
Number Three: Healthcare Vote - Seventeen Republicans Break Ranks
The facts: The House passed a bill yesterday extending the Affordable Care Act subsidies for another three years. These are the tax credits that help millions of Americans afford health insurance. Here's the headline: the bill passed 230 to 196 with 17 Republicans breaking away from their party to join the Democrats. GOP leadership opposed it. It passed anyway.
Why now? Well, these subsidies expired in December. The premiums have spiked for millions of Americans heading into 2026.
The right says conservative commentators are calling this fiscal irresponsibility, a bailout for a broken healthcare system. The 17 Republican defectors are being criticized for siding with Democrats to expand the national healthcare debt. The argument: we can't keep throwing money at Obamacare.
The left says this is being framed as a critical lifeline for working families. Progressive media is highlighting the bipartisan support as proof that the ACA is essential and that the MAGA wing of the GOP is still out of touch with what voters actually need.
The reality: 17 Republicans looked at their constituents facing premium hikes and made a choice. Whether that's courage or capitulation depends on your politics. And ultimately, that's why we have kind of a two-party system or maybe three in some worlds.
Story Number Four: Indiana Firing Squad Bill
The facts: Indiana Republicans introduced Senate Bill 11 this week that would authorize firing squads as a backup method of execution if lethal injection drugs are unavailable. It would also allow condemned inmates to request the firing squad.
The reason: Lethal injection drugs, specifically pentobarbital, they're expensive, hard to get, and pharmaceutical companies are increasingly refusing to supply them for executions.
The right says this is framed as practical and justice focused. The argument: jury sentences could be carried out, not stalled indefinitely because of supply chain issues. If a sentence is death, the state has an obligation to fulfill it.
The left says civil rights groups are calling this barbaric, a regression to the 19th century. They're arguing this exposes the inherent cruelty of capital punishment and are using this bill to push for total abolition.
Here's where I stand: This is one where reasonable people disagree. If you support the death penalty, this method question is administrative. If you oppose it, any method is unacceptable. Know where you stand and why.
Number Five: Democrats Pivot to Trade Schools
The facts: Over 100 new Democrat lawmakers released a major policy agenda this week that deprioritizes traditional four-year college degrees in favor of apprenticeships and trade schools. This is a significant shift from the Obama-era college-for-all message.
The right says conservative media is calling this Democrats finally admitting Trump was right about the working class. They're framing it as a desperate, cynical attempt to win back blue collar voters before the 2026 midterms by copying MAGA talking points.
The left says progressive outlets are framing this as pragmatism. Meeting voters where they are, addressing the student debt crisis, and destigmatizing labor. It's presented as fixing the elitist perception of the Democratic Party.
My take: Whether this is genuine policy evolution or political calculation, the shift is real. Trade skills are being valued again. It's worth noting, regardless of who gets credit. And on the AI front, smart jobs, computer-based interactions and work, that's going to probably be replaced faster than the plumber on the street.
L.A. Wildfires: One Year Later
Today marks the one-year anniversary of the devastating January 2025 wildfires. Can't believe time has moved that quickly. Palisades, Eaton, Hurst fires destroyed thousands of homes across Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Altadena.
Current status: There are no active major fires burning right now. That's the good news.
The reality: Here's the bad news. A year later, fewer than a dozen homes have been fully rebuilt out of the thousands destroyed. It sounded like it was going to happen, but Pacific Palisades and Malibu, entire neighborhoods are still empty dirt lots. Insurance payouts have fallen massively short of actual construction costs. Altadena, similar story. Residents are stuck in what they're calling permitting purgatory.
If there is a bright spot, Bank of America announced a one million dollar grant today to help rebuild the Pacific Malibu YMCA. Small victories matter.
For Santa Clarita: We dodged the worst of it last year, but this is a reminder, fire season doesn't care about city limits. If you haven't renewed your insurance, your defensible space and evacuation plan, do it this weekend. Don't wait.
Real Estate Report: Los Angeles County
All right, let's talk real estate. I've been in business in Santa Clarita since 1998. Here's what you need to know about the current market.
Los Angeles County Overview: The L.A. market is cooling. That's actually healthy. We're normalizing. Inventory is at its highest level since 2020. Homes are sitting longer. Prices are effectively flat or slipping slightly. The higher mortgage rates, but those look like they're going to come down here in the near future. Still hovering around 6.15 to 6.3 percent. And that depends on credibility and all that. And they're capping what buyers can afford.
It's a wait-and-see market for a lot of buyers out there. Sales volume's low. Buyers are waiting for rates to drop further. Also, don't forget, we just came through the holidays, and holidays are a very slow time. Properties are still moving at the rate in Santa Clarita of closings, you know, 40 to 60 per week, depending on the particular week. But that's still not a bad number.
Sales volume's low, buyers are waiting for rates to drop further. Instead of waiting until the market starts to really kick off and a lot more buyers start to move, we're going to see a lot more competition amongst buyers. So now's not a bad time to at least start looking and potentially consider a refinance later. That might be something to look at. All that stuff depends on costs and also rate reductions. If the rate only drops a third, might not be worth the refi. Depends. You got to see those numbers.
Sellers are finally being forced to reduce prices of properties just to get them to move. So if you're a buyer who's been priced out for the last few years, you're getting options again. If you're a seller expecting 2021 prices, well, it's time for a reality check.
Santa Clarita Valley Real Estate
Now let's bring it home: Valencia, Saugus, Canyon Country, Newhall, Stevenson Ranch.
The numbers: Median price $775,000, down slightly about 0.13% from last year. Days on market 67 to 71 days. That's up quite a bit from last year same timeframe. New listings about 10% up compared to the numbers last year. Buyers have more choices out there.
The market's somewhat competitive, but the frenzy's over. The days of instant bidding wars are done.