LA Elites Hire Private Firefighters, Supreme Court Signals Tik Tok Ban, Jack Smith Resigns, NATO CMDR Supports U.S. Greenland Idea, NYC New Crazy Restaurant Regulations

 In a stark display of wealth inequality, LA's millionaires are now shelling out a jaw-dropping $2,000 per hour for private firefighting crews while the rest of the city grapples with some of the most devastating wildfires in its history. These premium protection services are showing up with their own water supplies, trucks, and industrial-grade equipment, essentially creating a two-tier emergency response system in one of America's wealthiest zip codes. Chris Dunn, owner of private fire protection company Covered 6, says his phone hasn't stopped ringing as Hollywood elites desperately vie for his services. We're talking about crews working around the clock, spraying fire retardant on million-dollar properties and wrapping trees in fireproof materials while more than 100,000 regular citizens have been forced to evacuate their homes. The controversy reached a boiling point when millionaire real estate investor Keith Wasserman took to X with what might be the most tone-deaf post of the year. Quote: "Does anyone have access to private firefighters to protect our home in Pacific Palisades? Need to act fast here. All neighbors' houses burning. Will pay any amount." The backlash was swift and fierce, forcing him to delete the post. 

 But Wasserman isn't alone in this fire-fighting frenzy. Real estate mogul Rick Caruso also faced intense criticism after the New York Times revealed he'd hired private crews to protect his property. As one social media user sarcastically put it, quote: "Wish I had private crews to protect my $2 investment in brokie. All I got is this broken umbrella and a spray bottle filled with tap water." As reported by the Daily Mail and confirmed by multiple sources, these private firefighting services aren't just protecting individual homes – they're creating a visible divide between those who can afford premium protection and those left relying on the overwhelmed public fire department. While some defend it as free market forces at work, critics argue it's a troubling symptom of our growing wealth gap, playing out in real-time against a backdrop of natural disaster. 

 The Supreme Court appears poised to greenlight a nationwide TikTok ban, following more than two hours of intense oral arguments that centered largely on national security concerns rather than free speech. The stakes couldn't be higher, with the ban set to take effect January 19th unless the Court intervenes. Chief Justice Roberts made it crystal clear that Congress isn't targeting expression – they're zeroing in on what they see as a national security threat. We're talking about a foreign adversary potentially harvesting data from 170 million Americans. And when you put it that way, the First Amendment arguments start looking pretty shaky. Justice Kavanaugh really drove this point home, highlighting concerns about China potentially using TikTok's massive data collection to turn future FBI, CIA, and State Department employees. The platform's extensive information about American teenagers and young adults could become a powerful tool for blackmail and espionage down the line. 

 TikTok's legal team tried to downplay these concerns as purely speculative, even suggesting they'd be fine with warning labels about potential Chinese manipulation. But that argument didn't seem to gain much traction with most justices, though Neil Gorsuch and Elena Kagan did raise some eyebrows about the precedent this could set for other foreign-owned media platforms. Unless the Supreme Court steps in, TikTok's attorneys say the app will effectively "go dark" on January 19th. That means no new downloads from app stores, and existing users will gradually lose functionality as updates become impossible. However, there's an interesting wrinkle here – the incoming Trump administration has indicated they want to save TikTok, and the law gives the president considerable flexibility in enforcement. 

 This sets up a fascinating scenario where even if the Court upholds the ban, Trump's return to office could dramatically change TikTok's fate. But as Justice Sotomayor pointedly warned, any company choosing to ignore the law based on unofficial assurances would be taking an enormous risk. 

 Special Counsel Jack Smith has officially handed in his resignation from the Department of Justice, marking the end of his role overseeing the high-profile Trump investigations. Smith delivered his final two-volume report to Attorney General Merrick Garland just days before stepping down, setting the stage for what could be a crucial window of transparency before the upcoming administration change. Garland's already signaled he won't make public the portion of the report dealing with classified documents, but he's pushing for eventual disclosure and has offered congressional committee leaders confidential access to that section. Meanwhile, we're seeing an intense legal battle play out over whether the report's other findings can be released at all. 

 The timing here is critical, folks. With Trump's inauguration approaching on January 20th and his plans to install members of his defense team in top Justice Department positions, we're looking at a rapidly closing window for any public disclosure. An appeals court just shot down Trump's attempt to keep the report under wraps, but Judge Aileen Cannon's temporary hold is still in place until Sunday evening. Smith's departure isn't exactly shocking – his office has been winding down for weeks after dismissing the federal cases against Trump due to his return to the presidency. But the real story here is what happens next. The DOJ is racing against the clock, potentially able to release the first volume as soon as Sunday or Monday, assuming they can clear the remaining legal hurdles. 

 Trump's already celebrating Smith's exit on Truth Social, calling him "a disgrace" and claiming he "accomplished nothing." But with congressional investigations into the special counsel probes on the horizon and potential Freedom of Information Act battles looming, this story's far from over. The report could end up being Smith's final word on these investigations, assuming it ever sees the light of day.