LETTER FROM TRUTH & TRADITION HQ: Six Stories Shaping the Week Ahead
From LA’s stalled recovery to Iran’s tinderbox, here’s what demands your attention this Sunday
THE MONDAY BRIEFING: Truth & Tradition in Motion
Monday, January 12, 2026
Good morning. The weekend’s theoretical debates have met Monday’s reality. From the halls of Westminster to the rubble of Los Angeles, the week’s trajectory is already coming into focus. Here is your essential intelligence to start the work week.
1. THE RECOVERY CRISIS: A New Week of Stagnation in L.A.
As of this morning, over 15,000 families in Southern California are entering another work week in temporary housing. One year after the Palisades and Eaton fires, the “LA Recovery” has become a cautionary tale of American bureaucracy.
• Today’s Focus: Watch for local protests at the CA Department of Insurance. Residents are demanding an end to the “litigation limbo” preventing the disbursement of billions in claims.
• The Big Picture: If the private sector isn’t allowed to rebuild quickly, the economic vacuum in Southern California will become permanent.
2. THE HOUSE DIVIDED: Whipping the Rebels
Following last week’s GOP rebellion over healthcare subsidies, House leadership enters this morning in “damage control” mode.
• The Strategy: Expect a closed-door caucus meeting today. Minority Leader Jeffries has proven he can peel off the GOP moderate flank; the question for Monday is whether Republican leadership can offer enough concessions to prevent a total legislative stall-out this week.
3. GLOBAL CHESS: The “Greenland Doctrine” Escalates
The White House begins the week by doubling down on the “Trump Corollary.”
• The Move: State Department officials are expected to brief NATO allies today on the “security necessity” of an American-led Greenland.
• The Pushback: Denmark has summoned the U.S. Ambassador for a 10:00 AM meeting in Copenhagen. The era of the “polite” Arctic is over.
4. TEHRAN: The Monday Crackdown
Reports filtered out overnight of a massive IRGC mobilization in central Tehran. Following a weekend of renewed anti-regime protests, the Monday morning commute in Iran has been met with a total internet blackout in key provinces.
• The Risk: Historically, blackouts precede the most violent phases of repression. By noon today, we will likely see whether the Iranian public has reached a breaking point.
5. TECH WAR: Musk vs. The Crown
The tension between X and the UK Government hits the legal system today.
• The Collision: British regulators have set a deadline for today for “compliance guarantees” regarding Grok’s AI outputs.
• The Response: Elon Musk has indicated he will not comply, setting up a potential Monday afternoon “kill-switch” scenario where X could be geoblocked in the United Kingdom.
6. HYPERSONIC FALLOUT: The Oreshnik Aftermath
Following Russia’s hypersonic strike on Ukraine, the UN Security Council is expected to meet this afternoon. The “Oreshnik” missile has fundamentally changed the risk assessment for European air defense.
MONDAY’S WATCHLIST
• MARKETS: Futures are bracing for a volatile opening as investors weigh the Greenland tensions against tomorrow’s JPMorgan earnings.
• DIPLOMACY: Watch for a formal statement from the Kremlin regarding “asymmetric responses” to any further Western intervention.
• ENERGY: Oil prices are creeping up this morning on the news of the Iranian internet blackout and potential regional escalation.
Stay sharp. The week has begun.
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