Well, howdy there, internet people, it's Bell again. And welcome to the Roads with Bell.

Today is January 4th, 2026, and this is episode 124 of the Roads Not Taken, which is a weekly series

where we go over the news. That was unreported, underreported, didn't get the coverage we thought it deserved, or we just found it interesting.

And then we go through a few questions from y'all.

Today is January 4th, and today is World Braille Day.

And on this date in 1958, Sputnik fell back to Earth. And starting with

foreign policy. On the heels of China's massive live-fire military exercise around Taiwan, Chinese officials

are saying reunification is unstoppable.

Trump and Iran are still having a back and forth over the treatment of demonstrators in Iran.

Because of Trump's desired treatment of protesters in the U.S., the world is laughing at U.S. concern.

Iran has asked the U.N. to intervene and respond to Trump's statements.

In Switzerland, a fire in a bar at an alpine ski resort left at least 40 people dead and another 119 injured during a New Year's celebration. It's currently believed

that sparklers on champagne bottles started the fire. Saudi planes are striking at UAE-backed

non-state actors in Yemen. The tension continues to mount between the two nations. And in a

surprise development, southern Yemen has declared independence. The U.S. has stopped immigration

applications from another 20 countries. It looks like applications from a total of 40 countries

have now been ended. Some of the countries are stopping entrance from the U.S. in response.

In U.S. news, after being defeated by governors, Trump is slowly sending troops deployed in some American

cities home. Trump's fight with Colorado is escalating and is drawing backlash from Republicans

who are being harmed by his fight with Colorado's governor. A federal court stepped in to block Hawaii's climate change tax on cruise ships shortly

before it went into effect.

The Trump administration is slashing FEMA Corps staff for 2026.

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