Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto announced on his twitter feed today that Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman-Loera has been arrested.

Details to follow once I've found and translated them.

Update: The NY Times says the arrest followed a shoot-out in Los Mochis. The operation was conducted by the Mexican Navy.

The raid followed a "tip" about persons at a certain residence being armed. Also at the residence: Orso Ivan Gastelum Cruz, a northern Sinaloa leader. It appears he was able to escape. Five others at the home were killed and six were detained.

The Denver Sheriff's Department has been been justly slammed by an outside report of its performance, including multiple incidents involving the use of excessive force. Can it -- or any law enforcement agency -- change the culture that breeds such abuses?

The Denver Post reports the Sheriff's Department is trying. The largest recruitment class ever has begun training, and the recruits are being taught their role is one of a guardian, not a warrior. They are told that even when deadly force is legally authorized, it may not be the best option. It can also jeopardize their careers.

"We're in a monumental cultural change — not just us, but law enforcement nationwide. It's a culture of service. Our duty is to protect life. That's the message we want to convey...."

[More...]

The New York Times has a thoroughly depressing article on what remains of Ramadi now that the Iraqi army has dislodged ISIS.

Few civilians remain from a population that once numbered around 400,000, and the city lacks electricity and running water, meaning that supplies must be trucked in...It remains deserted, except for a contingent of Iraqi troops who do not wander around much because Islamic State fighters still hit it with mortar rounds.

[More...]

Thread.

There have been only a handful of truly pivotal congressional votes to broadly redefine gun rights in modern America [. . .] So where was Sanders in all this? As a second-term congressman, he steadfastly opposed the Brady Law [. . . ] In 2006, when he was running for Senate, he voted with pro-gun, pro-corporate Republicans on the odious immunity bill. [. . .I]t’s hard to see Sanders’ record as anything but grossly pro- [gun] industry.

[. . . H]ere’s the thing: When Sanders and his supporters defend his votes, they like to make the point that Sanders has represented Vermont, where an awful lot of pickup trucks sport NRA stickers, and where an awful lot of gun dealers make a decent living and don’t want to get sued out of business. In other words, Sanders was representing the interests of his constituents. And you know what that makes Bernie Sanders?

A politician, that’s what.

Yes, pols are pols and do what they do. Even Bernie Sanders.

Speaking for me only

You've probably seen the latest scheme from Move On:

MoveOn.org Political Action announced today that it will hold a formal vote of its membership to determine whether the organization will endorse a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination prior to the first caucuses and primaries.

Nothing wrong with that as far as it goes. I think we have a pretty good idea how that votes gonna go given Move On's hostility to Clinton. But no big deal Except for this:

The FBI cannot account for 18 minutes of Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik's activities after the shootings at San Bernadino.

Agents said Tuesday they have yet to figure out what the couple were doing for a critical chunk of time — 12:59 p.m to 1:17 p.m. When Farook and Malik resurfaced, they were a mile from the center, which at that time was flooded with paramedics, police, reporters and family members frantically searching for loved ones.

They remain convinced, however, the shootings were terror-inspired but not terror-directed:

During a news conference Tuesday, Bowdich said the investigation had turned up no evidence that the attack was orchestrated from abroad. “This seems to be an inspired terrorist act,” he said.

It's another season of the Bachelor. Ben seems very vulnerable and lacking in self-confidence. It's hard to tell if that's the way he really is, or its just a story line crafted from the "edit" from last season. (His reaction to being rejected was to voice his fear he was unlovable.)

The women so far are the typical mix of beach blond bombshell wannabes, weirdos (the dentist), annoying chirpy voices (the one who just passed the bar exam), and sad sacks who are going to share their personal tragedies with us, regardless of whether we want to hear about them. I'm having a hard time telling one blond from another. I also don't like Ben's haircut, it's way too short. His eyes seem much closer together than they did last season. And where are his muscles?

Will I make it through another season? Too soon to tell.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

President Obama outlined his 10 point execution action plan for gun control today.

Among the changes:

Anyone who makes a living from selling guns online or at gun shows, two locations where sellers are often considered collectors or hobbyists and freed from the requirement that they conduct background checks, will be required to be federally licensed.

He is also asking for $500 million for mental health treatment. In a statement, he acknowledged these measures will not stop every violent crime or prevent every mass shooting. [More...]

The final season of Downton Abbey is about to begin.

I watched the Royals for the first time this weekend. It's incredibly trashy and very hard to follow. But better than what Hollywood has offered this year.

In unrelated UK news, ISIS released a video threatening David Cameron. It had a wannabe Jihadi John doing executions. Some think he is Abu Rumaysah al-Britani (protest video with him in UK is here.) From a production value standpoint, I thought it was pretty weak. While ISIS has multiple video departments, I wonder if the al Hayat media producers have all been killed off. Very few of ISIS' recent videos have a "wow" factor.

Saudi Arabia executed 47 people including a Shia cleric, angering the world. It also broke off relations with Iran. (Skip the NYT version, it has auto-play video.)

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

29 days until the Iowa Caucus. Via HuffPo here is the polling state of play:

Nationally in the GOP race, Trump holds a wide lead over Ted Cruz 39-17. Everyone else is an also ran. But of course national polling doesn't mean much until later.

Among Dems nationally, Hillary Clinton leads Bernie Sanders by 57-31. I'd give the same general caveat but think the lead in the Dem race is more meaningful given the demographic makeup of the support for the candidates (yes PoC overwhelmingly support Clinton.)

More on the race in early states on the flip.

As much as I disliked 2015, I have very positive feelings about 2016. I don't much believe in resolutions, so I can't offer up any, but here's an open thread for yours, and anything else that's on your mind.