The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly defeated a resolution that would have limited President Trump's ability to deploy military forces to Venezuela. The vote was tied, highlighting some Republicans' concerns about Trump's military actions in the Western Hemisphere. The resolution aimed to ensure congressional approval before any major military operation in Venezuela, despite no current U.S. troops being on the ground there.
Key Facts
The House narrowly rejected a resolution to limit Trump's military actions in Venezuela.
The vote ended in a tie after a last-minute vote by Republican Rep. Wesley Hunt.
Two Republicans joined Democrats in supporting the resolution.
The resolution required Trump to remove U.S. troops from Venezuela, though none are currently reported there.
The Trump administration claimed no U.S. troops are in Venezuela and promised to seek Congress's approval for major actions.
The vote reflects wider debates on Trump's foreign policy and his use of military power.
Senate Republicans previously dismissed a similar resolution with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie.
President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase and its CEO, Jamie Dimon, for $5 billion. Trump claims that the bank closed his and his businesses' accounts for political reasons shortly after he left office in 2021. The bank denies the allegations, stating accounts were not closed for political reasons.
Key Facts
President Trump filed a lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase and CEO Jamie Dimon.
The lawsuit claims JPMorgan closed Trump's accounts in February 2021.
Trump alleges the closures were politically motivated and affected his businesses.
The lawsuit was filed in Miami-Dade County court in Florida.
JPMorgan stated they do not close accounts for political reasons and believe the lawsuit lacks merit.
A US banking regulator noted past restrictions on controversial industries by large banks.
Trump argues banks have shown bias against conservatives during his second term.
Regulators discussed stopping the oversight based on reputational risks.
The National Park Service has taken down an exhibit about slavery from the President’s House memorial in Philadelphia after an order from President Donald Trump. This action is part of a directive issued in March, aimed at changing how American history is presented in national parks.
Key Facts
The exhibit was located at the President’s House memorial in Philadelphia's Independence National Historical Park.
President Trump issued an executive order in March, called "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History."
The order instructed the Interior Department to remove materials that the administration viewed as promoting a "corrosive ideology" about American history.
In September, multiple exhibits and signs related to slavery were removed from national parks across the United States.
A notable item removed included a famous photo of a former slave with scars on his back.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum emphasized that park signage should highlight the achievements and progress of the American people.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance criticized groups he called the "far left" for actions against immigration officers in Minnesota. He claimed these groups caused trouble and sometimes violence during immigration operations.
Key Facts
Vice President JD Vance spoke about immigration operations in Minnesota.
He said the "far left" caused problems during these operations.
Vance claimed the "far left" is responsible for chaotic situations.
The operations involved U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
Vance portrayed ICE officers as victims of attacks.
He mentioned actions such as fighting, penalizing, and doxing against officers.
Jack Smith, a former special counsel, stated during congressional testimony that he expects the Trump administration to indict him. This comes amid accusations that President Trump is targeting political opponents through legal means.
Key Facts
Jack Smith is a former special counsel who testified before Congress.
He believes the Trump administration will try to indict him.
President Trump has labeled Smith a criminal.
Rep. Becca Balint questioned Smith during the hearing on possible indictment actions by the Justice Department.
Smith indicated he expects actions against him as directed by President Trump.
Smith's testimony was initially in a closed session but is now public.
President Trump posted on Truth Social criticizing Smith and questioning his ability to practice law.
Smith stated he is not intimidated by threats and claims there is proof of crimes committed by President Trump.
President Donald Trump will soon nominate a new Federal Reserve Chair as Jerome Powell's term ends in May 2026. The leading candidates are Kevin Warsh, Rick Rieder, and Christopher Waller. Warsh is seen as the front-runner, with odds favoring his nomination.
Key Facts
Jerome Powell's term as Federal Reserve Chair ends in May 2026.
President Trump is responsible for choosing the new chair.
Kevin Warsh is a top candidate with a 45% chance of being nominated, according to Kalshi markets.
Rick Rieder also has significant support, with a 32% chance of nomination.
Christopher Waller is another contender, with a 12% chance based on prediction markets.
President Trump and Powell have had a tense relationship, dating back to Trump's first term.
The President can remove a Fed chair "for cause," though this has never been tested.
A small group of House Democrats are considering voting for a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security, which includes ICE funding. Their support would add bipartisan votes to the bill, which is already expected to pass with Republican backing. Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, oppose the bill due to ICE concerns.
Key Facts
Some House Democrats plan to support a bill funding the Department of Homeland Security and ICE.
The bill is expected to pass with or without these Democrats' votes, as Republicans are in favor.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposes the bill, citing issues with ICE practices.
Representatives Henry Cuellar and Jared Golden are among those likely to support the bill.
Other Democrats, like Reps. Susie Lee, Adam Gray, and Don Davis, are still undecided.
A Democratic source expects "10 or fewer" Democrats may ultimately support the bill.
The opposition also relates to recent events, like the shooting of Renee Good.
A federal judge in Washington questioned whether President Trump can legally build a $400 million White House ballroom without Congress's approval. The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit, arguing the project lacks necessary congressional authorization and environmental review. The White House claims the ballroom is important for official functions and is funded by private donations.
Key Facts
A judge questioned the Trump administration's authority to construct a ballroom at the White House without Congress's approval.
The proposed project involves tearing down the historic East Wing.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued the administration, claiming the project started without required reviews.
The East Wing was over 120 years old before demolition began.
The lawsuit asserts that federal law requires explicit congressional approval for such construction.
The administration argues the ballroom is needed for state functions.
Private donations, including from companies like Google and Amazon, fund the project.
A judge will decide soon on whether to temporarily halt the construction.
Jack Smith, a former U.S. Department of Justice special counsel, testified at a congressional hearing about his investigations into President Donald Trump. Following his testimony, House Democrats want him to return for further questioning as restrictions have limited what he could discuss. The investigations focus on actions Trump allegedly took to overturn the 2020 election and retention of classified documents.
Key Facts
Jack Smith is a former special counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice.
He testified about his investigations into President Donald Trump during a congressional hearing.
The investigations were initially conducted in 2023 but were dismissed after Trump returned to office.
Smith claims there is evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump committed crimes.
House Democrats want Smith to testify again due to restrictions on his current testimony.
The restrictions are related to a court order limiting discussion of part of Smith's report.
The next steps for Smith’s potential return for testimony are uncertain.
A large winter storm is expected to impact a wide area of the United States over the weekend. The storm will bring heavy snow, very cold temperatures, and potentially hazardous ice conditions.
Key Facts
A winter storm is set to affect a large area of the U.S.
The storm is predicted to bring heavy snow to many regions.
Very cold temperatures are expected and could be life-threatening.
Ice accumulation from the storm could be dangerous.
Preparedness is advised due to the potential severity of the storm.
Meteorologist Matthew Cappucci discussed these details on MyRadar.
Former Special Counsel Jack Smith testified before the US House Judiciary Committee, discussing his investigations into President Donald Trump. Smith stated that his investigations were nonpartisan and supported by evidence, which led to two federal indictments against Trump. Although the cases were dropped after Trump's re-election, Smith defended his decisions to bring charges.
Key Facts
Jack Smith provided public testimony to the US House Judiciary Committee.
He investigated President Trump for actions around the 2020 election and January 6, 2021.
Smith brought federal charges against Trump, including conspiracy to defraud the country.
Another investigation led to charges related to Trump's handling of classified documents.
Following Trump's 2024 re-election, both cases were dropped.
Smith emphasized that his investigations were based on evidence, not politics.
He argued there were strong legal reasons for the indictments he pursued.
Smith resigned before Trump’s inauguration in January 2025.
President Trump’s policies on illegal immigration have led to a year of ongoing protests. Federal agents and protesters have clashed in Minnesota as a result of these policies. Experts, including past officials from immigration departments, have discussed the situation.
Key Facts
President Trump has focused on reducing illegal immigration.
Protests have occurred as a result, with recent clashes in Minnesota.
Federal agents are involved in handling these protests.
Liz Landers talked with Chad Wolf, who was once the acting head of Homeland Security under Trump.
John Sandweg, a former acting director of ICE during Obama’s presidency, also gave his insights.
Jack Smith, previously a special counsel, spoke at a House Judiciary Committee hearing about his investigation of President Trump. He defended his actions, stating he followed the law, despite criticism from some Republican members.
Key Facts
Jack Smith was a former special counsel involved in investigating President Trump.
The investigation led to over 40 criminal charges against Trump, which were later dropped.
Some Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee criticized Smith for his work.
These lawmakers accused Smith of being biased in his investigation.
Smith explained he acted as the law required during his investigation.
Adrian Gonzales, a former school police officer in Uvalde, Texas, was found not guilty of not taking action during an important part of a shooting at Robb Elementary School. The verdict and the Uvalde community's reaction were discussed by a journalist from a local newspaper.
Key Facts
Adrian Gonzales is a former school police officer.
He was on trial for allegedly not acting during a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
The jury found him not guilty of these charges.
The shooting took place at Robb Elementary School.
The community of Uvalde has been reacting to the trial outcome.
Amna Nawaz and Tony Plohetski talked about the trial and community reaction.
The article discusses how President Trump is testing the boundaries of presidential power during his second term. This is creating significant challenges for America's judicial system and the checks and balances designed to limit executive power.
Key Facts
President Trump is in his second term as U.S. President.
His actions are testing the limits of executive power.
The U.S. judicial system is facing significant challenges due to these actions.
The system of checks and balances is under strain.
Geoff Bennett spoke to constitutional law professor Steve Vladeck about the situation.
This topic is part of a discussion series called On Democracy.
President Donald Trump asked his supporters if he should consider a fourth term in office, not counting his lost 2020 election as a potential third term. This comes after polls showed his approval ratings at their lowest. U.S. presidents are limited to two terms by the 22nd Amendment.
Key Facts
President Trump asked about running for a fourth term on Truth Social.
The U.S. Constitution limits presidents to two terms.
Trump referred to the 2020 election, which he lost, as his third term.
He previously mentioned running for a third term and sold related merchandise.
Recent polls show his approval ratings at their lowest.
Trump criticized these polls as fake and mentioned possible legal action.
A former school superintendent in Iowa, Ian Roberts, admitted to lying about his citizenship status in a plea deal over two federal charges. Roberts falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen on a legal form and illegally possessed firearms. He avoided a trial by pleading guilty, acknowledging he was never a U.S. citizen and accepting potential legal consequences, including deportation.
Key Facts
Ian Roberts, a former Iowa superintendent, lied about being a U.S. citizen.
He pleaded guilty in a federal court in Iowa to lying on a federal form and possessing firearms illegally.
Roberts is a citizen of Guyana and not a U.S. citizen.
His plea deal helps him avoid a trial that was set for March.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Roberts in September 2025.
Officers found firearms and $3,000 in his vehicle and home.
Roberts awaits sentencing, with potential prison time for his charges.
The local school district stated it is not involved in his legal matters.
President Donald Trump has considered using the Insurrection Act to address unrest in Minnesota. However, Vice President JD Vance stated that they currently do not find it necessary to use this measure.
Key Facts
President Trump has thought about using the Insurrection Act in Minnesota.
The Insurrection Act allows the President to use the military for domestic law enforcement.
Vice President JD Vance mentioned in Minneapolis that they don't need to use the Act right now.
The Act is rarely invoked and often opposed by state governors.
President Trump has previously mentioned using this Act in various situations.
The Insurrection Act helps address significant unrest or disturbances within the U.S.
President Donald Trump's disapproval rating is increasing according to recent polls, including one from Emerson College. The latest data shows Trump's approval at 43% and disapproval at 51%, indicating potential challenges ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Key Facts
President Trump's approval rating is 43%, while his disapproval rating is 51%, based on a recent Emerson College poll.
The poll was conducted with 1,000 likely voters from January 17 to January 19 and has a 3% margin of error.
Trump's disapproval rating has been growing since January 2025 when it was 41%.
Another poll by the American Research Group shows Trump's lowest approval rating of his second term at 35%, with a 63% disapproval rating.
Economic perceptions are varied, with 39% of respondents feeling financially worse than a year ago, 31% about the same, and 30% better.
President Trump criticized polling organizations, calling their results "fake and fraudulent" on social media.
CNN's Harry Enten noted that Trump's economic approval is at a historic low, with a net approval of –19 points.
Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith testified before Congress, defending his investigations into President Donald Trump. He asserted that his actions, including charging Trump, were based on law rather than politics. The hearing focused on Smith's investigations related to the 2020 election and handling of classified documents.
Key Facts
Jack Smith is a former special counsel for the Justice Department.
He investigated President Trump for actions related to the 2020 election and handling of classified documents.
Smith testified publicly to defend his investigations and actions.
He stated that no one, including a former president, should be above the law.
Smith mentioned collecting phone records of Trump associates to understand a conspiracy related to the Capitol riot.
The hearing was divided, with Republican lawmakers criticizing Smith and Democrats supporting him.
President Trump commented on the hearing, criticizing Smith through social media.
