Ghislaine Maxwell, currently in prison for her involvement with Jeffrey Epstein, has agreed to testify before a U.S. congressional committee about the government's handling of the Epstein case. The committee hearing, led by Chairman James Comer, will take place on February 9. Maxwell's lawyers wanted her to have legal immunity before she testified, but this request was not granted.
Key Facts
Ghislaine Maxwell is set to testify virtually before a U.S. congressional committee on February 9.
Maxwell is in prison, serving a 20-year sentence for her role in recruiting and trafficking girls for Jeffrey Epstein.
The committee focuses on how the federal government handled Epstein-related cases.
Maxwell's legal team sought legal immunity for her testimony, which the committee did not provide.
Maxwell plans to use her Fifth Amendment right to avoid answering questions without immunity.
House lawmakers cannot force Maxwell to give up her Fifth Amendment rights.
President Trump has not decided on granting Maxwell clemency, although there are no current plans for it.
The Department of Justice has not yet released all Epstein-related files, drawing criticism for file redactions.
The U.S. Supreme Court showed doubts about President Trump's attempt to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. The justices discussed whether Cook, who denies allegations of mortgage fraud, should be given a chance to formally respond before being removed. The case is significant as it could affect the Federal Reserve's independence from political influence.
Key Facts
President Trump wants to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook.
The U.S. Supreme Court justices seem doubtful about allowing this removal.
Cook faces unproven allegations of mortgage fraud, which she denies.
The case concerns the independence of the Federal Reserve from political pressure.
A decision from the Supreme Court is expected by the end of June.
This situation marks the first time a president has tried to oust a Fed official for such reasons.
Chief Justice John Roberts questioned if Cook's alleged mistake on a mortgage application was significant enough for removal.
The case is part of broader concerns about presidential power since Trump's return to office.
A judge in New York has ordered the state to redraw the congressional district boundaries for the only Republican-held seat in New York City. The current district map was ruled unconstitutional because it reduced the voting power of Black and Hispanic people. Republicans may appeal this decision.
Key Facts
A New York judge ruled that the boundaries of the only Republican congressional district in New York City must be redrawn.
The judge decided that the current district map weakens the votes of Black and Hispanic residents.
The decision is part of a larger national battle over redrawing voting districts, known as gerrymandering.
Gerrymandering involves changing district lines to favor one political party.
Republicans plan to appeal the judge’s decision.
President Donald Trump encouraged Republicans to create district maps that benefit their party for the midterm elections.
Democrats have faced challenges from laws that aim to stop gerrymandering.
Vice President Vance will visit Minnesota to show support for ICE and to discuss immigration enforcement, which has been controversial in the state. Vance's trip will include meetings with community leaders and events focusing on ICE's role in public safety. The visit comes as the administration faces criticism over immigration tactics and fraud cases in Minnesota.
Key Facts
Vice President Vance is visiting Minnesota to support ICE and discuss immigration enforcement.
The visit includes a roundtable with community leaders and events with ICE agents.
Vance plans to highlight issues with sanctuary city policies in Minneapolis.
Fraud cases in Minnesota have led to controversy and political fallout.
Federal investigations target both ICE activities and protest actions against them.
President Trump and Vance oppose local officials' resistance to immigration raids.
Differences between federal and local officials focus on immigration enforcement tactics.
A judge in New York has ordered the redrawing of the district boundaries for the only Republican-held congressional seat in New York City. The decision comes after finding that the current district map dilutes the voting power of Black and Hispanic residents. Republicans plan to appeal the decision, which is part of a larger national debate over how voting districts are drawn.
Key Facts
A New York judge ruled that the only Republican congressional district in NYC must be redrawn.
The current district map is said to weaken the voting power of Black and Hispanic residents.
The affected district includes parts of southern Brooklyn and Staten Island.
Republicans, who hold the district, plan to appeal the decision.
The order requires New York’s Independent Redistricting Commission to redraw the map by February 6.
This case is part of a broader national fight over congressional redistricting.
There are concerns about racial discrimination and polarized voting in the district.
New York currently has 26 seats in the U.S. House, with 19 held by Democrats and 7 by Republicans.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is offering a $2,600 stipend for migrants who choose to self-deport using the CBP Home mobile app. This initiative is part of an effort by the Trump administration to encourage voluntary departures and reduce costs associated with forced deportations.
Key Facts
DHS increased the self-deportation stipend from $1,000 to $2,600.
The stipend is available for illegal migrants using the CBP Home app to depart the U.S.
Using the app can also forgive civil fines related to immigration violations.
DHS states there have been over 675,000 deportations during President Trump's current term.
The cost of forced deportation is $18,245 per person, while app-based self-deportation costs $5,100.
DHS indicated the stipend might be temporary and encouraged eligible individuals to apply soon.
Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith will testify in a congressional hearing. He will discuss his investigations into President Trump's handling of classified documents and efforts related to the 2020 election. The investigations did not proceed because of rules that protect a sitting president from prosecution.
Key Facts
Jack Smith, a former special counsel, will testify before the House Judiciary Committee.
He led investigations into President Trump's handling of classified documents.
Smith also investigated Trump's actions regarding the 2020 election results.
President Trump was indicted in two federal cases during these investigations.
The indictments were halted due to Justice Department rules about prosecuting a sitting president.
The hearing aims to learn more about the investigations from Smith's perspective.
Anne Applebaum, a journalist and historian, discussed President Trump's recent speech in Davos. The conversation explored the impact of his remarks on the U.S. and its relationships with allies. Applebaum shared insights on current pressures facing American democracy.
Key Facts
President Trump recently gave a speech in Davos.
The discussion is part of the "On Democracy" series.
Anne Applebaum is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist.
She also hosts "Autocracy in America," a podcast by The Atlantic.
The conversation focused on how President Trump's actions might affect U.S. allies.
It also looked at the current challenges to democratic norms in the U.S.
The Supreme Court is reviewing a case about President Trump's efforts to remove a Federal Reserve governor. This case is part of Trump's broader goal to have more influence over the Federal Reserve.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court is hearing a case involving President Trump and the Federal Reserve.
The case focuses on Trump's attempt to fire a Federal Reserve governor.
President Trump aims to have more control over the Federal Reserve.
The Federal Reserve plays an important role in managing the country's money supply and interest rates.
The outcome of the case could affect the independence of the Federal Reserve.
Experts discussing the case include Amy Howe and David Wessel, who have backgrounds in court analysis and fiscal policy.
President Trump's administration increased the number of ICE agents in Maine, detaining over 50 people. In Minnesota, this increase has been ongoing for three weeks, and local officials, including St. Paul's Mayor Kaohly Her, are opposing the federal actions.
Key Facts
ICE is a U.S. government agency that handles immigration enforcement.
In Maine, the federal operation led to the detention of 50 individuals.
Minnesota has experienced an increase in federal immigration enforcement for three weeks.
St. Paul's Mayor Kaohly Her has publicly addressed the unrest caused by these actions in the Twin Cities.
There is local opposition in Minnesota to the presence of additional federal agents.
The actions are part of a wider federal push across different states led by President Trump’s administration.
President Trump has completed his first year back in office. He discussed the U.S. economy and the ongoing issue of affordability in a White House briefing.
Key Facts
President Trump is in his first year of a new term as U.S. President.
The economy remains similar to when President Trump started this term.
Affordability is highlighted as the top concern for Americans.
President Trump has promoted his policies as beneficial for the economy.
Heather Long, an economist, provided insights on the economic situation.
Amna Nawaz led the discussion with Heather Long about affordability issues.
Jack Smith, a former special counsel for the Department of Justice, will testify before the House Judiciary Committee. The hearing will focus on his investigations into President Trump's handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Key Facts
Jack Smith was a special counsel for the Department of Justice.
He is scheduled to testify on January 22 before the House Judiciary Committee.
The hearing is set to start at 10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Smith investigated President Trump for handling classified documents and the 2020 election result efforts.
President Trump was indicted in two federal cases during Smith's investigations.
These cases were dropped when President Trump was re-elected due to DOJ policy on prosecuting sitting presidents.
A Speedway gas station in Minnesota faced boycott calls after federal agents, including Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino, were reportedly denied service there. The situation occurred amid President Trump’s immigration enforcement activities, which have led to protests in Minneapolis. The gas station employee stated they did not support ICE, leading to backlash on social media.
Key Facts
Federal agents, including Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino, were reportedly denied service at a Speedway in Minnesota.
Social media users are calling for a boycott of the Speedway gas station.
The incident took place during President Trump’s immigration operations in major cities, including Minneapolis.
Protests in Minneapolis have occurred, resulting in two shootings by federal agents within a week.
President Trump has threatened to deploy troops to stop protests and invoke the Insurrection Act.
A video posted online shows a gas station employee saying they do not support ICE.
Public reaction includes criticism and calls for corrective action against the gas station.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is changing how it manages services, moving from regional to national handling. This change may cause delays and disruptions in services, especially for people who find technology challenging. The SSA plans to implement this new system starting March 7.
Key Facts
The SSA manages retirement and disability benefits for about 75 million people in the U.S.
The shift involves 1,200 local field offices transitioning to a national system.
The new system includes automation and AI phone systems to help manage workloads.
Experts warn that service delays may increase, especially for disability claims.
Changes include a new National Appointment Scheduling Calendar and National Workload Management system.
There are plans to close some rural offices, which may affect people without easy tech access.
The SSA has reduced its workforce by 12%, losing around 7,000 jobs under the Trump administration.
The changes are aimed at improving efficiency but might disrupt services in the short term.
President Donald Trump faced questions from the Supreme Court regarding his decision to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. The Court expressed doubts about whether Cook was given a fair chance to contest Trump's reasons for her removal. Trump accused Cook of mortgage fraud, but Cook denied the allegations.
Key Facts
President Trump decided to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, accusing her of mortgage fraud.
Cook denied the accusation and claimed she wasn’t given a fair chance to respond.
Supreme Court justices, including conservatives, questioned the fairness of the removal process.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh highlighted concerns that this move might weaken the Federal Reserve's independence.
Legally, the President can only remove Fed governors "for cause," intended to prevent political pressure.
The Trump administration argued that Cook's actions justified her removal, but lower courts blocked the action.
Cook's lawyers claimed the accusations were based on incomplete and misleading information.
The Supreme Court historically has a conservative majority but has shown varied support in executive firing cases.
A poll shows that former Senator John E. Sununu is slightly behind Democratic Representative Chris Pappas in the race for the New Hampshire Senate seat. This seat is open because Senator Jeanne Shaheen is retiring, and the outcome could impact which party controls the Senate. The poll indicates a close race, but Pappas holds a slight lead over Sununu.
Key Facts
The race is for the New Hampshire Senate seat, open due to Senator Jeanne Shaheen's retirement.
The poll shows Republican John E. Sununu trailing Democrat Chris Pappas by a small margin.
Sununu led the Republican primary poll against former Senator Scott Brown.
Pappas had a significant lead in the Democratic primary poll.
The poll surveyed 2,239 New Hampshire residents with a margin of error of 2.1 percent.
The Cook Political Report and Inside Elections mark the race as leaning Democratic.
The New Hampshire primary is scheduled for September 8, with the general election on November 3.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox is set to present the 2026 State of the State address to the state's lawmakers and public. The event will take place on January 22 and can be watched live through PBS Utah. Governor Cox aims to encourage more respectful political discussions.
Key Facts
Governor Spencer Cox will give the 2026 State of the State address.
The address will happen in Salt Lake City before the state's legislature.
The event is scheduled for January 22 at 8:30 p.m. EST.
PBS Utah will broadcast the speech live, with a Spanish stream available.
Governor Cox, a Republican, was first elected in 2020.
He focuses on promoting civic engagement and respectful political dialogue.
An appeals court has temporarily stopped a decision that limits immigration officers' use of force in Minnesota. This means officers can continue their current practices while an appeal is ongoing. Maine, on the other hand, declined to give U.S. Customs more undercover license plates, citing past issues.
Key Facts
An appeals court has paused a ruling that limits immigration tactics in Minnesota.
This pause allows officers to continue using tear gas and other methods temporarily.
The limitation originally stopped officers from using force on peaceful protesters.
The case is part of a wider immigration operation called Operation Metro Surge.
Operation Metro Surge started in early December in Minnesota's Twin Cities area.
Maine did not approve more undercover license plates for U.S. Customs vehicles.
Maine's decision is due to concerns about past power abuses.
The Department of Homeland Security started a new operation called "Operation Catch of the Day" in Maine. This operation aims to arrest people who have illegally entered the U.S. and committed serious crimes. Several arrests have already been made.
Key Facts
"Operation Catch of the Day" began in Maine.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the operation.
ICE agents are carrying out this operation.
Arrests under this operation include charges like aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin mentioned the operation addresses criminal activities by undocumented immigrants.
The operation is part of the Trump administration's broader law enforcement initiatives.
There has been recent scrutiny over ICE activities in other states, like Minnesota.
A House committee has decided to approve resolutions to hold Bill and Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress. This decision is related to the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
Key Facts
The House committee voted on Wednesday.
The vote concerns Bill Clinton, who was a former U.S. president.
Hillary Clinton, a former Secretary of State, is also involved in the resolution.
The investigation is related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Contempt of Congress is a serious action that the House can take.
This marks a rare action against a former president in such a context.
