The Justice Department is investigating Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for possibly interfering with federal immigration enforcement through their public statements. This investigation is happening amidst a large immigration crackdown in Minneapolis and St. Paul, with more than 2,500 arrests reported. The situation also includes notable incidents, such as the release and re-arrest of a Liberian man within days due to immigration enforcement activities.
Key Facts
The Justice Department is investigating Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey for potentially obstructing federal immigration enforcement.
The investigation focuses on whether they violated a conspiracy law.
Walz and Frey have publicly responded, denouncing the investigation as intimidation.
Over 2,500 arrests have occurred as part of a major immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Officials are urging protests against immigration enforcement to remain peaceful.
President Trump mentioned but refrained from using a law to send troops to control protests.
A Liberian man, Garrison Gibson, experienced repeated detention by immigration authorities, but was released again.
Native American leaders are advising individuals to carry tribal IDs amid increased immigration enforcement activities.
A man named Tyler Robinson, charged with killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, is trying to disqualify the prosecuting team because the daughter of one prosecutor was at the event where the shooting happened. Defense attorneys argue that her presence creates a conflict of interest. Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty, and the court is deciding if the prosecuting team can stay on the case.
Key Facts
Tyler Robinson is accused of shooting Charlie Kirk on September 10 at Utah Valley University.
Robinson has pleaded not guilty to the charge of aggravated murder.
The prosecution aims to seek the death penalty against Robinson.
Defense claims a conflict because a prosecutor's daughter attended the rally where Kirk was shot.
Judge Tony Graf held a hearing to consider the request to disqualify the prosecution team.
The Utah County Attorney argues that disqualifying the team would delay the case without good reason.
The court has affidavits indicating the prosecutor's daughter did not witness the shooting directly.
Prosecutors have DNA evidence they say links Robinson to the crime.
President Trump suggested he might use tariffs against countries that do not support his plan to take over Greenland. The Supreme Court will review an appeal from Bayer regarding lawsuits about its Roundup product. The Trump administration plans to delay forced collections on student loans.
Key Facts
President Trump mentioned the idea of taking over Greenland.
He suggested using tariffs on countries not supporting his Greenland plan.
The Supreme Court will hear Bayer's appeal about lawsuits claiming Roundup causes cancer.
The Trump administration will delay forced student loan collections.
Tariffs are taxes on imported goods, used to influence international trade.
President Trump mentioned using the Insurrection Act to control protests in Minnesota. He also met with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. Additionally, he talked about the possibility of taking control of Greenland.
Key Facts
President Trump talked about using the Insurrection Act in Minnesota.
The Insurrection Act allows the President to deploy military forces within the U.S. in certain situations.
Trump met with Maria Corina Machado, a leader from Venezuela opposed to the current government.
The discussion with Machado involved issues related to Venezuela.
Trump also mentioned taking over Greenland, a territory of Denmark.
Greenland is rich in natural resources and has strategic importance due to its location.
The U.S. Department of Education decided to pause efforts to take money from the wages and tax refunds of people who have defaulted on federal student loans. This pause is to give these borrowers time to fix their loans and to let the department start new loan repayment changes.
Key Facts
The Department of Education is halting wage garnishment and seizure of tax refunds for defaulted student loan borrowers.
The pause aims to give borrowers more time to manage their loans and prepare for new loan repayment changes.
These changes are part of a law passed under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Initially, the administration planned to start garnishing wages on January 7.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon mentioned that confusion from the previous administration led to payment issues.
The department has already collected about $500 million from borrowers in default.
There is no information yet on how long the pause on wage garnishment will last.
Senator Dick Durbin wrote to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem expressing concern over U.S. citizens being asked to show proof of citizenship. Durbin criticized this practice as unconstitutional, emphasizing that Americans do not need to carry identification to avoid arbitrary detention. Noem had stated that checking identification could occur during operations targeting illegal activities.
Key Facts
Senator Dick Durbin wrote a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem regarding citizen checks by federal immigration agents.
Durbin said asking U.S. citizens to provide proof of citizenship is unconstitutional.
Noem had mentioned that ICE agents might request proof of citizenship during enforcement actions.
Some U.S. citizens have complained about being asked for identification by federal agents.
The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.
Recent incidents included citizens in Minnesota being detained by federal agents.
The Trump administration has emphasized the enforcement of immigration laws and deportation efforts.
President Donald Trump attended a ceremony in Florida to celebrate the renaming of a road leading to his Mar-a-Lago estate. The road, now called President Donald J. Trump Boulevard, covers a 4-mile stretch from the airport to Mar-a-Lago.
Key Facts
President Trump attended the ceremony in Florida at his Mar-a-Lago home.
A 4-mile road from the airport to Mar-a-Lago has been renamed President Donald J. Trump Boulevard.
The event took place on a Friday.
Trump expressed gratitude to local officials for the road's dedication.
Trump said the new road sign would inspire pride in the country.
President Donald Trump plans to pardon former Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez. Vázquez had pleaded guilty to a campaign finance violation, and her sentencing was scheduled for later this month. Trump sees the case as politically motivated and plans the pardon before her sentencing.
Key Facts
President Trump plans to pardon Wanda Vázquez, a former governor of Puerto Rico.
Vázquez pleaded guilty to a campaign finance violation.
Her sentencing was set for later this month.
Prosecutors wanted a one-year prison sentence, but her lawyers disagreed.
Vázquez had initially been charged with bribery and fraud, which were dropped after a guilty plea deal.
The case's investigation started soon after Vázquez endorsed Trump in 2020.
An unnamed White House official said Trump viewed the prosecution as political.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's approval rating dropped after an ICE officer fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis. A poll shows that more Americans disapprove of her job performance since the incident. House Democrats have introduced impeachment articles against Noem, but these are unlikely to pass in the Republican-controlled House.
Key Facts
Kristi Noem's approval rating fell from 39% in July to 36%.
52% of voters disapprove of Noem’s job handling, up from 50%.
The poll surveyed 1,133 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.7%.
Renee Nicole Good, 37, was killed by an ICE officer on January 7 during a traffic stop.
The Department of Homeland Security called the act self-defense, but state leaders dispute this.
53% of voters believe the shooting was not justified according to the poll.
House Democrats have introduced impeachment articles against Noem.
President Trump has threatened to use troops to control ongoing protests in Minneapolis.
A TikTok user reported that people in a Minnesota grocery store supported ICE agents during a detainment operation. The event took place in a suburb near Stillwater, where individuals cheered for the agents. President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security highlighted the operation as part of efforts to manage immigration enforcement.
Key Facts
A woman on TikTok described how people in a Minnesota grocery store cheered for ICE agents during a detainment.
The event occurred in a suburb near Stillwater, Minnesota.
The TikTok video mentioned had over 54,000 views at the time of reporting.
The Department of Homeland Security shared the video, emphasizing President Trump's immigration policies.
President Trump mentioned possibly using the Insurrection Act to deal with protests in Minnesota.
Protests in Minnesota included responses to federal agents' actions, including two reported shootings in one week.
The TikTok user expressed strong support for the ICE operation in her video comments.
A recent CNN poll shows that 58% of Americans believe President Donald Trump's first year of his second term has been a failure, while 42% see it as a success. The poll also highlights that economic issues are the top concern for most respondents and that a significant portion of the public disapproves of Trump's handling of his role.
Key Facts
58% of Americans think Trump's first year back in office has been a failure.
42% of Americans view his first year as a success.
The poll surveyed 1,209 adults and has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.
39% approve of Trump's job performance; 61% disapprove.
Only 32% believe Trump's policies have improved economic conditions, while 55% think they have worsened them.
58% feel Trump has used the presidency's power excessively, 34% think it's appropriate, and 8% say he hasn't gone far enough.
36% say Trump has the right priorities; 64% say he lacks focus on crucial problems.
National Guard troops will stay in Washington, D.C. through the end of the year, as directed by a memo from Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. The troops were originally set to leave in February but will remain to support President Donald Trump's efforts to maintain order.
Key Facts
National Guard troops will remain in Washington, D.C. until the end of the year.
Their deployment was initially scheduled to end in February.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll signed the memo for the extension.
The extension is meant to support President Trump's efforts to maintain law and order.
About 2,400 Guard members are currently on patrol in Washington, D.C.
Two soldiers from West Virginia were shot in November, with one later dying.
President Donald Trump issued four new pardons, including for a former Puerto Rican governor and a former FBI agent. The pardons have raised questions of political motivation, citing previous examples where Trump used his pardon powers in contentious situations. Each case involves claims of political prosecution and disputes over the fairness of legal proceedings.
Key Facts
President Trump pardoned four individuals this week, including Wanda Vázquez, a former governor of Puerto Rico.
Vázquez was involved in a bribery case linked to her 2020 election campaign.
The pardons were reportedly supported by individuals close to Trump's inner circle.
Three pardoned individuals were connected to a political corruption case and pleaded guilty to lesser charges in 2025.
President Trump has previously used pardons extensively, including for participants in the January 6 Capitol attack.
Trump also pardoned Adriana Camberos, convicted for selling counterfeit energy drinks and later on an unrelated fraud charge.
The administration cited political prosecution as a reason for these pardons.
The U.S. Education Department announced it will delay starting collection efforts, like wage garnishment, on defaulted federal student loans. This pause will give time to introduce new ways for people to pay back loans, as required by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. Borrowers in default will get extra time to make their loans current before collections resume.
Key Facts
The delay affects defaulted federal student loans.
Collections like wage garnishment and Treasury offsets are postponed.
The pause is to prepare for new repayment changes under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act.
A new income-driven repayment plan will be introduced, waiving unpaid interest in some cases.
Borrowers will have more time to rehabilitate or consolidate their loans.
A loan defaults after 270 days without payment, which can lead to action like wage garnishment.
The aim is to offer clearer and more consistent repayment paths for borrowers.
Abigail Spanberger was inaugurated as Virginia's first female governor on Saturday. The ceremony took place at the State Capitol in Richmond, and she succeeds Republican Glenn Youngkin. Spanberger is a former CIA officer and had served in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Key Facts
Abigail Spanberger is the first woman to become governor of Virginia.
The inauguration ceremony was held at Virginia's State Capitol in Richmond.
Spanberger defeated Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears in the election.
She previously served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Virginia's previous governor was Glenn Youngkin, a Republican.
Virginia governors can only serve one four-year term.
Spanberger will deliver an address to the Virginia General Assembly on Monday.
An inaugural parade followed the ceremony, featuring various groups from Virginia.
An employment tribunal ruled that a hospital violated the dignity of female nurses who complained about a transgender woman using their changing room. The tribunal found that the hospital created a hostile environment but dismissed some other claims made by the nurses. The nurses felt that their concerns were not taken seriously by management.
Key Facts
Eight nurses from Darlington Memorial Hospital complained about a transgender woman using their changing room.
The nurses felt "penalised" by management for their objections.
The County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust followed a policy allowing use of facilities based on gender identity.
The tribunal found that the trust created a hostile environment for the nurses.
Allegations against the transgender woman's conduct in the changing room were dismissed as "not well founded."
The tribunal said the policy violated the dignity of the nurses.
Management did not seriously consider the nurses' concerns as potential discrimination.
A separate changing area was eventually provided for those who complained.
Five years after the January 6th Capitol riots, debates about the event continue in the United States. A new Republican-led House committee has started investigating remaining questions about the riots, with different political parties having conflicting views on President Trump's role. The ongoing discussions highlight deep divisions in the country regarding responsibility for the events of that day.
Key Facts
The January 6th Capitol riots occurred five years ago in Washington, D.C.
A new committee in the Republican-led House is investigating unanswered questions about the riots.
This committee is called the Select Subcommittee to Investigate the Remaining Questions Surrounding January 6th, 2021.
Republicans criticize the previous investigation led by Democrat Nancy Pelosi.
Democrats continue to blame President Trump for inciting the riots.
There are claims that President Trump has pardoned many of the rioters.
Discussions are ongoing about the true events and responsibility for January 6th.
These debates show divisions in American society over the incident.
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has proposed a plan to change how the state allocates its electoral votes in presidential elections. Currently, Nebraska splits its electoral votes between districts and the statewide winner, but Pillen supports moving to a winner-take-all system. The decision would ultimately be put to Nebraska voters in a 2026 ballot measure.
Key Facts
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen supports changing the state's electoral vote system to winner-take-all.
Nebraska and Maine are the only states that currently split electoral votes based on district results.
In the 2024 election, President Trump won four of Nebraska's five electoral votes; the fifth went to Kamala Harris.
Governor Pillen wants the legislature to approve a bill for a 2026 ballot measure on this change.
Although Republicans are a majority in Nebraska, the vote on this measure would be determined by the public.
A previous attempt to change Nebraska’s electoral system before the 2024 election failed due to a filibuster.
Governor Pillen argues this change would unify Nebraska's voice in presidential elections.
President Donald Trump stated he currently sees no reason to use the Insurrection Act in Minnesota, where protests are occurring over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. He mentioned that although the Act is powerful and has been used by many past presidents, he does not think it is necessary at this time. Minnesota officials blame ICE for increasing tensions in Minneapolis.
Key Facts
President Trump addressed reporters about the possibility of using the Insurrection Act in Minnesota.
The Insurrection Act is a law that allows the President to deploy military forces to stop civil disorder.
Protests are ongoing in Minnesota related to ICE activities.
Trump noted that nearly half of U.S. presidents have used the Insurrection Act in the past.
Trump suggested on Truth Social he might use the Act but said there is no immediate need.
Minnesota officials have criticized ICE for exacerbating tensions in Minneapolis.
Michigan residents, particularly in Waterford Township, are reflecting on President Donald Trump's performance during the first year of his second term. Supporters in this area are discussing what they see as Trump's biggest achievements and missteps so far.
Key Facts
The focus is on President Donald Trump's first year of his second term.
Waterford Township is a suburb located north of Detroit, Michigan.
The BBC interviewed Trump supporters in Michigan for their views.
Residents are discussing both successes and failures of Trump's term.
The opinions are specific to people living in a politically important state, Michigan.
