A rescue dog named Penelope had both her eyes removed due to medical issues. Her owner, Kelsie, adopted her and shared that Penelope continues to live happily despite her blindness and has become an inspiration on social media. Penelope's story highlights how pets with disabilities can still lead fulfilling lives.
Key Facts
Penelope is a rescue dog who has had both eyes surgically removed.
Kelsie, a veterinary technician, adopted Penelope after the dog was brought in as a stray.
5.8 million dogs and cats entered shelters in the U.S. in 2024, with 60% being strays.
Enucleation is the removal of an eyeball and was necessary for Penelope due to her medical condition.
Penelope remains active and happy, despite her blindness.
She enjoys activities such as playing fetch and has learned tricks with the help of her owner's training.
Penelope's story is shared on social media under the handle @noeyes_justvibes10 to show that blind dogs can have happy lives.
Kelsie mentions that taking care of Penelope has made her more understanding of pet owners dealing with medical issues.
President Donald Trump's administration has seen many Justice Department lawyers fired or resign, including Michael Ben'Ary, a longtime prosecutor. The departures have reduced experience at the department and happened during a time when President Trump is pushing for actions against political opponents.
Key Facts
Michael Ben'Ary, a Justice Department prosecutor, was informed of his firing while checking his phone at a red light.
President Trump had mentioned Ben'Ary's work on a counterterrorism case in a speech to Congress.
Ben'Ary was not given a clear reason for his dismissal, which came after right-wing commentary linked him to a Democratic administration official.
Over 230 Justice Department employees were reportedly fired last year, with many resigning voluntarily amidst political pressures.
The departures include prosecutors handling significant cases, such as the Jan. 6 Capitol attacks and immigration cases.
Pam Bondi, the attorney general under President Trump, has been noted for overseeing numerous firings in her first year.
The Justice Department claims it has hired new lawyers to fill these positions.
President Donald Trump has announced a new health care plan called "The Great Healthcare Plan," which aims to lower drug prices and health insurance premiums. However, experts say there are still many questions about how this plan will work and who will benefit from it. The plan includes ideas like health savings accounts and changes to insurance subsidies.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump announced "The Great Healthcare Plan."
The plan aims to lower drug prices and insurance premiums.
It proposes health savings accounts instead of certain subsidies.
Experts are unsure about the plan's details and impact.
Critics say the plan may not cover enough of the average insurance costs.
The White House has not provided full specifics of the plan.
The plan would replace Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies.
The plan could save taxpayers $36 billion and lower premiums by 10%.
A new bill has been proposed in the U.S. Congress to allow terminally ill Americans to receive their Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits without the usual five-month waiting period. The Immediate Access for the Terminally Ill Act aims to provide immediate benefits to those diagnosed with diseases that have no known cure and a life expectancy of five years or less.
Key Facts
The bill was introduced by Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger and Senator Mike Lee.
Currently, terminally ill individuals must wait five months to receive SSDI benefits.
The bill would remove the waiting period for those with a disease on the Social Security Compassionate Allowance List.
Eligible individuals could receive benefits immediately with a 7% reduction, or wait five months for full benefits.
Patient advocacy groups like NOSSCR support the bill, stating it helps vulnerable individuals.
Terminally ill Americans with a life expectancy of five years or less would be affected.
The proposed legislation seeks to provide timely support for end-of-life care.
An alleged member of the Latin Kings gang was arrested for stealing weapons and body armor from a vandalized FBI vehicle in Minneapolis. The arrest is part of a federal response to incidents following protests in the city. Authorities are seeking more information related to these vandalism and theft acts.
Key Facts
A gang member allegedly stole weapons and body armor from an FBI vehicle that was vandalized in Minneapolis.
Federal agents arrested Raul Gutierrez, a 33-year-old identified as part of the Latin Kings gang.
The theft occurred during unrest following the killing of Renee Nicole Good and a separate incident involving a Venezuelan migrant.
The FBI vehicles were broken into while agents responded to an assault on a federal officer.
The FBI has issued a public notice seeking tips and is offering a $100,000 reward for information.
Gutierrez faces two charges, including theft and a weapons-related charge, under Minnesota law.
The case is at the probable-cause stage, and no bail information is available yet.
Authorities stress that all suspects are innocent until proven guilty, and court proceedings have not started.
Social Security has introduced several improvements to make services more accessible and efficient for Americans. These changes include increased access to personal accounts, quicker response times, and reduced wait times at field offices. The updates come as part of a digital transformation under President Trump’s administration.
Key Facts
Americans can now access their Social Security accounts online any time, day or night.
Response to phone calls improved by 65% in 2025 compared to 2024.
The time to answer calls on the National 800 Number is now in single digits.
90% of calls can be resolved through automated services or callbacks.
Wait times at Social Security field offices dropped by almost 30%.
People with appointments wait about six minutes on average.
There's been a 33% reduction in pending disability claims since June 2024.
Over $17 billion in payments, under the Social Security Fairness Act, were made ahead of schedule.
President Donald Trump asked Senator Dan Sullivan and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to shorten their comments during a White House discussion on rural health care. Trump said he needed to attend other important meetings but joked about giving Rollins more time when she praised his second-term actions.
Key Facts
President Trump spoke at a White House event focused on rural health care.
He told Senator Sullivan and Secretary Rollins to limit their remarks to one minute each.
President Trump mentioned he had other "very important meetings" to attend.
Rollins offered to complete her remarks in 30 seconds but took longer.
Trump jokingly suggested giving Rollins more time after she praised his efforts.
A media personality named Carl Higbie said he deleted Avengers movies he already bought because actor Mark Ruffalo criticized ICE and President Trump. Higbie's announcement sparked widespread online reactions, as people pointed out he already paid for the movies. Ruffalo and other celebrities showed their opposition to ICE at the Golden Globes after an incident involving an ICE officer.
Key Facts
Carl Higbie said he deleted Marvel's Avengers movies in response to Mark Ruffalo's criticism of ICE and President Trump.
Higbie's post on social media became viral, with many users noting that deleting purchased movies doesn't reverse the purchase.
Mark Ruffalo, known for acting in Marvel movies, wore an anti-ICE pin at the Golden Globes in memory of Renee Nicole Good.
Renee Nicole Good was killed by an ICE officer, reportedly in self-defense, and an investigation is ongoing.
Minnesota leaders criticized ICE and called for their departure from Minneapolis.
President Trump's Communications Director labeled Ruffalo as a poor actor and accused him of lying.
Carl Higbie previously resigned from a government position after past recordings of him making offensive comments surfaced.
The article discusses a strategy for the Democratic party to address an upcoming government funding deadline. It suggests that Democrats should demand the appointment of an independent special master to release the Epstein files as a condition for approving government funding. The article claims that President Trump has delayed the release of these files, which by law should already be public.
Key Facts
A stopgap funding bill is set to expire at the end of the month, potentially leading to a government shutdown.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act was passed overwhelmingly in Congress and signed by President Trump, requiring the release of Epstein-related files.
A small percentage of the Epstein files have been released, and many are heavily redacted.
Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed President Trump's name appears in the Epstein files multiple times.
The Department of Justice stopped releasing more Epstein files.
Ghislaine Maxwell, a convicted child sex trafficker, was transferred to a minimum-security prison with special privileges.
Board of Prison policy generally does not allow sex offenders in minimum-security facilities, suggesting unusual intervention for Maxwell.
President Donald Trump's administration is planning to let Americans use money from their 401(k) retirement accounts to help with down payments on houses. This plan, which aims to make it easier to buy a home, will be shared by President Trump at the Davos economic forum.
Key Facts
The plan involves using 401(k) retirement funds for home down payments.
Kevin Hassett, Director of the National Economic Council, announced this plan.
President Trump will reveal more details at the Davos economic forum.
The administration aims to help people buy homes as costs have increased.
The typical down payment needed for a home has risen from $15,000 to about $32,000.
The change is part of several policies aimed at addressing housing affordability.
U.S. regulators have recalled several products made in China due to safety concerns. The recalled items, including hair growth serums and baby products, were primarily sold on Amazon. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) aims to ensure consumer safety by working with international manufacturers.
Key Facts
Nine out of 11 recalled products were made in China.
Recalled items include hair growth serums, baby products, and bicycle helmets.
The recall was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Some products did not meet child safety packaging laws, posing potential injury risks.
Approximately 330,000 Frigidaire mini fridges were also recalled due to fire risks.
The recalled products were mostly sold on Amazon.
China is the second-largest exporter to the United States.
The CPSC has encouraged international cooperation to improve product safety.
President Trump's team looked at Republican polling data showing decreased support for his immigration policies. Figures from these polls raised concerns about harsh enforcement by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and its impact on voters' opinions. Some advisors are discussing how to adjust these tactics, but no specific changes have been decided.
Key Facts
Trump's team reviewed GOP polls showing a drop in support for his immigration policies.
These polls indicated that 60% of independent voters think Trump is too focused on deportations.
33% of surveyed people believe Trump is mostly deporting law-abiding individuals, not criminals.
Trump's advisors are considering changes to ICE's approach, but no decisions have been made yet.
Some Republicans in Congress have expressed concern to the White House about ICE tactics.
Polls from CNN and YouGov show most Americans think ICE is making cities less safe.
ICE is not receiving assistance from police in "sanctuary cities" that limit immigration enforcement.
Trump publicly maintains support for aggressive immigration actions, considering using the Insurrection Act in Minnesota.
The U.S. Defense Department plans to change the focus of the military newspaper Stars and Stripes to concentrate on content relevant to military personnel and eliminate what it calls "woke distractions." The Pentagon intends to have more content created by active-duty service members and reduce reliance on external news agencies. The decision raises questions about the paper's independence, which was established by Congress in the 1990s.
Key Facts
The Pentagon wants Stars and Stripes to focus on military-related topics like warfighting, weapons, and fitness.
Stars and Stripes has a long history of editorial independence dating back to the Civil War.
About half of Stars and Stripes' funding comes from the Pentagon.
The Pentagon's new plan involves having articles written by active-duty service members.
The U.S. Congress had previously established the publication's editorial independence in the 1990s.
The Pentagon also plans to stop publishing content from news agencies like the Associated Press.
The publisher of Stars and Stripes expressed concern about the impact of these changes on the paper's value and independence.
Minnesota state Representative Brad Tabke faced criticism from conservatives after he posted the locations of ICE agents on social media. Tabke's actions come amid increased immigration enforcement efforts by President Trump’s administration, leading to divided opinions about alerting the public about ICE presence. Some conservatives argue this endangers agents and disrupts operations, while others debate its legality.
Key Facts
Representative Brad Tabke posted the locations of ICE agents on social media.
Tabke represents a suburban area outside Minneapolis, Minnesota.
His posts led to backlash from conservative groups and individuals.
The incident follows a recent ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis.
ICE is under increased scrutiny for its methods, especially during intensified enforcement initiatives.
Critics claim that sharing agents' locations could endanger them and hinder federal work.
Legal experts have differing views on whether such actions are lawful.
Tabke defends his actions as protected under the U.S. Constitution.
Author Stephen King faced criticism online after questioning whether a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent was run over by a vehicle, as claimed by the Department of Homeland Security. Videos from the incident did not clearly show the agent, Jonathan Ross, being hit by the car, although he reportedly suffered internal injuries. The shooting of Renee Nicole Good by the agent in Minneapolis sparked debate over the nature of the encounter.
Key Facts
Stephen King posted on social media questioning video evidence of an ICE agent being run over.
The Department of Homeland Security stated the agent, Jonathan Ross, suffered internal bleeding during the incident.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Ross was struck by Good's vehicle, but this is disputed by local officials.
Videos from bystanders did not clearly show the vehicle hitting Ross.
President Trump stated that Good ran the agent over, but opinions differ.
Some social media users and influencers criticized King for his comments.
Renee Nicole Good was shot by Ross and later died after crashing her vehicle.
The incident has sparked controversy and varying accounts from federal and local officials.
President Donald Trump is taking part in a discussion about rural health care as new funds from the Rural Health Transformation Program start to become available. This program provides $10 billion to states for rural health hospitals to help address earlier funding cuts. Officials are working on how to distribute and use the money effectively.
Key Facts
President Trump is participating in a rural health care discussion.
The Rural Health Transformation Program will distribute $10 billion to states.
The funds aim to help offset previous budget cuts to rural hospitals.
The allocation is not equal, and all states have applied for funding.
Officials express concern that funding might be taken back if state policies don't align with those of the administration.
On average, states might receive $200 million in 2026 for their programs.
The program is part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law six months ago.
Dr. Mehmet Oz mentioned that each state proposes their plan on how to spend the awards, with project officers supporting them.
A story about a five-year-old girl named Gracyn-Blu went viral after her mother posted about Gracyn realizing that none of her friends attended her birthday party. The family tried to make her feel better, and the post received a lot of attention and support on TikTok, with many parents sharing similar experiences. Gracyn's family is now planning to make her next birthday special by saving for a trip to France.
Key Facts
Gracyn-Blu, a 5-year-old girl, realized none of her classmates came to her birthday party.
Her mother, Shona Niblett, posted about the experience on TikTok, which went viral.
The video gained over 120,000 views, with many people showing support and sharing similar stories.
Gracyn's family, including her siblings, tried to cheer her up during her birthday.
Shona hopes the story will make parents more considerate about attending parties they commit to.
The family is planning to make Gracyn's next birthday special with a possible trip to France.
Two toddlers were found walking on a highway in Florida by a man named John Brittingham. He managed to safely return them to their family, who were unaware that the children had left the Airbnb where they were staying. The local sheriff's office is investigating the incident.
Key Facts
The incident took place on Florida State Road A1A in Brevard County.
John Brittingham noticed the toddlers on the road while he was driving and picked them up to ensure they were safe.
The toddlers were located with their family at an Airbnb, and the family did not know they were missing.
Brittingham found that the back gate of the Airbnb was open, which is how the children likely got out.
A safety report stated that 52 young pedestrians under five were killed in 2023 across the U.S.
No one was hurt in this particular incident.
The Brevard County Sheriff's Office is conducting an investigation into how the incident happened.
Kyrsten Sinema, a former U.S. senator from Arizona, is accused of having an affair with her bodyguard, which reportedly contributed to the end of his marriage. The allegations are detailed in a lawsuit filed by the bodyguard's ex-wife, seeking financial compensation from Sinema.
Key Facts
Kyrsten Sinema is accused of having an affair with Matthew Ammel, her bodyguard.
The lawsuit was filed by Ammel's ex-wife, Heather Ammel, in North Carolina.
Heather Ammel claims the affair led to the end of their 14-year marriage.
The lawsuit includes allegations about inappropriate messages and drug use.
Heather Ammel seeks at least $25,000 from Sinema in damages.
The lawsuit uses the "alienation of affection" claim, legal in only a few U.S. states.
Sinema left the U.S. Senate and didn't run in the November 2024 elections.
Sinema has not yet publicly responded to the lawsuit's claims.
The Cook Political Report shows 18 U.S. House races moving in favor of the Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Democrats need three more seats to take control of the House, while Republicans face a tougher challenge to maintain their majority.
Key Facts
The Cook Political Report updated its prediction for 18 House races, showing a shift towards Democrats.
Democrats need three additional seats to gain a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
If elections were held immediately, Republicans would need to win about 75% of the toss-up races to retain House control.
Recent trends show Democrats performing well in special elections and President Trump having low approval ratings.
Eight races changed from "likely Democrat" to "solid Democrat," stabilizing those seats for Democrats.
Some Republican seats in Colorado, Florida, and Tennessee turned from "solid" to "likely Republican."
Democratic-held districts in New York, California, and New Mexico shifted to "lean Democrat."
Districts in Texas and Ohio moved toward toss-up status due to newly redrawn maps favoring Republicans.
