President Donald Trump has claimed that stopping fraud across the United States could eliminate the national deficit. He mentioned specific fraud cases in Minnesota and highlighted ongoing investigations. However, experts and reports suggest that even the largest fraud estimates do not come close to covering the national deficit.
Key Facts
President Trump stated that ending fraud could balance the U.S. budget.
Cases in Minnesota involve fraud with federal money for housing, autism services, and child nutrition.
Fraud in Minnesota could involve up to $9 billion, but that includes non-federal funds.
The estimated federal fraud losses range from $233 billion to $521 billion annually.
The U.S. deficit for fiscal year 2025 was $1.775 trillion.
Experts say eliminating fraud alone cannot balance the budget.
Fraud detection and recovery remain challenging, with only a small percentage recovered.
Fraud investigations are ongoing in both Democratic and Republican states.
Former President Barack Obama's LinkedIn profile now shows a picture of President Donald Trump in the "experience" section. This change came from an edit to the White House LinkedIn page, which now features an image of Trump and a new tag line.
Key Facts
Barack Obama's LinkedIn profile now displays Donald Trump's picture due to a change on the White House LinkedIn page.
A Reddit user named u/marionjoshua first noticed the change and shared it on the internet.
The post highlighting this change has gained over 17,000 upvotes on Reddit.
Some people online see the change as humorous, while others view it as evidence of Trump's ego.
The altered White House LinkedIn page now also has a new slogan: "The Golden Age of America Begins Right Now."
It is unclear when or why this photo change happened or if it's possible to revert it.
This incident reflects ongoing tensions between Obama and Trump, who have publicly disagreed in the past.
There are no official comments yet from the White House or Obama's press office regarding this change.
A web domain named nazis.us now redirects to the Homeland Security website. Mark Davis, a Congressional candidate from Florida, claims responsibility for the domain setup, stating it serves as a critique of Homeland Security. The situation has attracted significant online attention and ties into broader discussions around the Trump administration and its policies.
Key Facts
The domain nazis.us redirects users to the Homeland Security website.
Mark Davis, a Florida Congressional candidate, claims he set up the redirect.
This move is meant to criticize Homeland Security, according to Davis.
The DHS has reportedly attempted to block the redirect, but some users still reach their site using the link.
The nazis.us domain was registered on January 13, 2026, according to GoDaddy.
Davis has also set up another domain, gestapo.us, which redirects to the ICE agency's website.
The online post by Davis about the domain has been widely viewed and shared on social media.
The issue ties into ongoing debates about comparisons between President Trump's administration and Nazi Germany, which Trump has rejected.
Many schools in the Midwest and eastern U.S. closed, delayed, or moved to remote learning due to snowstorms on Friday. Weather warnings were issued in several states because of expected snow and difficult travel. Lists of closed schools in Ohio and Michigan were reported.
Key Facts
Schools closed, delayed, or moved to remote learning due to snowstorms in the Midwest and East U.S.
The National Weather Service issued winter weather advisories in multiple states.
Ohio schools including Broadway Academy Willow and Cleveland Arts and Social Sciences were closed.
Michigan schools such as ABT High and Detroit Public Schools were also closed.
Snow and hazardous travel conditions were expected in affected areas.
Fox 8 and Fox 2 Detroit reported on specific school closures in Ohio and Michigan.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is reviewing large amounts of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, with over 500 people working on this task. The DOJ faces challenges due to the volume of documents and aims to protect the privacy of victims. There is criticism and frustration over delays in releasing these documents as required by law.
Key Facts
More than 500 DOJ staff are working on reviewing and redacting Epstein-related documents.
The DOJ has made progress but did not provide a specific completion timeline.
The review aims to protect the privacy of victims while processing a large volume of materials.
Over 12,285 documents have been released, with more than 2 million still under review.
Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie have criticized the DOJ for missing deadlines and suggested external oversight.
The DOJ faces technical challenges due to the high volume of documents under review.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act requires the release of all documents related to Epstein.
President Donald Trump has threatened to use the Insurrection Act to address unrest in Minneapolis following conflicts between residents and federal immigration agents. Trump warned he might deploy military forces if Minnesota cannot control protests linked to immigration enforcement. The situation has escalated since a fatal shooting by an ICE agent, and significant tensions and protests have continued in the city.
Key Facts
President Trump may use the Insurrection Act to deploy U.S. troops in Minneapolis due to unrest.
The Insurrection Act allows the president to use the military for domestic law enforcement.
Protests in Minneapolis originated from immigration enforcement issues and a recent fatal shooting by an ICE agent.
Around 3,000 federal officers have increased their presence in Minnesota as part of an operation.
The FBI offers up to $100,000 for information regarding thefts during the unrest.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called for ICE to leave the city, citing unsustainable conditions.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz urged residents to remain calm amid rising tensions.
Fundraisers for the family of Renee Nicole Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE agent, have raised over $1.4 million.
Flags in Kansas and New Jersey are flying at half-staff to honor two public servants who have passed away. Kansas honors former Mayor Evora Wheeler, while New Jersey remembers former U.S. Representative Dick Zimmer.
Key Facts
Flags in Kansas and New Jersey are flown at half-staff as a tribute.
In Kansas, flags are lowered on January 17 for Evora Wheeler, former Mayor of Emporia.
Evora Wheeler was active in community service and numerous local organizations.
Wheeler passed away at age 94 on January 2.
In New Jersey, flags are lowered from January 16 to 17 for Dick Zimmer.
Dick Zimmer was a former U.S. Representative for New Jersey’s 12th District.
Zimmer authored Megan’s Law, related to community notification of sex offenders.
Services for the two individuals are scheduled, with memorial contributions requested.
A Minnesota day care worker named Theah Loudemia Russell has been arrested for allegedly suffocating an 11-month-old child, Harvey Muklebust, to death at Rocking Horse Ranch in Savage, Minnesota, on September 22, 2025. Police believe Russell engaged in this act for attention and also mentioned her involvement in similar incidents with other children.
Key Facts
On September 22, 2025, Harvey Muklebust, an 11-month-old child, died at Rocking Horse Ranch in Savage, Minnesota.
Theah Loudemia Russell, an 18-year-old day care worker, has been arrested in connection with the child's death.
Police suspect Russell suffocated children on three occasions for attention-seeking purposes.
Russell confessed to the acts and has admitted to the murder of Harvey Muklebust.
The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families suspended the day care center's license.
Before her arrest, Russell reportedly exhibited attention-seeking behavior, including setting fires and making false 911 calls.
Russell is currently held at the Scott County Jail, suspected of second-degree murder.
A fundraiser for the Muklebust family has raised over $35,000.
A woman named Jennifer Cruz was arrested in Jacksonville, Florida, after allegedly hitting a state trooper during a law enforcement operation involving federal immigration agents. The incident occurred during a traffic stop near a grocery store, and resulted in Cruz being taken to jail after a confrontation with police. Florida's Attorney General commented on the situation, emphasizing the state's stance against such actions.
Key Facts
Jennifer Cruz, 40, was arrested in Jacksonville, Florida.
The arrest followed an incident where Cruz allegedly punched a Florida Highway Patrol trooper.
The encounter took place near a Mi Pueblo Mexican grocery store on Beach Boulevard.
Cruz was reportedly tailgating and using her phone while driving, which led to the initial police stop.
Her driver's license had been suspended since June 17, 2025.
Officers used a Taser and other restraints as Cruz resisted arrest.
The incident involved both state troopers and federal immigration agents (ICE).
Cruz was taken to Duval County Jail, and the injured trooper needed medical attention.
President Donald Trump warned he might use the Insurrection Act to deploy U.S. troops to Minnesota if state officials don't calm protests against federal immigration agents. The protests in Minneapolis follow recent shootings involving federal immigration officers, including a fatal one. Trump’s statement led to responses from Minnesota officials and discussions about the Insurrection Act’s powers.
Key Facts
President Trump is considering using the Insurrection Act to send military troops to Minnesota.
The Insurrection Act allows the president to deploy troops within the country to restore order.
Protests in Minneapolis have risen due to recent shootings by federal immigration agents.
Trump criticized Minnesota officials for not controlling the protests.
Minneapolis leaders argue against these actions, criticizing the federal agents’ conduct.
The Insurrection Act has been used by presidents 30 times in U.S. history.
The last use of the Act was during the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
Only the president can decide when to use the Insurrection Act.
President Donald Trump bought up to $1 million in Victoria's Secret bonds in December. This purchase is part of a series of financial transactions he made, totaling potentially over $100 million. A new bill aims to ban stock trading among members of Congress, but it does not apply to the president or vice president.
Key Facts
President Trump purchased Victoria's Secret bonds worth between $250,000 and $500,000 in December.
The total amount of his transactions could reach $160 million, given the high estimates.
The 2012 STOCK Act requires public reporting of such financial transactions to prevent conflicts of interest.
A new bill, the Restore Trust in Congress Act, proposes to ban stock trading for Congress members but exempts the president and vice president.
The new legislation allows Congress members 180 days to sell stock holdings, while new members have 90 days after taking office.
Some lawmakers oppose the bill due to its exemptions for the executive branch.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the bill's loopholes, arguing for inclusion of the presidency in any ban.
President Donald Trump’s approval rating among Generation Z has decreased significantly. Data from CBS News and CNN show a drop from a +10 approval rating in early 2025 to -32 in early 2026 among these young voters. This shift indicates a noticeable change in the political landscape and raises questions about the Republican Party's support among younger generations.
Key Facts
President Trump's approval rating with Gen Z was +10 in February 2025 and dropped to -32 by early 2026.
Generation Z includes people born between 1997 and 2012, and they were important in the 2024 election.
Gen Z's shift in approval may affect future U.S. election dynamics.
Poll data show Gen Z increasingly identifies or leans towards the Democratic Party.
In the 2024 election, Trump improved his Gen Z support to 39%, up from 35% in 2020.
Economic issues, such as rising costs of living, are key reasons for the drop in approval.
An AP-NORC poll in December 2025 found 67% of U.S. adults disapproved of Trump's economic handling.
Only 26% of Gen Z voters approved of Trump’s economic policy in a recent poll.
President Donald Trump is in a dispute with the Federal Reserve, accusing its chair, Jerome Powell, of mismanaging the economy by setting interest rates too high. Trump has taken steps to dismiss a top Fed official and Powell's leadership is under investigation by the Department of Justice. This situation raises concerns about the potential impact on the U.S. economy and the independence of its central bank.
Key Facts
President Trump is in conflict with the Federal Reserve and its chair, Jerome Powell.
Trump accuses Powell of keeping interest rates too high, which he believes hurt the economy.
In August, Trump tried to remove a top Fed official, Lisa Cook, leading to a Supreme Court case.
The Department of Justice is investigating the Fed concerning property renovation expenses.
Market reaction to this conflict has been calm so far, indicating confidence in the Fed's independence.
The Supreme Court will soon hear arguments about Cook's dismissal.
Trump's choice to replace Powell as Fed chair will be announced soon, as Powell's term ends in May.
Economists warn that political interference in the Fed could harm the economy.
Matthew Ammel, who worked as a bodyguard for former Senator Kyrsten Sinema, is accused of having an affair with her. The accusation comes from Ammel's ex-wife, Heather, who has filed a lawsuit claiming the affair caused their marital breakup. The lawsuit seeks at least $25,000 and claims that Sinema encouraged Ammel's drug use and bought him gifts.
Key Facts
Matthew Ammel is accused of having an affair with ex-Senator Kyrsten Sinema by his ex-wife, Heather Ammel.
The lawsuit was filed in North Carolina under the alienation of affection law.
Heather Ammel is asking for at least $25,000 in damages.
There are only a few states in the U.S. where alienation of affection lawsuits are allowed.
Matthew Ammel and Heather Ammel got married in October 2010 and separated in November 2024.
Matthew Ammel served in the U.S. Army, with deployments to Afghanistan and the Middle East.
After leaving the army in 2020, Ammel started a tree removal company and formed another company called Matthew Ammel LLC.
Ammel worked for Ridgeline Defense and firearm company Staccato after his army service.
The lawsuit claims Sinema encouraged Ammel's drug use and bought him gifts and concert tickets.
Matthew Ammel, a bodyguard, is accused of having an affair with former U.S. senator Kyrsten Sinema. The claim, made by Ammel's ex-wife Heather in a lawsuit, alleges the affair led to their marriage ending. Heather Ammel seeks $25,000 in damages from Sinema under an "alienation of affection" lawsuit.
Key Facts
Matthew Ammel is accused of having an affair with Kyrsten Sinema while working as her bodyguard.
The allegation comes from Ammel's ex-wife, Heather, as part of a lawsuit filed in North Carolina.
Heather Ammel is suing Sinema for at least $25,000 for "alienation of affection."
The "alienation of affection" lawsuit is allowed in only a few U.S. states.
Matthew Ammel was in the U.S. Army and served in Afghanistan and the Middle East.
After leaving the Army, he started a tree removal company and was involved with another company called Matthew Ammel LLC.
Ammel also worked as an instructor teaching shooting and driving skills.
The lawsuit alleges Sinema encouraged Ammel to bring drugs on a work trip and gave him gifts.
Verizon is giving a $20 credit to its customers in the United States affected by a large service outage. The outage began on January 14, lasted up to 10 hours in some areas, and disrupted calls, texts, and data services. Customers can claim the credit using the myVerizon app.
Key Facts
Verizon experienced a large service outage on January 14 lasting up to 10 hours.
The outage affected tens of thousands of customers across the U.S.
Customers could not make calls, send texts, or use data services during the outage.
Verizon offers a $20 account credit to affected customers to acknowledge the inconvenience.
The credit can be claimed through the myVerizon mobile app.
Business account holders will be contacted directly for credit arrangements.
Verizon resolved the outage on January 14 at 10:20 p.m. Eastern time.
The Federal Communications Commission monitored the situation but did not take regulatory action.
A new study found harmful chemicals called disinfection by-products (DBPs) in several brands of bottled water. These chemicals are also found in tap water, but bottled water generally contained fewer DBPs. Despite the presence of these chemicals, bottles using spring water typically had lower levels of DBPs than those labeled as purified.
Key Facts
The study looked at both regulated and unregulated DBPs in 10 popular bottled water brands.
All brands tested contained some DBPs, but bottled water had fewer DBPs than tap water.
The study authors did not name the brands, but noted that "grocery" and "name" brands had more DBPs than "designer" brands.
Bottled water labeled as spring water had lower DBP levels than those labeled as purified.
Chemicals like dibromoacetonitrile, which can be cancer-causing, were present but in small amounts.
Unregulated DBPs found for the first time included chloroacetonitrile and trichloronitromethane.
The FDA regulates some DBPs in bottled water, but not all, including many found in tap water.
Tap water had a greater variety of DBPs, averaging 37 different types compared to just 3 in bottled waters.
A labor union for police officers has raised concerns that federal immigration enforcement operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can increase risks for state and local police officers. The union highlights the potential for confusion and increased tension among the public when operations aren't clearly communicated. They suggest better coordination and clear identification of federal agents to reduce these risks.
Key Facts
Immigration enforcement operations by ICE can increase risks for local police.
Confusion occurs when residents cannot distinguish between local officers and federal agents.
Lack of clear identification of federal agents can lead to misinformation and danger.
The union suggests better coordination and visible markings for federal operations.
Public comments by some officials about ICE can increase hostility toward police.
President Trump has threatened to use the federal Insurrection Act in response to ongoing unrest in Minneapolis.
The ACLU of Minnesota filed a lawsuit claiming ICE operations violate residents' rights.
A video of a dispute between White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and a reporter has gained attention online. The argument started over questions about an ICE agent's shooting of a Minneapolis woman, leading to accusations of bias and unprofessionalism directed at the reporter by Leavitt.
Key Facts
The incident involved White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and a reporter.
The dispute began during a press briefing about the killing of a Minneapolis woman by an ICE agent.
ICE refers to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a U.S. agency.
The reporter questioned the actions of ICE, citing 32 deaths in custody and 170 wrongful detentions last year.
Leavitt accused the reporter of being biased and lacking professionalism.
A video of the argument went viral, with over 1.5 million views on social media platform X.
The U.S. Senate has a week to prevent a partial government shutdown when they return from their break. Democrats are pushing for changes in how ICE is handled in the Homeland Security funding bill. Some Democrats and Republicans need to agree to avoid the shutdown.
Key Facts
The Senate has until a week after January 26 to stop a partial government shutdown.
Democrats want to change how ICE is funded in the Department of Homeland Security bill.
A budget with no limits on Homeland Security might not get many Democratic votes.
At least six or seven Democrats need to agree with Republicans to prevent the shutdown.
Senate leaders from both parties, John Thune and Chuck Schumer, do not want another shutdown.
Congress is over halfway through passing appropriations bills for various departments.
Passing funding bills is a fundamental role of Congress, according to Republican leaders.
Some believe a temporary funding measure may be needed to avoid shutting down Homeland Security.
