A new poll shows that Democrats Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico are trailing behind two Republican candidates, John Cornyn and Wesley Hunt, in possible Texas Senate races. Both Democrats are tied in polls only against Ken Paxton, the state's Attorney General. The outcome of the race depends on the Republican primary results, suburban voter turnout, and undecided voters.
Key Facts
Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico are both Democratic candidates aiming for a Texas Senate seat.
John Cornyn and Wesley Hunt are two leading Republican candidates in the race.
Both Crockett and Talarico are tied against Republican Ken Paxton at 46 percent each.
In matchups against Cornyn and Hunt, both Crockett and Talarico are trailing by 3 to 5 percentage points.
About 9 percent of voters remain undecided in each potential matchup.
The results of the Republican primary will significantly impact the race.
Suburban turnout and consolidating undecided voters are key factors for the Democrats.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a new rule to make visa processing faster for religious workers, such as clergy, who use the R-1 visa to work in the United States. This change allows these workers to leave the U.S. after five years and return without waiting one year abroad, which was previously required. The rule aims to address delays but does not change the overall limits on visas or green cards for religious workers.
Key Facts
DHS has issued a new rule for R-1 visa holders, who are religious workers like pastors and rabbis.
The new rule removes the previous requirement for these workers to wait a year abroad before returning to the U.S. after five years of stay.
The change took effect immediately and allows public comments for 60 days.
The rule does not affect the total number of visas or green cards available for religious workers.
There are ongoing backlogs in the EB-4 visa category, delaying permanent residency for some religious workers.
The State Department has paused visa processing for some countries while reviewing consular procedures.
This pause affects multiple countries, including Brazil, Nigeria, and Iran.
DHS aims to support religious organizations under Secretary Noem's leadership.
A snowstorm has led to the closure of many schools across the eastern United States on Thursday. The National Weather Service issued winter weather advisories for states including Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. Schools have shifted to virtual learning or closed entirely due to expected difficult weather conditions.
Key Facts
Many schools in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana are closed or have moved to virtual learning because of snowstorms.
The National Weather Service issued warnings expecting significant inconvenience from wintry weather.
Indiana's schools, like Argos Community Schools and Elkhart Community Schools, decided on closures or virtual days.
Michigan's schools, such as Benton Harbor Area Schools and Lake Michigan College, also closed or opted for virtual learning.
Ohio schools, including Cleveland Metropolitan School District and Amherst Ex. Village Schools, were closed.
The closures are due to safety concerns about travel and weather conditions from snowstorms.
Winter weather advisories help regions prepare for significant disruptions caused by snow and ice.
President Donald Trump signed a new law that changes rules about what kind of milk schools can serve. The "Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025" lets schools serve whole milk and other types of milk, overturning previous limits set during President Obama's term. The law also includes nutritional standards for milk and nondairy beverages served in schools.
Key Facts
President Trump signed the "Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025" into law.
This law allows schools to serve whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, fat-free, lactose-free milk, and nondairy drinks that are equal to milk in nutrition.
Previously, whole milk was limited in schools to help reduce childhood obesity.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one in five American children and teens are obese.
Proponents argue children were opting for less healthy drinks when reduced-fat milk was the only choice.
The act says any milk fat is not considered saturated fat for nutritional compliance in schools.
The new law aligns with the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines, promoting whole foods and healthy fats.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture supported the act with a social media post featuring President Trump with a "milk mustache."
A social media post about the Tenement Museum in New York City gained attention after a visitor noted that the museum's historic living spaces appeared better than their current apartment. The Tenement Museum shows the tough living conditions of immigrant families in the past, which some visitors link to today's housing problems. Many people shared similar experiences online, reflecting on their own living conditions.
Key Facts
A social media post by Indy Allen about the Tenement Museum received over 188,000 views.
The museum, located in Manhattan, preserves homes of immigrant families who lived from the 1860s to the 1980s.
The post highlighted that the museum's recreated apartments seemed better than the poster's current apartment, which suffered a sewage flood.
The Tenement Museum educates visitors about past immigrant living conditions in New York.
The post resonated with many, who shared similar experiences of poor living conditions.
The U.S. housing crisis intensifies, with millions of renters spending over 30% of their income on housing.
Conversations around the museum visit sparked discussions about history and personal connections to immigrant stories.
A video on social media shows the scene after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot a man in the leg during a federal operation in Minneapolis. The incident happened after the man, who illegally entered the U.S. in 2022, crashed his car and ran, leading to a confrontation with ICE agents. Minneapolis is already tense due to a similar past incident involving ICE, which caused public protests.
Key Facts
An ICE agent shot a Venezuelan man in the leg in Minneapolis during an enforcement action.
The incident began with a traffic stop, after which the man fled, crashed his vehicle, and continued on foot.
The man and two others allegedly attacked an ICE officer with a shovel and broom handle before barricading themselves inside a residence.
Both the shot man and the ICE agent received hospital treatment for their injuries.
The two other people involved were taken into custody by authorities.
The event has increased tensions in Minneapolis, where a prior ICE-related shooting led to protests.
A video showed the aftermath, capturing voices pleading for help and emergency lights outside the residence.
Local Minneapolis leaders expressed concerns about the ongoing situation and called for careful investigation.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot a man in the leg in Minneapolis. The man was reportedly in the U.S. illegally from Venezuela. The incident has sparked protests in the city and is currently under investigation by the FBI.
Key Facts
An ICE officer shot a man in the leg in Minneapolis, and the man was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
The incident happened after a car chase; the man was believed to be in the country illegally.
An argument occurred between the man and the ICE officer, which led to the shooting.
Two other people allegedly attacked the ICE officer during the altercation, and both are now in custody.
Local officials and protesters are calling for ICE to leave Minneapolis, criticizing federal actions.
The incident followed another recent ICE-related shooting in which a woman was killed.
The FBI is investigating the shooting, and Minneapolis officials have expressed concern over ICE's presence.
Protests have erupted in the city, with some officials blaming local leaders for increased tensions.
Marjorie Taylor Greene has resigned from Congress, leading to a special election to replace her in Georgia's 14th district. At least 22 candidates, mostly Republicans, are running for the seat, and the election is scheduled for March 10, 2026. If no candidate wins a majority, the top two will compete in a runoff on April 7.
Key Facts
Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned from Congress on January 5, 2026, after disagreements with Republican leadership.
Greene was originally elected in 2020 to represent Georgia's 14th district.
A special election to fill her seat takes place on March 10, 2026.
22 candidates are running: 19 Republicans, 2 Democrats, and 1 independent.
The district is predominantly conservative, likely favoring a Republican successor.
If no candidate gets a majority, a runoff election will occur on April 7.
Notable candidates include Colton Moore, a state senator, and Shawn Harris, who previously challenged Greene.
The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings for several U.S. states, predicting up to 30 inches of snow and strong winds. The storm is expected to create "whiteout conditions" and make travel difficult from Thursday into Saturday. Residents are advised to monitor weather updates and road conditions.
Key Facts
The winter storm is expected to hit Alaska, New York, Indiana, and Michigan.
In Indiana, areas could see up to 18 inches of snow with winds up to 45 mph.
In Alaska, some regions might get up to 30 inches of snow and 50 mph winds.
New York counties may experience up to 12 inches of snow, affecting travel.
Michigan could receive up to 18 inches of snow with winds reaching 40 mph.
The storm could cause reduced visibility and dangerous driving conditions.
Ice accumulation in Alaska may lead to power outages.
A major outage affected Verizon customers across the U.S. on January 14, 2026. The company plans to give credits to affected users but has not yet shared details on how this will happen.
Key Facts
The Verizon outage began at around 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time on January 14, 2026.
The disruption led to over a million reports of issues on Downdetector.com.
Customers in cities like New York City, Atlanta, and Houston were affected.
The outage lasted more than six hours, with services restored after 10:20 p.m. Eastern Time.
Over 146 million Verizon subscribers were impacted.
Verizon has announced plans to issue credits to customers, but details are still pending.
Verizon suggested restarting devices to regain connectivity for some users.
A federal officer in Minneapolis shot a Venezuelan man in the leg after an incident occurred during an arrest attempt. The officer reportedly shot the man after being attacked by two other individuals who used a shovel and broom handle. Both the man and the officer are in the hospital, while the other two individuals are in custody.
Key Facts
A federal officer shot a man in the leg in Minneapolis.
The incident happened while trying to arrest a man from Venezuela who was in the U.S. illegally.
The man attempted to flee in a vehicle and then on foot, crashing into a parked car.
Two people from a nearby apartment attacked the officer with a snow shovel and broom handle.
The officer fired a shot because he feared for his life, hitting the man in the leg.
Both the man and the officer are currently in hospital.
The two individuals who attacked the officer are in custody.
The city of Minneapolis has asked the public to remain calm following the incident.
The U.S. Senate voted on a war powers resolution that aimed to require President Trump to get Congress's approval before taking military action in Venezuela. The vote ended in a tie, and Vice President JD Vance cast the deciding vote to defeat the resolution. Some Republicans initially supported the resolution but withdrew their support before the final vote.
Key Facts
The war powers resolution sought to limit President Trump's ability to take military action in Venezuela without Congress's approval.
Vice President JD Vance cast a tie-breaking vote, resulting in the resolution's defeat.
Republican Senators Todd Young and Josh Hawley initially supported the resolution but changed their votes.
Todd Young stated he received assurances that no U.S. troops are in Venezuela and that Congress will be notified if military action becomes necessary.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that President Trump would seek congressional authorization if U.S. forces were needed in Venezuela.
President Trump and Secretary Rubio did not notify Congress in advance of a military operation in Venezuela.
The military action in Venezuela involved the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and resulted in casualties.
Federal agents conducted a raid at the home of Washington Post journalist Hannah Natanson, seizing electronic devices as part of an investigation into leaked classified materials. The FBI's search relates to a probe involving a contractor accused of illegally keeping confidential government information. The raid has raised concerns about press freedom and the protection journalists have to report sensitive information.
Key Facts
FBI agents raided the home of Washington Post journalist Hannah Natanson.
Agents took her laptops, phone, and a watch during the search.
The raid is part of an investigation into a contractor accused of wrongful handling of classified materials.
The Washington Post stated that Natanson and the newspaper are not the investigation's targets.
The Department of Defense requested this search.
The Trump administration has taken a strong stance against leaks of classified information.
Press freedom groups worry this action could affect journalists' ability to report on secretive government matters.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that a contractor named Perez-Lugones was arrested for leaking information.
Senate Republicans stopped a vote on a resolution that aimed to limit President Trump's military actions in Venezuela. The vote was close, ending 51-50, with Vice President Vance casting the deciding vote against the resolution. Some Republicans who initially supported the resolution changed their minds after assurances from the administration.
Key Facts
Senate Republicans blocked a vote on a war powers resolution about military action in Venezuela.
The vote ended 51-50, and Vice President Vance cast the tie-breaking vote.
Republican Senators Rand Paul, Lisa Murkowski, and Susan Collins voted with Democrats.
Senators Josh Hawley and Todd Young initially supported the resolution but later voted to block it.
Todd Young received assurances from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the administration, influencing his decision.
Republicans argued that the vote process was not needed because there are no U.S. troops in Venezuela.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will appear before the Foreign Relations Committee after the recess.
Some House Democrats are supporting articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, while others argue it's a distraction from important issues. Representative Robin Kelly is leading the impeachment effort, but many believe it won't succeed in the Republican-majority House or the Senate.
Key Facts
House Democrats are rapidly supporting articles of impeachment against Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security Secretary.
The impeachment effort accuses Noem of obstructing Congress, violating the Constitution, and corruption.
Robin Kelly, leading the effort, argues that impeachment is important and doesn't distract from other issues like health care.
Some Democrats, including Rep. Adam Gray and Rep. Sanford Bishop, believe impeachment is a distraction.
As of Wednesday, 70 House Democrats have signed onto the articles of impeachment against Noem.
Republicans hold the majority in the House, making it unlikely for the impeachment to pass.
Even if it passed the House, a two-thirds Senate majority is needed to remove Noem, which is unlikely to happen.
Some centrist Democrats criticize the impeachment efforts as being mainly symbolic and not addressing more pressing issues.
Minneapolis officials reported a shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A suspect allegedly attacked an ICE officer with a shovel, leading to shots being fired. The suspect, believed to be Venezuelan, was reportedly shot but is stable and in custody.
Key Facts
The shooting happened in Minneapolis and involved ICE agents.
Officials are confirming additional details about the incident.
A suspect allegedly assaulted an ICE officer with a shovel.
Shots were fired during the incident.
The suspect, believed to be Venezuelan, was shot and is now stable and in custody.
U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche commented on the situation, criticizing local Minnesota leaders.
The incident is under investigation, and more details will be released as they become available.
The Trump administration announced a suspension of immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, citing concerns about immigrants taking welfare. The decision affects immigrant visas but does not impact tourist or business visas. This action is part of President Trump's broader agenda to tighten immigration rules.
Key Facts
The U.S. will pause immigrant visa processing for 75 countries.
The government mentioned concerns over immigrants taking welfare at high rates.
Countries affected include Somalia, Haiti, Iran, and Eritrea.
The State Department said 100,000 visas have been revoked since Trump returned to office.
The policy will begin on January 21 and does not affect non-immigrant visas.
The Department of Homeland Security reported over 605,000 people deported.
An official mentioned additional countries in the freeze include Brazil, Egypt, Thailand, Nigeria, Iraq, and Yemen.
Seventy percent of affected countries are in Africa.
Some Republican senators initially supported a resolution to limit President Donald Trump's ability to start military actions in Venezuela without Congress' approval but later changed their votes. This change has sparked debate about presidential power over military actions and Congress' role in declaring war.
Key Facts
Republican Senators Josh Hawley and Todd Young changed their votes on the Venezuela War Powers Resolution.
The original vote passed the resolution 52-47 with support from some Republican senators.
Senators Rand Paul, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski supported the resolution until the final vote.
Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote.
The resolution aimed to restrict President Trump's power to take military action in Venezuela without congressional approval.
The change in votes led to criticism from various individuals and organizations on social media.
Senator Todd Young stated he received assurances there are no U.S. troops in Venezuela and commitments to consult Congress before any significant military move.
President Trump shared a positive message on Truth Social about U.S. relations with Venezuela.
President Donald Trump stated he was unaware that his administration had restored funds to Planned Parenthood. The funds were part of Title X family planning grants, initially frozen amid legal disputes. The restoration followed legal actions from organizations like the NFPRHA and the ACLU.
Key Facts
President Trump said he did not know about the restoration of funds to Planned Parenthood.
The NFPRHA announced they dismissed a lawsuit after their grants were restored.
The initial freezing of $27.5 million affected 865 family planning sites.
These sites provide services to an estimated 842,000 patients across nearly 24 states.
The restoration of funds occurred after the Department of Health and Human Services reviewed compliance issues.
The ACLU had filed a lawsuit regarding the frozen funds on behalf of the NFPRHA.
The Title X program has been a focal point of political criticism, particularly regarding its funding to Planned Parenthood.
The U.S. government, under President Trump, is stopping visa applications from 75 countries. Additionally, a U.S. Senator from Michigan is under federal investigation, and the Supreme Court is reconsidering a legal challenge related to mail-in voting in Illinois.
Key Facts
The U.S. government is not processing visa applications from 75 countries.
President Trump leads this decision.
Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin is being investigated by federal authorities.
The investigation is about a video where Slotkin allegedly told troops to resist illegal orders.
The Supreme Court is looking again at a Republican challenge to an Illinois law.
The Illinois law in question allows mail-in ballots to be counted even after Election Day.
