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.
Protests are happening in the Twin Cities area and across the U.S. after an ICE agent shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis. People in Minnesota are worried because there are more immigration agents around.
Key Facts
An ICE agent shot and killed a 37-year-old woman named Renee Good in Minneapolis.
This incident has led to large protests in the Twin Cities and across the U.S.
The protests started over a week ago.
There is increased presence of immigration officers in Minnesota.
The community feels tense and worried due to these events.
Fred de Sam Lazaro is reporting on these developments.
Minnesota's Attorney General, Keith Ellison, spoke about the impact of immigration operations happening in the Twin Cities. He expressed concerns about how these actions might affect people's trust in the government.
Key Facts
President Trump’s administration is conducting immigration operations in the Twin Cities area, which includes cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Keith Ellison is the Attorney General of Minnesota.
Ellison discussed the state’s response to these operations in an interview with Amna Nawaz.
Ellison is concerned that these actions might harm people’s trust in the government.
The immigration operations involve federal authorities working in local areas.
A U.S. Senate hearing on abortion has sparked a viral exchange on social media. The interaction between Senator Josh Hawley and OB-GYN Dr. Nisha Verma focused on whether men can become pregnant, fueling debate on gender identity and reproductive rights.
Key Facts
Dr. Nisha Verma is an obstetrician-gynecologist based in Atlanta.
The viral exchange happened at a Senate hearing about the abortion pill mifepristone.
Senator Josh Hawley repeatedly asked if men could get pregnant.
Dr. Verma responded by acknowledging the diverse identities of her patients.
Verma's response was labeled "polarizing" during the exchange.
A video of the exchange gained 3.4 million views shortly after being posted.
The debate ties into larger discussions about abortion, transgender rights, and reproductive health care language.
The exchange may affect future hearings and legislation on related topics.
The FBI conducted a search at the home of a Washington Post reporter named Hannah Natanson. This search was linked to an investigation about a government contractor allegedly mishandling classified information.
Key Facts
The FBI searched the home of Hannah Natanson, a reporter from the Washington Post.
The search is part of an investigation related to a government contractor.
The contractor is accused of improperly handling classified information.
Hannah Natanson has been writing about President Donald Trump’s changes to the federal government.
The search has raised concerns about press freedom among advocates.
Geoff Bennett and Gabe Rottman discussed the incident further.
The Trump administration has paused immigrant visa processing for 75 countries. This measure aims to prevent entry of individuals who may rely on public benefits in the U.S. This pause does not affect temporary visas for tourism or business.
Key Facts
The Trump administration stopped processing immigrant visas for 75 countries.
The State Department says this is to prevent abuse of the U.S. welfare system.
The policy starts on January 21, but the full list of affected countries is not yet available.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading the efforts to reassess visa procedures.
This suspension does not impact non-immigrant visas, such as those for tourists or business travelers.
The State Department has recently restricted entry from countries President Trump considers security threats, like Russia, Iran, and Afghanistan.
Recent adjustments included a travel ban restricting certain nationals and halting some citizenship and green card processes.
Republican leaders in the U.S. Senate stopped a resolution related to the war powers concerning Venezuela. Last week, five Republican senators voted to move the measure forward, but it did not pass. The day also involved impeachment articles for DHS Secretary Noem and potential charges against the Clintons in Congress.
Key Facts
Republican leaders in the Senate stopped a resolution about war powers for Venezuela.
Last week, five Republican senators supported the resolution, but it did not pass.
This activity took place in the U.S. Congress.
Articles of impeachment were introduced against DHS Secretary Noem on the same day.
There were also discussions about holding the Clintons in contempt of Congress.
A change in the definition of hemp was included in the legislation that ended the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. This small change is expected to significantly affect the hemp industry in the U.S.
Key Facts
The longest government shutdown in U.S. history ended with legislation that included a change to hemp regulations.
The change involves how hemp is defined, specifically related to its scientific measurements.
This change could greatly impact the growing market for hemp products.
Hemp is used for various products, ranging from textiles to food supplements.
The report on this legislation's impact was made from Kentucky, a state known for hemp production.
Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia is giving his last major speech as the state's governor in front of the Virginia General Assembly in Richmond. Youngkin, a Republican, is finishing his term, and Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, will take over as governor in January.
Key Facts
Glenn Youngkin is the current governor of Virginia.
Youngkin will deliver a speech to the Virginia General Assembly in Richmond.
The speech is being streamed by VPM, starting at 6:47 p.m. EST.
Youngkin is limited by law to one four-year term as governor.
Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, won the Virginia gubernatorial race.
Spanberger will become Virginia's first female governor.
A new poll shows Vice President JD Vance leading California Governor Gavin Newsom but behind Kamala Harris in a potential 2028 presidential matchup. The poll suggests that voters remain undecided, and top candidates have not officially started their campaigns yet. This early polling highlights possible competition and voter opinions ahead of formal announcements.
Key Facts
JD Vance has 42.1% support against Kamala Harris's 48.5% in a potential 2028 election match-up.
Against Gavin Newsom, Vance leads with 44.6% to Newsom's 41%.
The poll included 891 likely voters, conducted from January 1 to 7, and has a 3.3% margin of error.
Voters also compared Marco Rubio with Newsom, Harris, and Josh Shapiro in other match-ups.
Newsom has a slight lead over Rubio, with 41.7% compared to 39.9%.
Harris leads Rubio very narrowly, 43.4% to 43.1%.
The poll reflects early voter sentiment as no major candidates have announced their campaigns officially yet.
President Trump has mentioned both Vance and Rubio as potential successors.
The article discusses how the Trump administration, with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is implementing changes to the U.S. vaccine system that many Americans oppose. This includes altering vaccine schedules without scientific support, causing concerns about declining vaccination rates and public health. It highlights the strong public support for vaccines across political groups despite these changes.
Key Facts
President Trump and Health Secretary RFK Jr. have made changes to the vaccine system, creating confusion.
Vaccination has become a key political issue, with many Americans wanting reliable access to vaccines.
The U.S. saw over 1,900 measles cases this year, the most since 33 years ago.
There's a risk of losing the measles elimination status, held since 2000.
The health department's vaccine advisory committee was revamped with members lacking scientific acclaim.
Recommended delays in hepatitis B vaccines for infants could lower vaccination rates.
Polls show broad support among Americans for vaccines, including MMR, hepatitis B, and TDAP vaccines.
Around 70% of Americans worry about decreasing childhood vaccination rates.
A protester in California was injured during a demonstration outside an immigration service building. Federal police used non-lethal weapons at close range, resulting in one protester being blinded in one eye and having skull fractures.
Key Facts
A protester was hurt during a demonstration in California.
The protest took place outside an immigration service building.
Federal police used paintball-style, non-lethal weapons.
The injured person was blinded in one eye.
The protester suffered skull fractures from the incident.
The FBI searched the home of a Washington Post reporter, Hannah Natanson, as part of an investigation into leaked classified information. The search is linked to a government contractor, Aurelio Perez-Lugones, who is accused of unlawfully keeping national defense documents. Natanson is not the main target of the investigation.
Key Facts
The FBI raided the home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson.
The search is part of an investigation into a contractor accused of leaking classified documents.
The contractor, Aurelio Perez-Lugones, has been charged with keeping national defense information without permission.
The raid took place at Natanson’s home in Virginia, where agents seized electronic devices.
Natanson herself is not considered the main focus of the investigation.
Perez-Lugones worked as a system administrator with top-secret clearance.
Classified information was allegedly found in Perez-Lugones' car.
Concerns about press freedom and journalist rights have been raised following the search.
A winter storm is expected to bring up to 12 inches of snow to parts of the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast United States on Wednesday and Thursday. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued winter storm warnings and advisories across the regions. These conditions are expected to cause dangerous travel situations with potential whiteout conditions and slick roads.
Key Facts
A winter storm is forecasted to hit the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast U.S. with up to 12 inches of snow.
National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings in states like Indiana, Michigan, and New York.
Lake-effect snow, a type of snow that occurs when cold air passes over a warmer lake, could result in heavy snowfall.
Northern Indiana may experience up to 12 inches of snow, an increase from previous forecasts.
Roads are expected to become slick and covered with snow, making travel extremely difficult, especially during peak hours.
Winds could gust up to 40 mph, causing blowing snow and reducing visibility.
Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania may see lake-effect snow with potential accumulations up to 15 inches.
Winter weather advisories, alerting people to potential weather issues, cover additional states, including West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia.
President Trump is trying to lower borrowing costs for people by ordering specific policies, not waiting for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates. He has directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy mortgage bonds and suggested capping credit card rates at 10%. These actions are meant to help people spend less on loans, though their overall economic impact is not certain.
Key Facts
President Trump wants borrowing to be cheaper for consumers.
He ordered Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds.
This bond buying led to lower mortgage rates, dropping them below 6%.
Trump proposed a cap of 10% on credit card interest rates for one year.
It’s unclear if banks will follow the credit card rate cap without laws forcing them.
Economists warn that such policies might harm the economy by reducing credit access.
Lower mortgage rates could raise housing demand, affecting home prices.
Trump is using executive actions rather than going through Congress or formal regulations.
President Donald Trump signed a new law on Wednesday that allows schools to serve whole milk again. This law changes previous rules that limited higher-fat milk options in school meals.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump signed a law to allow whole milk in school lunches.
This law reverses previous rules that restricted higher-fat milk, set during the Obama administration.
The new law is called the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act.
Congress approved the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act in the fall.
Schools may also start offering fortified soy milk as a nondairy option.
Home sales in the United States stayed at a 30-year low in 2025 due to high home prices and high mortgage rates. Sales of existing homes have been declining since 2022, with rates beginning to ease in late 2025. The Trump administration proposed measures to increase affordability, though experts think these may have limited effects.
Key Facts
In 2025, home sales in the U.S. totaled 4.06 million, the lowest since 1995.
The median home price in 2025 increased by 1.7% to $414,400.
Mortgage rates were around 7% at the start of the year but ended at 6.15%.
The U.S. housing market has been declining since 2022 due to high mortgage rates.
Proposals from the Trump administration include a 50-year mortgage and mortgage rate reductions.
By late 2025, monthly sales increased, with December home sales reaching an annual rate of 4.35 million.
Inventory of unsold homes rose by 3.5% to 1.18 million by the end of December.
A balanced market between buyers and sellers typically requires a 5- to 6-month supply of homes; current supply is about 3.3 months.
President Donald Trump made a middle-finger gesture at a heckler during his visit to a Ford factory in Detroit, Michigan. The White House defended his actions, describing the response as appropriate to the heckler's comments.
Key Facts
President Trump made the gesture during a tour of a Ford factory in Michigan.
The White House stated the heckler was shouting expletives, prompting Trump's response.
Footage of the incident was published by TMZ, showing the president's reaction.
The heckler referred to Trump as a "paedophile protector," linked to Trump's handling of Jeffrey Epstein files.
The heckler has been suspended by Ford, the United Auto Workers union confirmed to CBS News.
Trump had previously signed a law for the Department of Justice to release files on Epstein, but only some have been made public.
Trump was once associated with Epstein but said they fell out before Epstein's arrest. Trump has not faced accusations of wrongdoing related to Epstein.
The incident occurred before Trump gave a speech at the Detroit Economic Club.
ICE detained Elias Perez-Zuazo, a Panamanian man, during what was expected to be a routine immigration check-in in Virginia. His husband, a U.S. citizen, had been helping him apply for a green card, and his detention has raised questions about the application process and legal proceedings.
Key Facts
Elias Perez-Zuazo is a Panamanian national who was detained by ICE during a routine check-in.
Perez-Zuazo and his husband, who is a U.S. citizen, are in the process of applying for a green card.
ICE claims Perez-Zuazo crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally in November 2021.
An immigration judge ordered his removal in 2021, according to ICE, but Perez-Zuazo’s lawyer disputes this.
A federal judge has temporarily stopped Perez-Zuazo's removal from Virginia while reviewing the legality of his detention.
ICE has been asked to justify Perez-Zuazo's detention and must respond by a set deadline.
The couple married in February 2024 and had started the green card application process.
Concerns have been raised about Perez-Zuazo’s safety if deported to Panama, where same-sex marriage is not legal.
The Trump administration apologized for mistakenly deporting a Massachusetts college student named Any Lucia Lopez Belloza to Honduras. This happened despite a court order requiring her to stay in the U.S. for at least 72 hours. An ICE officer failed to follow the court order, leading to her deportation.
Key Facts
Any Lucia Lopez Belloza is a 19-year-old student at Babson College in Massachusetts.
She was detained in Boston on November 20, 2025.
Lopez Belloza was deported to Honduras two days later.
A court had ordered immigration officials to keep her in the U.S. for at least 72 hours.
The Trump administration admitted the mistake in federal court and issued an apology.
The error was attributed to an ICE officer not following the court order.
The government’s lawyer stated this was not an intentional violation but a mistake by one individual.
