Trump News for Thursday, January 22, 2026

ICE’s growing lawlessness, briefly explained

Cameron Peters, Vox

This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here. Welcome to The Logoff: Over the past few weeks, ICE’s actions have gotten a l…

‘Will act accordingly’: US threatens action against Haitian council

Allison Griner, Al Jazeera English

The Trump administration's message comes as Haiti's Transitional Presidential Council faces pressure to hold elections.

White House ballroom: Judge signals skepticism of Trump administration arguments

Steven Portnoy, ABC News

The federal judge presiding over a challenge to the White House ballroom project signaled deep skepticism of the Trump administration's arguments.

Trump Administration Shares Doctored Photo of Minnesota Activist After Her Arrest

John Gruber, Notus.org

“The memes will continue,” an official said in response to criticism of the altered image.

US exits World Health Organization, says agency strayed from 'core mission'

Mary Kekatos, ABC News

The U.S. has officially completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, HHS and the Department of State announced on Thursday.

Trump sparks anger over claim Nato troops avoided Afghanistan front line

BBC News

The US president said allied troops had "stayed a little back" during the war in Afghanistan.

House approves spending bills despite many Democrats' objections to ICE funds

Sam Gringlas, NPR

The House has approved the final set of spending bills to avoid a government shutdown, despite objections from Democrats to the funding levels set for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Nicki Minaj Avoids Sale of $20 Million Mansion in Security Guard Assault Case

Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone

Nicki Minaj has avoided the sale of her $20 million mansion to pay the $500,000 a security guard won over an alleged assault.

AOC and Paris Hilton team up on a bill targeting AI deepfake porn

Bryan Metzger, Business Insider

"While these images may be digital, the harm to victims is very real," Ocasio-Cortez said alongside Hilton at a press conference on Thursday.

WATCH: Rep. Jasmine Crockett shares details from former special counsel Jack Smith's report

ABC News

Crockett focused on former special counsel Jack Smith's report that recommended charging President Trump for alleged crimes committed on January 6, 2021.

Hero Cop Snaps in Expletive-Filled Clash at Jack Smith Grilling

The Daily Beast, Daily Beast

Expletives rang out in the hearing for the former Special Counsel Jack Smith after a far-right election denier approached a former police officer. Extremist ...

WATCH: Dem. Rep. Eric Swalwell says 'history will harshly judge' Republican colleagues

ABC News

Swalwell told former special counsel Jack Smith that he "did everything right" while investigating President Trump during Smith's testimony to the House Judiciary Committee.

What to know about Minnesota's anti-ICE blackout day without work, school, or shopping

Juliana Kaplan, Business Insider

A local news site compiled a list of over 200 businesses that have said they'll join an economic blackout day to protest ICE presence in Minnesota.

Your Phone Is a Slot Machine

Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic

Gambling is no longer confined to casinos, horse races, or backroom card games.

Since Last May, ICE Officers Have Been Told They Don’t Need Warrants To Enter Homes

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

The thing afforded the highest protections of the Fourth Amendment is a person’s home. This isn’t even a controversial statement. It has been that way ever since this amendment was ratified. But, under Trump, we’re constantly seeing that the administration co…

NIH ends fetal tissue research

Dan Vergano, Scientific American

The National Institutes of Health’s move to end support for research using fetal human tissue is “clearly a political decision, not a scientific one,” one expert says

The state attorneys general are as mad as you are

Sarah Jeong, The Verge

The sun was already beginning to set as Portlanders in weatherproof jackets and fleeces lined up around Revolution Hall. It wasn't yet 5PM on a Wednesday but the crowd was gathering well before the town hall was scheduled to begin. Just a day earlier, news ou…

3 people involved in Minnesota church protest arrested; judge rejects charges against journalist

The Associated Press, NPR

Protesters on Sunday entered the Cities Church in St. Paul, where a local official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement serves as a pastor. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrest of protester Nekima Levy Armstrong and others on X.

What actually is Trump's 'Board of Peace'?

BBC News

Trump has a bumper second day at Davos after Greendland 'deal'.

‘Inside Trump’s Head-Spinning Greenland U-Turn’

John Gruber, The Wall Street Journal

Trump sues JPMorgan Chase and CEO Jamie Dimon for $5B over alleged 'debanking'

Maria Aspan, NPR

The lawsuit escalates a series of confrontations between the president and the leader of the country's biggest bank.

Trump claims Nato troops ‘stayed a little off the frontlines’ in Afghanistan

Leyland Cecco in Toronto, Yahoo Entertainment

President again disparages allies and tells Fox News he is ‘not sure’ Nato would come to US’s defence

Trump signs Board of Peace charter at Davos as allies split on Gaza plan

Willem Marx, NPR

The signing ceremony marked the most concrete step yet in Trump's effort to establish the board, whose final composition has yet to be confirmed.

A large Syrian camp for ISIS families faces an uncertain fate after a security handover

Jane Arraf, NPR

Security at the biggest ISIS detention camp in Syria has collapsed as Syrian Kurds withdraw to face advancing government forces.

Elon Musk says it's 'highly likely' humans figure out how to reverse aging — but there's 'some benefit to death'

Lauren Edmonds, Business Insider

During the World Economic Forum on Thursday, Elon Musk said there's a reason human's don't have longer lifespans.

Can the right diet really cure all our health problems?

Dylan Scott, Vox

If there is one universal treatment that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again sees for all of the country’s medical problems, it’s food.   Borrowing a phrase that has become ubiquitous in health policy circles and the influencer ecosystem that d…

DOJ Admits DOGE Team Caught Sharing Social Security Data With Election Denier Group

Mike Masnick, Techdirt

We spent a lot of time last year calling out how dangerous it was that Elon Musk and his inexperienced 4chan-loving DOGE boys were gaining access to some of the most secure government systems. We also highlighted how it seemed likely that they were violating …

The Taiwanese president's proposal to hike defense spending faces gridlock at home

Ashish Valentine, NPR

Opposition parties are slamming the brakes on billions in defense funding as the China escalates military pressure.

Jimmy Fallon Mocks Trump as Big Baby After Vance Pregnancy Announcement

TMZ Staff, TMZ

Jimmy Fallon says J.D. Vance won't have any problems raising another baby ... because the Vice President is used to dealing with a baby ... President Trump. The late night talk show host poked fun at POTUS in a segment Wednesday night ...…

What is the Golden Dome? Here's what to know about Trump's plan.

Sarah Lynch Baldwin, CBS News

President Trump's plan for a missile defense system, which he's called the "Golden Dome for America," could include an installation in Greenland.

WATCH: Former special counsel Jack Smith defends decision to charge President Trump

ABC News

Smith defended his decision to charge President Trump with crimes in Florida and Washington, D.C., during his opening statement to the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday.

The Scale of ICE Protests in Minnesota

John Gruber, Bsky.app

I came to Minneapolis to report on what's going on, and one of the main questions I showed up with is "just what is the scale of the resistance?" After all, we're all used to the news calling Portland a "war zone" or whatever when it's just some protests in o…

The FBI Has Gained Access to the Washington Post Newsroom

Ece Yildirim, Gizmodo.com

New court documents claim the feds could access Slack channels, Signal chats, email, and more.

What Is the Scale of the Resistance in Minnesota?

Jason Kottke, kottke.org

A must-read thread from Margaret Killjoy (Skywriter thread) on what’s going on in Minnesota. I came to Minneapolis to repor

Trump Insiders Expose Secret Regime Change Plot

Yahoo Entertainment

WATCH: President Trump says 'framework' reached for Greenland deal

ABC News

Trump on Wednesday said he and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte have "formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland," but did not offer further details on the deal.

Former special counsel Jack Smith testifies in front of House Judiciary Committee

Luke Barr, John Parkinson, ABC News

Former special counsel Jack Smith who charged Trump with crimes in Florida and D.C. is testifying in public before the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday.

‘War has to end:’ Trump on Ukraine after Zelenskyy meeting

Al Jazeera English

After meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump says Russia’s ‘war has to end’.

Freezers full of seal meat: How Greenland's hunting culture helps emergency preparedness

Reuters, Yahoo Entertainment

KAPISILLIT, Greenland, Jan 22 () - While many Greenlanders have been alarmed by U. President Donald Trump's demands to acquire their homeland, others such as...

Jack Smith Warns Americans: The 'Rule of Law' Is Just Words

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

Jack Smith appeared in front of Congress to testify publicly today, saying that he had "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" of Trump's guilt.

Attorney general announces the arrest of at least 2 activists involved in a Minnesota church protest

ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and GIOVANNA DELL'ORTO, Yahoo Entertainment

A woman who led an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church has been arrested, Attorney General Pam Bondi said...

GM to bring China-built Buick to US

By Kalea Hall and David Shepardson, Yahoo Entertainment

By Kalea Hall and David Shepardson Jan 22 (Reuters) - General Motors is moving production of a China-built Buick SUV to the U.S., its latest move to expand...

Barron Trump Saves Woman Getting Brutally Beaten By Ex-Boyfriend

TMZ Staff, TMZ

It's Barron Trump to the rescue! That's right ... President Trump's son saved a woman who was getting savagely beaten by her ex-boyfriend in London, England. Here's the scoop ... Barron received a FaceTime call from the woman whose ex, Matvei…

Elizabeth Holmes Has Seen What Trump’s Done for Fraudsters and Wants That for Herself

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

The Theranos founder isn't scheduled to be released from prison until 2031.

Renee Good Shot in Head, Chest and Arm, Independent Autopsy Reportedly Reveals

TMZ Staff, TMZ

Renee Good was shot in the left forearm, right breast and left side of her head during a confrontation with ICE officer Jonathan Ross earlier this month in Minneapolis, an autopsy commissioned by her family has revealed. The new information was…

Science Is Drowning in AI Slop

Ross Andersen, The Atlantic

Peer review has met its match.

Thanks To Trump, Verizon Immediately Starts Making It Harder To Switch Mobile Carriers

Karl Bode, Techdirt

Last week we noted how the Trump FCC, at the direct request of wireless phone giants, destroyed popular rules making it easier and cheaper to switch wireless carriers. The rules, applied via spectrum acquisition and merger conditions, required that Verizon un…

Trump Fan Stuns CNN's Abby Phillip Speechless As Table Erupts Laughing At Response To Receipt: 'I Don't Know What To Say'

Mediaite, Yahoo Entertainment

CNN anchor Abby Phillip was stunned speechless as the rest of the table erupted laughing at Trump supporter Batya Ungar-Sargon's response to a fairly...

Trump Basically Confirms He Increased Tariffs on Switzerland Because the Woman Leader Annoyed Him

Lauren Tousignant, Jezebel

"And the, I guess, prime minister called—a woman, and she was very repetitive,” Trump said at Davos. “She just rubbed me the wrong way, I’ll be honest with you.”

Gavin Newsom’s Record Is a Problem

Marc Novicoff, Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic

The California governor’s pivot to the center may be too late for 2028.

Whose Hemisphere?

Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books

The US capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro reinforces the Trump administration’s capacity to invent any pretext to justify the use of armed force.

Trump’s Attack on Philanthropy

Aryeh Neier, Gara LaMarche, The New York Review of Books

Universities, law firms, and news media have already been targeted by the administration. As the Justice Department pushes to investigate the Open Society Foundations, it seems that philanthropies that support critical voices may be next.

I Spoke to Astrophysicists About Starlink’s Expansion. Here’s the Doomsday Scenario Keeping Them Up at Night

Joe Supan, CNET

Starlink's new FCC approval for 7,500 more satellites aims to boost service and capacity for millions. But at what cost?

The Real Fight for the Smithsonian

Lily Meyer, The Atlantic

Its museums, more than any others, shape the nation’s narrative. No wonder the country argues about it.

World leaders to hold emergency summit on Greenland. And, SCOTUS weighs Fed case

Brittney Melton, NPR

European leaders hold an emergency summit on a possible U.S.-Greenland deal. And, the Supreme Court weighs whether the president can fire Fed governors.

10 Thursday AM Reads

Barry Ritholtz, Ritholtz.com

My morning train WFH reads: • Donald Trump vs. the World: “The bond market cannot be bullied, fooled, or bribed. It does not flatter or make deals. It reveals all.” (The Bulwark) • Greenland Clash Risks Undermining America’s Place in World Economic Order: The…

Donald Trump and world leaders sign ‘Board of Peace’ charter

Al Jazeera English

Donald Trump hosted a signing ceremony in Davos, Switzerland, to announce the first charter of his ‘Board of Peace'.

What we know about Trump's 'framework of future deal' over Greenland

BBC News

Denmark and Greenland have made it clear they will not relinquish sovereignty of the world's largest island.

A Massacre in Mashhad

Cora Engelbrecht, The New Yorker

Cora Engelbrecht writes that, during an internet blackout, Iranian security forces killed hundreds of demonstrators. Details of the carnage are now starting to emerge.

The Federal Government That Was

Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic

In his first full year back in office, Donald Trump presided over the destruction of America’s civil service, purging roughly 300,000 workers.

WATCH: Looming ice storm could be among worst on record

ABC News

Millions of Americans from New Mexico to the Carolinas are bracing for a potentially catastrophic ice storm, while parts of the Northeast could see enough snow to make travel nearly impossible.

Wall Streeters reveal their favorite AI tools and what they use them for

William Edwards, Business Insider

AI isn't yet impressive enough to replace the core work done in the finance industry, but Wall Streeters are still using AI to streamline their day.

Trump called Greenland a 'piece of ice.' To Greenlanders, it's so much more.

Jane Zhang,Sarah Andersen, Business Insider

President Donald Trump repeatedly called Greenland a "piece of ice" while speaking at Davos. Three Greenlanders gave Business Insider their responses.

Whole milk is gross. I don't care what RFK says.

Katie Notopoulos, Business Insider

The US government wants us to drink whole milk instead of skim, as if that's some treat.

Student-loan forgiveness for public servants is at risk under Trump's plan to ax cheaper monthly payments, Democratic lawmakers say

Ayelet Sheffey, Business Insider

Trump agreed to a settlement that would end the SAVE student-loan repayment plan. Lawmakers raised concerns about pushing borrowers off too soon.

Rahm Emanuel steers a course between 'monopolists' and 'Marxists'

Steve Inskeep, NPR

NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with longtime Democrat Rahm Emanuel about politics in the Trump era.

Trump vs. U.S. allies: How will this end?

Greg Myre, NPR

The president has backed off his threat to take Greenland by force. But his highly inflammatory remarks in Switzerland rattled U.S. allies and threatened to tear down the pillars of the world order.

Jack Smith to defend Trump investigations to House Republicans

Carrie Johnson, NPR

Jack Smith's appearance before the House Judiciary Committee marks the first open testimony about his work after presiding over two federal criminal indictments of President Trump.

Some voters who backed Trump say ICE is going 'too far'

Ashley Lopez, NPR

A new focus group of Biden-to-Trump voters weighs in on immigration operations and Trump's foreign affairs leadership on Greenland and Venezuela.

Trump's EEOC strikes harassment guidance amid debate over transgender protections

Andrea Hsu, NPR

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission voted 2-1 to roll back the agency's 2024 harassment guidance in its entirety. The document gave employers information on what makes up unlawful harassment.

European leaders to gather in Brussels to 'coordinate' plans on Trump, Greenland

David Brennan, ABC News

The heads of all 27 European Union member states will gather in Brussels on Thursday for an extraordinary summit regarding the recent crisis in transatlantic relations.

Gavin Newsom spent his Davos speech slamming Trump, saying it's 'the rule of Don' in the US

Aditi Bharade, Business Insider

To illustrate his point, Newsom waved around kneepads for corporate leaders who he said were kneeling to Trump.

Putin says who owns Greenland is of no concern to Russia, says it might be worth $1 billion

By Andrew Osborn, Yahoo Entertainment

By Andrew Osborn MOSCOW, Jan 21 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Greenland's ownership was not Russia's concern and that the...

Trump praises ‘infinite’ Greenland framework deal

Al Jazeera English

US President Donald Trump dropped his threat to impose tariffs on European countries over his bid to takeover Greenland.

Israeli fire strikes journalists and children in Gaza

The Associated Press, NPR

Israeli forces on Wednesday killed at least 11 Palestinians in Gaza, including two boys, three journalists and a woman, hospitals said, on one of the enclave 's deadliest days since the ceasefire took effect.

ICE memo allows agents to enter homes without judicial warrant: Whistleblowers

Luke Barr, ABC News

The group Whistleblower Aid says it represents two anonymous U.S. government officials. The group argues the ICE memo violates the Fourth Amendment and DHS policies.

James Cameron says he left the US and moved to New Zealand for his 'sanity'

Amanda Goh, Business Insider

Granted New Zealand citizenship last year, James Cameron says part of the country's appeal is that it 'believes in science.'

The Measles Outbreak In South Carolina Is Spiraling Out Of Control

Timothy Geigner, Techdirt

America is broken and it seems like nobody is bothering to try to repair it. That’s a general statement, to be sure, so if you need some marking point to serve as a specific example of our national malfunction, the return of measles to our country can fit the…

WATCH: Clintons' contempt of Congress resolutions advance out of House committee

ABC News

The House Oversight Committee voted to advance resolutions to hold Bill and Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with their subpoenas relating to Jeffrey Epstein.

After vanishing from view, two US-seized Venezuela oil tankers reappear near Puerto Rico

By Ricardo Arduengo and Arathy Somasekhar, Yahoo Entertainment

By Ricardo Arduengo and Arathy Somasekhar PONCE, Puerto Rico/HOUSTON, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Two oil tankers seized this month by the U.S. in its campaign...

WATCH: US Air Force sergeant tells David Muir about moment blind dog recognizes him

ABC News

During one of Air Force Technical Sergeant Blake Crowe's deployments, their family dog Weatherby went blind – but that didn't stop her from recognizing Crowe when he returned to the U.S.

WATCH: Man accused of posing as pilot, flight attendant to obtain free plane tickets

ABC News

A Canadian man is facing federal charges for allegedly posing as a flight attendant, pilot to obtain free plane tickets.

WATCH: Luxury jewelry, handbags targeted in New Jersey and California

ABC News

Store owners said they took security measures they thought would protect the shops from burglaries.

Exclusive: key NIH review panels due to lose all members by the end of 2026

Max Kozlov, Nature.com

Thirteen of the agency’s advisory councils, which must review grant applications before funding is awarded, are on track to have no voting members.