Trump News for Monday, February 2, 2026

What is the US strategic minerals stockpile?

Andy Hirschfeld, Al Jazeera English

President Trump said the stockpile would 'ensure that American businesses and workers are never harmed by any shortage'.

Beware: Government Using Image Manipulation For Propaganda

Josh Richman, Techdirt

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem last week posted a photo of the arrest of Nekima Levy Armstrong, one of three activists who had entered a St. Paul, Minn. church to confront a pastor who also serves as acting field director of the St. Paul Immigra…

Trump Dodges When Asked About Bombshell WSJ Report on 'Secret' Foreign Investment

Mediaite, Yahoo Entertainment

President Donald Trump was asked on Monday in the Oval Office to react to a recent report from the Wall Street Journal that a crypto company owned by him and...

Trump administration cuts number of sites for testing the 2030 census, focusing on the South

MIKE SCHNEIDER, Yahoo Entertainment

The Trump administration is eliminating four out of the six locations that had been slated for a practice test to try out new methods for the 2030 census...

What to know about the partial government shutdown, now in its 3rd day

Justin Gomez, Lauren Peller, John Parkinson, ABC News

More than 10,000 Federal Aviation Administration workers are furloughed.

Will Elon Musk’s emails with Jeffrey Epstein derail his very important year?

Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge

Last week, the Department of Justice released a trove of documents related to its case against Jeffrey Epstein, its largest to date. Amid the millions of files were many mentions of Elon Musk. A search of Musk's name in the department's database results in at…

ICE, CBP Brag About Stealing A Legally-Impossible $14,000 From US Citizens At The Minneapolis Airport

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

Let’s just clear the air right up front: this is just the government mugging Somalis because they’re currently at the top of Trump’s shitlist. Prior to last month’s escalation (and subsequent murder) because some white MAGA shitbird became famous for supposed…

Trump administration sued over visa freeze on immigrants from 75 countries

Vanessa Romo, NPR

A group of nonprofit organizations and U.S. citizens Monday filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's sweeping suspension of immigrant visa processing for people from nearly half of the world's countries.

Infantino sorry for jibe at British fans and calls for lift on Russia ban

Sky Sports

Gianni Infantino has apologised for joking about the behaviour of British football fans and called for a ban on Russia playing international football to be lifted.

‘False narrative’: Families challenge Trump’s 75-country US visa suspension

Joseph Stepansky, Al Jazeera English

Lawsuit argues US administration misuses claims of 'public charge', 'discriminating' against residents of 75 countries.

Disney Expects Fewer International Theme Park Visitors Because, You Know

Germain Lussier, Gizmodo.com

Fewer people are coming to Disney Parks from Europe, Canada, and Mexico out of fear of current U.S. policies.

Sure, ‘Melania’ Did Great for a Documentary, but That Doesn’t Mean It Over-Performed

Brian Welk, IndieWire

With a $7 million opening weekend, it's the highest opening for a non-music doc in over a decade, but the $75 million price tag for Amazon tells a different story.

Republicans are normalizing the one reform they should fear most

Ian Millhiser, Vox

Utah’s Republican governor, Spencer Cox, signed legislation over the weekend that will add two seats to his state’s supreme court — seats that Cox plans to fill shortly. The law is widely viewed as an effort to move Utah’s highest court to the right after it …

Amazon's 'Melania' got the headlines. A YouTuber got the ticket sales.

Peter Kafka, Business Insider

Hollywood has been waiting to see if a big YouTuber could bring their fans to theaters. It just happened.

Trump to slash US tariffs on India from 50 percent to 18 percent

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Donald Trump had slapped India with a punitive 25% tariff for buying Russian oil on top of a 25% 'reciprocal' tariff.

Democrats win special elections in Texas. How significant is it for Trump?

Ali Harb, Al Jazeera English

US president dismisses Democratic victory in Texas State Senate district he won by 17 points as a 'local' race.

WATCH: Inside the task of keeping a frozen waterway moving amid a snowstorm

ABC News

Chief Sydney Niemi of the Coast Guard cutter Hawser joins ABC News Live after breaking ice on the frozen Hudson River to keep fuel, shipping, and ferries moving.

'Melania' may look like a box office win, but Amazon is still $68 million in the red

Jason Guerrasio, Business Insider

Amazon's Melania Trump documentary overperformed at the box office, but Amazon has a long way to go before breaking even.

StopICE hacked to send alarming text messages, admins accuse border patrol agent of sabotage

Jessica Lyons, Theregister.com

The ICE-tracking service says it doesn't store usernames or addresses ICE-reporting service StopICE has blamed a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent for attacking its app and website and sending users text messages warning them that their information…

Other first ladies had cash grabs. Melania tops them all.

Alyssa Rosenberg, Vox

Many Americans are facing severe economic hardship. But not the incoming president and first lady of the United States. In fact, the incumbent first lady has just accepted a media deal that will pay her at least seven times the income of the average American …

FBI Raids Fulton County, Georgia To Seize Ballots On Behalf Of A Guy Who Refuses To Believe He Lost The 2020 Election

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

Trump’s going to win the election he lost, no matter what he has to do to make that happen. Surrounding himself with a better set of sycophants this time around has really allowed him to gain some ground in his “be the despot you wish to see in the world” eff…

EPA Advances Farmers' Right to Repair

Epa.gov

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advanced American farmers and equipment owners’ lawful right to repair their farm and other nonroad diesel equipment.

Every Documentary Filmmaker Should Be Worried About the Success of ‘Melania’

Kate Erbland, IndieWire

The film is the latest streamer-funded, carefully choreographed, boring, celebrity puff piece being branded as a documentary. It's also a harbinger of what sorts of "true stories" are being championed these days.

A major census test faces cutbacks — with postal workers tapped to help count

Hansi Lo Wang, NPR

The Trump administration has shrunk the number of locations for this year's field test of the 2030 census and added plans to test replacing temporary census workers with U.S. Postal Service staff.

Minneapolis is showing a new kind of anti-Trump resistance

Christian Paz, Vox

While the Trump administration continues its immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota, anti-ICE protests continued in Minneapolis and around the country — from Los Angeles to rural Maine — over the weekend. In the Twin Cities area, meanwhile, this acti…

Jelly Roll Says He’s ‘Disconnected’ From Politics, But Will Be Ready to Speak Out ‘Soon’

Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone

“Everybody's going to hear exactly what I have to say about it in the most loud and clear way I've ever spoken in my life," the country star told reporters after his Grammy win

Hey Gavin Newsom! Investigating TikTok’s Moderation Is Just As Unconstitutional As When Texas & Florida Tried It

Mike Masnick, Techdirt

We called bullshit when Republicans tried to order websites to carry content. We’re calling bullshit now when Democrats are trying to do the same. We spent years explaining to politicians across both parties why the government can’t dictate how private platfo…

Roberts Scrambles to Gag SCOTUS Staff After Pro-Trump Ruling Leaks

Yahoo Entertainment

Right-to-Compute Laws Are Spreading Across the US, as Electricity Bills Skyrocket

Bruce Gil, Gizmodo.com

The new laws would make it harder for states and cities to regulate AI.

Syrian forces deploy in Hasakah under ceasefire agreement with SDF

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Syrian forces move into the northeastern city, which was previously under the control of the Kurdish-led SDF.

Trump and Petro clash over how best to uproot Colombia’s cocaine crops

Catherine Ellis, Al Jazeera English

As Gustavo Petro prepares to face Donald Trump in Washington, Colombia’s anti-drug strategy is under intense scrutiny.

Silver Price Predictions: Why This Analyst Thinks $150 Is Just Around the Corner

Ebube Jones, Barchart.com

Citi’s $150 silver target frames the metal as a high‑beta macro barometer where Chinese buying, structural supply deficits, and safe‑haven flows justify a...

5-year-old Liam Ramos and father released from immigration detention

Al Jazeera English

Five-year-old Liam Ramos and his father have been released from a US immigration detention facility.

Look inside Miami's 100-year-old Biltmore Hotel, loved by US presidents and linked to mobster lore

Kristine Villarroel, Business Insider

The Biltmore Hotel in Miami has welcomed presidents throughout its 100-year history and was once home to the world's largest pool.

Elon Musk spent another $10 million to keep the GOP in control of Congress

Bryan Metzger, Business Insider

The world's richest man gave $5 million apiece to two super PACs supporting GOP House and Senate candidates, according to new FEC disclosures.

Modi to Kevin Rudd: How Epstein files set off a storm far beyond the US

Yashraj Sharma, Al Jazeera English

Latest files include emails and messages between Epstein and powerful men in India, UK, Australia and Slovakia.

Let's Take Another Look at the Latest Epstein Files Dump

Danielle Han, Jezebel

And all the king's horses and (almost) all the king's men all get a mention.

US contractor sent Gaza plan to White House that would secure 300% profits

Cate Brown and Aram Roston in Washington, Yahoo Entertainment

Gothams LLC’s draft proposal, obtained by the Guardian, suggests seven-year trucking and logistics monopoly

The Kennedy Center Embarrassed Trump, so Now He Needs to Destroy It

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

Since 2007, Jezebel has been the Internet's most treasured source for everything celebrities, sex, and politics...with teeth.

Murdoch Paper Warns Trump That Stephen Miller’s Plot Is Backfiring After Humiliating GOP Defeat

Martha McHardy, Daily Beast

A newspaper owned by Rupert Murdoch delivered a sharp warning to President Donald Trump after a high-profile Republican loss. In a new editorial, The Wall...

Has the Trump administration overplayed its spin?

Al Jazeera English

Official lies after an ICE killing begin to backfire.

White House faces questions over UAE royal's investment in Trump family's crypto firm

Lucien Bruggeman, David Brennan, ABC News

President Donald Trump's administration is under growing pressure from congressional Democrats related to conflict of interest concerns over the Trump family's business.

What Fed nominee Kevin Warsh's former colleagues told us about his leadership style

Tim Paradis, Business Insider

Kevin Warsh, Trump's pick for Fed chair, is a good listener who seeks consensus, former colleagues say. That could shape how he would run the Fed.

Trump is shutting down D.C.’s Kennedy Center for 2 years this summer. Here’s why

Associated Press, Ap.org

President Donald Trump said Sunday he will move to close Washington’s Kennedy Center performing arts center for two years starting in July for construction, his latest proposal to upturn the storied venue since returning to the White House.Trump’s announcemen…

How Balochistan attacks threaten Pakistan’s promises to China, Trump

Abid Hussain, Al Jazeera English

Balochistan is at the heart of Pakistan's economic promises to US and China. The attacks are a reminder of the risks.

Donald Trump Is Crashing Out Over Trevor Noah’s Jeffrey Epstein Joke

Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone

Donald Trump threatened to sue Trevor Noah after he made a joke about the president visiting Jeffrey Epstein's island during the 2026 Grammy Awards.

Bombshell Fergie Email Suggests Epstein Had a Secret Child Who Would Now Be 14

Tom Sykes, Daily Beast

An email from Sarah Ferguson suggests Jeffrey Epstein may have had a secret child. The former Duchess of York wrote to Epstein in 2011, shortly after his...

A top economist says Kevin Warsh is a 'reasonable' choice for Fed chair, but his legacy hinges on one key issue

Roya Shahidi, Business Insider

A top economist says Kevin Warsh is a solid choice for Fed chair — but his legacy will depend on keeping politics out of interest rate decisions.

Trump Is Helping Elon Musk’s Starlink Get Billions In Taxpayer Dollars With No Oversight

Karl Bode, Techdirt

We’ve long noted how the 2021 infrastructure bill included $42.5 billion for broadband grants dubbed the Broadband, Equity, Access And Deployment (BEAD) program. The program wasn’t without its warts, but it had the potential to be truly transformative for U.S…

Iran eyes progress towards US nuclear talks as tension eases

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Iran examines regional proposals to ease tensions with the US as it expects a framework for talks in the coming days.

President Trump Threatens to Sue Trevor Noah For Epstein Joke at Grammys

TMZ Staff, TMZ

President Trump is taking aim at Trevor Noah for his Jeffrey Epstein joke during Sunday's Grammy Awards, threatening to sue the comedian and calling him a "total loser." 47 hopped on his Truth Social platform Monday to blast the 2026 Grammy Awards…

Videos prompt concern about ICE raids in California

Al Jazeera English

ICE agents in California detained several residents, including a US citizen, amid a surge in immigration raids.

Trump threatens to sue Trevor Noah over Epstein joke at Grammys

BBC News

The US president labels Noah a "total loser" over a joke he told on stage during the awards ceremony.

The House races to end shutdown. And, Trump wants to close Kennedy Center for 2 years

Brittney Melton, NPR

Lawmakers are racing to end a partial government shutdown after Congress missed its funding deadline on Friday. And, Trump wants to close the Kennedy Center for two years for renovations.

Humans May Return to the Moon This Week. Are Americans Even Aware It’s Happening?

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

For the first time in 54 years, humans will head toward the moon this week. So why does it feel like most of us are barely aware of it?

A new report shows how Trump's sweeping student-loan changes are poised to reshape repayment for borrowers and private lenders

Ayelet Sheffey, Business Insider

Major student-loan companies told Sen. Elizabeth Warren that they're preparing to service more borrowers due to federal repayment changes.

Trump claims blue states have less-reliable, more expensive electricity. Here’s the reality

Ella Nilsen, CNN, CNN

In recent months, the Trump administration has framed high energy costs as a problem impacting only blue states. But the truth is electricity prices are...

10 Monday AM Reads

Barry Ritholtz, Ritholtz.com

My back-to-work morning train WFH reads: • Kevin Warsh Is Trump’s Man—and His Own. How He Will Reshape the Fed. Kevin Warsh is President Trump’s nominee for the next chair of the Federal Reserve, Trump says in a social-media post. (Barron’s) see also A Bad He…

Japan deep-sea hunt finds rare earths as it seeks to cut reliance on China

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Tokyo proclaims Pacific Ocean mission world’s first attempt to tap rare earths at such a depth.

Elon Musk called on corporations to ditch Delaware. They didn't listen.

Lauren Edmonds, Business Insider

A handful of billionaires and prominent companies urged corporations to leave Delaware. According to the numbers, the opposite happened.

Infrastructure cyberattacks are suddenly in fashion. We can buck the trend

Rupert Goodwins, Theregister.com

Don't be scared of the digital dark – learn how to keep the lights on Opinion Barely a month into 2026, electrical power infrastructure on two continents has tested positive for cyberattacks. One fell flat as attempts to infiltrate and disrupt the Polish dist…

Anti-ICE Protesters Have Started a Month-Long Tech and AI Boycott. Here’s How It Works

Ece Yildirim, Gizmodo.com

Protesters are cancelling subscriptions from ten major tech and AI companies.

Refugees relive the trauma they fled as ICE targets them in Minnesota

Jennifer Ludden, NPR

The Trump administration says it's reviewing thousands of cases to look for potential fraud. A judge ordered a temporary pause, saying refugees cannot be arrested "without warrants or cause."

The Education Department's efforts to fire staff cost over $28 million, watchdog says

Cory Turner, NPR

A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office calculates the cost of efforts to fire civil rights staff, and questions the department's ability to enforce federal civil rights laws.

With an ACA fix uncertain in the Senate, Republicans replay old health care fights

Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR

Things are looking bleak for a fix in Congress for ACA premiums that doubled, on average, this month. And Republicans are making arguments against the law that haven't worked in years past.

How the decline of economic data could end up with a lot of unemployed Americans

Andy Kiersz, Business Insider

The quality and availability of economic data is declining. That could end up with a lot of unemployed Americans and increase the chance of recession.

Cuba denies security threat accusations as US raises pressure

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Havana says it is ready for 'constructive engagement' with Washington as White House moves to choke off oil supplies.

China's speculative traders sent silver soaring and crashing in a volatile run

htan@insider.com (Huileng Tan), Business Insider

Silver wiped out most of its meteoric price gains this year that was in part driven by Chinese demand.

Welcome to Trumpistan

Graydon Carter, Vanity Fair

​A preening and vindictive strongman at the top, living in gilded opulence, and surrounded by generals and business cronies. Is this what a junta looks like?​

Explainer-What's next for Trump's Gaza plan after Rafah reopening?

Reuters, Yahoo Entertainment

Feb 2 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the Gaza war was given a boost on Monday with the reopening of the enclave's Rafah crossing with ...

'Enemy' insults and questioning Putin: Steve Rosenberg on tightrope of reporting from Russia

BBC News

The BBC's Russia editor reflects on the difficulties of working as a British journalist in Moscow.

Grammy winners Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish and more speak out on immigration

Katie Kindelan, ABC News

The 2026 Grammy Awards took place amid immigration protests across the country.

Venezuela's first shipment of liquefied petroleum gas is bound for the US

Ellie Kaufman, ABC News

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez announced the country’s first shipment of liquefied petroleum gas has been exported to the U.S.

Flooded by cheap Chinese goods, Latin America is fighting back to protect its industries

CHAN HO-HIM, ISABEL DEBRE, NAYARA BATSCHKE and FABIOLA SÁNCHEZ, Yahoo Entertainment

China has been flooding Latin American markets with low-priced exports, especially autos and e-commerce goods, as its exporters adjust to U.S. President...

Billie Eilish Slams ICE During Song of the Year Speech: ‘No One Is Illegal on Stolen Land’

Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone

Billie Eilish speaks out against ICE while accepting Song of the Year for 'Wildflower' at the 2026 Grammy Awards.

Trump to close Kennedy Center for renovations amid backlash from performers

Ted Regencia, Al Jazeera English

US president says the arts complex will close for two years for reconstruction starting in July.

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,439

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

These are the key developments from day 1,439 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Gold and silver keep spiraling after market meltdown

htan@insider.com (Huileng Tan), Business Insider

Before Friday's selloff, gold and silver had been on a blistering yearlong rally, fueled by heavy central bank buying and geopolitical tensions.

Trump says Kennedy Center is closing for 2 years for 'complete rebuilding'

Leah Sarnoff, ABC News

President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he will be temporarily closing entertainment operations at the Kennedy Center for "approximately" two years.

Trevor Noah Pokes Fun at Nicki Minaj and Trump During Grammys Opening Monologue

Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone

Trevor Noah poked fun at Nicki Minaj and Trump and asked Pharrell for some discount codes during his 2026 Grammys opening monologue.

Trevor Noah Takes Dig At Nicki Minaj & Donald Trump During Grammy Awards

TMZ Staff, TMZ

Trevor Noah came out swinging as host of the Grammys Sunday ... he immediately took aim at Nicki Minaj and Donald Trump in his opening monologue. Trevor said, "Nicki Minaj is not here," then took a few seconds for the uproarious applause to die…

WATCH: Drone footage shows Myrtle Beach after winter storm

ABC News

The City of Myrtle Beach shared drone footage Sunday of the popular South Carolina beach town after this weekend's winter storm.

Kennedy Center to close for two years for renovations, Trump says

BBC News

The move follows several artists cancelling performances at the storied institution after it was recently renamed as the Trump Kennedy Center.

The rush for Europe's $920 billion warchest

Matthew Loh, Business Insider

Europe fears it can't beat Russia's style of war — creating a golden opportunity for defense founders.

China’s relationship with foreign scientific powers is changing rapidly

Laurie Udesky, Nature.com

A study that examines career histories of the country’s elite scholars reveals that the nation is turning inwards in its search for talent.