đď¸ Senate Reaches Bipartisan Deal to Fund Government, Puts DHS on Short-Term Extension
In a classic Washington scramble to dodge yet another shutdown headache, President Trump and Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, hammered out an agreement late Thursday that splits off the Department of Homeland Security funding from a larger package, allowing five other bipartisan spending bills (covering most federal agencies like the Pentagon through September) to move forward while slapping a two-week continuing resolution on DHSâincluding the Coast Guardâto keep things running temporarily and buy time for haggling over Democratic demands to slap restrictions on ICE amid fallout from recent federal agent-involved incidents in Minneapolis.
đ° Democrats Linked to Alleged âSmurfingâ Campaign Finance Scheme Involving Elderly Donors
A recent analysis from conservative investigative sources claims that 82 senior citizens, averaging 75 years old, made over 537,000 small donations totaling more than $11.5 million through the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue, with an average donation around $21, suggesting a pattern of âsmurfingââa term for breaking large sums into tiny transactions to dodge reporting rules and contribution limits. The report alleges this is part of a broader, long-running operation laundering potentially billions into Democratic campaigns and committees over two decades, spotlighting Missouri Congressman Wesley Bell among recipients, while tying in figures like Cory Booker, Mark Kelly, Fani Willis, Tim Walz, and Ilhan Omar through subsets of these supposed straw donors; critics point to lax security on ActBlue (like delayed CVV requirements) as enabling possible foreign or illicit funds, though the piece relies on FEC data reviews by citizen journalists rather than official probes confirming fraud or identity theft.
Sources: The Gateway Pundit, The New York Post
đď¸ California Audaciously Warns Supreme Court Not to Meddle in Redistricting Fight Over New Congressional Map
California officials have urged the U.S. Supreme Court to reject a plea from state Republicans and the Department of Justice to block the voter-approved congressional map enacted through Proposition 50 last November, insisting that the redrawing was a straightforward partisan move to counter Texasâs GOP-friendly adjustments rather than any predominant racial gerrymanderâpointing out the map keeps the same number of Latino-majority districts as before and that stepping in now would drag the Court into the messy political slugfest of tit-for-tat redistricting ahead of the 2026 midterms, especially after the justices let Texasâs similar map stand.
Sources: The Washington Examiner, SCOTUS Blog
đľ Trump Nominates Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve Chairman
President Donald J. Trump announced on Truth Social his intention to nominate Kevin Warsh, a former Federal Reserve Governor and current fellow at the Hoover Institution, to serve as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The post details Warshâs credentials, including his prior service on the Fed Board from 2006 to 2011 where he was the youngest governor at age 35, his roles representing the Fed internationally, his work in the Bush White House on economic policy, and his experience at Morgan Stanley and as a partner with Stanley Druckenmiller. Trump praises Warsh extensively, stating he has known him for a long time and expects him to rank among the greatest Fed chairmen, perhaps the best, while calling him âcentral castingâ and reliable.
Sources: FOX Business, The Wall Street Journal
âď¸ DOJ Launches Civil Rights Probe into Fatal Shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis
The Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation into the January 17 shooting death of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis resident fatally shot by U.S. Border Patrol agents during an interaction amid immigration enforcement operations, with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirming the probe will examine all relevant evidence including videos, witness accounts, and events leading up to the incident; this follows earlier scrutiny over the handling of related federal actions in Minnesota, where Pretti had a prior confrontation with agents involving alleged spitting and vehicle damage, though officials emphasize the investigation remains fact-driven without prejudgment, and the FBI has taken the lead on the broader review separate from any CBP internal matters.
đŽđźââď¸ Federal Agents Nab Don Lemon and Three Others in Minnesota Church Disruption Case
Federal authorities, under Attorney General Pam Bondiâs direction, arrested former CNN anchor Don Lemon along with Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell Lundy in connection with a January 18, 2025, incident at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where anti-ICE protesters stormed a religious service, intimidated parishioners including children, blocked access to childcare areas, and caused the service to end abruptly amid fears of violence; Lemon, who livestreamed the event while describing it as protected protest and journalism, faces charges including conspiracy to deprive rights and violation of the FACE Act, with his attorney calling it an overreach against press freedoms, while officials frame it as accountability for disrupting protected religious activity rather than mere reporting.
Sources: FOX News, The New York Post
âď¸ Judge Drops Death Penalty Option in Luigi Mangione Case
A federal judge in Manhattan has tossed out two serious charges against Luigi Mangione, the man accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in late 2024, meaning prosecutors can no longer pursue capital punishment in the federal case; U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett ruled that the stalking-based charges donât qualify as âcrimes of violenceâ under Supreme Court precedents, so the related murder-through-firearm and silencer counts had to go, leaving Mangione facing a maximum of life without parole on the remaining stalking counts if convicted, while his separate state murder charges still stand and carry similar penaltiesâanother reminder that legal technicalities can frustrate even the most straightforward notions of justice.
â ď¸ Boston Activist Monica Cannon-Grant Gets No Jail Time in $100K+ Pandemic Fraud Scheme
A former darling of Bostonâs social justice scene, once crowned Bostonian of the Year, has sidestepped prison after pleading guilty to multiple fraud counts tied to misusing donations and pandemic aid through her now-shuttered anti-violence nonprofit. Monica Cannon-Grant, 44, diverted thousands in funds meant for community goodâincluding COVID relief, rental assistance, and unemployment benefitsâtoward personal expenses like car payments, shopping, and vacations, while also dodging proper tax filings. Prosecutors pushed for 18 months behind bars, citing greed amid a crisis, but the judge opted for four years of probation (including six months of home confinement), 100 hours of community service, and $106,003 in restitution, leaving critics to mutter about light consequences for exploiting taxpayer dollars and donor trust.
Sources: The New York Post, US Dept of Justice
đ California Assembly Pushes Forward Study on Mileage-Based Road Fees
The California Assembly Transportation Committee has advanced Assembly Bill 1421, authored by Democrat Lori Wilson, which extends ongoing research into a road usage chargeâessentially a per-mile fee to replace declining gas tax revenue as more electric vehicles hit the roads. The measure, passed on a mostly party-line vote January 29, directs the California Transportation Commission to compile existing studies, prepare recommendations addressing issues like equity for low-income or long-commute drivers, and deliver a report to lawmakers by January 2027, while keeping related advisory structures alive through 2035; critics, particularly Republicans, slam it as a sneaky prelude to yet another burdensome tax on already overtaxed drivers who face high fuel costs and poor road conditions.
Sources: The Epoch Times, BillTrack 50
𤥠Newsom Accuses CMS of Racism Over Hospice Fraud Claims in California
California Governor Gavin Newsom has escalated his feud with Trump administration CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz by filing a civil rights complaint, labeling Ozâs allegations of massive hospice and home healthcare fraud in Los Angeles Countyâtied to what Oz called Russian-Armenian mafia influencesâas baseless, racially charged, and discriminatory against the Armenian American community; Oz highlighted disproportionate billing in LA (18% of national home healthcare despite low enrollment), explosive growth in hospice agencies, and specific examples like 42 hospices in a four-block radius, while Newsomâs office pointed to Oz filming outside Armenian-owned spots like a bakery and implied bias from Ozâs Turkish heritage amid historic tensions, prompting accusations that the federal push risks deterring community participation in legitimate programs even as federal scrutiny of Californiaâs Medi-Cal spending and fraud continues.
Sources: Legal Insurrection, FOX News Los Angeles
â˝ Venezuelaâs Acting President Signs Major Oil Sector Reform to Attract Foreign Capital
Venezuelaâs acting President Delcy RodrĂguez signed legislation on January 29, 2026, that dismantles the state monopoly held by PDVSA over oil production, sales, and pricing, allowing private and foreign companies to manage operations at their own risk and expense in exchange for approved business plans, while the state retains ownership of hydrocarbon reserves; the reform caps royalties at 30%, permits flexible project-specific rates, introduces independent arbitration for disputes instead of relying solely on local courts, and comes amid U.S. sanctions easing by the Treasury Department and discussions involving President Trump and Secretary Rubio, all aimed at drawing investment to revive the long-neglected industry following recent geopolitical shifts including Maduroâs removal.
Sources: The Washington Times, Reuters
đ˘ Panama Supreme Court Voids Hong Kong Firmâs Canal Port Concession
Panamaâs Supreme Court ruled late Thursday that the concession held by Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings, to operate key ports at both ends of the Panama Canal is unconstitutional, following an audit that uncovered alleged irregularities in its 2021 25-year extension including unpaid fees, accounting errors, unauthorized âghostâ concessions, and significant financial losses to the government; President JosĂŠ RaĂşl Mulino quickly assured uninterrupted operations, with the current operator continuing temporarily under Maritime Authority oversight before a local Maersk subsidiary takes over in transition until new bids are awarded, while the decision advances longstanding U.S. efforts under the Trump administration to curb perceived Chinese influence over the strategic waterwayâviewed as a national security concern despite Panamaâs denials of direct Beijing controlâprompting praise from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, rebukes from China and Hong Kong, and warnings from the company about legal challenges and economic fallout.
𧧠Starmer Pursues âSophisticatedâ Thaw with China in Beijing Meeting
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on January 29, 2026, marking the first UK prime ministerial visit to China in eight years and signaling an end to a prolonged chill in relations. Starmer emphasized the need for a âmore sophisticated relationshipâ to identify collaboration opportunities while allowing dialogue on disagreements, focusing on economic benefits like improved market access, reduced tariffs on Scotch whisky, visa-free travel for UK citizens, and cooperation on issues including irregular migration. Xi called for a ânew chapterâ and a long-term, stable comprehensive strategic partnership to promote multilateralism, free trade, and global stability amid turbulent times, insisting China poses no threat and has never initiated wars or occupied foreign lands. The talks, described as productive by Starmer, included lighter topics like soccer and Shakespeare alongside business and security matters, with both sides aiming to reset ties for mutual economic gain in a shifting global landscape influenced by U.S. policy unpredictability.
⥠Cubaâs Power Grid Plunges Deeper into Chaos Amid Prolonged Blackouts
Cubaâs beleaguered electrical system continues its downward spiral, with Havana and much of the island enduring blackouts stretching 20 hours or more daily due to severe generation deficits peaking around 1,890 MW recently, crippled infrastructure from decades of neglect, and disrupted oil imports that once kept the lights onâleaving residents to cope with spoiled food, non-functional hospitals beyond generators, and a daily grind that feels increasingly like a return to pre-modern times, all while the regime scrambles without any clear fix in sight.
Sources: ZeroHedge, Ciber Cuba
đ ISIS Claims Responsibility for Assault on Niger Air Base
The Islamic State has claimed credit for a late-night attack on Nigerâs Diori Hamani International Airport air base in the capital Niamey, describing it as a surprise coordinated operation using heavy weapons and possibly drones that caused significant damage including to aircraft; Nigerien forces repelled the assault after about two hours, killing 20 attackers, arresting 11, and wounding four of their own soldiers, while the junta leader Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani accused the presidents of France, Benin, and Ivory Coast of sponsoring the militants without evidence and thanked Russian troops for their role in the defense amid the countryâs shift away from Western alliances toward Moscow in the ongoing Sahel security mess.
Sources: The Guardian, The Washington Times