Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday declared over 100 laws and policies with &#8220;DEI frameworks&#8221; unconstitutional, The Daily Wire can first report, stating that these laws were being used to illegally discriminate in both the public and private sectors.
“This action to dismantle DEI in Texas helps fulfill the vision articulated by Martin Luther King, Jr. when he dreamed that his children would one day live in a nation where they were judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character,” Paxton said in a statement.
“It’s imperative that all private-sector employers, schools, and state and local government entities—based on this legal opinion—immediately abolish any DEI, affirmative action, or unconstitutional discrimination programs under their authority. We must return to the basic principles of equal opportunity for all,” Paxton continued.
The opinion specifically notes potential issues in programs like the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) and the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) efforts.
The HUB program was meant to help “small, minority- and women-owned businesses&#8221; in the process of obtaining state government contracts, according to the Texas Department of Transportation <a href="https://www.txdot.gov/business/disadvantaged-small-business-enterprise/hub.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>. In October, acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced that new certifications for HUB would be stopped, posting to X that “Businesses deserve a level playing field where government contracts are earned by performance and best value — not race or sex quotas.”
Paxton noted that the opinion would not impact veterans who utilize the program, but that the sex- and race-based elements of the program run contrary to the state&#8217;s Equal Rights Amendment and the 14th Amendment&#8217;s Equal Protection Clause.
Meanwhile, the opinion rails against DBE mandates for “consideration of race and sex for seats on state boards, commissions, and committees,” a press release stated.
The attorney general also issued a warning to the private sector about potential “legal liability” if DEI practices are in place at Texas businesses, adding that “America is waking up to the egregious unfairness of DEI policies.”
Paxton also points to the Supreme Court&#8217;s 2023 opinion that ended affirmative action in higher education. The attorney general&#8217;s opinion notes that the practice is unconstitutional in Texas far beyond education, and said that his office will take action against governmental entities, including schools, that use DEI or affirmative action as a means of “unlawful discrimination&#8221; and &#8220;the erosion of merit-based decision-making.&#8221;
The Trump administration has made sweeping reversals to DEI-style policies at the federal level, ranging from the State Department to the Federal Aviation Administration. Many companies still have DEI practices in place, though others have begun rolling them back.

U.S. Supreme Court Hears Expedited Challenges Over Texas Abortion Ban

Attorney General Ken Paxton Dismantles DEI In Texas With Sweeping Legal Opinion

diversity equity inclusion

Ken Paxton

Texas

Minneapolis’ housing plan is facing a fair housing investigation by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the federal government announced on Thursday afternoon.
Specifically, HUD is concerned that aspects of the Minneapolis 2040 plan may violate Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act, according to a press release. The release notes that the plan’s proposal for “cultural districts… where a significant portion of the population is comprised of people of color, Indigenous people, and/or immigrant communities&#8221; could be discriminatory. In addition, the Trump administration is raising red flags about the city&#8217;s emphasis on “people of color” and “indigenous people” for homeownership programs.
“For example, your Community Planning and Economic Development department will prioritize ‘rental housing for Black, Indigenous, People of Color and Immigrant communities’ by ‘leveraging [its] rental licensing authority,’” Craig Trainor, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, wrote in a <a href="https://www.hud.gov/sites/default/files/FHEO/documents/Ltr-from-AsstSecTrainor-to-MayorFrey-Fair-Housing-Act-Investigation_Redacted.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> to Mayor Jacob Frey. “That is not going to fly.”
HUD Secretary Scott Turner noted that Minnesota has been under intense scrutiny for fraud allegations and convictions related to government programs, which led Gov. Tim Walz to opt not to seek a third term this November.
“Minnesota is ground zero for fraud and corruption because they have chosen to ignore the law to serve a cynical political agenda. This undermines our American values, united by a common heritage, language, and commitment to equal treatment under law,” Turner said in a statement, adding that his department “will not stand for illegal racial and ethnic preferences that deny Americans their right to equal protection under the law.”
Trainor said that Minnesotans are being “held captive to the riotous impulses of left-wing cultural arsonists.”
“Its largest city, Minneapolis, has fared no better under its clownish mayor, Jacob Frey, whose government may be engaging in unlawful discrimination by prioritizing Minneapolis residents for housing based on race and national origin rather than need. The Trump Administration will ensure Minneapolis fully complies with the Fair Housing Act,” he stated.
In response to the investigation, a city spokesperson told The Daily Wire in a statement that “Minneapolis is proud of its record on housing &#8211; to build a city that is vibrant, safe and inclusive for all. In fact, we have award-winning affordable housing programs, and our work is a model for cities around the country. This investigation appears to be about politics not affordable housing.”
The Trump administration has made efforts to clamp down on federal funding for programs ranging from food stamps to Medicaid unless more accountability measures are enacted. A federal judge halted the food stamp funding pause this week after the state sued, but the case continues, MinnPost reported.
Several individuals are facing federal wire fraud charges for attempting to abuse Minnesota’s Housing Stability Services Program, the DOJ announced in September.

Mayor Jacob Frey

Minneapolis Under Investigation Over Possible Discriminatory Housing Program

Housing

Housing and Urban Development

Minneapolis

Minnesota

Trump Administration

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado expressed optimism in Washington, D.C., on Friday following her meetings with President Donald Trump and lawmakers on Capitol Hill this week.
“We are definitely now into the first steps of a true transition to democracy that will have not only immense impact in the lives of Venezuelans,” she said at a press conference at The Heritage Foundation. Machado said she was “impressed” by how much the president knew about the situation in Venezuela, saying the president “understands the moment” and the “implication for the whole hemisphere.”
“It took a lot of courage to do what he did,” she said regarding the Jan. 3 military operation that resulted in the capture and arrest of dictator Nicolás Maduro.
Machado, who won the coveted Nobel Peace Prize in 2025, gifted Trump her Nobel medal as the two discussed the next steps for the South American nation.
Shortly after Maduro was brought to the U.S. to face federal narcoterrorism charges, Trump said that Machado did not have the “respect” of the country to be its leader. Prior to Maduro&#8217;s arrest, <a href="https://x.com/cameron_arcand/status/2007660393787715848?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the relationship between the U.S. and Machado, with Rubio noting that it had been a while since he and the opposition leader had spoken, saying she &#8220;was in hiding.&#8221;
Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, is now the acting president of the country, albeit with staunch oversight from the United States.
After their Thursday meeting, Trump posted to Truth Social that “It was [his] Great Honor to meet María Corina Machado, of Venezuela, today. She is a wonderful woman who has been through so much. María presented [him] with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you María!”
However, when asked about the leftist acting president, Machado said, “This has nothing to do with tension or decision between Delcy Rodriguez or myself &#8230; This is about the cartel and justice. This is about a criminal regime, and the mandate of the Venezuelan people.”
Trump has adopted more of a conciliatory tone toward Rodriguez, saying that they spoke earlier this week and that “she’s a terrific person,” according to <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/14/trump-delcy-rodriguez-venezuela-00730397" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Politico</a>.
“This morning I had a very good call with the Interim President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez. We are making tremendous progress, as we help Venezuela stabilize and recover,” the president said in a Wednesday post to Truth Social. “Many topics were discussed, including Oil, Minerals, Trade and, of course, National Security. This partnership between the United States of America and Venezuela will be a spectacular one FOR ALL. Venezuela will soon be great and prosperous again, perhaps more so than ever before!”
Although it’s still very early in the process of navigating Venezuela&#8217;s future, Machado explained that she thinks that the “regime is forced to dismantle themselves” and that there are major steps needed to truly become a democratic nation once again, including the closure of “torture centers,” the liberation of political prisoners, and “guarantees for journalists to speak out.”
“There is a criminal structure of terror … not only of the civilian population but also in the military,” she said. When it comes to having fair elections in Venezuela, she stressed that it’s important for Venezuelans still in the country and around the globe to believe democracy is on the horizon, and she believes people will be willing to return to the country if that is the case.
Maduro remained in power following the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election, with international concerns that it was not conducted fairly. Maduro was up against Edmundo Gonzalez, a political ally of Machado.
In the press conference Friday, she stressed the importance of voting rights for Venezuelans. When it comes to her own political ambitions, she told &#8220;<a href="https://x.com/foxandfriends/status/2012180372755268040?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox &amp; Friends</a>&#8221; in an interview that aired Friday morning that she is confident she will lead the South American nation one day.
&#8220;I believe I will be elected, when the right time comes, as president of Venezuela,&#8221; she told the outlet.

TOPSHOT-NORWAY-VENEZUELA-NOBEL-PEACE-PRIZE

Venezuelan Opposition Leader Says Next Steps Have To Address ‘The Cartel And Justice’

foreign affairs

maria corina machado

Nicolas Maduro

venezeula

White House

Former Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema is being sued under North Carolina’s “Homewrecker Law” over alleged interference in the marriage between a former member of her “security detail” and his now ex-wife.
North Carolina is only one of the handful of states that allows individuals to sue for “alienation of affection,” and the lawsuit accuses Sinema of “intentional and malicious interference” in a “good and loving marriage” between Heather and Matthew Ammel, who separated in November 2024, according to the <a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ncmd.103845/gov.uscourts.ncmd.103845.2.0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">complaint</a> filed in September 2025 that has recently resurfaced.
Ammel joined Sinema’s security team in 2022, and the lawsuit claims that Sinema&#8217;s head of security left her job in fall 2023 over concern that the senator was &#8220;having sexual relations with other security members.&#8221; Ammel decided to stick around &#8220;due to the financial security of the job,&#8221; despite receiving encouragement from the head of security to also quit, the lawsuit says. Sinema allegedly hired Ammel as a Defense and National Security Fellow for her official Senate office while also working as her &#8220;personal security guard.&#8221;
The lawsuit alleges that Sinema had “numerous lengthy conversations with Mr. Ammel” through multiple platforms, including in-person and over text, that were “emotionally romantic or sexual in nature.&#8221; The lawsuit also alleges that Sinema met with Ammel regularly outside of professional settings, including meetings that were “emotionally or physically romantic or sexual in nature,” and that Sinema was &#8220;encouraging&#8221; Ammel to leave his wife. It says in the spring or early summer of 2024 that Ammel &#8220;stopped wearing his wedding ring,&#8221; and the lawsuit says it is because Ammel said it was to avoid negative &#8220;public optics&#8221; when the then-senator was &#8220;putting her hands on a married man when they were out at concerts and various other public events.&#8221;
Other allegations in the lawsuit detail messages where Sinema was “wrapped in a towel” and suggested that Ammel “bring MDMA drugs on a work trip so that she could guide him through a psychedelic experience,” as Sinema offered assistance with his “mental health challenges.”
The lawsuit said that Ammel was on numerous trips with Sinema, and that starting in 2024, the plaintiff noticed frequent messaging on Signal between the two, alleging that it “exceeded the bounds of a normal working relationship.” One of the messages exchanged included Sinema saying she was not attending the State of the Union address because &#8220;she didn&#8217;t need to listen to some old man, President Biden, talk about the legislation that she wrote.&#8221;
Another message exchange said that Ammel wanted to start a &#8220;F*ck the troops&#8221; chant at a baseball game he attended alone, to which Sinema allegedly replied that &#8220;she would &#8216;f*ck the hot ones.'&#8221;
It also outlines that the duo went to numerous concerts together, including U2 and the Extra Innings Festival. The plaintiff claims that Ammel said that Sinema was &#8220;handsy with him at this event.&#8221; She is asking for damages “in excess of” $25,000 for the allegations outlined in the case.
The lawsuit said that Ammel is an Army veteran with PTSD, and the <a href="https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/why-arizona-sinema-is-pushing-for-psychedelic-drug-research-21386425/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Phoenix New Times</a> reported in March about Sinema’s post-Senate advocacy for more psychedelic research, noting Ammel’s experience with it.
“I saw the difference it was making in his life, his thinking, and his behavior,” Sinema said to the Phoenix New Times in the interview.
The Daily Wire reached out to the former senator, who is now an attorney at Hogan Lovells, for comment. The Daily Wire attempted to reach Matthew Ammel through a publicly available email that appeared to belong to him. A man by the same name appeared to have been arrested in Moore County, North Carolina, for assault charges in November, but The Daily Wire is unable to confirm whether it is the same individual.

Kyrsten Sinema At State Of The Union Address

Kyrsten Sinema Sued By Ex-Wife Of Security Guard, Alleging Affair

Congress

kysten sinema

North Carolina

Senate

Talks on extending Obamacare subsidies in the Senate appear to be stalling, as President Donald Trump calls for the “Great Healthcare Plan” to go through Congress.
Enrollment for those who use Affordable Care Act plans ends Thursday in most of the country, as expired subsidies have led to higher premium costs. Many conservatives argue that this is evidence that the ACA was not a sustainable program in the first place.
The White House released a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/01/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-calls-on-congress-to-enact-the-great-healthcare-plan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fact sheet</a> on Thursday about Trump’s healthcare plan, which would include “price transparency” reforms and “send money directly to the American people, lower health insurance premiums, and cut kickbacks that raise insurance premiums.” The president’s proposal would also expand the list of “verified safe pharmaceutical drugs” that Americans can buy over the counter and include a “cost-sharing reduction program” for plans.
“The Great Healthcare Plan stops sending big insurance companies billions in extra taxpayer-funded subsidy payments and instead sends that money directly to eligible Americans to allow them to buy the health insurance of their choice,” the webpage states.
President Donald Trump said in a video on Thursday that it “will truly make healthcare affordable again.”
In the Senate, Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) said, “We’re still in the red zone” when it comes to the possibility of extending the subsidies for another two years while a longer-term plan is figured out, according to <a href="https://punchbowl.news/article/senate/senate-obamacare-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Punchbowl News</a>. <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/01/13/congress/senators-punt-release-of-health-package-to-end-of-january-00725086" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Politico</a> reported that the actual language of a proposal might not be ready until after the Senate returns from its 10-day recess that began Thursday.
However, there have been serious splits regarding taxpayer dollars for abortions through the Hyde Amendment, along with the generally partisan divide on whether the subsidies should continue in the first place.
In December, Moreno and Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) went public with a two-year extension proposal, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has sought a three-year extension of the COVID-era subsidies.
“Barack Obama and the Democratic Party created this disaster, lining the pockets of massive insurance companies while healthcare costs for everyday Americans skyrocketed,” Moreno said in a statement last month. “But I refuse to let the American people pay the price for the Democrats’ incompetence. I am willing to work with anyone to finally bring down costs for all Americans and hope my colleagues across the aisle will commit to doing the same.”
According to Punchbowl News, the proposal could restore enrollment in March if a deal is reached in Congress.
In the House, a bill to extend ACA subsidies for the next three years passed last week, with Democrats and 17 Republicans passing the legislation in the Republican-led chamber after a successful discharge petition to forced a floor vote — but it seems unlikely to gain traction in the Senate.
“The House just decisively passed legislation that restores the Affordable Care Act tax credits. Over the objection of Donald Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson. If you don’t know, now you know,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) wrote on X after the vote.

Donald Trump

Trump Pitches ‘Great Healthcare Plan’ As Senate Stalls On Obamacare Subsidies

Bernie Moreno

Healthcare

Trump

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested a slew of illegal immigrants in Minneapolis Tuesday, including several convicted of sexual assault and drug trafficking.
The arrests were part of Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration’s effort to arrest illegal aliens in the Twin Cities, which began in December. Among those arrested Tuesday were Teng Houa Vang, a Vietnamese national with a domestic assault conviction — as well as guilty pleas for terror threats and breaking a “protection order,” The Daily Wire has learned. He is also facing charges for “arson, peeping tom, obstructing police, trespassing, assault, drug possession, and property damage.”
<div id="attachment_1028041" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1028041" class="size-medium wp-image-1028041" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/image001-2-300x300.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/image001-2-300x300.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/image001-2-150x150.png 150w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/image001-2.png 363w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Mugshot of Teng Houa Vang (Department of Homeland Security)</div>
“Another day another scourge of sexual predators, violent assailants, domestic abusers and drug traffickers arrested from the streets of Minnesota by our law enforcement,” Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement on Wednesday.
“We are in Minnesota to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens. Governor Walz and Mayor Frey refuse to let us into their jails and instead choose to release criminal illegal aliens back into Minnesota neighborhoods to victimize more Americans. Despite violence against them and a lack of cooperation from sanctuary politicians, our law enforcement will not stop their efforts to get criminals out of [the] country,” she continued.
Salvadoran national Francisco Salazar-Solorzano was arrested on DUI, domestic violence, and assault charges. Mexican national Victor Javier Bahena-Sandoval has previous arrests for domestic violence, in addition to past convictions for “disorderly conduct” and for coming back into the country illegally. Mexican national Santiago Antunes Mendiola faces charges for battery.
Spanish national Lorenzo Armillas Llaurado has a prior conviction for “felony distribution of a controlled substance.” Nigerian national Michael Opeoluwa Egbele has a prior conviction for impersonation fraud.
<div id="attachment_1028047" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1028047" class="size-medium wp-image-1028047" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/image006-300x300.png" alt="Michael Opeoluwa Egbele" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/image006-300x300.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/image006-150x150.png 150w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/image006.png 363w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Mugshot of Michael Opeoluwa Egbele (Department of Homeland Security)</div>
Operation Metro Surge has triggered protests and backlash from Democratic leaders, especially following the confrontation in which Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE officer. She reportedly hit him with her vehicle in Minneapolis, as DHS says the agent involved suffered internal bleeding afterward.
“Get the f**k out of Minneapolis,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said at a press conference last week following the Good incident.
“We do not want you here. Your stated reason for being in this city is to create some kind of safety, and you are doing exactly the opposite,” he continued, saying, “people are being hurt.”
The Daily Wire reached out to both Walz and the City of Minneapolis for comment, but they were not immediately available for a response. As of December 19, there have been 622,000 deportations since President Donald Trump took office, along with an estimated 1.9 million people who opted to self-deport, as the federal government is offering incentives to do so.

ICE, Minneapolis

ICE Picks Up Illegals With Sexual Assault, Drug Trafficking Charges Amid Minneapolis Protests

Crime

Immigration

jacob frey

Tim Walz

A new House proposal aims to crack down on abuses of the student visa system, including by imposing tougher penalties on administrators and institutions found responsible for visa fraud.
The “Student Visa Integrity Act,” introduced by Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX), would tighten visa expiration dates and require in-person interviews for visa extensions for applicants from countries considered sponsors of terrorism or that are in programs otherwise deemed high national security risks.
Under the proposal, students from state sponsors of terrorism, nations with an overstay rate of 10% or higher, or institutions that do not use E-Verify would be limited to a maximum student visa term of two years.
“Studying in the United States is a privilege, not a right,” Gill told The Daily Wire. “Unfortunately, a system intended to spread the American dream has been abused by fraudsters and bad actors. My bill restores integrity to a system that has been exploited for decades by protecting national security, enforcing immigration law, and ensuring the student visa program serves America’s interests.”
Gill’s proposal would also require educational institutions and affiliated organizations to disclose any financial links to China. In addition, the bill would set new limits on foreign students wanting to transfer between schools.
The bill also empowers the Department of Homeland Security to reject student visa applicants from “countries of concern” if the applicant could pose a future national security risk to the United States. That includes individuals seeking to work in “the energy sector of Iran” or to “participate in coursework or training relating to or otherwise engage in flight training, aviation maintenance, or flight operations.”
Under President Donald Trump, the State Department revoked roughly 100,000 visas in 2025, according to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-administration-revokes-more-than-100000-visas-first-year-back" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News</a>. The outlet noted that 8,000 of those were student visas.
According to a 2024 <a href="https://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/btn/25_0605_2024-sevis-btn.pdf#:~:text=The%20total%20number%20of%20SEVIS%20records%20for,of%205.3%20percent%20from%20calendar%20year%202023." target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, just under 1.6 million individuals were “active” students in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. The report noted a 5.3% increase from 2023, with Asia as the most common “continent of origin.”
Roughly 50,000 people may have overstayed their student and exchange visa as of fiscal year 2023, a DHS <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2024-10/24_1011_CBP-Entry-Exit-Overstay-Report-FY23-Data.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> at the time revealed.

Widener Memorial Library with Huge Veritas Banners Harvard University Cambridge MA

EXCLUSIVE: GOP Proposal Targets Fraud, Security Gaps In Student Visa Program

College

Education

Universities

Visas

A Venezuelan illegal immigrant who allegedly took part in a violent strangling death that led to an individual being stuffed into a suitcase and buried in a “remote” part of New Mexico was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on January 8, <a href="https://www.fox21news.com/news/local/tren-de-aragua-member-arrested/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox 21 News Colorado</a> reported.
Yorvis Michel Carrascal Campo, an alleged Tren de Aragua gang member, is one of 11 people indicted by the Justice Department in December in the case, as the victim was allegedly kidnapped by the group that later tried to hide the evidence of the crime in June 2024, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Carrascal Campo is one of seven individuals facing charges for “conspiracy to conduct racketeering activity, murder in aid of racketeering and drug trafficking conspiracy,” according to a DOJ press release prior to the arrest. DHS said he crossed the southern border into the United States illegally in October 2023 during the Biden-era border crisis, and he had a final order to exit the country in June 2024, just days before the murder occurred.
“Carrascal Campo’s crimes shock the conscience and are yet another example of the failed border policies of Joe Biden that RELEASED TdA gang members into American communities,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement first shared with The Daily Wire.
&nbsp;
<div id="attachment_1027203" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1027203" class="size-medium wp-image-1027203" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/image001-300x300.png" alt=" Yorvis Michel Carrascal Campo" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/image001-300x300.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/image001-150x150.png 150w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/image001.png 360w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Yorvis Michel Carrascal Campo, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela. (Department of Homeland Security)</div>
He is one of five explicitly named in the indictment for “[carrying] out the TdA leader&#8217;s order to kill John Doe I by restraining and strangling John Doe I until John Doe I died” in Albuquerque. The victim was questioned regarding “his loyalty to TdA and his connections to rival gangs.”
The DOJ alleges that Carrascal Campo was one of three people who “cleaned up the scene of the murder to conceal the murder from law enforcement” and helped with burying the body.
In addition, the <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/media/1421321/dl?inline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">indictment</a> said that Carrascal Campo “supplied” ketamine between May and June 2024 to those involved with TdA in New Mexico as a way to “manufacture and distribute tusi.” Tusi is better known as pink cocaine.
“Just last week, two vicious Tren de Aragua gang members—also let loose on American streets by Joe Biden—weaponized their vehicle against Border Patrol in Portland. These are the types of monsters our law enforcement is targeting. We are working around the clock to clean up the chaos caused by the Biden administration who let untold millions of illegal aliens including murderers, pedophiles, rapists, terrorists, and gang members pour into our country,” DHS said in a statement.
The arrest comes as ICE continues to apprehend illegals nationwide and faces protests throughout the country.

Crime Scene at Night: Crime Scene Investigation Team Working on a Murder. Female Police Officer Briefing Detective on the Victim’s Body. Forensics and Paramedics Working. Cinematic Shot

Suspected Tren De Aragua Member Arrested In Brutal New Mexico Strangling Case

Illegal Immigration

New Mexico

Tren De Aragua

U.S.

Venezuela

A Nevada ballot measure that would enshrine a ban in the state constitution on athletes who identify as transgender to compete on women’s sports teams is likely to be put before voters in November, drawing increased attention to the gubernatorial race.
Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo announced the “Protect Girls’ Sports” initiative last week after teasing it throughout last year. The measure would “amend the Equal Rights Amendment to protect fairness and integrity in girls’ athletics,” particularly regarding public funding, according to a press release.
“We are taking thoughtful steps to ensure girls’ sports are fair and athletes are safe,” Lombardo, who’s seeking re-election, said in a statement. “It’s important that female athletes have the opportunity to succeed in their athletic field. By bringing together a diverse coalition now, we can establish clear and fair standards that protect generations of female athletes to come.”
If the measure gathers enough signatures to qualify for a statewide vote, it would first be on the 2026 ballot as a question, then return to the 2028 ballot for final approval before being added to the constitution.
&#8220;Title IX was instituted for a reason – to create a level playing field so that girls and boys have an equal chance to succeed in our schools,&#8221; petition initiative director Adriana Guzmán Fralick said in a statement. &#8220;But there has been an attack on girls’ athletics that seeks to disrupt that equality. The people of Nevada do not support this, and I’m proud to help them make their voice heard on this issue at the ballot box.”
The issue is already a hot topic on the campaign trail, as Attorney General Aaron Ford, who is seeking the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, said he does not personally believe athletes who identify as transgender should compete in women&#8217;s sports, but nevertheless opposes the ballot initiative, according to the <a href="https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/lombardo-to-lead-2026-ballot-initiative-to-keep-transgender-athletes-out-of-female-sports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nevada Independent</a>.
“My faith teaches me that every person is a child of God and deserves to be treated with humanity, dignity, and respect,” the Democrat stated, according to the outlet. “And as Attorney General, I will continue defending the constitutional rights of every Nevadan.&#8221;
On December 23, Ford was listed on an amicus brief in a Minnesota case challenging a ban on transgender-identifying athletes. The <a href="https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/FAUvEllison_StatesAmicusBrief_AsFiled.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">brief</a> states that &#8220;discrimination against transgender youth—including denying them the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities consistent with their gender identity—can have serious health consequences.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-now-think-transgenderism-is-a-winning-issue-itll-be-put-to-the-test-in-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> reported that Ford signed onto a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals amicus brief in 2023 regarding two minors who identified as transgender, and whether or not they could play on a girls&#8217; sports team in Arizona.
“Plaintiffs simply want to participate on their school’s girl’s sports teams with their friends,” the brief said.
“They have not experienced any of the physiological changes associated with male puberty and have no ascertainable competitive advantage over their cisgender peers,” it continued, saying that the plaintiffs identified as “girls in all aspects of their lives since an early age.”
He also signed on to a 2022 amicus brief challenging an Arkansas law on “gender-affirming treatment” for minors.
“We must protect our children from discriminatory laws that bar access to necessary, gender-affirming health care,” Ford stated in 2022. &#8220;Over and over again, evidence has shown that denying transgender youth access to gender-affirming care has a detrimental effect to their mental health and quality of life.”
The Daily Wire reached out to the Ford campaign. At the national level, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on Tuesday in cases related to the issue.

Joe Lombardo Makes His First Public Statement Since Being Declared Winner Of Nevada Gubernatorial Race

Nevada Governor’s Race Shaped By Potential Transgender Ballot Measure

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Former Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK) entered the United States Senate race in Alaska on Monday, which likely made the 2026 race against Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan more competitive.
Shortly after her announcement, the Cook Political Report moved the race from solid Republican to lean Republican.
“My agenda for Alaska will always be fish, family, and freedom,” she said in a video. “But our future also depends on fixing the rigged system in DC that’s shutting down Alaska while politicians feather their own nest.”
The announcement quickly appeared on the national radar, with the National Republican Senatorial Committee launching a digital ad against the Democrat.
&#8220;Peltola rubber-stamped Biden’s Alaska last policies and didn&#8217;t get a single bill signed into law,” the ad states. “Mary Peltola. Still radical. Still ineffective. Still Alaska Last.&#8221;
&#8220;After voters rejected Mary Peltola&#8217;s record pushing radical transgender policies and protecting Joe Biden&#8217;s relentless attacks on Alaska energy, she immediately cashed out to lobby for special interests,&#8221; NRSC Regional Press Secretary Nick Puglia said in a statement regarding the advertisement. &#8220;Voters trust Dan Sullivan to keep fighting for the Alaskan comeback and will reject Peltola again.&#8221;
On the flip side, it was welcomed news to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which posted to X that “Mary has always been a champion for Alaskans, focusing on her core values of fish, family, and freedom. This November, she’s going to win this seat.”
Statements from both committees could indicate that resources will be poured into the race, as Republicans currently hold 53 seats and Democrats hold 45, with two independents caucusing with Democrats.
The Cook Political Report has the Georgia, Michigan, Maine, and North Carolina Senate races ranked as toss-ups. Meanwhile, New Hampshire is rated as “Lean Democrat,” and Ohio is also rated with Alaska as “Lean Republican.”
Peltola was in Congress from 2022 to 2025, succeeding late Republican Rep. Don Young. Alaska uses a ranked-choice voting system, which led to her defeating former Republican Gov. Sarah Palin in the third round in 2022 with just under 55% of the vote, and then losing to Rep. Nick Begich III in 2024, who won with just over 51%.
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who was re-elected in 2022, said she would back Sullivan.
“We&#8217;ve had a pretty solid team here in the Senate for the past 12 years, so we want to figure out how we&#8217;re going to keep in the majority,” the Senator said, according to <a href="https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/washington-d-c/2026-01-12/mary-peltola-enters-alaska-u-s-senate-race" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alaska Public Media</a>. “And Dan delivers that.”

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Alaska Senate Race Heats Up After Prominent Democrat Enters Contest

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Credit card interest rates are expected to be ordered to pause at 10% for one year starting January 20, President Donald Trump announced on Friday night.
“Please be informed that we will no longer let the American Public be ‘ripped off’ by Credit Card Companies that are charging Interest Rates of 20 to 30%, and even more, which festered unimpeded during the Sleepy Joe Biden Administration. AFFORDABILITY!” he posted to Truth Social.
“Effective January 20, 2026, I, as President of the United States, am calling for a one year cap on Credit Card Interest Rates of 10%. Coincidentally, the January 20th date will coincide with the one year anniversary of the historic and very successful Trump Administration. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” the president continued.
Credit cards typically carry an interest rate of 23.79%, according to LendingTree. As of Q3 of 2025, Americans have $1.23 trillion in credit card debt, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s <a href="https://www.newyorkfed.org/microeconomics/hhdc.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Center for Microeconomic Data</a>. Over 80% of Americans have a credit card, according to <a href="https://www.fool.com/money/research/credit-card-ownership-statistics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Motley Fool</a>.
It’s unclear if there will be subsequent legal action against the order. The move is one of several major financial actions the president has taken in recent days. On Wednesday, he announced he would be taking action to prevent “institutional” buyers from purchasing single-family homes, writing on Truth Social that “people live in homes, not corporations.”
“For a very long time, buying and owning a home was considered the pinnacle of the American Dream. It was the reward for working hard, and doing the right thing, but now, because of the Record High Inflation caused by Joe Biden and the Democrats in Congress, that American Dream is increasingly out of reach for far too many people, especially younger Americans,” he stated.
Then on Thursday, he directed a purchase of $200 billion in mortgage bonds in another move intended to tackle the cost of home ownership.
“This will drive Mortgage Rates DOWN, monthly payments DOWN, and make the cost of owning a home more affordable,” he said.
Trump has repeatedly referenced “affordability” in his messaging on economic policy in recent weeks, as the phrase has quickly turned into a marquee campaign trail tenet for the November midterms used by both parties.

San Francisco Reopens Indoor Dining, Gyms As Coronavirus Cases Drop

Credit Card Interest Rates Could Be Capped At 10% For The Year, Trump Says

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The United States Department of Agriculture is cutting off all federal funding to the state of Minnesota and the city of Minneapolis.
In a letter to Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey on Friday, Rollins cited the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud case that led to 78 people being charged as one of the main reasons for stopping the funding. Specifically, the letter noted how the scheme for the fake children’s meal charity that took advantage of COVID-era funds abused the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program, according to the letter.
“Enough is enough! The Trump administration has uncovered MASSIVE fraud in Minnesota and Minneapolis—billions siphoned off by fraudsters. And those in charge have ZERO plan to fix it,” USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins wrote. “Today, [USDA] is SUSPENDING FEDERAL FINANCIAL AWARDS to Minnesota and Minneapolis, effective immediately, until sufficient proof has been provided that the fraud has stopped.”
“No more handouts to thieves! Time to drain the Minnesota swamp and put American taxpayers first,” she added.
There has been a widespread effort by the Trump administration to crack down on fraud concerns in Minnesota, especially when it comes to Medicaid.
“The more we uncover, the more it becomes clear: it’s much worse than we were led to believe by state government officials,” Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services, said in a video posted to X earlier this week.
“We will begin auditing Medicaid receipts and defer paying on claims based on fraud, waste, and abuse,” he continued.
The numerous fraud scandals, which have already resulted in 95 people being charged in cases ranging from Feeding Our Future to an autism fraud treatment scheme, prompted Gov. Tim Walz not to seek a third term as governor.
“I won’t mince words here. Donald Trump and his allies – in Washington, in St. Paul, and online – want to make our state a colder, meaner place. They want to poison our people against each other by attacking our neighbors,” Walz stated in his announcement. “And, ultimately, they want to take away much of what makes Minnesota the best place in America to raise a family. They’ve already begun by taking our tax dollars that were meant to help families afford child care. And they have no intention of stopping there.”
Besides the fraud scandals, Minnesota continues to be in the national spotlight following an ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis this week, with <a href="https://x.com/MattFinnFNC/status/2009742888897286391?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News</a> reporting that an extra one thousand Border Patrol agents will be headed into the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan area to supplement the 2,000 federal officers already there, with extra hands meant to allow Homeland Security Investigations officers to keep exploring fraud concerns.
On Friday night, the City of Minneapolis responded to The Daily Wire&#8217;s inquiry on the USDA&#8217;s letter, saying that the city is &#8220;communicating with State partners to understand the impacts of such a blanket cut to funding meant for residents most in need.&#8221;
&#8220;What’s abundantly clear is that Minneapolis is the latest target of the Trump administration &#8212; willing to harm Americans in service to its perceived political gain,&#8221; the statement added.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said he plans to sue to the federal government, writing in an X post that &#8220;I will not allow you to take from Minnesotans in need. I&#8217;ll see you in court, [Secretary Rollins].&#8221;

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Cameron Arcand