From tax hikes and lax election laws to leaf blower bans and Second Amendment infringements, Virginia Democrats have wasted no time implementing their radical agenda upon returning to power.
With newly inaugurated Governor Abigail Spanberger at the helm, Virginia Democrats also control both chambers of the state legislature, meaning many items off their leftist wish lists could actually become law.
At the top of the agenda — and dominating the headlines — seems to be implementing some kind of wealth tax. Lawmakers have already introduced several competing bills that would create new tax brackets with steeper rates for high earners. One bill would nearly double the state income tax rate for Virginians who make over a million dollars a year.
As one prominent Virginia politics X account <a href="https://x.com/NoVA_Campaigns/status/2013073149265347033">noted</a>, these tax hikes could devastate family farms, small businesses, and sole proprietor companies, whose business profits can be taxed as part of their personal income tax returns.
Virginians can also expect to take a hit through a proposed investment income tax, which would levy a 3.8% tax on all income from investments, trusts, and estates beginning in tax year 2027.
Residents of the state will also likely face additional &#8220;sales and use&#8221; taxes, including one proposal to apply state sales tax rates to everything from gym memberships to home repairs and more.
At least two proposed tax bills seem designed to infringe upon Virginians&#8217; Second Amendment rights: one would levy an 11% tax on all firearms and ammunition, and another would implement a flat $500 tax on all firearm suppressors. Other bills would ban &#8220;assault weapons&#8221; and certain magazines, while one would ban the discharge of firearms — even on private property — unless the property in question measures at least five acres.
But taxes are just the tip of the iceberg. The Virginia legislature is also considering a number of bills that would make it difficult to root out voter fraud or increase transparency and election integrity.
One such bill would remove the deadline for receipt of all absentee ballots, and extend the deadline for curing ballots from noon on the third day after the election to one full week after Election Day. Another includes a provision that would allow absentee ballots to be &#8220;received, marked, and cast electronically through the internet.&#8221;
Other proposals would bar election officials from double-checking &#8220;machine-readable&#8221; ballots with a hand count and make it far more difficult for voters to challenge the legality of another voter&#8217;s registration.
In addition to the tax- and election-related bills, Democrats have bills teed up to make the state softer on crime and illegal immigrants while throwing the book at legal residents who only want to exercise their First Amendment rights or do a little bit of yard work.
One bill would <a href="https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086561.PDF">eliminate mandatory minimum sentences</a> for certain offenses, including but not limited to illegal sales of cigarettes and alcohol, &#8220;certain conduct punishable as involuntary manslaughter,&#8221; and violations of certain provisions of protective orders.
Two bills would help protect illegal immigrants in Virginia — one by barring officials from arresting illegal aliens in courthouses and another by fining employers who pay illegal aliens less than the established minimum wage. The latter bill does not fine businesses for employing illegal aliens.
The First Amendment is not safe either, as SB 137 would make it a crime to approach within eight feet of another person who is standing within 40 feet of an abortion clinic — even if both parties are still standing on public property.
A number of other bills have been proposed to promote a more &#8220;woke&#8221; Virginia, with one stripping tax-exempt status from any organization with ties to &#8220;Confederate&#8221; heritage. Another bill would officially change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples&#8217; Day, while yet another would ban gas-powered leaf blowers.
It&#8217;s unclear which of these bills will pass and whether or not Spanberger — who ran as a moderate — will sign them. But if these early days of Democratic rule are any indication, Richmond is about to get a whole lot bluer.

Virginia Gubernatorial Candidate Abigail Spanberger Speaks At An Everytown For Gun Safety Rally

Virginia Democrats Get Right To Work Implementing Their Radical Leftist Agenda

Virginia Legislature Churns Out List Of New Bills Straight Out Of Every Democrat's Fever Dream

Democrat

Politics

Second Amendment

Virginia

Joy Behar complained on Tuesday that it was time to &#8220;do something&#8221; about President Donald Trump — and she argued that just getting out in the streets to protest and even voting were not cutting it anymore.
Behar claimed that it was time for Trump to go, saying that Americans were just going to have to &#8220;step up&#8221; and make that happen, although she was largely unclear as to how that would work, logistically speaking.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The View calls for Congress to invoke the 25th Amendment (but they can&#8217;t). <a href="https://t.co/wOFHJgGWHp">pic.twitter.com/wOFHJgGWHp</a>
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickFondacaro/status/2013647217710477781?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I think this is the end of it now for [President Trump]. It has to be. And Americans need to step up now. It&#8217;s not enough to go into the streets. It&#8217;s not enough to vote,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I believe that people need to start calling their congressmen and their Senators.&#8221;
&#8220;I mean, he has eroded civil rights at this point, he&#8217;s erasing history &#8230; he&#8217;s wrecking the economy, it&#8217;ll be decades before we get back to where we&#8217;re supposed to be, and he&#8217;s alienating us from our friends in NATO,&#8221; Behar claimed, as the cohosts voiced their agreement. &#8220;And all because he&#8217;s not getting his award.&#8221;
&#8220;You know, the shrinks call that a narcissistic injury,&#8221; Behar continued. &#8220;And that is what will get us into World War III because his ego is involved. And the only thing that Americans can do, including us, I mean, we have a forum here and we speak out.&#8221;
Behar went on to claim that people loved &#8220;The View&#8221; for exactly that reason — and she called on the audience to call their representatives and say, &#8220;It&#8217;s time to do something about this guy, because he&#8217;s leading us into World War III.&#8221;
Sunny Hostin followed Behar, claiming that Trump was only after Greenland because he wanted the rare earth minerals — and that people should take him seriously when he postured about taking the island nation by force.
Behar interrupted then, claiming that she blamed Congress because she believed the president was not well and held them responsible for failing to do something about it. The 25th Amendment was mentioned, but as Alyssa Farah Griffin pointed out, that would have to come from the president&#8217;s own cabinet.

Joy Behar

Joy Behar Says It’s Time To ‘Do Something About Trump,’ Complains Protests And Voting Aren’t Enough

Donald Trump

Media

Protests

The View

The newest “Star Trek” series is apparently so awful that it got the original Captain Kirk to see eye-to-eye with one of President Donald Trump’s closest advisers.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Homeland Security adviser Stephen Miller responded to a brief clip of the new Paramount+ series &#8220;Star Trek: Starfleet Academy&#8221; in an X post, arguing that the only way for producers to save the show would be to give full creative control to actor William Shatner.
&#8220;Tragic. But it’s not too late for @paramountplus to save the franchise,&#8221; Miller said. &#8220;Step 1: Reconcile with @WilliamShatner and give him total creative control.&#8221;
Shatner <a href="https://x.com/WilliamShatner/status/2013275829464383866">responded</a> several days later, saying, &#8220;I am so on the same page with you @StephenM&lt;! The fact that they have not [cured] Hyperopia by the 32rd Century is an abysmal oversight on the writers!&#8221;
&#8220;Also @paramountplus needs to up the budget because I’m sure that a well oiled organization like Starfleet in the distant future could afford more than one pair of glasses for at least this hyperopic bridge crew,&#8221; Shatner continued, adding, &#8220;Do they pass the glasses around while piloting the ship? Shame on the line producers! That is what you meant, right?&#8221;
&#8220;I am ready to assume command of the series! Call me!&#8221; he concluded.
Shatner was written out of the franchise in the 1994 film &#8220;Star Trek: Generations&#8221; – a move he&#8217;s said was made because producers wanted to move on to solely using the &#8220;Star Trek: The Next Generation&#8221; cast led by British actor Patrick Stewart&#8217;s Jean-Luc Picard.
Shatner said that he was told before filming began for &#8220;Generations&#8221; that Captain Kirk was going to die in the film whether he participated or not – and so he opted for an onscreen death that allowed him a heroic exit.
&#8220;So the producer said, &#8216;We&#8217;re going to kill Kirk because we think that The Next Generation will make more money at the box office,'&#8221; he explained.
Three more movies followed with &#8220;The Next Generation&#8221; cast, and the series has since rebooted with three more films, starring Chris Pine as Captain Kirk.

William Shatner

Paramount’s ‘Star Trek’ Series Is So Awful It Brought William Shatner And Stephen Miller Together

Paramount

Star Trek

Stephen Miller

U.S.

Wokeness

A high-speed train derailment in southern Spain on Sunday resulted in a horrific crash that left at least 40 dead and dozens more injured — with more dead and injured feared to still be buried in the wreckage.
The crash took place near the town of Adamuz in Cordoba Province around 7:45 p.m. local time and involved two high-speed trains, both of which were traveling at approximately 130 miles per hour at the time of the derailment and subsequent crash, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/18/world/spain-high-speed-train-derailment">reported</a>.
According to multiple reports, the last two cars of a northbound train traveling from Malaga to Madrid derailed first, crossing the tracks and crashing into a southbound train traveling from Madrid to Huelva. The second train derailed as well after the impact and tumbled down an embankment.
The scene, according to local police, was &#8220;utter chaos&#8221; as injured passengers attempted to climb out of the damaged train cars. The bodies of some of those killed were thrown a considerable distance from the train.
Spanish transportation minister Óscar Puente told reporters that even the experts are confused as to what might have caused the crash, especially since the section of track that goes through the area of the crash is primarily flat and was only recently renovated. &#8220;The accident is extremely strange. All the experts we have consulted are extremely baffled.&#8221;
The northbound train was carrying more than 300 passengers at the time of the derailment, and the southbound train was carrying about 100 passengers.
In the wake of the crash, rail service between Madrid and Andalusia has been temporarily suspended, and the Spanish Red Cross has set up a temporary center for victims and their families near Adamuz. Carmen Moreno, of the Andalusian Red Cross, told The New York Times that they are providing families with food, but information surrounding the crash is what they want most.
&#8220;What people are demanding most is information. And since we cannot give them all the information we would like, there is a lot of tension, a lot of anxiety, temporary anxiety from not knowing what is happening, and sadness,&#8221; she explained.
Spain is currently home to the most extensive high-speed rail system in Europe — and the second-largest in the world, behind only China.

TOPSHOT-SPAIN-RAILWAY-ACCIDENT-TRANSPORT

‘Utter Chaos’: High-Speed Train Collision Leaves Dozens Dead, Some Still Trapped In Wreckage

'Utter Chaos': High-Speed Train Collision Leaves Dozens Dead, Some Still Trapped In Wreckage

Spain

Train

Transportation

CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten named President Donald Trump the &#8220;kingmaker in chief,&#8221; at least when it came to his record on Republican primary endorsements.
Enten spoke with CNN anchor John Berman about Trump&#8217;s decision to back Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) in a potential primary match-up with incumbent Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and said that Trump was nearly undefeated in primaries featuring a candidate he&#8217;d endorsed.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Trump going with Julia Letlow over Cassidy in the Louisiana GOP Sen primary is a huge deal!
Trump&#8217;s the kingmaker GOP primaries (endorsees win 95%+ of the time). His approval rating with the GOP? ~90%!
When Trump goes against you, you go in the grinder to quote Good Burger. <a href="https://t.co/xPBi0swOiV">pic.twitter.com/xPBi0swOiV</a>
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) <a href="https://twitter.com/ForecasterEnten/status/2013294448159957312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;President Trump is the kingmaker in Republican primaries, that&#8217;s why it&#8217;s such a big deal,&#8221; an animated Enten explained to Berman on Monday. &#8220;Take a look here: times Trump endorsees won GOP primaries, these are congressional and gubernatorial. In 2020, it was 98%; in 2022, it was 95%; in 2024, it was 96%.&#8221;
&#8220;President Trump has the magic touch when it comes to endorsing in Republican primaries,&#8221; Enten continued. &#8220;And when he doesn&#8217;t endorse you, you go — to quote the great movie &#8216;Good Burger&#8217; — into the grinder!&#8221;
Trump offered his full-throated endorsement to Letlow via a <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115913724519885202">Truth Social post</a> on Saturday, saying in part, &#8220;I know Julia well, have seen her tested at the highest and most difficult levels, and she is a TOTAL WINNER! A Proud Mother of two children, Julia is a wonderful person, has ALWAYS delivered for Louisiana, and would continue doing so in the United States Senate.&#8221;
&#8220;As your next Senator, Julia will work tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Support our Amazing Farmers and Fishermen, Champion Louisiana Oil &amp; Gas, Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Ensure LAW AND ORDER, Strengthen our Military/Veterans, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment,&#8221; Trump added.
Letlow has not officially launched a Senate campaign, but is reportedly considering a run.

US-POLITICS-TRUMP-GOP

‘Kingmaker In Chief!’: CNN Pollster Says Trump Has 95% Win Rate In Primary Endorsements

'Kingmaker In Chief!': CNN Pollster Says Trump Has 95% Win Rate In Primary Endorsements

Harry Enten

Polls

Republican Primary

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre responded after President Donald Trump said he was ready to abandon &#8220;peace&#8221; as the primary goal of his efforts to obtain control of Greenland.
Gahr Støre <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/norwegian-leader-says-he-received-trump-message-that-reportedly-ties-greenland-to-nobel-peace-prize">confirmed</a> on Monday that he had spoken with Trump via text about the president&#8217;s plan to implement new tariffs as leverage to force Denmark into a deal over Greenland — and that he had initially suggested a phone call to &#8220;de-escalate&#8221; tensions.
&#8220;I can confirm that this is a text message that I received yesterday afternoon from President Trump. It came in response to a short text message from me to President Trump sent earlier on the same day, on behalf of myself and the President of Finland Alexander Stubb,&#8221; Gahr Støre explained.
&#8220;In our message to Trump, we conveyed our opposition to his announced tariff increases against Norway, Finland, and select other countries. We pointed to the need to de-escalate and proposed a telephone conversation between Trump, Stubb, and myself on the same day,&#8221; Gahr Støre said, adding, &#8220;The response from Trump came shortly after the message was sent. It was his decision to share his message with other NATO leaders.&#8221;
Gahr Støre went on to say that he&#8217;d addressed Trump&#8217;s efforts to link the actions of the Nobel Committee and the actions of the Norwegian government, explaining that the committee was entirely independent and was not influenced by the government in any way. He also offered his full-throated defense of Denmark with regard to Trump&#8217;s attempts to gain control of Greenland.
&#8220;Norway’s position on Greenland is clear. Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We also support that NATO in a responsible way is taking steps to strengthen security and stability in the Arctic. As regards the Nobel Peace Prize, I have clearly explained, including to president Trump, what is well known, the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian Government.&#8221;
President Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nobel-snub-fuels-trumps-shift-away-from-purely-peaceful-approach-to-greenland">sparked outrage</a> when he wrote to Gahr Støre, saying in part, &#8220;Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.&#8221;

Prime Minister Keir Starmer Hosts Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre For UK Visit

Norway Responds As Trump Pivots Away From ‘Peace’ In Greenland Discussion

Norway Responds As Trump Pivots Away From 'Peace' In Greenland Discussion

Denmark

Global Politics

Greenland

Nobel Peace Prize

Norway

World

President Donald Trump has made no secret of his desire to acquire Greenland for the United States, and while his administration has insisted the goal is a negotiated purchase of the strategically-located island from Denmark, critics in the media and the Democratic Party have nonetheless suggested he will use the military to take the island by force.
For those who don&#8217;t spend their Sunday mornings glued to the television — and their Sunday afternoons attempting to dig through a week&#8217;s worth of network and cable news media spin — The Daily Wire has compiled a short summary of what you may have missed.
The renewed furor over Greenland began with a Saturday <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115911344443637897">Truth Social post</a> from the president leveraging tariffs against a number of European nations until an agreement is reached for the United States to purchase it.
&#8220;The United States of America is immediately open to negotiation with Denmark and/or any of these Countries that have put so much at risk, despite all that we have done for them, including maximum protection, over so many decades,&#8221; Trump said.
Following a week of military buildup in Greenland — as European nations attempt to help Denmark shore up defenses against a U.S. invasion that the Trump administration has repeatedly stated is not coming — anchors and guests across the legacy networks discussed the fate of the island nation as if an invasion was imminent.
Anchor Jonathan Karl raised the question with Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) on ABC&#8217;s &#8220;This Week,&#8221; asking what he made of the president&#8217;s rhetoric regarding gaining control of Greenland.
&#8220;I want to put your foreign affairs hat on — what do you make of what&#8217;s going on with the president and Greenland? And how he&#8217;s slapped tariffs on eight of our allies in Europe? He&#8217;s not rolling out military force to get Greenland?&#8221; he asked, his tone almost one of disbelief.
McCaul quickly pointed out the fact that American presidents had considered Greenland to be a strategic purchase since the United States acquired Alaska, adding, &#8220;It is very strategic right now from a national security standpoint against China and Russia. But in 1951 we signed a treaty with Denmark that allows us full access to Greenland — to protect Greenland, and this was after World War II — President Truman initially was involved and then President Eisenhower.&#8221;
&#8220;The fact is, the president has full military access to Greenland to protect us from any threats,&#8221; McCaul added, noting that Trump could increase the American military presence in Greenland without the United States officially taking ownership of the territory. &#8220;If he wants to purchase Greenland, that&#8217;s one thing. But for him to militarily invade would turn Article 5 of NATO on its very head, in essence, put us at war with NATO itself.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
GOP Rep. Michael McCaul on President Trump’s proposed action in Greenland: “If we want to put more military in there, we can, we don&#8217;t have to invade it. If you want to buy it, that&#8217;s fine. But I don&#8217;t see a willing seller right now.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/XjdJpMxs7P">https://t.co/XjdJpMxs7P</a> <a href="https://t.co/VuenM5BGQA">pic.twitter.com/VuenM5BGQA</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/2012910723244888229?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Karl also brought in Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) to discuss the situation, and he immediately accused the president of an attempted land grab with regard to Greenland.
&#8220;Donald Trump wants to get his hands on the minerals and other resources of Greenland, just like the real reason he went into Venezuela had nothing to do with stopping drugs from coming,&#8221; he claimed.
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Sen. Chris Van Hollen calls President Trump’s pursuit of Greenland a “land grab.”
“Donald Trump wants to get his hands on the minerals and other resources of Greenland, just like the real reason he went into Venezuela had nothing to do with stopping drugs from coming.” <a href="https://t.co/c1JOw3UudA">pic.twitter.com/c1JOw3UudA</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/2012916694298079330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) also joined Karl on Sunday morning, and she argued that it would be unfair to the people of New Jersey for Trump to spend federal funds — some of which come out of her state — on a strategic purchase like Greenland.
&#8220;There is not one person in New Jersey that wakes up in the morning and says, ‘Gee, I hope today&#8217;s the day that the president dumps billions of dollars into buying Greenland,&#8221; she added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
“There is not one person in New Jersey that wakes up in the morning and says, ‘Gee, I hope today&#8217;s the day that the president dumps billions of dollars into buying Greenland.”
NJ Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill criticizes President Trump’s use of federal funds. <a href="https://t.co/jWAURz3lDw">pic.twitter.com/jWAURz3lDw</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/2012931291994350023?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) threatened a vote on a bill that would prevent Trump from using federal funds to exert control over Greenland — and claimed that there was no threat to Greenland from Russia or China. Ignoring the fact that the Trump administration&#8217;s assertion is that the three is not to Greenland but to the United States – and that Greenland, protected solely by Denmark, is the weak link in the security chain — Warner claimed that the only actual threat to Greenland was coming from Donald Trump.
&#8220;There is no current security threat from Russia or China to Greenland. The only security threat to Greenland right now is the United States,&#8221; he told &#8220;Face the Nation&#8221; anchor Margaret Brennan on CBS News.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, says he would “of course” vote in support of a bill proposed by Sens. Shaheen and Murkowski that would prohibit the use of federal funds to assert control over the territory of a NATO state. But Warner tells… <a href="https://t.co/bzXWVgwf23">pic.twitter.com/bzXWVgwf23</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/2012934974203199978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Brennan also ran with a new CBS News poll that showed Americans were largely opposed to possible U.S. military action in Greenland, and worried that such action would likely &#8220;create more instability in the world.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
There’s widespread bipartisan opposition to the prospect of U.S. military action in Greenland, with many Americans saying the implications would create more instability in the world, a new CBS News poll finds. <a href="https://t.co/a6pikO0swy">https://t.co/a6pikO0swy</a> <a href="https://t.co/EnQZgoFnpP">pic.twitter.com/EnQZgoFnpP</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/2012942648055566729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
On CNN, anchor Jake Tapper brought in former Vice President Mike Pence to push back on Trump&#8217;s apparent plan. Pence argued that while it was perfectly reasonable to look at Greenland as a strategic objective, the issue was how President Trump might go about bringing Denmark to heel.
&#8220;Well, look, I think it&#8217;s a question right now, Jake, not of what the president&#8217;s trying to accomplish, but how? And I have concerns about using what I think is a questionable constitutional authority, imposing unilateral tariffs on NATO allies to achieve this objective,&#8221; he explained.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Former Vice President Mike Pence questions President Trump threatening new tariffs on allies over Greenland:
&#8220;Well, look, I think it&#8217;s a question right now, Jake, not of what the president&#8217;s trying to accomplish, but how? And I have concerns about using what I think is a… <a href="https://t.co/2MYQrcpZTb">pic.twitter.com/2MYQrcpZTb</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/2012896195752968501?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) rounded out the conversation with Tapper by complaining about the use of federal funds to gain a strategic foothold in the Arctic.
&#8220;The idea that we&#8217;re going to waste money for everything we want is the dumbest decision we can make. The only person who can make a decision this dumb is someone who could let a casino go under, and guess who is President right now?&#8221; he said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego on Trump&#8217;s push to acquire Greenland:
&#8220;The idea that we&#8217;re going to waste money for everything we want is the dumbest decision we can make. The only person who can make a decision this dumb is someone who could let a casino go under, and guess… <a href="https://t.co/uubEY1KMMC">pic.twitter.com/uubEY1KMMC</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/2012901242503127129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

Spin Cycle: As Trump Escalates On Greenland, Media Speculates

ABC News

CBS News

NBC News

Minnesota State Senator Bobby Joe Champion attempted to defend the men who jumped in to assault an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on Wednesday, claiming that it was a clear example of Minnesotans pitching in to &#8220;help our neighbors.&#8221;
Champion joined CNN&#8217;s Laura Coates to discuss the scene that unfolded on Wednesday when an ICE agent chased down a suspect who was believed to be Venezuelan, and two others — one of whom was wielding a shovel — joined the suspect in assaulting the agent.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 State Sen. Bobby Joe Champion (D) says last night&#8217;s vicious assault of an ICE agent &#8220;is just an example of Minnesota being a place where we help our neighbors.&#8221;
CNN: If they used weapons to attack the officer, would that change your opinion?
Champion: &#8220;Actually, no.&#8221;
SICK! <a href="https://t.co/eWO8fPJzpl">pic.twitter.com/eWO8fPJzpl</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2011811895011917905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;If there were neighbors and others who came out to help this person, that is just an example of Minnesota being a place where we help our neighbors,&#8221; Champion said. &#8220;And we are clear that the ICE agents have been coming here — and there&#8217;s over two thousand of them — and they&#8217;ve been attacking and terrorizing our state.&#8221;
&#8220;So yes, neighbors will come out and be helpful, I&#8217;m not certain if they had brooms or a shovel, that is to be further investigated,&#8221; he added.
Coates pushed back, asking, &#8220;If they did, in fact, have some sort of weapons to use to attack the ICE officer, would that change your opinion of whatever unfolded next?&#8221;
&#8220;Actually, no, right?&#8221; Champion replied. &#8220;Because from our vantage point, we want to make sure, and always want to make sure that Minnesotans are being dealt with properly. And when we think in terms of any pursuit or any apprehension of anyone, there&#8217;s a way for you to do your work where it&#8217;s respectful and it&#8217;s fair.&#8221;
He went on to claim that ICE was not being &#8220;respectful&#8221; or &#8220;fair,&#8221; and asserted that agents were choosing to be &#8220;illegal, and to attack, and to be very aggressive with Minnesotans.&#8221;
Champion concluded by claiming that the federal government was making things worse as more and more agents were surged to the area and allowed to &#8220;misbehave.&#8221;
&#8220;That&#8217;s a tragedy. And a travesty,&#8221; he claimed.

Minnesota Legislature, January 3, 2023, by Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune

‘We Help Our Neighbors’: Minnesota State Lawmaker Tries To Defend Group Attack On ICE Agent

Assault

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Minnesota

Vice President JD Vance cast a tie-breaking vote in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday evening, killing the War Powers Resolution that was designed to curtail President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration if any further military action was warranted in Venezuela.
Vance presided over the Senate as the vote was tallied to 50 yeas and 50 nays — with Republican Senators Rand Paul (KY), Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Susan Collins (ME) voting with Democrats. After announcing that the vote was tied, Vance briefly conferred with someone at the desk before announcing his vote.
WATCH:
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🚨 BREAKING: Vice President JD VANCE just DEFEATED the anti-Trump War Powers vote in the Senate on Venezuela, casting the tie-breaking vote, 51-50
The resolution has officially FAILED.
THANK YOU JD! You can always rely on VP Vance! 🇺🇸
Trump wins again 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/8f7Eprt1Jg">pic.twitter.com/8f7Eprt1Jg</a>
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2011584816203121105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;On this vote, the yeas are 50, the nays are 50. The Senate being equally divided, the Vice President votes —&#8221; Vance quickly covered the microphone as he looked over the legislation on the desk in front of him
&#8220;Affirmative. And the point of order is sustained,&#8221; he said, chuckling, after the brief pause. &#8220;I had to make sure.&#8221;
Two other Republican Senators had initially indicated that they would vote with Democrats on the measure, but were convinced to change their votes prior to Wednesday evening.
Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) told Fox News host Will Cain that he&#8217;d been assured by the White House that there would be no move to put troops on the ground in Venezuela without going through the proper congressional channels.
&#8220;For me, it&#8217;s always been about troops,&#8221; Hawley explained, adding, &#8220;I talked to the president &#8230; I thank for the admin for the outreach. We are not going to occupy Venezuela. That&#8217;s good enough for me.&#8221;
WATCH:
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🚨 BREAKING: Sen. Josh Hawley has FLIPPED on the War Powers resolution against President Trump&#8217;s Venezuela operation
Hawley is now a NAY, after voting YEA to advance it, drawing a sharp response from Trump
&#8220;For me, it&#8217;s always been about troops&#8230;I talked to the president&#8230;I… <a href="https://t.co/yFuo2RKVOc">pic.twitter.com/yFuo2RKVOc</a>
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2011553809886306618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Senator Todd Young (R-IN) also changed his vote prior to Wednesday, saying that he&#8217;d been convinced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio — who indicated a willingness to testify on the matter before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Rubio also said in a letter to Young that if the United States were to engage in &#8220;major military operations&#8221; in Venezuela, the administration would &#8220;seek congressional authorization in advance (circumstances permitting).&#8221;

Vice President JD Vance Hosts The Charlie Kirk Show In Tribute To Kirk

Vance Sinks War Powers Resolution With Tie-Breaking Vote

JD Vance

Josh Hawley

Nicolas Maduro

Venezuela

War Powers Resolution

CNN anchor Erin Burnett gave Renee Good&#8217;s former father-in-law an opportunity to question or even condemn the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who shot his daughter after she struck him with her vehicle.
Timmy Macklin, father of Good&#8217;s late ex-husband and grandfather to her six-year-old son, joined the host of &#8220;Erin Burnett Out Front&#8221; to discuss the situation — and despite prompts from Burnett, he made it clear that he did not hold any ill will toward the agent who fired the shot.
WATCH:
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Last night on CNN, Rebecca Good&#8217;s father appeared for his first interview to discuss Renee&#8217;s death.
The host repeatedly probed for answers that would condemn President Trump, but his answer even took the host back.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t blame ICE, I don&#8217;t blame Rebecca, I don&#8217;t blame Renee.… <a href="https://t.co/yuq30CY3Wo">pic.twitter.com/yuq30CY3Wo</a>
— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewKolvet/status/2011483465342972081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Burnett began by noting that the Justice Department was not planning to investigate the actions taken by the ICE agent at the scene, but that some comments had been made about investigating the actions taken by Renee — and by her partner, Rebecca Good — that led up to the fatal confrontation.
&#8220;How do you feel about all that?&#8221; Burnett asked.
&#8220;Well, you know, I’m not blaming anybody. I mean, it&#8217;s a hard situation all the way around,&#8221; Macklin said. &#8220;It&#8217;s hard for everybody involved. I mean, the ICE agent — you know, at first I didn‘t see the footage where &#8230; he was actually being rammed. I mean, I‘ve seen the bump of the car hitting his legs. And so in a flash like that, it‘s hard to say how you would react.&#8221;
&#8220;From my understanding, he had been through that before, maybe dragged or something,&#8221; Macklin continued, referring to a previous incident in which the ICE agent had been dragged down the road. Like I said, it&#8217;s just a hard situation for everybody.&#8221;
Macklin said that he didn&#8217;t have &#8220;any enemies&#8221; and had no issue with Renee or Rebecca, but also said that he had none with the ICE agents involved either. &#8220;That&#8217;s what the bible tells us, to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.&#8221;
He went on to say that some &#8220;bad choices&#8221; had been made, adding, &#8220;The Word says &#8216;the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience.'&#8221;
&#8220;I don&#8217;t blame ICE, I don&#8217;t blame Rebecca, I don&#8217;t blame Renee. I just, you know, I just wish that, you know, if — if we&#8217;re walking the spirit of God, I don&#8217;t think she would have been there. That&#8217;s the way I look at it,&#8221; he said.

Federal Agents Descend On Minneapolis For Immigration Enforcement Operations

CNN Anchor Gives Renee Good’s Former Father-In-Law A Chance To Blame ICE. He Refuses To Take It.

CNN Anchor Gives Renee Good's Father A Chance To Blame ICE. He Refuses To Take It.

Minneapolis

Shooting

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Wednesday that the Justice Department has sued the state of Minnesota over affirmative action-based hiring practices.
&#8220;Today, @TheJusticeDept sued Minnesota for using affirmative action to hire for its state agencies. This is discriminatory DEI codified into bad state policy, and the Trump Administration will not stand for it,&#8221; Bondi posted on X, sharing a link to the DOJ&#8217;s official <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/united-states-department-justice-files-lawsuit-against-minnesotas-affirmative-action-regime">press release</a> on the matter.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Today, <a href="https://twitter.com/TheJusticeDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheJusticeDept</a> sued Minnesota for using affirmative action to hire for its state agencies.
This is discriminatory DEI codified into bad state policy, and the Trump Administration will not stand for it. <a href="https://t.co/NcNHMftLwa">https://t.co/NcNHMftLwa</a>
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) <a href="https://twitter.com/AGPamBondi/status/2011504118699807030?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division filed a lawsuit today against the State of Minnesota challenging Minnesota’s requirement that all state agencies implement sex- and race-based affirmative action plans and consider &#8216;affirmative action goals on all staffing and personnel decisions,'&#8221; the release stated. &#8220;The State’s affirmative action program directs agencies to engage in employment practices that &#8216;balance&#8217; the sex and race composition of its workforce with the civilian labor force.&#8221;
The <a href="https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1423361/dl">suit</a> was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota and asserts that Minnesota&#8217;s mandatory affirmative action-based hiring practices violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII).
&#8220;Because staffing is a zero-sum game, when Minnesota gives preferences to employees or prospective employees on the basis of their race, color, national origin, and sex, it inevitably and necessarily discriminates against other employees or prospective employees because of their race, color, national origin, and sex,&#8221; the filing stated, in part.
Bondi addressed the situation in Minnesota, saying that the lawsuit was just one way in which the DOJ was working from different angles to ensure that the state was not undermining federal policies — whether those policies pertained to enforcing immigration law, investigating fraud, or ensuring that federal efforts to dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives were not being undermined.
&#8220;From suing over sanctuary city policies to a wide-ranging fraud investigation, today&#8217;s lawsuit is the Department of Justice&#8217;s latest effort to bring Minnesota into compliance with federal law,&#8221; Bondi explained. &#8220;Making hiring decisions based on immutable characteristics like race and sex is simple discrimination, and the Trump Administration has no tolerance for such DEI policies.&#8221;
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon — at the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division — added, &#8220;For far too long, courts have allowed employers to discriminate based on race and sex when it is packaged as ‘affirmative action.’ The Supreme Court put an end to using race as a factor in college admissions through its Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard decision. This case is the next logical step. Title VII protects all people from race and sex discrimination in employment. There is no exception that allows discrimination against employees who aren’t considered ‘underrepresented.'&#8221;

Trump To Lay Out His Plan For Reducing Crime In Nation’s Capital

DOJ Sues Minnesota Over Affirmative Action Hiring Practices: ‘DEI Codified Into Bad State Policy’

Affirmative Action

Department of Justice

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Pam Bondi

Tim Walz

President Donald Trump could be seen on video flipping the bird and saying the phrase &#8220;f*ck you&#8221; in the direction of a heckler during his Tuesday visit to the Ford F-150 plant in Dearborn, Michigan.
The president, in town for a speech at the Detroit Economic Club, toured the F-150 plant as well — and responded in the moment as someone in the crowd shouted at him, apparently accusing the president of &#8220;protecting&#8221; the late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Entertainment site TMZ first reported the news, sharing video of the brief exchange that quickly made its way across social media.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EXCLUSIVE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EXCLUSIVE</a> 😳 President Trump was filmed flipping off a Ford worker who yelled &#8220;pedophile protector&#8221; at him. <a href="https://t.co/m5nLYtWxxT">https://t.co/m5nLYtWxxT</a> <a href="https://t.co/512zEYV6WC">pic.twitter.com/512zEYV6WC</a>
— TMZ (@TMZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/TMZ/status/2011193178263605453?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;It’s hard to make out the full sentence shouted at Trump, but it seems to have included the words ‘pedophile protector,'&#8221; the outlet reported. Trump could be seen turning to look at the person who had shouted at him before apparently saying, &#8220;f*ck you,&#8221; and flipping him a middle finger for good measure.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung addressed the video as it circulated, explaining, &#8220;A lunatic was wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage, and the President gave an appropriate and unambiguous response.&#8221;
Throughout most of the president&#8217;s tour, the plant workers crowded around him as they shook his hand and posed for photos.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/OFqEPVD9LY">pic.twitter.com/OFqEPVD9LY</a>
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2011174073091670360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
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While he was at the Detroit automotive plant, Trump also sat for an interview with new &#8220;CBS Evening News&#8221; anchor Tony Dokoupil.
In that interview, among a number of other topics, Trump talked about what was going on in the auto industry – particularly since he&#8217;d put a stop to imminent electric vehicle mandates set in motion by former President Joe Biden&#8217;s administration.
WATCH:
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &#8220;I want electric, and I want gasoline, and I want hybrids — I want everything. But you were going to be forced, under the mandate, to buy an electric car in a very short period of time. I didn&#8217;t want that, and I ended that.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/jTU4v6bMev">pic.twitter.com/jTU4v6bMev</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2011224265983738344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I want electric, and I want gasoline, and I want hybrids — I want everything. But you were going to be forced, under the mandate, to buy an electric car in a very short period of time. I didn&#8217;t want that, and I ended that,&#8221; Trump explained.

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Virginia Kruta