An armed Minneapolis protestor is shot and killed by Border Patrol — and more protestors fill the streets in freezing temperatures, the shooting fallout reaches D.C., and America beefs up its naval presence near Iran.
It’s Monday, January 26, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
Border Patrol Fatally Shoots Armed Man In Minneapolis
Border Patrol shot and killed an armed protester in Minneapolis over the weekend, setting off more protests. The deceased has been identified as 37-year-old Alex Pretti, a nurse who officials say was armed while he was interacting with law enforcement, and he had magazines with ammo on him. Border Patrol agents said they were trying to conduct an operation to detain an illegal immigrant with a violent criminal history when the situation with Pretti took place. According to video, Pretti seemed to insert himself in the situation while Border Patrol dealt with an agitator. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described the incident as an avoidable tragedy.
Fatal Shooting Could Spark Govt Shutdown
The deadly encounter between federal immigration agents and a Minneapolis man has ignited a fierce debate among political leaders that could impact all Americans. This incident is having a ripple effect across Washington, with one of the most significant reactions coming from Senate Democrats. They now say they will no longer support a budget deal that the House had already passed because it includes funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said in a statement released Saturday that “Senate Democrats will not provide the votes to proceed to the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included.” Polymarket is now putting the odds of a government shutdown at 80%.
Trump’s ‘Massive Armada’ Reaches Middle East
President Donald Trump says he has dispatched a fleet of warships to Iran as the death toll in the country continues to climb amid anti-government protests. The armada Trump spoke of is the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, which was last stationed in the South China Sea and reportedly reached the Middle East on Sunday. The strike group includes the Lincoln aircraft carrier, as well as three guided-missile destroyers. The Lincoln itself is carrying five fighter squadrons, and more cargo jets and aerial refueling tankers have also deployed to the region. The military hardware has surged into the area as questions swirl over Trump’s response to Tehran violating his red line with the mass slaughter of protesters. Various estimates have put the current death toll anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands.
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