The so-called consensus surrounding “gender transitions” for minors begins to unravel, border czar Tom Homan announces a “drawdown” of federal immigration officers from Minneapolis, and talks teeter between Washington and Tehran while tensions with Beijing appear to be calming.
It’s Thursday, February 5, 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:
Medical Groups Walk Back Support For Child Trans Surgeries
In the wake of a landmark detransitioner verdict, the support of transgender surgeries for minors appears to be crumbling. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the largest association of plastic surgeons in the world, said that available evidence does not support trans surgeries for gender-confused kids, and also said there was “insufficient” evidence for placing children on puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. The statement was unique among major medical groups and associations. Essentially, all support these surgeries and treatments for minors despite mounting evidence that shows them to be harmful and irreversible. Following the ASPS, the American Medical Association, which wields major influence as the nation’s largest medical association, reversed course, too. The AMA told National Review that it “agrees” with the ASPS that “surgical interventions in minors should be generally deferred to adulthood.” The statement is a huge shift for the AMA.
Minneapolis Drawdown
Border czar Tom Homan has announced a “drawdown” of hundreds of federal immigration officers from Minneapolis. Seven hundred federal immigration officers and agents left the Twin Cities area on Wednesday. Homan said the force reduction is the result of deals with “an unprecedented number of counties” to “allow ICE to take custody of illegal aliens before they hit the streets.” The reduction will leave 2,000 federal immigration agents in Minnesota, along with the teams working on fraud investigations. Homan insisted that the Trump administration isn’t “surrendering” its mass deportation campaign. “This is smart law enforcement, not less law enforcement. This is safer for the community, safer for the officers, and safer for the alien,” said Homan.
Iran Talks Teeter On Scope Of Negotiations
Talks between Washington and Tehran may be on the verge of collapse after Iranian attacks on U.S. ships. Washington and Tehran are still on track for a meeting on Friday. But it’s been a messy ride. The two sides were supposed to meet in Turkey, but Iran’s foreign minister said Wednesday that talks will now take place in Oman. There are also significant questions over the scope of the negotiations. Iran wants to focus on its nuclear program. But Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Wednesday that in order for talks to “lead to something meaningful, they will have to include certain things” – such as Iran’s nuclear program, but also ballistic missiles, Iran’s sponsorship of terror groups across the region, and the treatment of the Iranian people.
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