Browse major news stories and see what officials have said.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on April 1, 2026 in Trump v. Barbara, challenging President Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship. Trump became the first sitting president to attend oral arguments. A majority of justices, including Trump appointees Barrett and Gorsuch, expressed strong skepticism. A decision is expected by the end of June 2026.
During a nearly two-hour appearance on Dan Bongino's podcast on February 2, 2026, President Trump called on Republicans to "take over" and "nationalize" voting in at least 15 unspecified places, claiming without evidence that noncitizens were being brought to the country to vote illegally. The remarks drew bipartisan pushback, with legal experts noting such a move would contradict the Constitution's elections clause, which delegates election administration to state governments. The comments came days after the FBI executed a search warrant at a Fulton County, Georgia election office seeking 2020 election records.
With six appropriations bills unfunded and a January 30 deadline looming, Senate Democrats are blocking the $1.2 trillion spending package unless restrictions are placed on ICE enforcement operations. The standoff follows the longest shutdown in US history (43 days) that ended in November 2025 and centers on immigration policy disagreements amplified by the Minneapolis killings.
Federal immigration enforcement operation "Metro Surge" in Minneapolis-St. Paul has sparked protests, economic boycotts, and political backlash after two fatal shootings by federal agents. The crackdown has led to hundreds of businesses closing in solidarity, state legislators nationwide proposing limits on ICE cooperation, and a growing constitutional clash between state and federal authorities.
Over 160 House Democrats have signed Rep. Robin Kelly's impeachment resolution against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem following the Minneapolis shootings. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced Democrats will launch impeachment proceedings if Noem isn't fired. The resolution cites obstruction of congressional oversight, warrantless arrests violating due process, and self-dealing. Few Republicans have risen to her defense.
Renée Nicole Good, a 37-year-old US citizen, mother of three, writer and poet, was fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on January 7, 2026, in Minneapolis after dropping her 6-year-old son at school. An independent autopsy found she was shot three times including once in the head. Her death sparked national protests, "Renee Good Day" proclamation by Governor Walz, and federal investigations that have controversially focused more on her partner than on the agent who killed her.
Beginning September 2, 2025, the Trump administration launched a sustained military campaign of lethal strikes against vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific that the administration described as drug-trafficking boats operated by designated narco-terrorist organizations, principally Venezuela's Tren de Aragua. The first strike — announced personally by President Trump — killed 11 people on a vessel that had departed Venezuela. By late March 2026, the U.S. military had conducted more than 47 strikes on at least 48 vessels, killing at least 163 people, under what the Pentagon branded "Operation Southern Spear." The campaign has triggered an escalating war powers and legality fight in Congress. The Washington Post revealed in November 2025 that on the very first strike Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had given a "kill them all" order, and that a follow-on "double tap" strike killed two survivors clinging to the burning wreckage. Both House and Senate Armed Services committees opened bipartisan probes. Sens. Tim Kaine, Adam Schiff, Rand Paul and Chuck Schumer forced repeat war powers votes, all defeated by the Republican Senate majority — most recently on January 8, 2026 (52-47 to advance, then defeated on final passage). Critics across both parties argue the strikes are extrajudicial killings without congressional authorization and may constitute war crimes; defenders, led by Secretary Rubio and Sen. Lindsey Graham, characterize the boats' operators as terrorists in an "armed conflict" with the United States.
On January 28, 2026, the FBI executed a search warrant at Fulton County's Elections Hub in Georgia seeking records from the 2020 election. The warrant cites potential violations of election record retention and election official fraud statutes. This follows Fulton County's December 2025 admission that tabulator tapes weren't properly signed and some documents were misplaced. The search comes as FBI Director Kash Patel pursues investigations aligned with Trump's claims about the 2020 election.
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and officials from Germany, Netherlands, UK, and South Africa are calling for boycotts of World Cup 2026 matches in the United States. A German poll shows 47% support boycott if Trump annexes Greenland; 150,000+ Dutch citizens signed a petition. Concerns center on Trump's Greenland stance, immigration enforcement, and expanded travel bans affecting fans from Senegal, Ivory Coast, Iran, and Haiti. FIFA President Infantino urges separating sport from politics.
The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group with 5,000+ troops is heading to the Middle East amid reports that US military action against Iran could come within 24 hours. The buildup follows mass protests in Iran where UN officials report at least 5,000 protesters killed by security forces. Iran has warned it will strike US bases in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Turkey if attacked. Trump says Iran "wants to talk" while deploying what he calls a "massive fleet."
Jack Smith testified before the House Judiciary Committee on January 22, 2026, defending his investigations into President Trump. "Donald Trump is the person who caused January 6," Smith stated, adding "No one should be above the law." Trump responded on social media calling for Smith's prosecution. The federal cases against Trump were dropped after his 2024 election victory per DOJ policy barring prosecution of sitting presidents.
President Trump announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos that he has a framework deal with NATO for US control of Greenland, drawing criticism from European leaders and fueling international tensions. The expansionist push has prompted boycott discussions for World Cup 2026 and strained transatlantic relations.