Politics

Gov. Tim Walz announced he will not run for re-election, and the author reports her family moved from Minnesota to Florida citing concerns about state governance, taxes and multiple reported scandals.

Alisa Efimova lacked U.S. citizenship, so she and partner Misha Mitrofanov were ineligible for the Milan Olympics despite qualifying at U.S. nationals; they will compete at Four Continents and the world championships instead.

The House approved a bipartisan two-bill appropriations package 341 to 79 and sent it to the Senate as Congress works to meet a Jan. 30 deadline to avoid a government shutdown.

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff announced the Gaza ceasefire plan is entering its second phase, which foresees a technocratic Palestinian administration to run daily affairs; mediators named Ali Shaath to lead the committee, while key issues such as disarming Hamas and funding reconstruction remain unresolved.

The National Weather Service has issued a freeze watch for St. Johns County as an Arctic cold front is expected to bring widespread frost and lows near or below freezing through Jan. 19.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has officially endorsed U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds in Florida's 2026 gubernatorial race, making her the first sitting governor to back him; Donalds' campaign reported $45 million raised in 2025 and leads early primary polling.

Senate Democratic leaders, led by Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, say they have recruited four prominent candidates they believe can flip the GOP-held seats needed for a 51-seat Senate majority; the DSCC emphasizes electability and fundraising while facing criticism from progressives over its recruiting choices.

Gov. Bob Ferguson praised community response to December floods, urged a tax on incomes over $1 million and called for a bill to bar federal immigration agents from hiding their identities, while not mentioning a looming multibillion-dollar budget shortfall.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a $77 million increase in subway safety funding and backed a pilot to require repeat speed camera violators to install Intelligent Speed Assistance systems.

Claudette Colvin died at 86, the Claudette Colvin Legacy Foundation said, confirming she died in Texas; her 1955 arrest at age 15 for refusing to give up a bus seat made her a named plaintiff in the case that ended Montgomery bus segregation.

The White House set a deadline for the Smithsonian to provide detailed lists of exhibits and related materials tied to the nation's 250th anniversary, citing earlier requests that officials said were incomplete. Undetermined at this time.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren said President Trump called her after she urged action on capping credit card interest and that Congress could pass a rate cap if he supports it; Mr. Trump recently proposed a one-year 10% cap.

President Trump declared an economic boom in a Detroit speech while Labor Department data showed consumer prices rose 2.7% over the year; he mentioned housing and credit proposals but did not provide full legislative details.

Two House members asked a federal judge to appoint a special master to oversee release of investigative materials on Jeffrey Epstein, saying the Justice Department has not complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act; the judge has set deadlines for a DOJ response and possible replies from Ghislaine Maxwell.

Bill and Hillary Clinton did not appear for closed-door depositions in the House Oversight Committee’s Jeffrey Epstein inquiry, and Chairman James Comer said the panel will move next week to hold Bill Clinton in contempt with similar action expected for Hillary Clinton.

Video published by the Associated Press shows federal agents entering a Minneapolis home and arresting a man during a large immigration enforcement operation while protesters gathered outside; the actions follow the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer. Authorities report thousands of recent arrests in Minnesota and have not announced a next procedural step.

President Trump will visit a Ford factory in Dearborn and speak at the Detroit Economic Club on Tuesday to highlight U.S. manufacturing and his economic agenda.

Two related cases challenging state laws on transgender athletes in women's sports are scheduled for argument at the U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 13, and the plaintiffs include former college track athletes who joined Little v. Hecox; more than 50 amicus briefs, including filings from 27 states and the U.S. government, have been submitted.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced he will not run for governor and said he will remain in his current role to continue legal actions challenging the Trump administration. He has sued the administration more than 50 times and said recent federal actions influenced his decision.

The Washington Post editorial urged the Supreme Court to allow states to bar biological males from competing in women's sports. The Court will hear Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J. on Tuesday, and the timing of any decision is undetermined.

The Supreme Court will hear arguments Jan. 13 in two cases that challenge state bans on transgender girls competing in school sports; lower courts have blocked West Virginia’s law and a decision is expected by early summer.

The White House says President Trump is reviewing a private Iranian outreach to special envoy Steve Witkoff while keeping military options, including airstrikes, on the table; activists report at least 544 people have been killed in nationwide anti-government protests.

House Democrats asked a federal judge to block DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's reinstated seven-day notice requirement for congressional visits to ICE detention facilities, saying it conflicts with a prior court stay and federal spending law. They asked the court to order DHS to explain the new policy and to hold an emergency hearing.

A senior White House official said President Trump will meet Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado at the White House on Thursday; Machado was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.

Former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola announced she will run against incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan in this year's midterm elections, citing high living costs and declines in subsistence resources for rural Alaskans. Alaska uses open primaries and ranked-choice voting; the top four finishers in the August primary advance to the November general election.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren spoke at the National Press Club calling for a 'big tent' Democratic Party that prioritizes working people over wealthy donors, and she directly criticized figures and groups she said are steering the party away from that path.

More than a hundred Iranian Americans gathered at San Antonio City Hall to express support for protesters in Iran; President Trump publicly warned Iran's leaders against harsh repression and said the U.S. would respond without committing ground troops.

Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II announced he will not seek the governorship and has declared his candidacy for Michigan Secretary of State, citing plans to modernize licensing, protect data privacy and increase election transparency.

Target Center said a security guard misinterpreted arena policy and apologized after asking a courtside Timberwolves fan to remove a shirt reading 'ICE OUT.' The fan, attorney Tim Phillips, offered to cover the shirt and returned to the game in a different shirt.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the Department of Justice served grand jury subpoenas threatening a criminal indictment tied to his June testimony about a Fed building project; Republican Senator Thom Tillis said he would oppose Trump nominees to the Fed until the matter is resolved.