Thursday, January 29 | By Cate Martel |
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It's Thursday. I am so sick of chipping at ice. All I'm asking for is one day with warmish weather. One day to melt this! |
Homan says Trump wants to 'fix' Minnesota operations Schumer, president negotiate to avert shutdown Deal would separate DHS funding New video shows prior Pretti altercation Sen. Klobuchar jumps into governor's race Team USA skater lost both parents in DC plane crash
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Homan acknowledges Minnesota operations need a 'fix': |
AP Photo | Julia Demaree Nikhinson |
President Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, publicly acknowledged this morning that Trump wants the federal immigration operations in Minnesota to be "fixed" after two Americans were fatally shot by federal officers. "President Trump wants this fixed, and I'm going to fix it, with your help," Homan said during a press conference this morning. Homan also plans to scale back federal operations in Minnesota: He says the Trump administration is working to "draw down" the federal presence in the state. "I do not want to hear that everything that has been done here has been perfect. Nothing is ever perfect. Anything can be improved on. What we've been working on is making this operation safer, more efficient, by the book," Homan later said. 💬 Follow today's live blog |
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has ceased its enhanced operations in Maine after she repeatedly pressed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to step back. |
Trump's meeting of the MAGA minds: |
The president has convened his Cabinet at the White House for his first administration-wide meeting of 2026. As always, Trump began with a monologue to rattle off some accomplishments, gripes and typical talking points — involving former President Biden, the media, the economy, Venezuela, etc. Here are the highlights: 🔴 Trump predicts there won't be a shutdown: "I think we're getting close. The Democrats, I don't believe want to see it either. So we'll work in a very bipartisan way, I believe, not to have a shutdown." 🔴 How the president described his first year back in office: "So this has been, I think — and a lot of people say it — the most successful year of any administration in American history. ... We extinguished eight wars." 📹 Watch the clip 🔴 Happening soon in Venezuela: "I just spoke to the president of Venezuela … informed her that we're going to be opening up all commercial airspace over Venezuela," Trump said, asking Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to have the airspace open by the end of the day. 🔴 Tidbit: Noem, whom Trump has stood behind amid fallout over the Minnesota shootings, is in the room for the Cabinet meeting, per pooler Nikki Schwab. 💻 Watch it live |
➤ NEW VIDEO OF ALEX PRETTI FROM 11 DAYS BEFORE THE SHOOTING: |
New footage has emerged appearing to show Alex Pretti in another altercation with federal officers 11 days before he was fatally shot. The video appears to show Pretti yelling at officers and kicking their SUV's taillight. An officer exits the vehicle and grabs him. Other officers join in and tackle him to the ground as he yells, "Help me, help me." Officers then deployed tear gas to the area and drove away. |
➤ THE MINNESOTA JUDGE BACKS OFF: |
Minnesota's chief federal judge canceled a hearing set for Friday where acting ICE Director Todd Lyons would have been compelled to testify. Yes, but: The judge absolutely eviscerated the agency's conduct during its immigration operations in the state. "ICE has likely violated more court orders in January 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence." — that's just one quote from the judge. |
Trump and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) are negotiating directly in hopes of reaching a deal to avert a government shutdown. The Hill's Alexander Bolton reports they are close to a deal that would split up Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding from the rest of the government funding package. That would allow negotiators more time to sort out DHS funding for the Trump administration's controversial immigration policies. The latest: Senate Republican Leader John Thune (S.D.) told reporters the negotiations are "trending in the right direction," but a deal hasn't been finalized. Every agency would be funded through September, except for DHS, which would be funded only for a short period of time to allow for more negotiations. The exact period DHS would be funded for is still up in the air. Some Republican senators say they are open to splitting off DHS funding to avoid a shutdown. Timing if a deal is reached: Even if a deal is reached, there could still be a partial lapse in funding this weekend. The House would need to pass any updated funding package, and House lawmakers return from recess on Monday. 💡 The Schumer-White House talks are telling: The White House's willingness to negotiate with Schumer is an acknowledgement of the political winds facing the administration. Senate Democrats have leverage because of Trump officials' widely scrutinized response to the Minnesota shootings, which has sparked a national uproar over the administration's immigration tactics. But first: Republicans tried doing this their way, voting to advance a measure funding all remaining agencies including DHS, but it was blocked. Eight Republicans joined all Democrats in voting "no." |
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) really wanted to take a photo with rapper Nicki Minaj at Wednesday's White House event, but didn't get one, per Politico's Sophia Cai. Oh, and speaking of Minaj — she called herself Trump's biggest fan. |
Trump referred to Republican Sen. Thom Tillis (N.C.) as a "loser." Tillis said he's not bothered by that comment and is actually "thrilled" by it. The GOP senator has called for Noem to resign her position over the response to the Pretti shooting. How that Trump comment makes Tillis feel: "I am thrilled about that. That makes me qualified to be [Department of Homeland Security] secretary and senior adviser to the president," Tillis told CNN's Manu Raju, referring to Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. 👀 |
Klobuchar's next adventure: |
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) is officially running for governor of Minnesota. 📹 Watch her announcement video Timing: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) recently announced that he will not run for another term amid scrutiny over his handling of a massive welfare fraud scandal in the state. What to expect: Klobuchar is widely expected to win the Democratic primary. Meanwhile, a competitive Republican primary is shaping up. Tidbit: This means four U.S. senators are running for governor of their respective states: Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), plus Klobuchar. |
— Stephen Colbert announced that his final show will happen on May 21. — The Kennedy Center's new head of programming has resigned just days after the hiring announcement was made. |
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The House is out. The Senate is in. President Trump is in Washington. (All times EST) |
4:30 p.m. Trump makes an announcement from the Oval Office. 💻 Livestream 7 p.m. Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend a screening of the film "Melania" at the Kennedy Center. |
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🌽 Celebrate: Today is National Corn Chip Day. ⛸️ We are all rooting for you, Maxim❤️: Ice skater Maxim Naumov lost both of his parents in the awful plane crash in Washington, D.C., which happened a year ago today. Now, he's competing for Team USA at the Winter Olympics. 🐟 The hype at Trader Joe's: Trader Joe's has a new frozen miso cod that people on the internet are claiming is a dupe for Nobu's famous Miso Black Cod. |
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