Key Takeaways
- Governor Walz deployed the National Guard to Minneapolis following a fatal ICE agent shooting during a federal operation.
- Federal agents in Portland shot two suspects, alleging the driver attempted to ram officers targeting gang members.
- Vice President Vance announced a new Justice Department position to combat nationwide fraud, initially targeting Minnesota's $9 billion Medicaid case.
- A bipartisan group of Senate Republicans advanced a resolution to limit U.S. military action in Venezuela without congressional approval.
- Reality TV star Spencer Pratt launched a bid for Los Angeles mayor, blaming state and local leaders for the Palisades fire.
Deep Dive
- Governor Tim Walz deployed the National Guard to Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of a woman by an ICE agent during a federal operation on January 9th, 2026.
- Protesters gathered in Minneapolis, leading to tensions, tear gas deployment, and at least three arrests.
- Minnesota officials criticized federal immigration operations in the sanctuary city, while Governor Walz authorized the National Guard for crowd control.
- Border Patrol agents shot two suspects in Portland, Oregon, during a vehicle stop on January 9th, 2026, after DHS stated the driver attempted to ram officers during an operation.
- The operation specifically targeted alleged Tren de Aragua gang members, with the FBI investigating DHS claims that the driver weaponized the vehicle.
- Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Congresswoman Maxine Dexter criticized federal operations in the city, with Dexter calling for ICE to cease operations, despite the incident involving Border Patrol.
- An involved officer had previously been severely injured in a similar incident where a suspect fled, dragging the officer and causing severe injuries.
- Vice President J.D. Vance announced a new Justice Department position with nationwide authority to hunt down fraud, initially focusing on Minnesota's alleged $9 billion Medicaid fraud case.
- Federal enforcement operations continued in Minneapolis, with agents collecting banker boxes as part of a fraud investigation amidst accusations of widespread Medicaid abuse within Minnesota's Somali community.
- The new DOJ fraud position will require Senate confirmation, with Senate Majority Leader Thune assuring swift action; the DOJ is also doubling the number of prosecutors assigned to Minnesota for these investigations.
- A bipartisan group of five Senate Republicans joined Democrats to advance a war-powers resolution aimed at limiting U.S. military action in Venezuela without explicit congressional approval.
- The Senate vote followed a Justice Department operation in Venezuela, prompting debate over presidential authority versus congressional war powers.
- Reality TV star Spencer Pratt launched a bid for Los Angeles mayor, one year after losing his home in the deadly Palisades fire.
- Pratt blamed state and local leaders, including Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom, for what he called a preventable disaster, citing negligence in maintaining state parks and creating a hostile insurance market.
- The Los Angeles mayoral election will proceed to a general election in November if no candidate secures over 50% of the vote in the June nonpartisan primary.
- Pratt, who registered as a Republican but seeks to be a nonpartisan mayor, has received early support from Trump administration officials.