MORNING NEWS UPDATE: JANUARY 29, 2026
- Fatal shootings involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis spark major unrest, protests, and calls for ICE reforms; two Border Patrol agents placed on leave after the death of U.S. citizen Alex Pretti (and prior incident with Renee Good), with ongoing Operation Metro Surge in the Twin Cities.
- Bitter cold weather and winter storms continue to impact millions across the East Coast and Midwest, with snow emergencies, school closures, and efforts to keep homeless shelters operational.
- Government shutdown looms as funding deadlines approach this weekend, with debates over DHS/immigration funding; Senate Democrats threaten to block certain measures.
- Border czar Tom Homan in Minneapolis suggests potential ICE drawdown in Minnesota if state/local leaders cooperate, amid tensions over enforcement.
Government Shutdown Looming: Congress is on the brink of a partial shutdown.
Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, are threatening to block a six-bill funding package unless the White House agrees to reforms for ICE and the Department of Homeland Security. Backlash Over Federal Law Enforcement: Tensions are high following the death of Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis.
Newly released video showing a scuffle 11 days prior has sparked national outcry and calls for reform regarding agent identification and use of force. Klobuchar Enters Governor’s Race:
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) has officially announced her run for Governor of Minnesota, seeking to succeed Tim Walz, who suspended his reelection campaign earlier this month.
- Trump and Schumer negotiations to avert a partial government shutdown by potentially splitting DHS funding and negotiating new limits on immigration agents.
- Senate Democrats vow to block DHS funding in response to recent fatal ICE-related shootings and enforcement actions.
- Sen. Amy Klobuchar announces bid for Minnesota governor, stepping into the race amid state turmoil over federal immigration operations.
- Trump administration actions on immigration and foreign policy dominate, including pressure on Iran and Venezuela operations.
- Iran warns of quick retaliation after Trump sends a massive U.S. naval fleet and revives threats over nuclear negotiations, with European support for designating Iran's forces.
- U.S. military actions in Venezuela defended by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with ongoing intelligence doubts about leader cooperation and future U.S.-NATO ties.
- Escalating U.S.-Iran tensions include potential strikes to inspire protests, amid broader Middle East concerns (including Gaza hospital suffering).
- Trump pressures on global issues, such as past Greenland comments resurfacing in bulletins.
Ukraine Peace Talks: In a significant diplomatic shift, talks between the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia have reportedly begun in the UAE.
EU Foreign Ministers are meeting in Brussels today to discuss these developments and ensure any outcome respects Ukrainian sovereignty. Gaza Ceasefire Progress: Efforts toward "phase two" of a Gaza ceasefire agreement are underway.
Ireland's Foreign Minister Helen McEntee, currently in Brussels, noted the return of the remains of the final hostage as a pivotal moment for progress. South China Sea Dialogue: China and the Philippines held a bilateral meeting in Cebu to discuss maritime boundaries and ongoing friction in the South China Sea.
- Potential federal government shutdown impacts on the U.S. Department of Education and related programs, as funding lapses could affect operations starting this weekend.
- Large gains in educational attainment reported by Census Bureau: Bachelor's degree or higher rates rose significantly in metro and micro areas from 2015-2019 to 2020-2024 periods.
- AI-forced restructuring named as the top long-term risk for higher education by college leaders, surpassing other concerns like funding or mental health.
- Policy shifts, including potential accreditation overhauls by the Department of Education and state actions like Texas freezing H-1B applications at public universities.
Census Data Shows Gains: New American Community Survey (ACS) estimates released today show a significant jump in educational attainment, with 37.8% of U.S. adults now holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, up from 34.2% in the previous five-year period.
New York Budget Hearings: The New York State Senate is holding joint hearings today on Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2026-2027 budget, specifically focusing on funding for Elementary and Secondary Education.
Philadelphia Schools Reopen: Following a major winter storm, the School District of Philadelphia returned to in-person operations today, though officials have extended the school selection deadline to Friday to accommodate weather-related delays.
- Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady at its first 2026 meeting, citing an improving outlook despite pressures, with markets reacting mixed.
- Global stocks gain on earnings optimism (e.g., ahead of Apple results), with gold/silver at records and oil rising amid U.S.-Iran tensions.
- California reclaims spot as world's 4th largest economy, with GDPs of top economies closely clustered.
Trade Deficit Updates: The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released figures today showing a $33.8 billion decrease in the goods and services deficit compared to late 2024, despite a slight monthly increase in imports during November.
Bank of Canada Warning: Governor Tiff Macklem warned of "unusual potential for a new shock" to the global economy, citing U.S. trade policy and geopolitical risks as major threats to 2026 growth forecasts.
- Big Tech AI spending scrutiny — Investors reward strong growth from heavy AI investments (e.g., Meta, Microsoft earnings), but punish shortfalls; Tesla doubles capex to $20B+ for AI/robots.
- NVIDIA pushes for renewal of the National Quantum Initiative, emphasizing integration of quantum computing with AI for U.S. leadership.
- Samsung chip profits soar five-fold on AI memory demand, with plans for next-gen HBM4 delivery to Nvidia.
- AI capex wave from hyperscalers (Meta, Microsoft, etc.) expected to grow but potentially slow soon, per analysts.
- Strong AI-related demand boosts sectors like Samsung's chip profits, signaling continued investment in tech-driven growth.
NVIDIA’S Quantum Push: NVIDIA is urging Congress to reauthorize the National Quantum Initiative, with CEO Jensen Huang now pivoting to view Quantum-AI integration as the next essential frontier for supercomputing.
- Health care costs now top household worry for Americans (per KFF poll), surpassing food/rent/utilities, with impacts on midterms and declining Obamacare enrollment after subsidy expirations.
- U.S. life expectancy hits record high due to drop in overdose deaths.
- Projections: Nearly half of U.S. adults obese by 2035 (47%, or ~126 million people), per new JAMA study.
- Long-term concerns with weight loss drugs like Ozempic — rapid regain after stopping, raising questions on sustained effectiveness.
Migraine Awareness: A major new initiative called "Love in Mind" launched today, highlighting that 75% of migraine sufferers report the condition interferes with romantic relationships and intimacy.
Kidney Regeneration Research: A breakthrough study from UConn published today reveals how the "stiffness" of injured kidney tissue regulates healing, potentially leading to new therapies for acute kidney injury.
- Cleveland Cavaliers rout Lakers 129-99, spoiling LeBron James' emotional return to Cleveland with a dominant third quarter (Donovan Mitchell leads with 25 points).
- NFL coaching carousel updates: Browns hire Todd Monken; Bills promote Joe Brady to head coach.
- Bill Belichick not elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame in first year of eligibility.
- NBA ongoing: Various matchups highlighted, including Bulls vs. Heat previews.
Sports Highlights: In the NHL, the Islanders beat the Rangers 5-2 last night.
In the NBA, the Knicks dominated the Raptors 119-92. Tonight, the Brooklyn Nets face Denver at 9:00 PM ET.
