MORNING NEWS UPDATE: JANUARY 26, 2026
- A major winter storm is gripping much of the U.S., bringing heavy snow, ice, sleet, freezing rain, and plunging temperatures from the Ohio Valley and mid-South through the Northeast and New England, causing widespread travel disruptions, airport delays, and hazardous conditions.
- Ongoing fallout from a second fatal shooting in Minneapolis involving federal agents and a protester, sparking outrage, political blame games, and calls for investigations into immigration enforcement and related incidents.
- Severe weather and storm impacts continuing to dominate headlines, with snow clearing operations at major airports like Ronald Reagan Washington National and broader effects on daily life.
Winter Storm Fern: Millions are without power and travel is at a standstill after a massive winter storm dumped snow and sleet across the South and Northeast.
Over 14,000 flights have been canceled or delayed since Sunday. Minneapolis Outrage: Protests and vigils are growing in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a VA nurse, by federal agents during an ICE-related operation.
Disaster Declarations: Several states, including Texas, have issued disaster declarations due to extreme cold and storm damage, with officials warning that sub-zero temperatures remain a danger.
- President Trump pushes to end sanctuary cities and declares a "victory" on Greenland negotiations (with the U.S. and NATO discussing security arrangements), though questions remain about actual outcomes amid pushback from Denmark and Greenland.
- Democrats threaten a potential government shutdown amid tensions over the latest Minneapolis killing and immigration enforcement issues.
- Republicans pitch student loan repayment plans as Americans struggle with bills; GOP calls for probes into immigration enforcement in Minnesota.
- Political blame game continues after the second fatal Minneapolis shooting.
Resignation Calls: California Governor Gavin Newsom has called for the resignation of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and the firing of Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino following the Minneapolis shooting.
Tariff Threats: President Trump has threatened 100% tariffs on Canadian imports if Canada finalizes a new trade deal with China, signaling a major rift in North American trade relations.
Government Shutdown Looms: Tensions are rising on Capitol Hill as the federal government faces another potential shutdown deadline this week.
- Major shakeup in China: Xi Jinping purges top generals, sparking global alarm and turmoil within Beijing's military leadership.
- Trump administration discussions on Greenland security draw hard lines from Denmark and Greenland officials.
- Japan's PM Takaichi dissolves parliament for a snap election (noted in recent global headlines).
India’s Republic Day: India celebrated its 77th Republic Day with a massive military parade in New Delhi, highlighting new air superiority claims over Pakistan following "Operation Sindoor."
Venezuela Raid: President Trump claimed the U.S. used a "secret weapon" during a recent raid in Venezuela targeting the Maduro regime, asserting that millions of barrels of oil are now "traveling nicely" to the U.S.
Myanmar Elections: International observers, including China and Russia, have reported that Myanmar’s third phase of general elections concluded in a "steady and orderly" manner.
- The U.S. Department of Education celebrates National School Choice Week.
- Bipartisan agreement reached on a proposed FY26 funding plan for the Department of Education at $79 billion.
- Announcement of negotiated rulemaking to reform and strengthen America's higher education accreditation system.
- Focus on special education and SEL (social-emotional learning), including centering students with disabilities.
Accreditation Reform: The U.S. Department of Education announced the "AIM" (Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization) committee to deregulate higher education and shift quality assessments toward data-driven student outcomes.
DEI Standards: The new federal guidelines specifically aim to eliminate "unlawful DEI-based standards" in college accreditation processes.
Global Leadership Series: Ivy Tech Community College launched its 2026 speaker series featuring top diplomats and 3M inventors to provide students with direct access to global innovators.
- U.S. stock indexes (S&P 500, Dow) rise slightly at the open, kicking off a big week of Big Tech earnings reports and the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision.
- Americans express pessimism about their economic future amid ongoing concerns.
- Mixed stock market close on Friday prior, with investors digesting Q4 earnings; luxury segment helps buoy U.S. hotel performance.
Gold Hits Record: Gold prices surged above $5,000 for the first time as investors sought safe-haven assets amid shutdown fears and geopolitical instability in Europe and South America.
Earnings Week: Wall Street is bracing for a "Big Tech" earnings blitz, with 103 S&P 500 companies scheduled to report this week.
Yen Intervention: Authorities in the U.S. and Japan have signaled readiness to step in to support the yen, which has seen volatile swings against the dollar.
- Markets focus on upcoming Big Tech earnings results and the Fed decision, influencing major indexes.
- Broader tech sector developments, including discussions around AI advancements and policy shifts (e.g., potential for Britain as an AI superpower in related coverage).
- Recommendations and analysis on beaten-down tech stocks (e.g., Netflix) amid revenue growth.
Ecommerce Shifts: Tech analysts forecast that 2026 will see "Checkout" become the most valuable moment in digital commerce, with AI-driven "relevance" replacing traditional mass-impression advertising.
Fetal Surgery Robotics: Researchers at Northwestern University unveiled a hair-thin robotic probe that can monitor fetal vitals in real-time during surgery, a major breakthrough in medical tech.
IT Training Grants: New fast-track programs for free IT training were announced in the Midwest to address the growing demand for cybersecurity and infrastructure specialists.
- Hospitals increasingly offer their own Medicare Advantage plans amid frustrations with insurers; largest-ever Medicare Advantage fraud settlement reported.
- Poison control centers save billions annually, per new report.
- Flu season updates, autism research developments (committee reshaped), and signs related to endometriosis.
- National nutrition crisis signals from survey: nearly half of Americans rely on unaccredited sources and social media misinformation over evidence-based care.
FDA Cosmetics Report: The FDA released a major assessment of PFAS ("forever chemicals") in the top 25 most-used cosmetic products, signaling tighter regulations for the beauty industry.
Blood Shortages: Health officials in several states have issued emergency appeals for blood donations as the winter storm forced the cancellation of hundreds of local drives.
Public Health in Gaza: Humanitarian groups are warning of a worsening public health crisis in Gaza as waste and sewage issues lead to widespread disease outbreaks in tent cities.
- NBA action: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Charlotte Hornets matchup, with predictions and odds for the Eastern Conference game.
- PGA Tour career money leaders update (Tiger Woods tops at $121M, followed by Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler).
- Ongoing preparations and updates for the 2026 World Cup (hosted in U.S., Canada, Mexico), including qualifiers, tickets, and news ahead of March events.
- College basketball recaps and previews (e.g., UNC's comeback at Virginia).
NFC Championship Buzz: Seattle is preparing for a massive influx of fans as the matchup for Super Bowl LX is set to be decided.
College Basketball Upsets: In Big Ten play, USC snapped Wisconsin’s five-game winning streak with a 73-71 victory, while No.
7 Nebraska remains unbeaten (20-0) after defeating Minnesota. Winter Olympics: Preparation is ramping up for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina, which are set to welcome athletes from over 90 countries next month.
