Minnesota ICE crackdown
New details are emerging about the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, the second U.S. citizen to be killed by the trump administration’s armed agents in Minneapolis. An initial Department of Homeland Security report says two officers fired their guns during the encounter, though it remains unclear whether bullets from both officers struck Pretti. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said he plans to “de escalate” tensions in Minnesota after claiming that the enforcement actions removed “thousands of hardened criminals.” The administration has presented no evidence to support that claim. Border czar Tom Homan has also taken over Minnesota’s ICE operations in the wake of Pretti’s shooting, part of a broader leadership shift amid intense scrutiny of the federal action in Minnesota.
Political violence against congresswoman
A man has been charged with third-degree assault after spraying an unknown substance at Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar during a Minneapolis town hall on Tuesday. The incident occurred shortly after Omar called for the impeachment of embattled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over her handling of federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota. Security quickly restrained the suspect and escorted him from the room. Omar said she is unharmed and will not be intimidated by the attack. Lawmakers from both parties have condemned the assault and emphasized that political differences should never lead to violence.
At least 30 dead from storm in U.S.
The death toll from the weekend’s winter storm in the U.S. has risen to at least 30, officials say. Damage from ice and bitter cold has been most significant in the southern U.S., stretching from Texas to Tennessee. The storm has caused massive power outages, leaving hundreds of thousands of utility customers without electricity. Around 175 million people remain under cold alerts for frigid temperatures that will linger for days. The brutal cold is setting new record daily lows in the Plains, and more record lows are expected in the South and East through at least this week.
Social media trial begins
A historic trial against Meta and YouTube is underway in Los Angeles and could have major implications for the future of social media. The landmark case marks the first time the two social media giants must defend themselves against claims that their products harm young people’s mental health before a jury in a court of law. For years, parents, advocates, health experts and teens have warned that social media can get young people hooked on scrolling, enable bullying, disrupt sleep and expose them to harmful content. Tech executives have repeatedly been hauled before Congress, but their companies have faced few consequences or regulations in the U.S.
Justice Department filing on Epstein files
The Justice Department said in a court filing Tuesday that it expects to release its Jeffrey Epstein-related files soon, though no date has been set. This comes as the department is facing enormous pressure to release all of its files after Congress passed a law in November — with near-unanimous support — setting a December 19, 2025, deadline for the release. Officials say the Department has reviewed millions of pages of materials, along with video and audio recordings, and has made “substantial progress” in completing redactions to protect victims. Epstein, the convicted sex offender who was accused of abusing dozens of underage girls, died in 2019.
New Amazon layoffs coming
Amazon is laying off 16,000 employees beginning today, the company’s second round of large-scale job reductions in three months as it fights to improve its standing in the battle for artificial intelligence supremacy. In its announcement this morning the company said it needed to reduce red tape to increase its decision-making speed. Amazon in late October announced it was cutting 14,000 corporate employees. Amazon is America’s second-largest private employer, with Walmart being the largest. Amazon has more than 350,000 corporate employees, according to a 2024 survey filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The culmination of both the recent rounds of cuts represent about 9% of the company’s overall office staff. Amazon separately announced Tuesday it would close its Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go grocery businesses, as it doubles down on its Whole Foods branded stores.
