National and international media news & headlines compiled by CLG

Pentagon readies 1,500 troops to control Minnesota riots – report | 18 Jan 2026 | The Pentagon has ordered approximately 1,500 active-duty U.S. troops to prepare for a possible deployment to quell unrest in Minnesota, the Washington Post wrote on Sunday, citing defense officials. Months of demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the area spiked sharply earlier in January following the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis. The Pentagon has now put troops from the Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division on standby in case the violence in Minnesota escalates, WaPo wrote, citing a U.S. defense official. It is not yet clear if they will be deployed, he reportedly said.

Minnesota National Guard placed on standby to support law enforcement as protests turn violent | 17 Jan 2026 | The Minnesota National Guard posted a photo on social media Saturday showing what its troops will be wearing if they are activated to “distinguish them[selves] from other agencies” as they remain on standby amid intensifying anti-ICE protests. “Members of the Minnesota National Guard are on standby, ready to assist local law enforcement and public safety agencies. If our members are activated, they will be wearing reflective vests, as pictured here, to help distinguish them from other agencies in similar uniforms,” the Minnesota National Guard wrote in the post. The faces of the Guard members were blurred, and they wore bright yellow vests over their uniforms.

Seattle’s hyperwoke mayor sends protesters to anti-ICE training camps as 4,000 in NYC prepare to use ‘Minneapolis tactics’ on streets | 18 Jan 2026 | The mobilization of anti-ICE boot camps is taking place in the U.S. Thousands of people from cities in New York to Washington state are quietly preparing for a civil war against the Trump administration’s aggressive deportations after Renee Good’s death served as a casus belli for a wider uprising. Jacob Frey, the Mayor of Minneapolis, where Good was killed, has told ICE agents to “get the f*** out” of his city, while the state of Minnesota has sued the government in criminal court, accusing them of orchestrating a “federal invasion.” As Kristi Noem’s department prepares to target more metro areas across the U.S. in the coming months, liberal armies are training people to disrupt deportations by taking on the ICE agents themselves. In Seattle, the new socialist mayor Katie Wilson urged people to sign up for “Washington for All ICE Mobilization Alerts,” a group which is training to “mobilize a unified response” to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities.

Trump selling seats on Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ for $1bn | 18 Jan 2026 | U.S. President Donald Trump wants countries to pay at least 1 billion to remain on the Gaza “Board of Peace” beyond a three-year limit, according to the text of the body’s charter obtained by multiple media outlets. Earlier this week, the White House formally launched Phase Two of the U.S.-backed peace initiative for Gaza, and established the so-called “Board of Peace” to oversee the reconstruction of the Palestinian enclave. The charter outlining the board’s structure and membership terms was reportedly circulated, with invitations sent to dozens of world leaders, asking them to join the panel. “Each Member State shall serve a term of no more than three years from this Charter’s entry into force, subject to renewal by the Chairman,” the document states, according to the Times of Israel.

U.S. opens missile facility in Qatar amid Iran tensions | 14 Jan 2026 | The US has opened a new air and missile defense coordination cell at a key airbase in Qatar amid rising tensions with Iran and President Donald Trump’s promises to assist protesters in the Islamic Republic. In a statement on Tuesday, U.S. Central Command said the facility at the Al Udeid Air Base, which houses some 10,000 troops, will be comprised of American and allied personnel and seeks to “enhance integrated air and missile defense.” The new cell is also intended to tighten information-sharing, threat warning, drills and joint responses for air and missile defense, U.S. officials said. Reuters reported, citing three unnamed diplomats, that some personnel had been advised to leave the base by Wednesday evening for unknown reasons.

U.S. freezes all visa processing for 75 countries, including Somalia, Afghanistan, and Iran | 14 Jan 2026 | The State Department is pausing immigrant visa processing for 75 countries in an effort to crack down on applicants deemed likely to become a public charge. A State Department memo, seen first by Fox News Digital, directs consular officers to refuse visas under existing law while the department reassesses screening and vetting procedures. The countries include Somalia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, Yemen, Russia, and more. The pause will begin Jan. 21 and will continue indefinitely until the department conducts a reassessment of visa processing. Somalia has drawn heightened scrutiny from federal officials following a sweeping fraud scandal centered in Minnesota, where prosecutors uncovered massive abuse of taxpayer-funded benefit programs.

Supreme Court says Illinois congressman can sue over state mail-in voting laws | 14 Jan 2026 | The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that federal candidates have the right to challenge state election laws that govern the counting of ballots in their states, clearing the way for an expected flurry of new lawsuits in the run-up to this year’s midterm elections. Justices ruled 7-2 that candidates running for federal office have the standing to sue state election boards over their counting of ballots — including challenging laws that allow for the counting of late-arriving mail-in ballots. “Candidates, in short, are not ‘mere bystanders’ in their own elections,” Chief Justice John Roberts said, writing for the majority. “They have an obvious personal stake in how the result is determined and regarded.” At issue before the court was a lawsuit Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., filed against the Illinois State Board of Elections in 2022 challenging its mail-in ballot policy, which allows for the counting of ballots received up to 14 days after Election Day.

Tim Walz faces high-profile calls to resign as Minneapolis erupts in protests | 15 Jan 2026 | The highest-ranking Minnesotan in Congress is demanding that his state’s governor resign over continued unrest in Minneapolis as agitators clash with federal law enforcement. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., the No. 3 House GOP leader, issued a fresh demand for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to resign as demonstrations in their state’s largest city rage over the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, and tensions show no signs of easing. “The scenes of destruction and damage taking place in Minneapolis are abhorrent. This violence cannot be tolerated,” Emmer said in a statement on Thursday. “Tim Walz should resign, effective immediately. The safety of Minnesotans depends on it.”

ICE agent struck by Renee Good’s vehicle suffered internal bleeding to torso, DHS says | 14 Jan 2026 | The federal agent who fatally shot Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis last week suffered internal bleeding to his torso when he was struck by her vehicle, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed to Fox News on Wednesday. The extent of the bleeding to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Jonathan Ross was not immediately clear. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had previously said the agent was treated at a hospital following the incident on Jan. 7 before being released later that same day. Federal officials have said that when Good pulled forward in her vehicle toward the ICE officer, he acted in self-defense and described the driver’s actions as “an act of domestic terrorism.” Authorities have also said that Good had been following and harassing federal officers earlier that day.

Anti-ICE mob storms Minnesota church over pastor’s alleged ties to immigration enforcement | 18 Jan 2026 | A mob of anti-ICE agitators stormed a church Sunday in St. Paul, Minnesota, interrupting a worship service after protesters claimed a pastor inside was affiliated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Video shows agitators chanting “Justice for Renee Good” inside the sanctuary at Cities Church as the service began, raising concerns among law enforcement and religious leaders about protesters targeting houses of worship amid escalating anti-ICE demonstrations across the Twin Cities. In a clip circulating online, the person filming says demonstrators positioned themselves in the middle of the sanctuary as the pastor was speaking.

Maryland Democrat Pushes Plan to Punish ICE Veterans With Job Ban | 18 Jan 2026 | A Maryland Democrat has introduced legislation that would prevent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from being hired in state or local law enforcement roles. The legislation, which is called the “ICE Breaker Act of 2026” is sponsored by Maryland State Del. Adrian Boafo (D). Under the proposed legislation, ICE agents hired under President Donald Trump’s presidency would be barred from working as police officers, according to Fox45 News. “This year, I introduced legislation to ensure ICE officers can never serve in any of Maryland’s police forces,” Boafo wrote in a post on X. Betsy Smith, a spokesperson for the National Police Association, criticized Boafo’s bill and pointed out that it seems like he “wants people to believe that an ICE agent can just come in their town” and be a police officer as quickly as “tomorrow.”

Federal appeals court sides with Trump admin in judge’s Mahmoud Khalil decision | 15 Jan 2026 | A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that a lower court judge lacked authority in ordering the release of anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil, siding with the Trump administration in a closely watched immigration case. In a 2-1 decision, a three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz of New Jersey lacked “subject-matter jurisdiction” under federal immigration law to halt the Trump administration’s effort to remove Khalil. Khalil was ordered to be released from the government’s detention on June 20 after he was arrested at his New York City apartment by special agents from Homeland Security Investigations in early March. “Khalil obtained his visa by willfully and intentionally failing to accurately report information relevant to his background. Those who lie to the government to obtain entry into the United States will face justice,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital in a statement.

Dem narrative challenged after DHS exposes identity of ‘married couple’ in CBP-related shooting | 9 Jan 2026 | As new protests erupt and Democrats express outrage over another shooting involving an immigration agent in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is setting the record straight on the two victims’ suspected gang affiliation. In a Friday X post, DHS said that the two shooting victims, Luis David Nico Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, are Venezuelan criminal illegal aliens and suspected members of the foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA). According to the agency, Moncada and Zambrano-Contreras were shot by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent after the two attempted to run him and others over with their vehicle. The incident occurred at approximately 2:19 p.m. local time, when Border Patrol agents stopped a vehicle and identified themselves as law enforcement, DHS said. “[Thursday], two suspected Tren de Aragua gang associates–let loose on American streets by Joe Biden–weaponized their vehicle against Border Patrol in Portland,” DHS wrote, explaining that “the agent took immediate action to defend himself and others, shooting them.”

Secret Service alters Trump travel route after ‘suspicious object’ found at Palm Beach airport | 11 Jan 2026 | A suspicious object discovered during a security sweep at Palm Beach International Airport ahead of President Donald Trump’s departure from Mar-a-Lago in Florida on Sunday prompted the U.S. Secret Service to adjust the presidential motorcade route, the White House said. The discovery did not disrupt Trump’s travel schedule, officials said, as agents evaluated the item and made security adjustments out of an abundance of caution. “During advance sweeps of PBI Airport, a suspicious object was discovered by USSS,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “A further investigation was warranted and the presidential motorcade route was adjusted accordingly.”

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell under investigation over headquarters renovation – report | 11 Jan 2026 | The U.S. attorney’s office for the District of Columbia has opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, focusing on the renovation of the central bank’s Washington headquarters and whether he was truthful in his congressional testimony about the project, according to a report by The New York Times. Officials told the Times that the probe centers on whether Powell accurately characterized the scope and cost of the renovation during congressional appearances. The renovation of the Fed’s two main office buildings in Washington’s Foggy Bottom neighborhood is estimated to cost 2.5 billion and is being funded by the central bank itself, not by taxpayers.