Top U.S. & World Headlines — January 12, 2026
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Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Over 500 protesters and 48 security officials died in two weeks of demonstrations in Iran, leading to 10,000+ arrests and internet shutdowns.
- ❖President Trump threatened cyber attacks and direct strikes against Iran, while Iran's foreign minister blamed the US and Israel for inciting the protests.
- ❖Israeli forces killed three Palestinians in Gaza, bringing the total to over 440 since a US-brokered truce, with a Palestinian baby freezing to death amid dire conditions.
- ❖The Israeli military planned to restart intensive operations in Gaza in March, targeting Gaza City.
- ❖Nationwide protests against ICE erupted after the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Keith Porter Jr. by ICE agents, with Homeland Security vowing to deploy hundreds more federal agents.
- ❖Venezuela's interim president requested US military help to retrieve an oil tanker, marking the first known military collaboration since Nicolas Maduro's kidnapping.
- ❖President Trump signed an executive order to protect Venezuelan oil revenue from lawsuits and urged US oil executives to invest $100 billion in Venezuela's oil production.
- ❖The Nobel Institute rejected an offer to share a Nobel Peace Prize with President Trump, who also threatened Cuba with a cutoff of oil and aid from Venezuela.
- ❖Denmark's Prime Minister expressed concern over President Trump's repeated threats to take over Greenland, citing potential damage to the Western Alliance and NATO.
- ❖The Justice Department launched a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over a headquarters renovation, with Powell accusing the administration of pressuring him to lower interest rates.
- ❖The Smithsonian's portrait gallery removed text referring to President Trump's two impeachments from his exhibit, following Trump's prior actions against Smithsonian officials.
Insights
1Escalating Repression and US Threats in Iran
Iran experienced widespread, violent protests resulting in over 500 protester deaths and 10,000 arrests. Iranian authorities shut down the internet and restricted phone calls. In response, President Trump issued strong threats of US military involvement, including cyber attacks and direct strikes, while Iran's foreign minister accused the US and Israel of inciting the unrest.
Over 500 protesters and 48 security officials died in demonstrations that have roiled Iran for 2 weeks. Iranian authorities have shut off the internet and limited phone calls. President Trump repeatedly threatened to attack Iran. US security officials are reportedly weighing cyber attacks and direct strikes. Iran's foreign minister Abbasari blamed the US and Israel for the protests.
2Ongoing Violence and Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
Despite a US-brokered truce, Israeli forces continued to kill Palestinians, with over 440 deaths recorded. The humanitarian situation deteriorated, evidenced by a Palestinian baby freezing to death. The Israeli military was reportedly planning to restart intensive operations in Gaza City in March.
Israeli forces killed at least three Palestinians Sunday. Since the US brokered truce, over 440 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces. A Palestinian baby, Muhammad Abu Harbet, froze to death. The Israeli military is reportedly planning to restart intensive military operations in Gaza in March targeting Gaza City.
3Nationwide Anti-ICE Protests Following Fatal Shootings
Tens of thousands protested nationwide against ICE after agents fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis and Keith Porter Jr. in Los Angeles. Homeland Security Secretary Christy Gnome vowed to deploy hundreds more federal agents in response to the protests, while video footage emerged of Good's shooting and her wife's statement described the encounter.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets over the weekend as protests against ICE spread nationwide following the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good. Activists also held a vigil for Keith Porter Jr., who was fatally shot by an off-duty ICE agent. Homeland Security Secretary Christy Gnome has vowed to deploy hundreds more federal agents. More video footage has emerged depicting the minutes before Renee Good was fatally shot.
4US Foreign Policy on Venezuela, Cuba, and Greenland
President Trump engaged in aggressive foreign policy, including an executive order to protect Venezuelan oil revenue, urging US oil executives to invest $100 billion in Venezuela, and rejecting an offer to share a Nobel Peace Prize with a Venezuelan opposition figure. He also threatened to cut oil and aid to Cuba from Venezuela and issued threats to take over Greenland, citing potential Russian or Chinese influence.
President Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency to ensure revenue from Venezuelan oil held by the US Treasury is protected. Trump met with oil executives urging them to invest a hundred billion dollars in Venezuela's oil production. The Nobel Institute rejected an offer by Maria Karina Machado to share her Nobel Peace Prize with President Trump. Trump wrote on Truth Social, 'There will be no more oil or money going to Cuba. Zero.' Denmark's Prime Minister, Meta Frederickson, said her country is at a fateful moment over President Trump's repeated threats to take over Greenland.
5DOJ Investigation into Fed Chair Powell and Smithsonian Controversy
The Justice Department launched a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell regarding his congressional testimony about a $2.5 billion headquarters renovation. Powell accused the administration of threatening criminal prosecution to pressure him to lower interest rates. Separately, the Smithsonian's portrait gallery removed text about Trump's impeachments from his exhibit, following previous administrative actions by Trump against Smithsonian officials.
The Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Powell accused the administration of threatening criminal prosecution to pressure him to lower interest rates. The Smithsonian's portrait gallery has removed text referring to President Trump's two impeachments when replacing his photo portrait. President Trump had fired the head archivist of the National Archives and tried to fire the National Portrait Gallery's director.
Quotes
"If they start killing people like they have in the past, we will get involved. We'll be hitting them very hard where it hurts. And that doesn't mean boots on the ground, but it means hitting them very, very hard where it hurts."
"Both the United States and Israel have officially stated that they have interference and a role in these riots and they are trying to turn these demonstrations and protests which are peaceful into violence and riots."
"Every day, houses are destroyed. Every day there's shooting and it's random. Till now the war is ongoing. Don't listen to those saying that the war is over. The war has stopped for the Israelis only, but for us it's ongoing."
"Renee was a Christian who knew that all religions teach the same essential truth. We're here to love each other, care for each other, and keep each other safe and whole. We had whistles. They had guns."
"If she had turned it down and said, 'I can't accept it because it's Donald Trump,' she'd be president of Venezuela today."
"There will be no more oil or money going to Cuba. Zero. I strongly suggest they make a deal before it's too late."
"Cuba is a free, independent, and sovereign nation. Nobody dictates what we do. Cuba does not attack. It has been attacked by the US for 66 years, and it does not threaten. It prepares ready to defend the homeland to the last drop of blood."
"What is at stake is bigger than what the eye can see. Because if what we experience from the Americans is that they're actually turning their backs on the Western Alliance, that they are turning their backs on our NATO cooperation by threatening an ally, which we have not experienced before, then everything will stop."
"Right now, we are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not. Because if we don't do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland and we're not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor. I would like to make a deal, you know, the easy way. But if we don't do it the easy way, we're going to do it the hard way."
"The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public rather than following the preferences of the president."
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