Top U.S. & World Headlines — February 2, 2026

A federal judge in Minnesota denied a request by state officials to temporarily block a surge of 3,000 federal immigration agents. This surge has been linked to the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Prety in Minneapolis, and has caused significant 'fear, disruption, and harm' according to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry. The ruling was deemed a 'huge legal win for the Trump administration' by Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Federal Judge Kate Mendez stated, 'A proclamation that Operation Metro Surge has simply gone so far on the other side of the line as a thin read on which to base a preliminary injunction.' Mayor Fry denounced the ruling, saying, 'This decision doesn't change what people here have lived through, fear, disruption, and harm caused by a federal operation that never belonged in Minneapolis in the first place.'

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon and independent journalist Georgia Fort were arrested on federal charges for reporting on a peaceful protest inside a St. Paul church where a top ICE official serves as pastor. They were indicted for interrupting church service and depriving congregants of religious freedom, but maintain they were reporting as journalists. Fort challenged other journalists to consider the implications of their arrests on press freedom.

Georgia Fort stated after her release, 'I would challenge every journalist in America to ask themselves how it felt to them today to see their colleagues be arrested for reporting the news... if any of them say that it made them fearful... then yeah, I would say that that was probably the intent.'

The Justice Department released over three million pages of the Epstein files, with 43 survivor names, including more than two dozen minors, left unredacted. These filings also exposed identifying details like home addresses, making them readily traceable. The documents shed further light on Jeffrey Epstein's ties to Hollywood elites, CEOs, and government officials, including arranging meetings for Steve Bannon with European leaders and offering him use of his properties and private plane.

The Wall Street Journal reported that 'more than two dozen names of survivors who were minors are exposed in the filings along with identifying details that make them readily traceable, including home addresses.' The files also detailed Epstein's contacts to arrange meetings for Steve Bannon with European government leaders and offered Bannon use of his Paris apartment, Palm Beach house, and private plane.

Artists attending the Grammys wore anti-ICE pins and used their victory speeches to speak out against President Trump's mass raids and deportations. Bad Bunny, who made history winning Album of the Year with a Spanish-language album, and Billie Eilish, who won Best Song of the Year, both delivered powerful messages condemning hate and advocating for immigrants.

Bad Bunny stated in his Grammy speech, 'We're not savage. We're not animals. We're not aliens. We aren't humans. And we are Americans... The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love.' Billie Eilish added, 'no one is illegal on stolen land... our voices really do matter and the people matter.'