NATIONAL

Trump pledges to terminate temporary legal protections for Somalis living in Minnesota: In a Truth Social post late Friday, Trump said he would “immediately” strip Somali residents in Minnesota of Temporary Protected Status, a legal safeguard against deportation for immigrants from certain countries. The announcement created fear and uncertainty in the state’s deep-rooted immigrant community while state leaders pushed back. AP

‘Things are pretty crappy.’ 1 in 4 US households are living paycheck to paycheck: An estimated 24% of US households are living paycheck to paycheck so far in 2025, according to a Bank of America Institute analysis released this week. CNN

INTERNATIONAL

Abortion, DEI Now Considered Violations Of Human Rights, U.S. Officials Say: Countries with state subsidies for abortion, transgender-friendly policies for children, hate speech laws and affirmative action policies will now be considered to be violating human rights under rules imposed at the State Department that will impact how the agency conducts its annual Human Rights Report. (We’re vying to be the most hated country in the world!) FORBES

THE WORST ADMINISTRATION EVER?

Coast Guard reverses course, calls swastikas and nooses ‘hate symbols’: The U.S. Coast Guard has released a new, firmer policy addressing the display of hate symbols like swastikas and nooses just hours after it was publicly revealed that it made plans to describe them as “potentially divisive” — a term that prompted outcry from lawmakers and advocates. MILITARY TIMES

The FBI spied on a Signal group chat of immigration activists, records reveal: The FBI spied on a private Signal group chat of immigrants’ rights activists who were organizing “courtwatch” efforts in New York City this spring, law enforcement records indicate. The FBI, the documents show, gained access to conversations in a “courtwatch” Signal group that helps coordinate volunteer activists who monitor public proceedings at three New York federal immigration courts. The US government has repeatedly been accused of violating immigrants’ due process rights at those courts. GUARDIAN

Man Who Trump Pardoned for Fraud Is Headed Back to Prison … for Fraud: A Ponzi schemer who Donald Trump saved from prison is headed right back to the clink. Eliyahu “Eli” Weinstein was sentenced Friday to 37 years in prison in a New Jersey courtroom, capping the career criminal’s third fraud conviction. NEW REPUBLIC

The Charlie Kirk purge: How 600 Americans were punished in a pro-Trump crackdown: Two months after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, a government-backed campaign has led to firings, suspensions, investigations and other action against more than 600 people. Republican officials have endorsed the punishments, saying that those who glorify violence should be removed from positions of trust. REUTERS

SCIENCE, HEALTH, AND SAFETY

Despite Chinese hacks, Trump’s FCC votes to scrap cybersecurity rules for phone and internet companies: The Federal Communications Commission voted 2-1 along party lines on Thursday to scrap rules that required U.S. phone and internet giants to meet certain minimum cybersecurity requirements. YAHOO

Trump administration proposes new oil drilling off the coasts of California and Florida: The Trump administration announced on Thursday new oil drilling off the California and Florida coasts for the first time in decades, advancing a project that critics say could harm coastal communities and ecosystems, as President Donald Trump seeks to expand U.S. oil production. PBS

ICE Is Hiring Literally Anybody, and It’s Terrifying: Many recruits have criminal backgrounds or can’t pass open-book exams on officer conduct, yet they’re allowed to tear children from their beds at night. ESQUIRE

“Ticking Time Bomb”: A Pregnant Mother Kept Getting Sicker. She Died After She Couldn’t Get an Abortion in Texas: ProPublica has found multiple cases of women with underlying health conditions who died when they couldn’t access abortions. Tierra Walker, a 37-year-old mother, was told by doctors there was no emergency before preeclampsia killed her. PRO PUBLICA

State department to cut 38 universities from research program over DEI policies: The state department is proposing to suspend 38 universities including Harvard and Yale from a federal research partnership program because they engage in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) hiring practices. GUARDIAN

New measles spread across states threatens U.S. elimination status: The United States may be on track to lose its measles elimination status for the first time in 25 years as health officials confirm that two major U.S. outbreaks are linked to the same measles strain. (Your doctor can test you to see if you have the antibodies) MEDICAL XPRESS

DESI NEWS

How Anti-India hate went mainstream in America - offline and online: A detailed analysis by the Centre for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH) tracked 128 of the most-viewed posts attacking Indians on X between 22 December 2024 and 3 January 2025. Together, those posts had racked up 138.54 million views by 3 January. The detailed study of anti-Indian narratives online shows a surge in hostility across platforms. (Good article, though ad-filled) TOI

Social Security Data Is Openly Being Shared With DHS to Target Immigrants: For months, the Social Security Administration was quietly sharing sensitive data about immigrants with DHS. Now it’s official. WIRED

CORRUPTION ALERT

Fact-checking Trump's claim his family has done 'little' business with Saudi Arabia: If you look at The Trump Organization, you know, it's broken down in different parts, and in many of those parts, Saudi Arabia has some involvement. So first, if you look at the real estate licensing empire, this is sort of the part of the business that puts Trump's name on buildings all across the world. Much of the growth of that business has come from a Saudi firm called DarGlobal. They paid him about $21 million last year. Looks like they're going to pay him at least that much this year, and there are rumors of more deals down the line. NPR

GOOD NEWS IN HEADLINES

• Texas judge overturns law requiring Ten Commandments displays. A win for secularism. 

• Judge in New York upholds law barring ICE from arrests at courthouses.

• Social Security scraps plan to limit disability benefits after uproar.

• Federal judge says deployment of National Guard in D.C. unlawful.

• Democrats have a 14-point lead over Republicans in generic polling.
  

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