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Smith Under Fire: Former Special Counsel Testifies Before Congress

Former special counsel Jack Smith defended his investigations into President Trump during a combative House Judiciary hearing as lawmakers grilled him on charging decisions, alleged surveillance of congressional records and source payments.

Number

21% - Decline in homicides across 35 major US cities in 2025

Quote

"Sometimes you need a dictator" — Donald Trump

SPX 6,913 ↑ 0.55% Dow 49,384 ↑ 0.63% Nasdaq 23,436 ↑ 0.91% Gold 4,938 ↑ 2.08% BTC 89,186 ↓ 0.21%

24 Hours

Smith Faces Fire: Lawmakers Pick Apart Testimony

Former special counsel Jack Smith is testifying publicly before the House Judiciary Committee. Lawmakers from both parties pressed Smith on his investigation decisions, evidence handling, and surveillance of congressional phone records.

Trump Sues JPMorgan for 5bn - Accuses Political Debanking

President Trump launched a high‑stakes $5 billion legal fight with JPMorgan Chase, accusing the bank and CEO Jamie Dimon of politically motivated 'debanking' after Jan. 6. The suits escalate tensions between the White House and major Wall Street players.

Trump Says Framework Reached on Greenland Deal

The Greenland flap dominated Davos as Trump announced a 'framework' deal and signed his Board of Peace, provoking NATO demands and European unease. Allies pressed for clarity as Arctic security and sovereignty questions remain unresolved.

5‑Year‑Old Detained by ICE in Minneapolis - Child Held with Father in Texas

Minnesota has become the flashpoint of the administration's immigration crackdown. A 5‑year‑old was detained during a raid and sent with his father to Texas, while family‑commissioned autopsies and independent reports have intensified scrutiny of an ICE fatal shooting.

FBI Arrests Leaders of Minnesota Church Invasion

Federal authorities moved against organizers who stormed a St Paul church during anti‑ICE protests. The arrests and court rulings about journalist charges have added legal and political heat to the protests and prosecutions.

France Seizes Suspected Russian 'Shadow Fleet' Tanker in Mediterranean

France intercepted and seized an oil tanker suspected of operating as part of Russia’s 'shadow fleet' in the Mediterranean, signaling a tougher European posture against vessels evading sanctions tied to the Ukraine war.

Huge Winter Storm to Dump Snow and Ice From Texas to Boston

A major winter storm dubbed Fern threatens a wide swath of the United States with heavy snow, ice and life‑threatening cold. State officials declared emergencies, airlines canceled flights, and utilities braced for outages and infrastructure damage.

U.S. Withdrawal from WHO Concludes After One Year

The U.S. formalized its exit from the World Health Organization this week while public health officials warn outbreaks could cost the country its measles elimination status. The moves raise concerns about global cooperation and domestic disease control.

Kushner Unveils 'New Gaza' Masterplan at Davos

Trump's Davos agenda included a Board of Peace launch and Jared Kushner's vision for Gaza reconstruction, a plan of luxury towers and disarmament that critics say lacks on‑the‑ground detail and Palestinian participation.

Zelenskyy Urges Europe to Act as Global Power at Davos

Ukraine's leader used Davos to blast Europe for inaction and to press for stronger defenses. The meetings included a Davos encounter with President Trump and announcements of trilateral talks aimed at advancing stalled negotiations.

Trump Taps Joint Chiefs Adviser as Top U.S. Envoy to Venezuela

The administration is intensifying pressure on regimes in Latin America while Congress considers war powers measures. Moves include a top Venezuela envoy appointment and reports of U.S. efforts targeting Cuba's government before year end.

Gold Tops $4,900 an Ounce as Geopolitical Risk Rises

Markets reacted to geopolitical turmoil as safe havens rallied and inflation measures ticked up. Gold set a fresh high while the Fed's preferred gauge showed sticky inflation pressures heading into policy debates.

Waymo Opens Robotaxi Service to Paying Riders in Miami

Autonomous ride services expanded this week as Waymo opened paid robotaxi service in Miami and Tesla began robotaxi rides in Austin without a human safety monitor, advancing the self‑driving rollout and regulatory questions.

Blue Origin Launches 17th Crewed Mission to Space

Spaceflight and commercial plans moved forward with Blue Origin launching another crewed mission and SpaceX lining up banks for a potential blockbuster IPO as the private space sector accelerates capital plans.

Researchers Warn AI Powered Disinformation Swarms Threaten Elections

Researchers and security experts warned that advances in AI now enable rapid, humanlike disinformation swarms that could be deployed at scale to distort democratic processes, prompting calls for urgent countermeasures.

Internal ICE Memo Allows Officers to Enter Some Homes Without Judicial Warrant

A newly leaked ICE memo and AP reporting say immigration officers have broader authority to enter homes without judicial warrants in certain cases, fueling legal challenges and civil liberties concerns amid intensified enforcement.

Report Says U.S. Weighs Complete Military Withdrawal from Syria

U.S. policy in the Middle East is in flux as officials weigh troop posture in Syria and move assets to the region. The developments follow major operations and signal shifting priorities as Washington recalibrates its approach.

New Report Finds U.S. Murder Rate Plunged in 2025

A new study shows homicide rates fell sharply across dozens of U.S. cities in 2025, reversing pandemic era spikes and prompting discussion about policing, prevention and the drivers of the decline.

OMB Orders Agencies to List Federal Funding to 14 Blue States

The White House budget office ordered agencies to compile lists of federal funding flowing to predominantly Democratic states, part of a broader review of federal spending that critics call politically motivated.

U.S. and China Approve TikTok Deal for U.S. Spinoff

Washington and Beijing reportedly approved a deal to separate TikTok's US operations, a major tech policy milestone that could reshape the app's ownership and content oversight in America.

Microsoft 365 Users Report Outages Across Platforms

Major tech outages and fraud campaigns affected consumers and merchants this week as Microsoft 365 users reported outages and investigators traced a web skimming campaign targeting payment processors and online stores.

House Clears Key Hurdle on $1.2 Trillion Spending Package

Congress moved to advance a $1.2 trillion spending package as lawmakers rushed to avoid a partial government shutdown at the end of the month. Votes on final funding bills will determine whether the government stays open.

FTX Exec Caroline Ellison Released From Prison Early

Caroline Ellison, a key FTX figure, was released from prison early, marking another development in the fallout from the crypto exchange's collapse and continuing legal and regulatory reverberations across the industry.

Army Orders Military Police to Prepare for Possible Minneapolis Deployment

As tensions rose in Minneapolis over immigration enforcement, the Army ordered military police to prepare for a possible deployment, underscoring the federal government's readiness posture amid escalating protests and raids.

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"The “Donroe Doctrine” In Action: https:// americanmind.org/salvo/the-don roe-doctrine-in-action/"