Good morning. There is a lot of urgent news to cover today. Donald Trump is actively undermining his own White House by amplifying messages that label Alex Pretti a “domestic terrorist.” At the same time, border czar Tom Homan says the administration will begin drawing down ICE and CBP forces in Minnesota. All of this is unfolding as serious alarm bells are ringing after Trump’s Justice Department seized voter rolls and ballots in Georgia, an extraordinary escalation with major implications for democracy.
Today, I’m in Washington, D.C., at the Democracy Forward conference, speaking with lawyers who are working to block hundreds of Trump administration executive orders and other actions through the courts. I’ll be bringing you updates directly from those conversations, so stay tuned.
We are pressing forward. Over the past week, we’ve reached tens of millions of people with verified reporting, and at this moment, the truth has never mattered more. Even as platforms move to restrict my reach, this work is expanding. Independence is not optional right now, it is essential, and I will not compromise it.
Here’s the news:
- Donald Trump amplified calls overnight that Alex Pretti was a “domestic terrorist.” This post came after the release of a new video, which has been verified by the Pretti family, which shows Alex Pretti’s clash with federal agents days before his death. However, the video is completely unrelated to the murder, and is part of a larger, coordinated smear attempt against Pretti, which led to the President amplifying this post:
- School officials and the family of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos say the child has become sick with a fever, vomiting, and stomach pain while being held with his father at a Texas ICE detention center after being taken from Minneapolis, prompting mounting concern over poor detention conditions and a federal judge’s temporary order blocking their deportation.
- Tom Homan, President Trump’s “border czar,” acknowledged federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota hasn’t been perfect and said improvements should be made, pledging to stay in Minneapolis to refine operations, focus on targeted enforcement, and urging protests remain peaceful as he meets with local leaders amid ongoing backlash over ICE tactics.
- When asked how many federal immigration agents are operating in Minnesota, Tom Homan said about 3,000 ICE and Border Patrol agents are in the state, adding that there have been rotations and that his current focus is beginning a drawdown of personnel.
- Sen. Amy Klobuchar announced she is running to fill the open seat, telling Minnesotans the state is facing a difficult moment and needs leaders who can stand up amid political upheaval and President Donald Trump’s intensified attacks and immigration crackdown.
- The FBI executed a court-authorized search warrant at a Fulton County, Georgia, elections office seeking 2020 election records, escalating President Trump’s long-running, baseless fraud claims as his administration presses states for voter data ahead of upcoming elections, prompting alarm from election officials who warn the move could undermine trust and intimidate state-run election systems.
- Tulsi Gabbard, the Direct of National Intelligence, was there. Why? Unclear:
- According to the search warrant, authorities seized voter rolls and all ballots from the 2020 election:
- Here is the rest of the warrant:
- The Chairman of the Fulton County Board of Elections says that they can no longer protect their ballots:
- According to Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff the raid is a five alarm fire to impact the upcoming elections:
- Senate Democrats and the White House are in last-ditch talks to avert a partial government shutdown, with Democrats threatening to block a funding package unless DHS money is reworked or stripped out following the murder of Alex Pretti, while negotiations continue amid demands for tighter limits on immigration enforcement and ICE operations.
- Sen. Susan Collins said Immigration and Customs Enforcement has ended its “enhanced operations” in Maine following discussions with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
- Donald Trump is weighing a major new military strike on Iran after nuclear and missile talks stalled, with options ranging from targeting Iranian leaders to hitting nuclear sites as U.S. forces reposition in the region, prompting Tehran to threaten immediate retaliation, raising regional tensions and oil prices while allies warn against escalation.
- Reuters has confirmed that Italy unveiled an extensive security plan for the Winter Olympics, saying it will retain full command of operations as it prepares to secure events across multiple northern venues hosting 3,500 athletes and an expected 2 million visitors.
- According to Politico, a meeting between AMA President Bobby Mukkamala and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sparked internal backlash within the American Medical Association, with some doctors accusing leadership of tacitly legitimizing Kennedy’s controversial dietary guidance and public health views while others argue engagement is necessary to influence policy and protect physicians’ interests, especially on Medicare pay.
- According to NBC, a federal judge sentenced Carlisle Rivera to the maximum 15 years in prison for plotting to assassinate Iranian American journalist and human rights advocate Masih Alinejad in Brooklyn in 2024 on behalf of Iran, citing “chilling” evidence and the severe harm inflicted on her and her family as Alinejad described years of threats, forced relocations, and foreign-backed plots targeting U.S. citizens on American soil.
- Palestinians living in makeshift tents across Gaza say desperate conditions persist despite progress on an Israel-Hamas ceasefire and plans to reopen the Rafah crossing, with families lacking adequate shelter, food, medical care, and clean water as aid remains limited and hundreds have been killed since the truce began, making hopes of reconstruction and a stable future feel distant.
See you soon.
— Aaron
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