SO far…

• In January four people–Geraldo Lunas Campos (witnesses say he was strangled by guards), Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres, and Parady La–have died while in ICE custody.

• On January 3, 2025 the administration invaded Venezuela, captured their president, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife and brought them to the United States. The president claims that the US will run Venezuela and even posted an image calling himself the acting president. However, on January 5, 2026, former Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, was sworn in as Venezuela’s new president and even cracked down on all pro-America celebrations. The initial operation cost tax payers over $600 million dollars. Our continued presence in the area cost approximately $6.5 million daily.
• ICE agent, Johnathan Ross killed Renee Good on January 7, 2026. He shot her three times in the head, once through the front windshield and twice through the driver’s side window.
• On January 9, 2026, at a protest in Santa Ana, California  a DHS agent shot Kaden Rummler in the face with a “non-lethal” round. The shooting left him permanently blind. Another protester was shot in the leg in the same incident.
• ICE used a battering ram to break down the door of Garrison Gibson on January 12, 2025 so they could arrest him. Three days later the court ordered his release and told ICE that their warrantless arrest was unconstitutional.
• After the DOJ announced an investigation into Fed Chair, Jerome Powell, Powell put out a blistering statement which refuted the reasons the DOJ gave for the investigation.
• A significant increase in ICE and Border Patrol agents arrived in Minneapolis. Estimates are that there are nearly 3000 agents. For a little perspective–the entire Minneapolis police department has approximately 600 members.
• On January 14, 2026 the administration confirmed that a $500 million dollar sale of Venezuelan oil had occurred. At least some of these funds have been put in an off-shore account in Qatar that only the president controls.
•  María Corina Machado, winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize gave her prize to the president while meeting him in the Oval Office on January 15. The Nobel Prize committee put out a statement saying the prize could not be rescinded or transferred.
• Despite being ordered by the court to release all of the Epstein Files by December 19, 2025, the DOJ still has over a million files that have NOT been released.
• The school Renee Good’s son attends needed to switch to on-line learning only due to threats they received via email and phone messages.
• January 15-16, 2026 Military troops and officers arrived in Greenland from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden to show support for Denmark following repeated threats from the president that the United States would get Greenland one way or another.
• The president’s response to our allies sending troops to Greenland was to announce he plans to place 10% tariffs beginning in February which will increase to 25% in June on Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. According to the presidents announcement the tariffs will remain in effect until the US is allowed to purchase Greenland.
• On January 17, 2025 Gov. Walz ordered the State’s National Guard to stand ready to mobilize in order to help local law enforcement if necessary.
• Not a Headline in America–Despite the US announcing the phase 2 of the cease fire in Gaza Israeli forces have killed at least 463 Palestinians.
• The first year under the new administration paints a grim economy. Wage growth has slowed. Manufacturing jobs have been lost. Inflation has remained stubborn. Meanwhile, utility costs are increasing.

And on that happy note–the midterms are right around the corner. This madness will not stop unless we get engaged. Talk to your friends and relatives about what’s happening. Stand with protestors. Help register people to vote. Become a poll watcher. Every little bit helps.