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What Happened Today – February 4, 2026

The Constitution remains under intense pressure from Trump’s MAGA movement.

Today a federal judge in Oregon halted warrantless ICE arrests after agents testified they create warrants after people are already detained and operate under daily arrest quotas. The judge insisted that great power must exercise great restraint.

Today was also the third consecutive day that Donald Trump publicly insisted that the federal government nationalize elections and remove them from state control. He says he’s targeting 15 places. Even Republican Senator Thom Tillis said nationalizing elections “seems a little off strategy.”

The Constitution has been amended 27 times in 250 years. That flexibility allows it to evolve if necessary, but the amendment process is specific. While a federal judge, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote during the first Trump administration, “Stated simply, the primary takeaway from the past 250 years of recorded American history is that Presidents are not kings.”

Make sure your representatives, especially those in the Republican Party, know that you demand they defend the Constitution they swore to uphold.

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🚨 GovBrief Intensity Score 168
Extreme. History will remember.
Volume: Normal (20)
Severity: Moderate (2.1)
Defining Moments: 1
âš¡ Third day demanding federal election control
Previous 5 Days
🟠112|🚨273|🚨176|🔴139|🚨200
100 = normal day. Volume is headline count. Stories weighted by significance. Defining Moments are the ones history remembers.
Today's Quote
There should be nothing wrong with the fact that they went in, got ballots from a while ago, and they’re gonna look at them. And now, they’re gonna find out the true winner of that state. And you know what? If there was cheating, which there was, but if there was cheating, it should be found because we can’t let it happen again.
Donald Trump justifying the raid on Georgia election data and his bid to nationalize elections, February 4, 2026.
Yesterday's Most Read

Government attorney tells federal judge "this job sucks" after being ordered to explain why DHS missed multiple deadlines to release five detainees who never should have been arrested.

Today’s GovBrief News


DEI 1 of 20

EEOC sues Nike for information on DEI programs after complaints allege systemic discrimination against white employees.

Allegations back to 2018

Source: UPI

February 4, 2026

Voting Rights 2 of 20

Fulton County asks federal court to return seized Georgia 2020 ballots as Trump repeats call to "take over" elections for third consecutive day.

No Fulton Co issues in past 17 elections

Source: The Associated Press

February 4, 2026

Intelligence 3 of 20

CIA ends publication of World Factbook after 64 years, offering no explanation for shuttering the reference tool used by millions.

Started in 1962, Online since 1997

Source: The Associated Press

February 4, 2026

Justice Dept 4 of 20

Justice Department pulls attorney who told judge "this job sucks" one day after her testimony revealed systemic breakdown in Minnesota immigration enforcement.

88 cases assigned in under 1 month

Source: CBS News

February 4, 2026

Justice Dept 5 of 20

Trump directs "all federal law enforcement" to help find Savannah Guthrie's missing 84-year-old mother as FBI director plans trip to Tucson.

AG Bondi has known Guthrie 25 years

Source: Axios

February 4, 2026

Courts 6 of 20

Federal judge halts warrantless ICE arrests in Oregon after agents testified they create warrants after detention and operate under daily quotas.

Arrests up 7,900% over prior year

Source: KGW Portland

February 4, 2026

Courts 7 of 20

Judge Aileen Cannon sentences Ryan Routh to life in prison for 2024 assassination attempt against Trump at Florida golf course.

Never fired, fled when spotted

Source: Newsweek

February 4, 2026

Courts 8 of 20

Supreme Court declines to block California's new congressional map, allowing Democrats to move forward with redistricting that could flip five GOP seats.

No noted dissents in single-sentence order

Source: ABC News

February 4, 2026

Immigration 9 of 20

Homan orders 700 federal officers out of Minnesota, claims "unprecedented cooperation" nine weeks after operation that killed two civilians and drew 96 court order violations.

2,000+ fed agents remain in state

Source: KSTP St. Paul

February 4, 2026

Immigration 10 of 20

ICE detains New Orleans police recruit who cleared federal E-Verify system, DHS blames NOPD for hiring him.

Entered legally 2015, missed 3 court dates

Source: WWL New Orleans

February 4, 2026

Immigration 11 of 20

Minnesota 4th grader released from Texas detention center hours after being named in news report, as school districts sue to block ICE near schools.

Average of 170 children held daily

Source: KMSP Minneapolis

February 4, 2026

Immigration 12 of 20

Senator demands ICE confirm or deny "domestic terrorists" database after memo told agents to "capture it all" on protesters, license plates, and hotel locations.

Observer's Global Entry revoked after face scan

Source: Ars Technica

February 4, 2026

Oversight 13 of 20

Rubio out as acting head of National Archives after hitting 300-day limit, still holds Secretary of State and acting National Security Advisor roles.

Staff not informed

Source: Federal News Network

February 4, 2026

Congress 14 of 20

Democrats clash with Bessent at House hearing, with one lawmaker calling him a "flunky" and another telling him to "shut up."

Hearing focused on tariffs, Trump's crypto ties

Source: The Hill

February 4, 2026

Congress 15 of 20

Rep. Barry Loudermilk becomes 29th House Republican to announce he will not seek reelection in 2026.

Chairs new Jan 6 committee

Source: The Hill

February 4, 2026

Transportation 16 of 20

NASA delays Artemis II lunar mission by at least 30 days after liquid hydrogen leak discovered during dress rehearsal.

First humans beyond orbit in 50+ years

Source: Houston Public Media

February 4, 2026

Propaganda 17 of 20

Trump plans to install reconstructed Columbus statue at White House, rebuilt from pieces protesters dumped in Baltimore harbor in 2020.

Reagan unveiled original 1984, removed 2020

Source: The Washington Post

February 4, 2026

Media 18 of 20

FBI unable to access Washington Post reporter's iPhone protected by Apple Lockdown Mode, but agents forced her to unlock laptop with fingerprint.

Reporter had 1,100 government contacts in Signal

Source: Ars Technica

February 4, 2026

Grift 19 of 20

Rep. Ro Khanna launches investigation into $500 million Abu Dhabi investment in Trump family crypto company, urges U.S. attorney to probe the deal.

UAE got 500K AI chips 5 months later

Source: The Wall Street Journal

February 4, 2026

Fighting Back 20 of 20

Judge orders Musk to sit for deposition over USAID shutdown, ruling he cannot claim high-ranking official protections because his role was informal.

Defendants never identified who authorized shutdown

Source: Newsweek

February 4, 2026

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