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What Happened Today – January 12, 2026

They stopped pretending.


The DHS Secretary stood behind a podium last Thursday that read “One of ours, all of yours.” That’s collective punishment on a government podium.

This week they began criminally investigating the Fed chair, sent 1,000 more officers to Minnesota, and attacked boats with military aircraft disguised as civilian planes – potentially a war crime.

Stop arguing with people who don’t see it. Start showing up for those who do. Get into your local streets. Support the vulnerable. Welcome the others back when they’re ready.

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🚨 GovBrief Intensity Score 291
Extreme. History will remember.
Volume: Normal (18)
Severity: High (2.67)
Defining Moments: 0
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Today's Quote
This is, in essence, a federal invasion of the Twin Cities and Minnesota, and it must stop.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to reporters after suing the federal government.
Yesterday's Most Read

Trump posts doctored Wikipedia screenshot on Truth Social showing himself as "Acting President of Venezuela" eight days after ordering military capture of Maduro.

Today’s GovBrief News


Health 1 of 18

Study of 5,000 pages of FDA documents found abortion pill decisions followed scientists' evidence-based recommendations, undercutting Kennedy's rationale for new safety review.

99.9% patients without adverse effects

Source: The New York Times [gift link]

January 12, 2026

Environment 2 of 18

EPA says it will stop calculating health costs of pollution when setting regulations, a change legal experts say violates Supreme Court precedent and "will not survive court challenge."

"Effectively assigns zero benefit to lives"

Source: The Washington Post

January 12, 2026

Environment 3 of 18

Federal judge restores construction on 87% complete Rhode Island wind farm, finding Trump administration's classified national security argument "insufficient" to justify December pause.

$1.44 million lost daily

Source: The Rhode Island Current

January 12, 2026

Economy 4 of 18

Trump announces 25% tariff on "any country doing business with Iran" via Truth Social, effective immediately, as Supreme Court weighs legality of his tariff powers.

Trump: "This Order is final and conclusive"

Source: CNBC

January 12, 2026

Military 5 of 18

Military used aircraft painted to look civilian in first Caribbean drug boat attack, a tactic retired Air Force general says could be war crime of "perfidy," disguising military as civilians.

123 killed across 35 strikes

Source: The Independent

January 12, 2026

Justice Dept 6 of 18

Justice Department fires top career prosecutor in Eastern Virginia office weeks after he took job under Halligan, whose Comey and Letitia James cases keep failing in court.

Grand juries refused to re-indict James

Source: CNN

January 12, 2026

Courts 7 of 18

Federal judge orders Energy Department to restore clean energy grants after administration admitted in court that blue-state location was "a primary reason" for cancellations.

$8 billion in grants affected

Source: Newsweek

January 12, 2026

Courts 8 of 18

Federal judge orders HHS to restore $12 million in grants to American Academy of Pediatrics, finding likely "retaliatory motive" for cuts after group criticized RFK Jr.

Two-thirds of AAP federal funding

Source: The Hill

January 12, 2026

Immigration 9 of 18

DHS preparing to send 1,000 additional immigration officers to Minnesota, bringing total to 3,000, as arrests reach 2,000 since surge began.

Up from 1,5000 arrests three days ago

Source: NewsNation

January 12, 2026

Immigration 10 of 18

FBI says none of six Border Patrol agents had body cameras recording when one shot two people in Portland, and investigators found no surveillance footage.

Driver charged, passenger detained

Source: The Associated Press

January 12, 2026

Immigration 11 of 18

ICE agents used tear gas to disperse crowd two blocks from Renee Good memorial after rear-ending U.S. citizen's car and questioning his immigration status.

Driver released after plate check

Source: KMSP Minneapolis

January 12, 2026

Immigration 12 of 18

ICE detained NYC Council data analyst at routine immigration appointment; city says he had authorization until October, DHS says he overstayed 2017 visa.

Used one phone call to contact HR

Source: WABC New York

January 12, 2026

Immigration 13 of 18

Minnesota and Illinois sue Trump administration over ICE surge, seeking restraining order and alleging "federal invasion" after agent killed bystander observing enforcement last week.

Hearing scheduled Tuesday

Source: Reuters

January 12, 2026

Immigration 14 of 18

New Jersey Legislature passes three bills restricting local police cooperation with ICE, sends them to Murphy's desk eight days before he leaves office.

Passed Assembly 46-26, Senate 23-13

Source: The New Jersey Monitor

January 12, 2026

Congress 15 of 18

Plaintiffs seek emergency hearing after Noem secretly reinstated ICE visitor restrictions one day after Minneapolis shooting, blocking three House reps from facility Saturday.

Judge blocked same policy Dec. 17

Source: The Independent

January 12, 2026

Media 16 of 18

PBS shuts down weekend newscasts after Congress cut $1.1 billion in public broadcasting funding, replacing breaking news coverage with pre-taped single-topic shows.

827,000 viewers per show

Source: The Associated Press

January 12, 2026

Grift 17 of 18

Labor Secretary's chief of staff and deputy placed on leave amid inspector general probe into allegations they scheduled official events to facilitate her personal travel.

Visited 36 states since March

Source: Politico

January 12, 2026

Fighting Back 18 of 18

Sen. Mark Kelly sues Hegseth and Defense Dept. over attempt to demote him and cut retirement pay for video telling service members they can refuse unlawful orders.

25 year military career

Source: UPI

January 12, 2026