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What Happened Today – January 18, 2026

Kristi Noem went on Face the Nation this morning and said ICE hadn’t used chemical irritants against Minnesota protesters.

When told that video contradicted her, Noem blamed the protesters. She also claimed that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz “allowed the city of Minneapolis to burn down in 2020.”

Millions of Americans have followed this in real time. We know Minneapolis didn’t burn down because 400,000 people still live there. We know agents used pepper spray and tear gas because a federal judge reviewed the evidence and called it “uncontroverted.” These are lies told to our faces.

Noem is just the latest in Trump’s orbit to gaslight Americans on camera. They shot a woman in the head and multiple private videos exist. They’ve beaten and gassed protesters exercising their First Amendment rights and still more videos exist. But they and their supporters insist that what we see and hear didn’t happen.

New Hampshire’s Episcopal bishop believed the suffering and death he saw. Earlier this week, he ordered his clergy to finalize their wills and prepare for “a new era of martyrdom.” He invoked Jonathan Daniels, a seminary student shot protecting a Black teenager in Alabama in 1965. “It may be that now is no longer the time for statements,” Bishop Hirschfeld said, “but for us with our bodies to stand between the powers of this world and the most vulnerable.”

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🟡 GovBrief Intensity Score 97
Typical range for this administration.
Volume: Low (8)
Severity: Moderate (2)
Defining Moments: 0
Previous 5 Days
🚨212|🚨184|🚨180|🚨160|🚨200
100 = normal day. Volume is headline count. Stories weighted by significance. Defining Moments are the ones history remembers.
Today's Quote
[Minn. Gov Tim Walz] ignored the law and allowed the city of Minneapolis to burn down in 2020
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, lying multiple times while on Face the Nation, on January 18, 2026.
Yesterday's Most Read

DHS insists Maryland mother is "NOT a U.S. citizen" and places her in ankle monitor despite birth certificate, hospital footprints, immunization records and Johns Hopkins pediatrician's verification.

Today’s GovBrief News


Health 1 of 8

Trump endorses Rep. Julia Letlow to primary Sen. Bill Cassidy after the Louisiana Republican criticized CDC's decision to reduce recommended childhood vaccines from 17 to 11.

2 Louisiana children died of whopping cough

Source: The Hill

January 18, 2026

Economy 2 of 8

Trump threatens to sue JPMorgan Chase for "debanking" him after January 6, calling the Capitol riot "a protest that turned out to be correct."

JPMorgan shares down 5% for the week

Source: CNBC

January 18, 2026

Military 3 of 8

Iraq announces US forces completed full withdrawal from Al-Asad Air Base, ending more than two decades of American military presence in the country's federal territory.

170,000 troops at peak; 2,500 at ened

Source: CNN

January 18, 2026

Justice Dept 4 of 8

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says he will comply with DOJ investigation into his public statements, telling ABC "in this country" you don't get investigated for speech.

Source: USA Today

January 18, 2026

Immigration 5 of 8

Minneapolis police chief says ICE agent who killed Renee Good violated "basic steps" of officer safety, questioning why he positioned himself in front of her vehicle.

Agent in vehicle path "more than once"

Source: Mediaite

January 18, 2026

Immigration 6 of 8

Noem denied federal agents used chemical agents on Minnesota protesters, then backtracked after CBS showed video the judge had called "uncontroverted" evidence.

Chemicals used at least 4 times.

Source: The New York Times [gift link]

January 18, 2026

Immigration 7 of 8

Two St. Paul hotels temporarily closed and canceled ICE agent reservations after receiving threats for lodging federal agents.

Closed at noon Sunday, remain closed until further notice

Source: KMSP Minneapolis

January 18, 2026

Media 8 of 8

Trump says he will sign executive order giving Army-Navy football game an exclusive television window that would block competing playoff games.

225 executive orders signed in 2025

Source: USA Today

January 18, 2026

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