President Donald Trump accused Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) of having knowledge of billions of dollars in alleged fraud, saying Sunday night that she should be jailed or face “worse punishment.” “There is 19 Billion Dollars in Minnesota Somalia Fraud. Fake ‘Congresswoman’ Illhan [sic] Omar, a constant complainer who hates the USA, knows everything there is to know. She should be in jail, or even a worse punishment, sent back to Somalia, considered one of the absolutely worst countries in the World,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “She could help to MAKE SOMALIA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump has long feuded with Omar and repeatedly called for her to return to her homeland of Somalia. During his first term, controversy erupted after a “send her back” chant broke out at a rally while he was discussing her.   Earlier on Sunday, Trump claimed Omar and Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz supported the protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota because doing so helped distract attention from political pressure on them.  “ICE is removing some of the most violent criminals in the World from our Country, and bring them back home, where they belong,” Trump said. “The thugs that are protesting include many highly paid professional agitators and anarchists. Is this really what Minnesota wants? The crooked Governor and ‘Congresswoman’ Omar, who married her brother, don’t mind because it keeps the focus of attention off the 18 Billion Dollar, Plus, FRAUD, that has taken place in the State! Don’t worry, we’re on it!” Minneapolis has been the focus of anti-ICE protests since an agent shot and killed a 37-year-old woman who was driving her vehicle toward him. Some of the demonstrations have turned violent, with federal officers being assaulted and federal vehicles targeted with vandalism.  Trump has considered invoking the Insurrection Act and sending in troops if ICE agents continue to be impeded in Minnesota. Government officials said Sunday that they had ordered 1,500 active-duty soldiers based in Alaska to prepare for deployment to Minnesota if needed.  The protests come at the same time federal officials have initiated numerous investigations into alleged welfare fraud schemes that have taken billions of dollars in federal funding.   As these investigations play out, the Trump administration has frozen funding for programs that provide childcare and food assistance. This includes Department of Health and Human Services-operated programs like the Child Care Development Fund, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, and the Social Services Block Grant program.

The World Economic Forum on Monday abruptly canceled the scheduled appearance of Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, at its annual summit in the Swiss Alps, citing a “tragic loss of lives” following a violent state crackdown on anti-government demonstrations. The decision to disinvite Araghchi, who was slated for a high-profile one-on-one conversation on Tuesday, followed a weekend of intense international pressure and harrowing reports of a massacre on the streets of Iranian cities. Rights groups and activists have described the recent unrest as the deadliest in the Islamic Republic’s history, with some estimates suggesting the death toll could exceed 12,000 people. “Although he was invited last fall, the tragic loss of lives of civilians in Iran over the past few weeks means that it is not right for the Iranian government to be represented at Davos this year,” the Forum said in a statement posted to social media. The move marks a rare, public pivot for an organization that prides itself on being a neutral platform for “the spirit of dialogue.” However, the optics of hosting a senior regime official became untenable as evidence of atrocities mounted. Human rights organizations, including United Against Nuclear Iran, had lobbied the Forum’s leadership, arguing that Mr. Araghchi’s presence would “whitewash” a campaign of state-sponsored violence that reportedly included the use of live ammunition against protesters. United Against Nuclear Iran wrote a letter to the WEF, stating: Abbas Araghchi is a long-time member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Quds Force, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization responsible for orchestrating acts of terrorism across the globe. The IRGC provides direct support to the military arms of Hezbollah and Hamas—both considered terrorist organizations by the United States and the European Union—and employs brutal methods, including mass executions, beatings, and rape, to crush dissent within Iran and destabilize the Middle East and beyond. Araghchi has proudly and openly admitted his allegiance to the Guards and their efforts, at one point telling other IRGC members that, “the same IRGC commander who dressed you in IRGC uniform and gave you a weapon has also given me a suit and collared shirt and given me a political mission.” This is not a man of diplomacy but a loyal operative of a regime that weaponizes terror and wields violence as state policy. As you know, just this month, the Iranian regime has carried out what some believe to be the largest massacre in its history. Araghchi is a member of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), which reportedly issued an order to use live fire on Iranian civilians protesting. Estimates suggest the regime killed at least 12,000 and up to 20,000 Iranians over the course of a few days in January as they exercised their fundamental rights to demonstrate against the Ayatollah and his tyranny. Beyond the fatalities, recent reports further highlight the severity of the human rights crisis, documenting 18,434 arrests and 1,134 individuals who sustained severe injuries. The rescission of the invitation comes as President Donald Trump is expected to arrive at the summit with the largest-ever American delegation. Over the weekend, Trump called for an end to the 37-year reign of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating it was “time to look for new leadership in Iran” and threatening a 25% tariff on any nation conducting business with Tehran. While the Forum attempted to distance itself from the controversy, the atmosphere in Davos remains charged. Critics, including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), earlier slammed the initial invitation as “tone deaf,” comparing it to “inviting Hitler to a world event after Kristallnacht.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is launching a new study into the potential health effects of cellphone radiation, a move that reflects long-standing concerns raised by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his allies but may run counter to the conclusions of many major scientific and regulatory bodies. According to HHS, the study will examine electromagnetic radiation and human health to identify gaps in current scientific knowledge, including risks associated with newer technologies. HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said the effort is being undertaken while older federal webpages asserting that cellphones are not dangerous have been removed, describing those conclusions as outdated. The study was directed by President Donald Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) Commission and follows earlier MAHA-aligned efforts, including policies cited by HHS claiming that 22 states restricted cellphone use in schools to improve children’s health. The Food and Drug Administration, which operates under HHS, quietly removed webpages that had previously stated that the weight of scientific evidence did not link cellphone radio-frequency exposure to health problems. While summaries of those pages still exist, the original links now redirect to general information about the FDA’s regulatory role. Other federal agencies, however, have not changed their positions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Cancer Institute, and the Federal Communications Commission continue to say that existing evidence does not demonstrate a causal link between cellphone use and cancer, though some note that further research is warranted. Kennedy, an environmental lawyer by training, has for years argued that wireless radiation poses serious health risks. He has represented plaintiffs who blamed brain tumors on cellphone use, chaired Children’s Health Defense, and helped force a federal court review of FCC radiation standards in 2020. He has publicly warned that children are exposed to what he calls a “toxic soup” of wireless radiation. Many mainstream scientists disagree, as large epidemiological studies have found no link between cellphone use and cancer, and experts note that cellphones emit non-ionizing radiation, which does not damage DNA in the way cancer-causing radiation does. The World Health Organization similarly says there is no conclusive evidence of harm, though it encourages continued long-term research.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday declared over 100 laws and policies with “DEI frameworks” unconstitutional, The Daily Wire can first report, stating that these laws were being used to illegally discriminate in both the public and private sectors. “This action to dismantle DEI in Texas helps fulfill the vision articulated by Martin Luther King, Jr. when he dreamed that his children would one day live in a nation where they were judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character,” Paxton said in a statement. “It’s imperative that all private-sector employers, schools, and state and local government entities—based on this legal opinion—immediately abolish any DEI, affirmative action, or unconstitutional discrimination programs under their authority. We must return to the basic principles of equal opportunity for all,” Paxton continued. The opinion specifically notes potential issues in programs like the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) and the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) efforts. The HUB program was meant to help “small, minority- and women-owned businesses” in the process of obtaining state government contracts, according to the Texas Department of Transportation website. In October, acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced that new certifications for HUB would be stopped, posting to X that “Businesses deserve a level playing field where government contracts are earned by performance and best value — not race or sex quotas.” Paxton noted that the opinion would not impact veterans who utilize the program, but that the sex- and race-based elements of the program run contrary to the state’s Equal Rights Amendment and the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Meanwhile, the opinion rails against DBE mandates for “consideration of race and sex for seats on state boards, commissions, and committees,” a press release stated. The attorney general also issued a warning to the private sector about potential “legal liability” if DEI practices are in place at Texas businesses, adding that “America is waking up to the egregious unfairness of DEI policies.” Paxton also points to the Supreme Court’s 2023 opinion that ended affirmative action in higher education. The attorney general’s opinion notes that the practice is unconstitutional in Texas far beyond education, and said that his office will take action against governmental entities, including schools, that use DEI or affirmative action as a means of “unlawful discrimination” and “the erosion of merit-based decision-making.” The Trump administration has made sweeping reversals to DEI-style policies at the federal level, ranging from the State Department to the Federal Aviation Administration. Many companies still have DEI practices in place, though others have begun rolling them back.

A professional protester known for harassing worshippers at Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s church in Washington, D.C., has emerged as a key figure in the disruption of Sunday’s service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. William Kelly, a self-described combat veteran, was captured on video storming into the sanctuary with a mob of other activists associated with Black Lives Matter and the Racial Justice Network. The demonstrators chanted “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” and screamed at congregants, labeling them “fake Christians” because one of the church’s pastors also serves as an ICE field director. Jonathan Parnell, lead pastor of the Southern Baptist church, called the protestors “shameful” and eventually chose to end the service after some of the children started crying.  Kevin Ezell, head of the Southern Baptists’ mission board, said on X that he had spoken to Cities Church staff members who reported that “the kids in the worship service were terrified.” In a later post he added, “These intimidating tactics are not only illegal but cowardly. No cause justifies traumatizing families as they worship and desecrate a sacred space.” Many on social media, including Deputy Undersecretary of War Justin Overbaugh, immediately identified Kelly as the same man regularly posted outside Hegseth’s church in Washington. Joe Rigney, a founding pastor of Cities Church in St. Paul who also helped plant Christ Church in D.C., said Kelly and his fellow protestors have regularly disrupted their D.C. worship services for the past six months. “They’ll play music or yell and scream and use bullhorns and loud sound amplification to try to prevent us from singing psalms and hearing the Word preached,” he told The Daily Wire. One member was transported to the hospital after a protester screaming into a bullhorn shattered his eardrum. Rigney said Kelly’s tactics have also included screaming obscenities at minors as families are entering the sanctuary, forcing a need for police escorts. “They’ve sought to disrupt Christian worship gatherings now in multiple places.”  Kelly and his fellow activists are allegedly protesting an ICE agent fatally shooting Renee Good during a raid in Minneapolis earlier this month. But Rigney, who pastored Cities Church and lived in Minneapolis for seven years before he joined Christ Church, notes that he has no connection to Kelly’s ostensible reasons for harassing his new congregation, which Kelly has targeted for being “Christian nationalist.” Rigney believes the cause isn’t important to Kelly or his compatriots, who he accuses of being part of a network of paid activists who wait for an opportune opening to wreak havoc. “I think Minneapolis, because of the George Floyd riots, the Black Lives Matter organizations were already sort of there but had just kind of been latent and inactive,” Rigney said. “And now there’s a new thing that has kind of triggered them … So I think that the same groups that were agitating about that then have found a kind of a new cause of the moment to allow them to protest.” Rigney says he hopes the Trump administration will prosecute everyone involved in disrupting these church services to “send a message that that’s unacceptable.” And the Department of Justice has already announced that it is investigating the protest for violations of federal civil rights laws and the FACE Act, which protects religious worshippers from intimidation or obstruction based on ideological differences. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon called the protest “UnAmerican and outrageous.” Local Minneapolis law enforcement does not look likely to act. The police department monitored the service but made no immediate arrests as demonstrators left the building after the service had been stopped. Police officials said they were working to balance respect for both free speech and the right of congregations to worship without disruption. Asked how he responds to charges from Kelly and the other protestors that it is not Christian to support ICE’s work, Rigney, who published a 2025 book on the misuse of empathy, said he doubts they have much understanding of Christianity. “I think that kind of rhetoric is an attempt to steer,” he said. “Particularly coming from people who likely aren’t Christians or at least aren’t Bible-believing Christians … It is an attempt to steer and sabotage Christians so that they won’t resist the lawlessness that the left is seeking to impose.” Rigney believes the Christian response to such attacks is greater boldness. “In the book of Acts, you saw precisely this kind of lawlessness,” he said. “You had mobs, you had shouting false accusations. You had government officials encouraging it in the way that the Democrats are doing right now. And in that day, Christians gathered together, and they prayed for boldness.” “That’s what Christians ought to meet this with.”