Minneapolis protests turn violent after a shooting involving an ICE agent turns fatal, the United States seizes two oil tankers attempting to run the Venezuelan blockade, and the Trump administration releases dramatically new dietary guidelines. It’s Thursday, January 8, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below: ICE Officer Fatally Shoots Woman Who Drove Car Toward Him A 37-year-old woman was shot and killed in Minneapolis on Wednesday morning by an ICE officer. The chaotic scene was captured on video and replayed across major network news for the rest of the day. The video showed a woman in her vehicle appearing to block the street. ICE agents approached her car and told her to get out of the vehicle. She disregarded the agents, backed up her car, then drove forward toward an ICE agent. One angle appears to show the car making contact with an ICE officer before the fatal shot was fired. Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz urged nationwide demonstrations against ICE and ordered the state’s National Guard to prepare for deployment. The Trump administration defended the ICE agents, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem saying the woman attempted to “weaponize her vehicle” and was shot in self-defense. U.S. Seizes Venezuela-Tied ‘Dark’ Tanker Flying Russian Flag The Trump administration continues to exert pressure on Venezuela, seizing two oil tankers on Wednesday, one flying under a Russian flag. As part of its effort to evade American sanctions, Venezuela has deployed a so-called “dark” or “shadow fleet” of oil tankers that often sail outside of legal shipping lanes and deploy false flags. The U.S. Coast Guard seized one such vessel on Wednesday after it had evaded capture last year when it sailed from Venezuela to Iran. Mid-journey, the Bella 1, as it is called, began flying a Russian flag and changed its registration to Russia. Russia even intervened diplomatically with the United States, urging the U.S. to end the pursuit. Russia sent several vessels to escort the tanker, but the U.S. military seized it anyway. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the crew of that vessel is “under full investigation and criminal charges will be pursued against all culpable actors.” Moscow claimed the ship had been given lawful permission to fly under a Russian flag and slammed the seizure as “piracy.” RFK Jr. Flips The Food Pyramid Fulfilling another MAHA promise, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has flipped the food pyramid and announced sweeping changes to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). The food pyramid has been completely flipped to prioritize healthy fats and protein and limit or avoid ultra-processed foods. During a press conference on Wednesday, Kennedy and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the “war” on “healthy fats” is over and recommended that Americans include nutrient-dense protein in every meal, such as eggs, poultry, seafood, and red meat. At the bottom of the pyramid – now the smallest part of the pyramid – are fiber-rich whole grains, but the DGA emphasizes that refined carbohydrates should be avoided. The guidance also says to “avoid highly processed, packaged, prepared, or ‘ready-to-eat’ foods,” as well as “sugar-sweetened beverages, like soda, fruit drinks, and energy drinks.”

(Reuters) – Two people were killed, and at least six others were injured in a shooting during an altercation outside a funeral at a church in the Utah capital of Salt Lake City, police said on Wednesday, as they launched a manhunt for suspects. The situation was still fluid after Wednesday’s initial report of the incident in the parking lot outside a chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a police spokesperson said. “Out in the parking lot, there was some sort of altercation and that’s when shots were fired,” Glen Mills told reporters, adding that a funeral service was being held in the church at the time. Among at least eight adult victims, two died of their injuries, the police said, while three of the survivors were critical and the medical condition of the rest was not known. Police said they launched a manhunt for the suspects and aimed to interview witnesses among the dozens of people who attended the funeral. The FBI said it was offering assistance. “We don’t believe this was a targeted attack against a religion or anything like that,” a police officer told a later press conference on live television. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the Mormon church, follows the teachings of Jesus Christ and the 19th-century prophecies of Joseph Smith. In a statement, it said it was cooperating with law enforcement after a serious incident outside a church meeting-house as a memorial service was being held in the chapel. “We extend prayers for all who have been impacted by this tragedy and express deep concern that any sacred space intended for worship should be subjected to violence of any kind,” it added. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Michelle Nichols and Clarence Fernandez)  

Prince William and Kate Middleton may be the future king and queen, but they’re also parents to three young children. Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis keep the pair quite busy with lots of activities. George loves soccer, Charlotte plays piano, and Louis is quite the rugby player. Of course, kids who stay active outside the home also want something fun to do while they relax. The royals may not have the same kind of home life as all of us, but Prince William and Kate Middleton make sure their family has some of the usual things we have in our homes. One thing the royals are very passionate about is their dog, Orla. The cocker spaniel had a litter of puppies in June, and it looks like Kate and William kept one for themselves. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales) William and Kate Adore their Four-Legged Family Members For Prince William’s birthday in June, Kate Middleton posted a photo of her husband along with Orla and her puppies. The future king appeared smitten with the pups, so it’s no big surprise they might have kept one for themselves. People reported that Kate and William have been seen with a second dog recently, which likely came from Orla’s litter. It’s no surprise William and Kate might have welcomed a new puppy into the family. The extended royal family has quite the affinity for animals, particularly Queen Camilla. She and King Charles launched their own line of dog treats last summer. “Our Royal Dog Treats are now available online as part of the Balmoral Pet Collection.Hand-baked in the Balmoral Castle kitchens, these 100% natural biscuits are lovingly made in small batches using wholemeal flour, egg, and chicken stock,” an Instagram post reads. “Each bag contains 75g of wholesome goodness your dog will love.” If William and Kate did welcome a new furry friend into the family, we’re sure they’ll have plenty of snuggles, love, and treats. This story’s featured image is by Chris Jackson – Pool via Samir Hussein/WireImage.

A group of pro-life doctors are calling on the Trump administration to promptly review the safety of the abortion pill.  “As physicians who uphold the Hippocratic oath to do no harm, we oppose any delay in a much-needed safety review of mifepristone that prioritizes political expediency over patient safety,” five doctors told the Trump administration in a letter Thursday.   The four-page letter, addressed specially to Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Martin A. Makary and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., calls on the administration to immediately take action to safeguard women from the alleged risks of the abortion pill known as mifepristone.   The process of a chemical abortion begins when a woman takes mifepristone, which blocks the baby in the womb from receiving the hormone progesterone. Without progesterone, the lining of the uterus deteriorates, ultimately resulting in the unborn child’s death.    After 22 state attorneys general asked the Food and Drug Administration to review the safety of the abortion pill last year, the Department of Health and Human Services announced in September plans to “review of the evidence, including real-world outcomes and evidence, relating to the safety and efficacy of the drug.”   Despite the pledge, the review has not yet been conducted. The doctors requested “an urgent, thorough review of mifepristone’s safety.” The five doctors said they were “deeply concerned” about the delay, in the letter to Makary and Kennedy.   “We were promised a thorough review, but instead the medical community has received empty words and delayed actions,” the doctors added.  The five doctors are leaders of life-affirming medical groups that claim to represent “tens of thousands of pro-life obstetricians/gynecologists, pediatricians, family physicians, and other medical professionals.” They include Christina Francis, CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life OB-GYNs; Michelle K. Stanford, president of the Catholic Medical Association; and Donna Harrison, MDboard chair of the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine; Mike Chupp, MD, CEO of the Christian Medical and Dental Association; and Mike Artigues, MD, president of the American College of Pediatricians. In 2000, the Clinton administration approved the use of mifepristone to terminate a pregnancy, but also subjected the drug to its safeguards for higher-risk medications. The Obama and Biden administrations subsequently removed some safeguards.   In 2016, the FDA authorized its use for up to 10 weeks after a woman’s last period, an extension from the previous seven-week limit. Under the Biden administration, the FDA permanently removed the in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone. The doctors are asking that the previous safety requirements for the pill be reinstated. They also requested an ultrasound requirement for all women seeking chemical abortions, to confirm the age of the baby and ensure the woman is not experiencing an ectopic pregnancy.   Over 10% of the women who have taken the abortion pill “experienced severe complications, including infection, hemorrhage, surgical intervention, or undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy,” according to the doctors, citing a report from the Ethics and Public Policy Center.   “This rate is consistent with what our clinicians observe and suggests the true risk may be 22 times higher than previously disclosed,” they added.   In December, Makary told The Daily Signal’s Elizabeth Mitchell the review of the abortion drug mifepristone is in the “data acquisition phase” following a report saying he is delaying the review.   “We do an ongoing review, but we’re also engaging in a robust study that can serve to validate or not validate other numbers that have been put out there in the literature,” Makary said.   EXCLUSIVE??: @DrMakaryFDA responded to a report saying he is delaying the review of the abortion pill.The FDA is currently in the “data acquisition phase” of the review," he told @DailySignal.“We do an ongoing review, but we’re also engaging in a robust study that can serve… pic.twitter.com/bhkTwXqvby— Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell (@TheElizMitchell) December 9, 2025 Now, the authors of the letter to Makary and Kennedy are asking for immediate action, saying that Makary’s “ongoing review” wouldn’t turn up any “new complications” since the FDA “stopped collecting data on mifepristone complications in 2016.”   “Additionally,” the doctors continue, “if ongoing safety evaluations have been occurring, where are the results of those evaluations, and what data is the FDA relying on?”Information from the evaluations would be “indispensable for providing fully informed consent to our patients,” they noted. “It’s time for this administration to fulfill its commitment to women and the medical community and address this public health crisis with the seriousness and urgency it requires,” the doctors tell Kennedy and Makary. “We stand ready to provide expert input and data from our members to support this process.”  2026.01.08 Medical Organizations LetterDownload The post EXCLUSIVE: Pro-Life Doctors Ask Trump Admin to Review Safety of Abortion Pill Now   appeared first on The Daily Signal.

The British socialist newspaper The Guardian is upset that CBS News might become less radical, publishing an article provocatively titled “‘Blood in the water’: Bari Weiss‘ chaotic first three months in charge of CBS News.” This spin announces an agenda: Weiss must be stopped! The Left cannot stand any outlet on their side moving two degrees toward the center. Any tiptoe to the middle is “anti-journalism.” Any hint at an opposing conservative view is a slippery slope to “misinformation.” Guardian “media and power reporter” Jeremy Barr quoted a pile of anonymous CBS staffers in service to his anti-Weiss agenda. He referred in this story to a previously unreported Nov. 6 “blow-up among staffers about language choices when writing about transgender individuals.” A “prominent correspondent”—which Semafor reporter Maxwell Tani claimed was legal correspondent Jan Crawford—sent an email that said CBS “should refrain from adopting terminology advocated by the movement,” referring to guidance from the Trans Journalists Association’s stylebook. A producer responded angrily to the email, writing: “It’s a TJA style ‘guide’ – that’s what I’m trying to do. Guide us to better coverage.” They define “better” as “accepted by our ideological allies.” Now this is where the rubber meets the road. Wokeness dominates the elitist media. “Style books” are surrender manuals to ideological manipulation of terminology. Facts are shredded in favor of feelings. So, you get Orwellian terms like “gender-affirming care” to describe trying to erase your actual gender. This is why Barr and Co. hated new CBS anchor Tony Dokoupil’s proclamation that “we’ve taken into account the perspective of advocates and not the average American. Or we put too much weight in the analysis of academics or elites, and not enough on you.” Transgender ideology is a perfect example. They believe advocates and elites should tell the undereducated “average American” what to think and how to talk. The Trans Journalism Association demands that “better” coverage means you avoid any reference to actual biological facts in deference to the transgender imagination. Reality is whatever they decide it is, it’s “gender-expansive.” So you get instructions like these: “Avoid references to being born female or born a girl, etc.” That’s too factual. When it comes to removing breasts or penises, “Terms like ‘mutilation,’ ‘sterilization,’ and ‘social contagion’ invoke common misinformation and disinformation.” This is because they are the spreaders of the “social contagion” but hate the description. They hate the term “culture war” because they aim to win it without a real battle. Don’t mention biology. “Noun phrases like biological men, biological males, biological women, or biological females are often used by anti-trans groups to invoke a person’s assigned sex at birth as their ‘real’ gender, in contrast to their gender identity.” You have to love “real” in quotes. Don’t say the ideologues are ideological. The term “gender ideology” is described as “a charged term commonly deployed by anti-trans commentators and activists that implies trans people, merely by being trans, are participating in a political activity or have a political agenda.” They are. That’s obvious. That’s why they are intimidating the media into a political lingo. Then they double down: “There is no such thing as transgenderism any more than there is a ‘gay agenda’; the -ism as used in transgenderism implies that a trans person’s gender is a political philosophy, not a demographic characteristic.” But it is obviously a philosophy, which seeks to dominate by insisting it’s not. Their own messaging on Instagram boasts of “shaping journalism into the industry we deserve” and “transforming the journalism industry” and urging people to “Support the Movement.” But don’t call it ideological! COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post Will CBS News Go ‘Unwoke’ on ‘Gender-Expansive’ Lingo? appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Mamdani's First Test: He's Sticking By His Racist, Communist 'Tenant Advocate'

MRC Watchdogs churn out breaking news on a daily basis. Don't miss Today's Highlights, where you can keep up with the top MRC content, whether it's the latest study on media bias, a glaring omission from the elitist media, or how the Big Tech companies are serving up the same leftist spin as the media.  Top Stories: Big 4 News Apps Conceal Trump’s Venezuela Victory, Spout Dem Narrative PolitiFact Editor Is FALSE: They're Not 'Checking Both Sides,' They're Hammering the GOP FLASHBACK: NY Times Moronically Blamed ‘Brutal Capitalism’ for Venezuela’s Demise House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Hearing: “Oversight of Fraud and Misuse of Federal Funds in Minnesota” MRC UPDATED study on network coverage to come later today     Big 4 News Apps Conceal Trump’s Venezuela Victory, Spout Dem Narrative   Major News Apps Buried Trump's Venezuela Victory: The Big 4 aggregators (Apple News, Google News, Yahoo News, and MSN) downplayed or concealed President Trump's achievement in arresting and exfiltrating Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, with minimal story counts—such as MSN featuring only 4 Venezuela pieces out of 60 top stories—while prioritizing trivial entertainment and non-news items like celebrity deaths or viral videos. Negative Framing Promoted Anti-Trump Narratives: Coverage that did appear was overwhelmingly negative and sourced from left-leaning outlets like The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and The Guardian, framing the event as Trump "threatening" allies, clashing with Congress, or risking legal issues, rather than celebrating the liberation of Venezuelans from Maduro's regime. Aggregators Amplify Democratic Bias, Distorting Public Access: By relying on biased sources and neglecting balanced reporting, these apps—key news funnels for millions—spout Democratic talking points, undermining neutral journalism and public understanding of major events, as evidenced by a Reuters Institute report on aggregator influence. PolitiFact Editor Is FALSE: They're Not 'Checking Both Sides,' They're Hammering the GOP PolitiFact's Massive Imbalance in Negative Ratings: In 2025, NewsBusters analysis showed Republicans received "Mostly False" or worse ratings in 84.9% of fact checks (124 out of 146), compared to just 34.6% for Democrats (17 out of 49)—a stark disparity that contradicts claims of even-handed scrutiny. Overwhelming Focus on Hammering Trump and GOP: President Trump alone faced 63 fact checks in 2025, with 92% rated "Mostly False" or worse and zero "True" or "Mostly True," while even VP J.D. Vance was hit at 89% negative—far exceeding the lighter touch on Democrats like Kamala Harris (50% negative in limited checks). Editor’s Defense Rings Hollow Amid Liberal Tilt: PolitiFact Editor Katie Sanders insisted they "check both sides," citing rare Democratic examples that ranked at the bottom of their own readers' poll, where lies from Republicans and allies dominated the top spots, underscoring a pattern of selective outrage aligned against the GOP. FLASHBACK: NY Times Moronically Blamed ‘Brutal Capitalism’ for Venezuela’s Demise Normal people are breathing a sigh of relief that narco-terrorist leader Nicolás Maduro is finally getting his just desserts for getting fat off of the torture of his citizens and funneling drugs into the U.S. for years. For MRC Business, it’s a moment worth recalling when the idiotas at The New York Times made their readers dumber by blaming anything but communism and socialism for Venezuela’s destruction. NYT Absurdly Pins Socialist Catastrophe on 'Brutal Capitalism': A July 2024 Times article claimed Venezuela's economic demise under Nicolás Maduro's regime resulted from shifting to "brutal capitalism," with a "state-connected minority controlling much of the nation’s wealth"—a description that perfectly fits crony socialism, not free markets, revealing the paper's desperate ideological spin. Regime's Explicit Communism Ignored in Favor of Left-Wing Apologia: Maduro has openly praised Karl Marx and the Communist Manifesto, while his Bolivarian revolution earned cheers from communist groups—yet the Times whitewashes this socialist failure, echoing its historical pattern of downplaying communist atrocities, like Walter Duranty's Stalin-era propaganda. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (EDT) Hearing: “Oversight of Fraud and Misuse of Federal Funds in Minnesota” - MRC UPDATED study on network coverage to come later today ABC, NBC Barely Touch Minnesota Fraud, While CBS Delivers the Goods ABC's Journalistic Blackout: ABC devoted just 25 seconds to the scandal, ignoring investigative details while spending nearly five times more airtime (122 seconds) portraying Somalis as victims of "fear" from ICE raids and Trump's rhetoric—clear evidence of agenda-driven reporting that shields fraud from scrutiny. NBC's Reactive Reluctance: NBC avoided the story until a viral independent journalist's video racked up over 100 million views, forcing a belated two-minute report; before that, they gave it only 65 seconds while emphasizing backlash—highlighting how big media relies on outsiders to do their job and delays exposing scandals tied to progressive favorites. CBS Stands Out for Real Journalism: Unlike its competitors, CBS delivered over eight minutes of coverage, including three full-length investigative reports uncovering new fraud details—showing that fair reporting is possible, but rare, in a landscape dominated by bias that downplays billions in taxpayer losses.                        

Long-overlooked documents housed at London's Natural History Museum testify to the exchange of information between 18th-century European botanists and their Indigenous counterparts