President Trump announced on Sunday that the Trump Kennedy Center will close for approximately two years for renovations. “After a one year review of The Trump Kennedy Center, that has taken place with Contractors, Musical Experts, Art Institutions, and other Advisors and Consultants, deciding between either Construction with Closure and Re-Opening or, Partial Construction while continuing Entertainment Operations through a much longer period of time, working in and around the Performances, I have determined that The Trump Kennedy Center, if temporarily closed for Construction, Revitalization, and Complete Rebuilding, can be, without question, the finest Performing Arts Facility of its kind, anywhere in the World. In other words, if we don’t close, the quality of Construction will not be nearly as good, and the time to completion, because of interruptions with Audiences from the many Events using the Facility, will be much longer. The temporary closure will produce a much faster and higher quality result!” Trump announced. “Based on these findings, and totally subject to Board approval, I have determined that the fastest way to bring The Trump Kennedy Center to the highest level of Success, Beauty, and Grandeur, is to cease Entertainment Operations for an approximately two year period of time, with a scheduled Grand Reopening that will rival and surpass anything that has taken place with respect to such a Facility before,” he continued. “Therefore, The Trump Kennedy Center will close on July 4th, 2026, in honor of the 250th Anniversary of our Country, whereupon we will simultaneously begin Construction of the new and spectacular Entertainment Complex. Financing is completed, and fully in place! This important decision, based on input from many Highly Respected Experts, will take a tired, broken, and dilapidated Center, one that has been in bad condition, both financially and structurally for many years, and turn it into a World Class Bastion of Arts, Music, and Entertainment, far better than it has ever been before. America will be very proud of its new and beautiful Landmark for many generations to come,” he added. Full post: USA TODAY has more: The building was formerly called the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts before the board voted unanimously on Dec. 18 to rename the venue The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. The closure comes in the wake of demolition on the East Wing of the White House for a “modernization and renovation” as a new ballroom is built. The Trump Kennedy Center last week hosted the premiere of First Lady Melania Trump’s documentary. “We are honored to host the red carpet premiere of the highly anticipated premiere, MELANIA,” Richard Grenell said in a statement. “The First Lady and Honorary Chair of the Trump Kennedy Center is an incredible champion of the Arts,” he added. “We are honored to host the red carpet premiere of the highly anticipated premiere, MELANIA," @RichardGrenell said in a statement. "The First Lady and Honorary Chair of the Trump Kennedy Center is an incredible champion of the Arts.” https://t.co/pDAbYvyGh1 — The Trump Kennedy Center (@kencen) January 31, 2026 Fox News shared further: President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walked the red carpet with several famous friends ahead of the world premiere of the new documentary “MELANIA” at the Trump Kennedy Center on Thursday. The film, from Amazon MGM Studios and directed by Brett Ratner, chronicles the first lady’s life leading up to Trump’s 2025 inauguration from her home in Trump Tower in New York City to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach and captures behind-the-scenes moments at the White House. The documentary is the debut project from the first lady’s new film production company, Muse Films. Ahead of the premiere, both President Trump and Melania Trump weighed in on how much more outspoken the first lady has been this term. “I’ve noticed that myself,” Trump told Fox News Digital. “She has been more outspoken. That comes with time. She’s done a great job. She’s very popular, a very respected person.” “I’m very selective in what I do, when I talk,” Melania also told Fox Digital. “And that is my choice, and I’m mission and action-oriented, and we had a very successful first year in my office as a first lady, and I’m proud of what we achieved.” Several other VIPs who walked the red carpet praised the first lady and hoped the documentary would show the public the side of her that they see.

The federal government quietly went into a partial shutdown early Saturday morning after Congress failed to finalize a budget agreement by January 30th. House Democrats are expected to rebel against a deal reached between Senate Democrats and the White House. A plan by House Republicans to fast-track the spending package on Monday likely won’t be successful. According to Axios, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) informed House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) that he should not rely on Democratic votes to end the shutdown. House opposition mounts to spending package needed to end partial shutdownhttps://t.co/ODoIvTpseP pic.twitter.com/py0a0pSdjK — The Washington Times (@WashTimes) February 2, 2026 Axios explained further: Johnson may instead be forced to try and get virtually all of his members to vote for the government funding legislation — a difficult task as some GOP lawmakers are already raising stringent objections. Jeffries informed Johnson on a Saturday call that the Democratic votes wouldn’t be there to pass the bill in a bipartisan manner, Republican and Democratic leadership sources told Axios. Democrats are hesitant to vote for the package because it contains a two-week stopgap funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security that lacks reform measures for ICE or Customs and Border Protection. Senate Democrats were split almost evenly on the measure in a Friday night vote, with the 23 Democrats who voted for it facing swift backlash from progressive groups who accused them of essentially voting to fund ICE. “I am working hard with Congress to ensure that we are able to fully fund the Government, without delay. Republicans and Democrats in Congress have come together to get the vast majority of the Government funded until September, while at the same time providing an extension to the Department of Homeland Security (including the very important Coast Guard, which we are expanding and rebuilding like never before),” Trump said last week. “Hopefully, both Republicans and Democrats will give a very much needed Bipartisan ‘YES’ Vote,” he added. JUST IN: Senate Democrats, White House Reach Agreement Amid Looming Government Shutdown Fox News has more: Some areas of the government have already been funded, but spending for the departments of War, Transportation (DOT), Health and Human Services (HHS), and Homeland Security (DHS), among others, is now in question. House Democrats do not feel bound by the deal their counterparts in the Senate struck with President Donald Trump's White House, the sources told Fox News Digital. The sources said House Democrats are also frustrated that Schumer put them in a position where they were expected to take the deal on. "Democrat division creates another government shutdown," one House Republican told Fox News Digital. But it could be difficult for House GOP leaders to corral all the votes needed as well. Multiple Republicans have already expressed concerns about the compromise requiring them to negotiate with Democrats on reining in Trump's immigration crackdown, while others like Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., are pushing their own priorities to be included in exchange for their support. Luna told Fox News Digital that she would not support the legislation if it did not include an unrelated measure that would require proof of citizenship in the voter registration process, a separate but widely accepted GOP bill.

Mark Levin and Lindsey Graham are pushing for President Trump to bomb Iran. Mark Levin is a strong advocate for Israel. As for Lindsey Graham, he always calls for war. Both appear to advise President Trump. Graham said publicly this weekend, “President Trump, you said help is on the way; it has to be real […] The post Mark Levin & Lindsey Graham Push President Trump to Bomb Iran appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is gunning for the Nashville Electric Service (NES) as thousands of Nashville residents remain without power — more than a week after Winter Storm Fern wreaked havoc on the area — and some may not see their power restored for another ten days. Blackburn argued that NES had had spent more time focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives than on the kind of preparation that could have helped them manage a massive winter storm more efficiently. “The Nashville Electric Service held 102 DEI-related training sessions by the end of 2024. They should’ve been using those resources to trim trees and bury utilities. This is what happens when companies put woke politics over the needs of the people they serve,” she posted on Sunday. Blackburn also sent a letter directly to NES demanding answers regarding the still unfolding situation in her home state — as well as a detailed plan explaining how the company planned to prevent anything similar from happening again. “The failure to adequately prepare for Winter Storm Fern is precisely the reason line crews are working overtime and citizens are clearing limbs and debris at great risk to their own safety to help friends and neighbors,” Blackburn wrote in the letter. “This disruption (crew members in the field) are working to correct reflects a failure of leadership and planning, one that could have been mitigated with thoughtful preparation ahead of the storm. You owe your customers transparency, accountability, and a clear explanation of how this breakdown occurred and how you will prevent this from happening in the future.” Blackburn gave NES a deadline of February 2 and laid out six key questions she wanted addressed. She posted the letter itself on X, adding, “By failing to properly prepare for Winter Storm Fern, @NESpower put Tennesseans in harm’s way. NES owes its customers transparency, accountability, and a clear explanation for why thousands of people remain without power. I’m demanding answers to ensure this can’t happen again.” “According to reporting by The Tennessean, experienced linemen offered to aid with storm recovery, but Nashville Electric Service declined the offer, stating it already had sufficient resources. Why did NES turn down that offer for additional personnel during a widespread outage of this magnitude?” “Given the lessons learned from past devastating storms, such as Nashville’s 1994 ice storm, why was NES not adequately prepared for Winter Storm Fern, despite ample warning and clear historical precedent?” “Forecasts warned days in advance that this would be a generational severe weather event. Why were recovery operations and service restoration plans not fully prepared and mobilized ahead of time?” “Why has there been such inconsistency in power restoration updates, with many customers being told their power has been restored when it has not, particularly given NES’s acknowledgment that it recently implemented a new outage notification and tracking system?” “Residents in some areas have been told they may be without power for up to two weeks. How does NES consider that timeline acceptable, especially for residents who rely on electricity for life-sustaining medical equipment and other critical needs?” “Due to extended outages, many residents had no choice but to seek temporary lodging. Will NES be reimbursing customers for expenses incurred during this period?” NES responded to Blackburn’s letter on Saturday, and the Tennessee Senator posted that letter as well — and said that their answers were not good enough. “@NESPower’s response to my letter is entirely insufficient. The company refused to take any accountability and is forcing Tennesseans to wait another week for full restoration of power. This is unacceptable. Whoever is responsible for this breakdown should be fired,” she said. .@NESpower’s response to my letter is entirely insufficient. The company refused to take any accountability and is forcing Tennesseans to wait another week for full restoration of power. This is unacceptable. Whoever is responsible for this breakdown should be fired. pic.twitter.com/ptaDtZC9mi — Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) February 1, 2026 In the letter, NES explained that half of the people in their entire service area (about 230,000) had lost power when the storm first hit, and that power had been restored to all but 44,000 of them. The remaining homes without power, NES assured Blackburn, would be back online within another week. But some individual cases may prove to be more difficult, as one local investigative reporter described a situation currently affecting a viewer who had written him: “Wow! From viewer regarding Nashville Electric Service issue: ‘We can’t report an outage at a single residence after others around us have been restored. We report it, and the system immediately responds that it has been restored. Neighbors have power, but we have not due to a line down in the back yard. If it doesn’t stay on the NES list as needing repair, we may never get power restored. We have been in our house for 6+ days without power, like the rest of Nashville. It’s 38-40 degrees in the house. We run a generator intermittently, and we are doing better than most. But to not be able to reliably report an outage is absurd.'” Wow! From viewer regarding Nashville Electric Service issue: “We can’t report an outage at a single residence after others around us have been restored. We report it, and the system immediately responds that it has been restored. Neighbors have power, but we have not due to a… pic.twitter.com/bH9E6k7JLm — Phil Williams (@PhilNvestigates) January 31, 2026 Blackburn made it clear on Sunday that she was frustrated with the leadership at NES, not the rank and file employees. “The linemen who are on the ground making repairs and working in the frigid temperatures to restore power are the unsung heroes of the response to this horrible winter storm. So grateful for these men and women,” she said.

'For years I quietly mocked 2A defenders'

'We have a credibility problem'

A street kitten turned out to be much older than expected. Once she was held, she began to thrive into the happiest cat. Rosie aka DaisyNikki @myfosterkittensA tiny kitten was brought to a municipal shelter after being found outside, barely clinging to life.Nikki, an experienced animal rescuer and fosterer, rushed to the shelter, knowing the kitten desperately needed help. "She was starving on the streets, suffering from malnutrition and a terrible upper respiratory infection," Nikki told Love Meow.The kitten, named Rosie, slowly lifted her head at the sound of Nikki's voice, using what little strength she had. The paperwork described her as "depressed" in her kennel. Nikki @myfosterkittensRosie was frail and had to be syringe-fed around the clock. As she continued to battle the respiratory infection, she needed help keeping her nose and face clean. Weighing just 1.6 pounds, she was severely underweight.While feeding Rosie, Nikki was surprised to discover her double fangs. Rosie was much older than she'd expected, closer to five months old, and should have been at least twice her size. Nikki @myfosterkittensDetermined to give her a fighting chance, Nikki started feeding Rosie small meals every few hours so as not to overwhelm her fragile body. She kept her warm, hydrated her with fluids, and showered her with constant affection."I knew she was going to be okay when I saw her eating and growing." Nikki @myfosterkittensAs her energy returned, so did her appetite. Rosie began eating on her own, happily tippy-tapping at mealtime. Nikki brought her to work at Hearts Alive Village so she could continue receiving care. Before long, the room was filled with Rosie's joyful purrs.Rosie enjoyed her playpen in her foster home, but nothing compared to being cuddled. The moment she was in Nikki's arms, her purr motor roared to life. "She really thrived once she was held and felt the warmth and love I gave her." Nikki @myfosterkittensDuring a vet visit to have an abscess removed, Rosie remained calm and trusting, as if she knew she was being helped. "She actually fell asleep and made biscuits with her paws the whole time. She's a total love bug, and she got a treat afterwards."Once healed, her playful spirit fully emerged. She rolled around on her cat tree and batted at toys with enthusiasm. Nikki @myfosterkittensIn two weeks, Rosie nearly doubled in size and tripled the energy. She met the resident dog, Bradley, and immediately rubbed against her, leaning in for snuggles.She also visited the Cat Cafe at Hearts Alive Village, where she met a resident cat named Harrison. After a few initial hisses, Rosie quickly warmed up to him, welcoming his affection and companionship. Nikki @myfosterkittensRosie soaked up love everywhere she went. At the cafe, she was serenaded by a pianist and adored every second of it. She curled into a perfect loaf and drifted off to sleep as the music filled the room. "She has the sweetest personality and really loves people."The days of struggling on the streets were long gone. Rosie hadn't just survived; she thrived. Nikki @myfosterkittens"She's come such a long way in foster care. She's so sweet and healthy. Her fur is super soft."When Rosie was ready for her next chapter, it didn't take long for the perfect family to find her. She melted into her new mom's arms, purring loudly. Before heading to her forever home, she shared one last cuddle with Nikki, as if to say thank you. Nikki @myfosterkittens"Little Rosie, now renamed Daisy, is in the arms of her new mama. She is already settling in beautifully and will soon meet her kitty brother, Gatsby. He has a temperament very similar to hers," Nikki shared."I'm so happy for this precious girl. She deserves all the love and care she is being showered with." Nikki @myfosterkittensShare this story with your friends. More on Nikki's fosters on Instagram @myfosterkittens and Facebook, and Hearts Alive Village @heartsaliveanimalrescue.Related story: Cat Lived by Church for Years, One Day She Starts Following Person She Trusts, Eventually Changing Her Life