January 16, 2026 — Today's Conservative Cartoon

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that the international situation has been “increasingly deteriorating,” saying that old conflicts are reigniting and new ones are flaring up.. Putin said that International dialogue is being replaced by [...] The post Putin Warns That The Global Situation Is ‘Deteriorating’ appeared first on The People's Voice.

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President Donald Trump weighs military action in Minneapolis, the White House maintains pressure on Iran as Trump ratchets down his rhetoric, and the Senate hears the testimony against mail-order abortion pills. It’s Friday, January 16, 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: Trump Threatens Insurrection Act As tensions remain high in Minneapolis following another ICE shooting on Wednesday, President Trump is threatening to invoke a centuries-old law. According to the Department of Homeland Security, an agent was attempting to detain an illegal immigrant when the man fled on foot. As the agent caught up to him, two more illegal immigrants emerged from a nearby apartment and began attacking him with a snow shovel and broomstick, DHS said. The agent fired a shot in self-defense, striking the first man in the leg. All three men were eventually detained. On Thursday, Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act unless “the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E.” The 1807 law authorized the president to deploy the military on U.S. soil to suppress an insurrection or violent unrest when the state is unable to do so. It also applies to cases in which a state is unable or unwilling to enforce federal law. Trump Eases Tensions With Iran, But Military Threat Remains President Trump keeps the world on edge with his plans for Iran. On Tuesday, speculation circulated that an American strike against Iran is coming soon. Iran closed its airspace, and reports said some American personnel were evacuating the region. But Trump took a step back, telling reporters that his administration had been informed that the Iranian regime had stayed executions scheduled for Wednesday. Still, reports suggest the United States is moving military assets into the region, and the White House insists that Trump has not ruled out military action. The situation between Washington and Tehran remains tense. Senators Scrutinize Abortion Pill Senators heard testimony this week about the abortion pill, now by far the leading means of abortion in the United States. Particularly at issue is the Biden-era policy that stripped away the requirement that a woman consult with a physician in person before taking the pill, mifepristone. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), a physician, spoke to Morning Wire about a recent congressional hearing on abortion pills. According to Cassidy, Americans need to be better informed about the risks. He also said that lawmakers need to reverse Biden-era rules that allow people to obtain the pills without an in-person interview with a doctor. That change would eliminate cases “in which someone else ordered the abortion pill and forced the pregnant woman to take them,” Cassidy said.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly met with interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez on Thursday in Caracas to discuss economic cooperation and intensifying efforts against drug trafficking.  An American official told The New York Times that the purpose of Ratcliffe’s meeting was “to deliver the message that the United States looks forward to an improved working relationship” with Venezuela. Rodriguez, who spoke with President Donald Trump during a phone call on Wednesday, became the interim leader of Venezuela after American forces captured dictator Nicolás Maduro. “During the meeting in Caracas, Director Ratcliffe discussed potential opportunities for economic collaboration and that Venezuela can no longer be a safe haven for America’s adversaries, especially narcotraffickers,” an American official confirmed to CNN.  The unidentified American official told the Times that allowing Rodriguez to remain in power for now would help prevent Venezuela from “descending into some chaotic situation” and would allow her to “cooperate and coordinate with the U.S. government.” Before Maduro’s capture, the CIA carried out a reported strike on a Venezuelan port that U.S. officials said was used to load drugs onto boats bound for North America. Earlier this month, Trump announced a controversial oil deal with Venezuela in which the country would provide the United States with between 30 million and 50 million barrels of sanctioned crude oil. With the money made from oil sales, Trump said that Venezuela would purchase American agricultural, medical, and electrical equipment.  Ratcliffe’s meeting with Rodriguez came after Trump met with Venezuela opposition leader María Corina Machado.  “María presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done,” said Trump. “Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you, María!” Top Trump officials have reiterated the administration’s commitment to long-term democratic elections in Venezuela; however, the president has not set a timeline for when elections might take place. ​​“We have to fix the country first. You can’t have an election. There’s no way the people could even vote,” Trump said in an interview last week. “No, it’s going to take a period of time. We have to nurse the country back to health.”