Category: Policies

Federal prosecutors open criminal investigation into the Fed and Jerome Powell | CNN Business

Federal prosecutors have initiated a criminal investigation into the Federal Reserve’s $2.5 billion headquarters renovation in Washington, DC, according to CNN Business reporting on January 11, 2026. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell stated in a Sunday evening video that the investigation constitutes “pretext” stemming from the administration’s ongoing pressure regarding interest rate policy, characterizing it as part of broader “threats and ongoing pressure” directed at the Fed’s independence.

Powell directly attributed the investigation to the Federal Reserve’s decision to set interest rates based on economic conditions rather than presidential preferences. “The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President,” Powell said, emphasizing that the investigation threatens the Fed’s ability to conduct monetary policy free from political intimidation.

Trump has previously threatened to sue Powell over the renovation project, claiming mismanagement and cost overruns. Trump allies including Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought have publicly attacked the project’s management, though the Federal Reserve maintains the upgrades were necessary for critical infrastructure improvements, including asbestos removal and electrical system replacements.

The investigation arrives as Trump escalates his campaign to reshape Federal Reserve leadership, having already targeted Fed Governor Lisa Cook with removal efforts while preparing to announce Powell’s successor ahead of his May term expiration. The Justice Department declined substantive comment but stated through spokesperson Chad Gilmartin that the attorney general prioritizes investigating “any abuse of tax payer dollars.”

(Source: https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/11/business/federal-prosecutors-criminal-investigation-federal-reserve-chair-jerome-powell)

Donald Trump Orders Army Chiefs to Draw Up Plan to Invade NATO Ally Greenland

President Trump has directed the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to prepare an invasion plan for Greenland, according to sources cited by the Mail on Sunday. Political adviser Stephen Miller and other administration hawks have accelerated this effort following the operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, viewing the window of opportunity as closing before mid-term elections later in 2026.

Senior military officials, including the joint chiefs of staff, are resisting the directive on grounds that an invasion would be illegal and lack Congressional support. Military sources describe Trump’s demands as unrealistic, with one comparing the situation to “dealing with a five-year-old.” The generals have attempted deflection by proposing alternative military operations, such as intercepting Russian “ghost” ships or launching strikes on Iran.

British diplomats have war-gamed scenarios involving Trump using force or political coercion to sever Greenland’s ties to Denmark, including a “worst-case scenario” described as leading to “the destruction of NATO from the inside.” Diplomatic cables indicate that Trump could advance from escalatory demands to a “compromise scenario” in which Denmark grants full military access to Greenland and denies it to Russia and China, with a NATO summit in July identified as potential timing for such a deal.

Trump previously declared he would acquire Greenland “easy way” or “hard way” regardless of local consent or Danish sovereignty. The administration has also discussed direct cash payments to Greenland’s 57,000 residents, ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per person, as a strategy to encourage secession from Denmark.

Diplomatic sources suspect that dismantling NATO may be Trump’s actual objective, with one cable stating: “If Trump wants to end NATO, this might be the most convenient way to do it.” European officials fear Trump will act before the summer mid-term window closes, making early 2026 the likely timeframe for escalatory moves. The UK’s alignment with European allies or breakaway support for Trump’s approach will be critical to the outcome.

(Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15452323/Donald-Trump-orders-army-chiefs-plan-invade-Greenland-President.html)

France changes its G7 schedule because Trump is busy with White House UFC fight on his birthday: report

French officials rescheduled the Group of 7 summit from June 14-16 to June 15-17 after Trump announced plans to host a UFC fight at the White House on June 14, his 80th birthday. A White House official stated the summit was moved to “accommodate” Trump’s schedule, claiming international partners “kindly shifted dates” because Trump’s attendance was “essential.” France’s government declined to explicitly confirm the UFC event prompted the change, attributing the rescheduling to “consultations with G7 partners.”

Trump announced the White House UFC event during an October rally in Norfolk, Virginia, stating he would host a “big UFC fight” on the White House grounds on June 14. UFC CEO Dana White confirmed logistical planning is underway and disclosed the event will accommodate approximately 5,000 spectators on the White House lawn, with large screens, a stage, and music scheduled throughout the day. White indicated that fighters will walk directly from the Oval Office to the venue.

Trump is a documented UFC enthusiast who has attended multiple fights, including one in November 2024 with his son and Elon Musk. The scheduling change demonstrates how Trump’s personal entertainment commitments now direct diplomatic calendars, with world leaders accommodating his birthday event over established international protocols.

Trump attended the previous G7 summit in Canada but departed early, citing Middle East tensions. His prioritization of a UFC event over the standard G7 schedule reflects his pattern of treating official duties as secondary to personal interests and entertainment.

(Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/france-changes-g7-schedule-because-003823827.html)

Smithsonian scrubs negative info about Trump from caption of presidential portrait: report – Raw Story

The Smithsonian Institution removed references to Trump’s two impeachments and the January 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection from his official presidential portrait caption at the National Portrait Gallery, according to The Washington Post. A Trump official had previously complained about the caption, which documented his impeachments on charges of abuse of power and incitement of insurrection, as well as his Senate acquittal in both trials. The institution also replaced the portrait photograph itself with a new image showing Trump with his fists on the Resolute Desk, removing the prior photo by Washington Post photojournalist Matt McClain.

The revised caption now contains only Trump’s years in office, making it substantially shorter than the previous text and leaving a visible outline of the old placard on the wall beneath it. This alteration contradicts the Smithsonian’s treatment of other former presidents’ portraits, which continue to include significant events from their administrations. Former President Bill Clinton’s portrait caption, for example, still mentions his impeachment, demonstrating the selective erasure applied only to Trump’s historical record.

The action reflects ongoing Trump administration efforts to systematically dismantle the Smithsonian’s historical narratives through pressure and institutional control. The removal of documented facts about impeachment proceedings and the Capitol attack from the official record demonstrates direct censorship of American history within a federal institution.

This revision represents a factual omission that rewrites the historical record available to the public visiting the National Portrait Gallery. By removing impeachment documentation from Trump’s portrait while preserving it for Clinton, the Smithsonian has created an inconsistent standard that privileges Trump’s image over historical accuracy and transparency about presidential conduct.

(Source: https://www.rawstory.com/trump-portrait-2674872324/)

US quits global organisation dedicated to preventing violent extremism | Reuters

The Trump administration withdrew U.S. support from the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) on Wednesday as part of a broader pullout from 35 international agencies and 31 U.N. entities deemed misaligned with U.S. interests. GCERF, a Geneva-based organization supporting extremism prevention programs across dozens of vulnerable countries, was eliminated without explanation according to Dr. Khalid Koser, the fund’s director.

Koser stated the decision reflects an ideological shift toward security-focused counterterrorism over multilateral prevention strategies, telling Reuters: “I think it’s a mistake to take out that fundamental piece of prevention. But I don’t think this administration believes in prevention.” The withdrawal contradicts Trump’s stated “America First” foreign policy positioning, as the U.S. originally helped establish GCERF’s programs including reintegration efforts in northeast Syria for families from Islamic State militant circles.

The timing of the withdrawal undermines global security objectives, as extremist violence risks are at their highest level since the 2011 Arab Spring, with escalating attacks documented in Afghanistan, the Sahel region, and northeast Syria camps holding tens of thousands of Islamic State family members vulnerable to radicalization. The 2025 Global Terrorism Index recorded terrorist attacks in 66 countries in 2024, up from 58 in 2023, reversing a decade of improvement and marking a severe deterioration in global security conditions.

Simultaneous with the GCERF withdrawal, the Trump administration quit the 30-nation Global Counterterrorism Forum, further dismantling collaborative international security infrastructure. GCERF now carries the global prevention burden largely alone with a $50 million annual budget insufficient to address expanding gaps left by mass U.S. foreign aid cuts implemented last year.

Koser warned that abandoning prevention work compounds future threats, stating: “If you don’t work on prevention, then in 10 years time, you’re going to have lots of terrorists and lots of problems.” The White House did not respond to requests for comment on the decision.

(Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-quits-global-organisation-dedicated-preventing-violent-extremism-2026-01-09/?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=69617cc5e2c00a000174139f&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwdGRleAPPyMFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe9L9Z_kiKuO10bQQLMkADhMMduDDDaLHmNyKckGNc8OUu6nQtboNAGfEIpIQ_aem_2qQIBLazr7EgIYpJqLB-RA)

US carries out strikes in Syria as part of ongoing retaliation against ISIS | CNN Politics

The US military launched extensive strikes against ISIS positions in Syria on January 10, 2026, as part of “Operation Hawkeye Strike,” an ongoing retaliatory campaign. US Central Command reported that forces fired over 90 precision munitions targeting more than 35 locations using more than two dozen aircraft at approximately 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

Operation Hawkeye Strike began on December 19, 2025, in response to an ISIS attack in Palmyra, Syria that occurred on December 13, 2025, killing two US soldiers and one civilian interpreter. The soldiers were identified as Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, Iowa, both members of the Iowa National Guard. Three additional Iowa National Guard members were wounded in the attack.

The Iowa National Guard deployed approximately 1,800 troops to the Middle East earlier in 2025 as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the US mission to combat ISIS. US Central Command stated in its release: “Our message remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice.”

Hundreds of American troops remain stationed in Syria supporting the longstanding US counterterrorism mission. The goal of Operation Hawkeye is to deliver significant damage to ISIS remnants in Syria and diminish their capacity to threaten US forces in the region.

(Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/10/politics/syria-strike-retaliatory-isis)

Trump orders ‘my representatives’ to buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds in effort to lower housing costs | CNN Business

President Trump announced on January 8, 2026, that he ordered “my representatives” to purchase $200 billion in mortgage bonds to lower housing costs and mortgage rates. Trump claimed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, government-owned mortgage entities he did not sell during his first term, are now worth “an absolute fortune” and possess sufficient cash reserves to fund the directive.

Historically, the Federal Reserve has been the primary purchaser of mortgage-backed securities, with large-scale purchases during the pandemic contributing to historically low mortgage rates. When entities purchase mortgage bonds, interest rates on mortgages typically decline, though the mechanism is indirect—the Fed does not directly control mortgage loan rates, and other factors influence pricing. Trump’s framing of the action as executive authority ignores that such major financial operations typically require congressional approval.

Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency overseeing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac operations, stated his agency would implement the initiative, writing “We are on it, Mr. President!” immediately after Trump’s announcement. Trump provided no details regarding the identity of his representatives, implementation timeline, or execution methodology, creating uncertainty about feasibility and legal authority for the purchase directive.

The housing market faces structural challenges independent of Trump’s mortgage bond purchases. America has a shortage of approximately 4 million homes according to Goldman Sachs Research, and current inventory and sales remain near their lowest levels since the 2010 financial crisis, indicating supply constraints rather than interest rate problems as the primary affordability driver.

Trump has previously considered privatizing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac through initial public offerings during both his first term and recently, with reports indicating Trump uses government entities and appropriations to fund priorities while claiming alternative funding sources. His use of possessive language—”my representatives,” “my military,” “my generals”—demonstrates his treatment of government institutions as personal assets rather than independent entities accountable to law and constitutional process.

(Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/08/business/mortgage-bonds-trump-purchase-rates?Date=20260108&Profile=CNN+Politics&utm_content=1767910276&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwdGRleAPOXvFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeoJRnKbPnWzIqjBVI2QXlOSMrn84-JBArpue4hMNxT0KIRv_148M8S6HTD8Y_aem_9IAlfe8jwKHuyECCp-wLrg)

‘His dementia is acting up’: Internet skewers Trump for bizarre new ‘elections’ claim – Raw Story

During a Fox News interview Thursday night, Trump claimed Venezuela “wouldn’t know how to have an election,” despite the country conducting elections as recently as last year. When asked by Sean Hannity whether Venezuela would hold free and fair elections, Trump pivoted to stating his administration would control Venezuelan oil infrastructure and “make a lot of money” from the operation.

Social media users and political observers immediately flagged the statement as disconnected from reality. Veteran Frank C stated Trump’s remark indicated cognitive decline, while activist Matthew J Shochat pointed out that Venezuela held an election last year and that Trump’s preferred replacement leader was involved in that election’s irregularities. Former foreign correspondent Roland Ley characterized Trump’s position as “US colonization” rather than liberation.

Political analyst WarMonitor summarized Trump’s stated priorities as replacing one dictatorship with another, with Trump personally running the country. Former Navy wife Rebecca Clester directly challenged Trump’s claim, asking what “closet” he had been living in and highlighting that his explicit focus remains extracting Venezuelan oil rather than establishing democratic governance.

The remarks underscore Trump’s stated intention to personally control Venezuelan oil revenues following the U.S. invasion of Venezuela. Trump has publicly outlined plans to sell 30 to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil at market rates under his personal oversight, while also proposing that U.S. taxpayers reimburse oil companies for Venezuelan infrastructure reconstruction.

Trump’s election claim contradicts documented Venezuelan electoral processes and reflects his administration’s framing of military intervention as resource extraction rather than democratic restoration.

(Source: https://www.rawstory.com/trump-venezuela-2674863947/)

Trump dials Collins with ‘profanity-laced rant’ over Venezuela war powers vote

President Trump conducted a profanity-laden phone call with Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) on Thursday after she voted with Democrats on a war powers resolution blocking military action against Venezuela. According to two Senate GOP sources, Trump verbally attacked Collins during the call, which passed 52-47, stating the resolution undermined his authority as commander-in-chief. The call came unexpectedly, as Trump and Collins do not communicate regularly.

Following the vote, Trump posted on Truth Social that Collins and four other Senate Republicans who supported the resolution—Josh Hawley, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, and Todd Young—”should never be elected to office again.” Trump claimed the vote “greatly hampers American Self Defense and National Security” and strips him of powers necessary to defend the country. Senate Majority Leader John Thune characterized Trump as “fired up” before the vote and described the social media posts as a “short-term, immediate reaction.”

Collins responded to Trump’s public condemnation by telling reporters his reaction indicates he would prefer to see her replaced by a Democratic opponent in November’s election. The Maine senator, widely viewed as the most vulnerable Republican incumbent seeking reelection, did not engage further with Trump’s attacks but suggested his preference for her loss by referencing potential challengers including Democratic Governor Janet Mills.

This episode demonstrates Trump’s willingness to weaponize both direct intimidation and public statements against members of his own party who exercise independent judgment on national security matters. The incident reflects a pattern of Trump attacking opponents through name-calling and intimidation when they oppose his directives, extending that approach to Senate Republicans who deviate from his preferred policy positions.

(Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5682106-trump-collins-call-venezuela-vote/)

Trump Vows to Acquire Greenland ‘Easy Way’ or ‘Hard Way’

President Trump declared during a Friday meeting with oil executives that he will “do something” regarding Greenland “whether they like it or not,” explicitly threatening action through either an “easy way” or “hard way.” Trump rejected a reporter’s question about financial inducements to Greenland’s residents, stating he is considering unspecified action regardless of local consent or Danish sovereignty.

Trump justified forced acquisition by invoking geopolitical threats, claiming Russian and Chinese military assets near Greenland necessitate U.S. control to prevent rival powers from occupying the territory. He cited the presence of Russian destroyers, Chinese vessels, and submarines as rationale for his stated determination to act unilaterally, dismissing Denmark’s 500-year historical claim to the autonomous region.

The White House has previously confirmed that military intervention remains an option for acquiring Greenland, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt designating the acquisition as a “national security priority.” The administration has also discussed direct cash payments ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per resident as a coercive strategy, totaling approximately $6 billion if applied universally to Greenland’s 57,000 inhabitants.

Trump expressed purported admiration for Denmark while dismissing its legal authority over Greenland based on historical precedent. His framing of acquisition as inevitable—not conditional on Danish agreement or democratic consent from Greenland’s population—represents an explicit rejection of international law and the sovereignty of NATO ally Denmark.

These statements escalate Trump’s position that his authority is constrained only by “his own morality,” treating territorial acquisition as subject exclusively to his discretionary judgment rather than international legal frameworks or diplomatic protocol governing U.S.-allied relations.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/trump-promises-to-do-something-on-greenland-whether-they-like-it-or-not/)

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