Local leaders across the U.S. describe an increasingly hostile relationship with Washington, driven by President Donald Trump's immigration policies. Federal officers remain in Minneapolis despite local opposition, highlighting the growing divide. Local leaders feel pressured by federal priorities, affecting trust and stability. The tensions have upended longtime Republican arguments that the federal government should leave local governance to the states under the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Now a Republican president is articulating a muscular federal approach over the protest of Democrats. Trump has expressed frustration at reflexive resistance from Democratic mayors and governors.
The Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee is requesting records related to firms partially owned by the husband of Rep. Ilhan Omar. It's an extraordinary step of scrutinizing the spouse of a sitting House member. Rep. James Comer of Kentucky sent a letter to Timothy Mynett, a former Democratic political consultant who is married to Omar. Comer is requesting records related to a pair of companies that had a substantial jump in value between 2023 and 2024. Comer's request marked a highly unusual move by the chair of a committee with a history of taking on politically-charged investigations, but almost always focused on government officials outside of Congress.
The Kremlin says it regrets the expiration of the last remaining nuclear arms pact between Russia and the United States, while President Donald Trump declared he was against keeping its limits and wants a better deal. The end of the New START treaty left no caps on the two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in more than half a century, fueling fears of a new nuclear arms race. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed readiness Thursday to stick to the pact's limits for another year if Washington agreed. But Trump said he wants a new pact. The treaty was signed in 2010. It was extended in 2021 for five more years.
By MARY CLARE JALONICK and LISA MASCARO Associated Press
Senate Majority Leader John Thune says Democrats' demands for new restrictions on federal immigration officers are "unrealistic." And he's warning that the Department of Homeland Security will shut down next week if Democrats don't work with Republicans and the White House. Democrats are pressing for changes at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal law enforcement agencies in the wake of the fatal shootings of two protesters in Minneapolis last month. The Democratic congressional leaders have come out with an expanded list of 10 detailed proposals. Short-term funding for DHS lasts through Feb. 13.
By MARY CLARE JALONICK and JOEY CAPPELLETTI Associated Press
Democrats are threatening to block funding for the Homeland Security Department when it expires in two weeks unless there are "dramatic changes" and "real accountability" for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other law enforcement agencies who are carrying out President Donald Trump's campaign of federal immigration enforcement. Congress is discussing potential new rules for ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection after officers shot and killed two Minneapolis protesters in January. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries reiterated their party's demands on Wednesday, with Schumer telling reporters that Congress must "rein in ICE in very serious ways, and end the violence."
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has confirmed that Iran and the US will hold nuclear talks in Oman's capital of Muscat on Friday. His announcement on Wednesday came after hours of indications that plans for the talks might be faltering over changes in the format and content of the talks. Araghchi wrote on X that he was grateful "to our Omani brothers for making all necessary arrangements." Tensions between the countries have spiked after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the U.S. might use force against Iran in response to its bloody crackdown on protesters last month. Trump also has been pushing Tehran for a deal to constrain its nuclear program.
Defense lawyers in the Vatican's "trial of the century" have argued that Pope Francis violated the fundamental rights of their clients by issuing four secret decrees that gave prosecutors "surreal carte blanche" to investigate.The tone of argument in the frescoed Vatican tribunal was so charged Tuesday that at one point the tribunal president asked defense lawyers to refrain from citing Francis by name.The request by Archbishop Alejandro Arellano Cedillo underscored how Francis' problematic role in the financial trial poses something of an existential dilemma to the Holy See. On the one hand, popes can only be judged by God. On the other, Francis stands accused of violating the God-given rights of the defendants.
By RYAN MURPHY, SARAH RAZA and STEVE KARNOWSKI Associated Press
Immigration officers with guns drawn arrested some activists who were trailing their vehicles Tuesday in Minneapolis. It's a sign tensions have not eased since the departure of a high-profile commander. At least one person wearing an anti-ICE message was handcuffed while face-down on the ground. An Associated Press photographer witnessed the arrests. There was no immediate response from the Department of Homeland Security. A federal judge ordered officers not to arrest motorists who are following but not obstructing their operations, but an appeals court set the order aside. Meanwhile, a man charged with squirting apple cider vinegar on Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar will remain in jail.
