“A federal judge on Thursday rejected the Justice Department’s attempt to obtain California’s voter rolls, delivering a setback to President Donald Trump’s administration as it seeks to gather private information on millions of voters. The Justice Department last year took the unusual step of asking states to provide copies of their lists of voters, which include names, addresses, partial Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers and other information. Most states resisted, and the administration filed separate lawsuits against 23 states and Washington, D.C. The judge in the California case, David O. Carter, is the first to issue a ruling, and his decision could influence courts in other states. He found the administration had no authority to use federal civil rights and voting laws to gain the voter lists.” (01/15/26)
“Russian authorities have ordered a British diplomat in Moscow to leave the country within two weeks, accusing the person of espionage. ‘Moscow will not tolerate the activities of undeclared British intelligence officers on Russian territory,’ Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement published Thursday morning. Britain’s charge d’affaires in Russia, Danae Dholakia, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry where she was issued with a warning. ‘It was stated that Russia will continue to implement a line of zero-compromise on this issue in accordance with our country’s national interests,’ Moscow said. The statement also cautioned London against any ‘escalation of the situation,’ threatening a ‘decisive ‘mirror’ response.'” (01/15/26)
“An appeals court reversed the lower court decision that freed pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil from immigration detention, in a major win for the Trump administration. Khalil was picked up at his Columbia University housing complex and jailed as part of the Trump administration’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests. He spent about three months in a Louisiana detention center and missed the birth of his son. The administration alleges he was one of the main organizers of the Columbia University encampment. The Third Circuit, sitting in Philadelphia, ruled 2-1 that the federal district court in New Jersey had no jurisdiction to order the release of the Columbia graduate student because immigration challenges are handled differently under the law.” (01/15/26)
“A senior lawmaker for Britain’s Conservative Party was accused on Thursday of ‘plotting’ to defect to a rival party and was ousted, highlighting the fierce competition that is underway for the future of the country’s political right. Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservatives, said on social media that she had fired Robert Jenrick, one of the party’s leading lawmakers, after being ‘presented with clear, irrefutable evidence’ that he wanted to leave in a way that would cause maximum damage to his longtime party. Ms. Badenoch did not name the party, but Mr. Jenrick, who has hard-right views, had been rumored to be considering defecting to Reform U.K., the right-wing populist party led by Nigel Farage. Mr. Jenrick did not respond to a request for comment.” (01/15/26)
“US [regime-employed pirates] in the Caribbean Sea have seized another sanctioned oil tanker the Trump administration says has ties to Venezuela, coming as part of a broader US effort to take control of the South American country’s oil. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote Thursday on social media, ‘Motor Tanker Veronica had previously passed through Venezuelan waters, and was operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean.’ A social media post from US Southern Command on the capture said that Marines and sailors launched from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to make the capture while Noem’s post noted that, as in previous raids, a US Coast Guard tactical team conducted the boarding and seizure.” (01/15/26)
“Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said she presented President Donald Trump her Nobel Peace Prize medal during their Jan. 15 meeting at the White House, an extraordinary gesture to try to earn Trump’s backing. Machado, speaking to reporters after the meeting ended, said she gave Trump her Nobel Peace Prize medal, which Trump has long coveted, ‘as a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom.’ She did not say whether Trump accepted the medal. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. … The meeting was held as Machado is seeking Trump’s approval to have a role in the Venezuelan government following the United States'[s] Jan. 3 attack on Venezuela and capture of the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro.” (01/15/26)
“Rep. Robin Kelly has introduced articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over the alleged excessive use of force by federal agents executing President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. … The first article of impeachment accuses Noem of obstructing Congress by prohibiting elected lawmakers from entering a DHS facility used to detain migrants. … The second impeachment article accuses Noem of violating public trust as well as the Immigration and Nationality Act and the First and Fourth Amendments of the Constitution. … The third, and final, impeachment article accuses the DHS secretary of self-dealing, stating she has misused her position for personal gain. … Some 70 members of Congress have sponsored the articles of impeachment.” (01/15/26)
“A U.S. bankruptcy judge denied Amazon.com Inc.’s effort to block a proposed financing deal to help Saks Global Enterprises stay in business amid Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Judge Alfredo Perez on Wednesday night approved an initial $400 million financing lifeline to Saks after a 7.5-hour courtroom battle between Saks and several of its creditors, including Amazon. Saks officials seek $1.75 billion to stay in business, but they will have to return to the U.S. District & Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas for further approvals. Amazon officials and other creditors objected to the proposed bankruptcy financing plan submitted by Saks Global amid the luxury retailer’s financial woes.” (01/15/26)
“Amazon’s AWS launched a new cloud service located entirely in Europe on Thursday, addressing user concerns about the data security delivered by mainly U.S.-based providers by offering the continent’s own independent alternative. The AWS European Sovereign Cloud’s data centres are physically and legally separate from the U.S.-based company’s other servers, the world’s largest cloud provider said. This will allow the cloud to operate even if the European Union were disconnected from the internet or the United States were to prohibit software exports, AWS Germany Chief Technology Officer Michael Hanisch told Reuters.” (01/15/26)
“The Canadian province of British Columbia (BC) said it will not be extending its controversial drug decriminalisation project, allowing it to expire at the end of January. The programme began in 2023 as a three-year pilot agenda. It was a landmark policy meant to help tackle the province’s deadly opioid addiction crisis, which has claimed thousands of lives in the last decade. But the scheme has faced pushback over concerns around public disorder and drug use. BC’s health minister Josie Osborne said the province is now backing off from the pilot because it ‘hasn’t delivered the results that we hoped for’. At a news conference on Wednesday, Osborne said it is ‘difficult, if not even possible’ to determine whether the programme led more people struggling with opioid addiction to receive treatment. BC was the only province in Canada to implement a drug decriminalisation pilot programme.” (01/15/25)
