Evening Brief: House Pushes Final Spending Bills, Trump Launches ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza, Zelenskyy Criticizes Europe’s Slow Response

VP Vance Blames ‘Far Left’ for Immigration Chaos Ahead of Minneapolis Visit Vice President JD Vance on Thursday blamed the “far left” for unrest surrounding the White House’s immigration crackdown as he traveled to Minnesota, a national flashpoint following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent. Speaking in Toledo, Ohio, en route to Minneapolis, Vance urged local authorities and activists to stop resisting immigration enforcement and defended federal agents’ actions, including arrests of protesters who disrupted a church service, calling them violations of worship rights and the law. .@VP in Ohio: “I’m headed from here to Minneapolis… My simple piece of advice to them is going to be, ‘Look, if you want to turn down the chaos in Minneapolis, stop fighting immigration enforcement and accept that we have to have a border in this country. It’s not that hard.'” pic.twitter.com/BToEjsmrBO — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 22, 2026 Vance is set to meet with ICE agents in Minneapolis amid ongoing demonstrations, with hundreds of local businesses and faith groups planning Friday protests and solidarity events nationwide. Federal officials have defended ICE authority to enter homes without warrants in certain cases, though critics argue this reverses longstanding constitutional protections. In Toledo, Vance also promoted Republican economic messages and endorsed candidates for upcoming midterm elections, arguing that President Trump inherited economic challenges from the Biden administration and urging voters to allow time for reforms.   Massive Winter Storm Threatens Eastern US, Prompting Preparations Across Multiple States A massive winter storm is barreling toward the eastern two-thirds of the United States, expected to bring ice, snow, and extreme cold, potentially affecting 140 million people under winter storm or cold weather watches and warnings. The storm, beginning Friday in New Mexico and Texas, could produce crippling ice in the South, up to a foot of snow from Oklahoma to Boston, and wind chills as low as minus 50°F (minus 46°C) in parts of Minnesota and North Dakota. ❄️ Winter Storm Update ❄️ Here’s the latest on the impending winter storm set to begin across the south-central U.S. on Friday. Confidence continues to increase for damaging ice accumulations across parts of the South. Preparations should be completed as soon as possible. pic.twitter.com/hv4NeUhM1V — NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) January 22, 2026 Officials and residents across the region are taking precautions: Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and other governors declared states of emergency, schools in Chicago closed, and stores reported sold-out supplies of salt, batteries, and flashlights. Utility crews are pre-treating roads, and many public events, including college sports and winter games, were postponed or canceled, though some large events, like the West Virginia Hunting and Fishing Show, plan to continue. Forecasters caution that exact conditions may shift until the storm arrives, emphasizing the risk of prolonged power outages, icy roads, and frozen infrastructure across the South, Midwest, and Northeast.   Trump Launches ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza, Faces Skepticism From Key Allies US President Donald Trump inaugurated a new Board of Peace on Thursday aimed at maintaining a ceasefire in Israel’s war with Hamas, presenting it as a global initiative that could rival or even replace the United Nations. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said 59 countries had signed on, though only 19 plus the US were represented at the event. The board is tasked with overseeing the Gaza ceasefire and planning for the territory’s reconstruction, with Palestinian official Ali Shaath leading US-supervised governance efforts on the ground. .@POTUS, surrounded by founding members of the Board of Peace, signs the Inaugural Resolution to resolve the Board of Peace’s Gaza mandate pic.twitter.com/pqq1AjJxb4 — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 22, 2026 The initiative has drawn skepticism from many US allies. Britain, France, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Ukraine, China, and the European Union have declined participation, citing concerns that the board could undermine the United Nations or include countries like Russia without evidence of genuine peace commitments. Russian President Vladimir Putin is still consulting before deciding whether to join and may discuss sending $1 billion in humanitarian aid to the board. Trump emphasized that Hamas must disarm to ensure lasting peace in Gaza, claimed the conflict is “really coming to an end,” and suggested the US could expand the board’s mandate to other global conflicts.   Iraq Begins Taking Islamic State Prisoners from Syria Amid Rising Tensions Iraq has started transferring Islamic State (IS) detainees from northeast Syria to Iraqi prisons after Baghdad requested the move, a decision supported by the US-led coalition and the Syrian government, officials said Thursday. The transfer began on Wednesday with 150 prisoners from Hassakeh province, and up to 7,000 IS members could eventually be moved. The decision follows Syrian government forces taking control of key detention sites, including the al-Hol camp and Shaddadeh prison, previously held by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), prompting fears of escapes that could threaten Iraq’s security. The SDF still controls several facilities but is expected to merge with government forces under an ongoing peace process. Tensions are rising as Syrian troops shelled al-Aqtan prison near Raqqa and advanced on Kobani, leaving residents without electricity or water and raising fears of large-scale civilian casualties. US begins moving Islamic State detainees US military moves ISIS prisoners from Syria to Iraq: 7000 ISIS prisoners to be shifted from Syria Washington says the purpose of the alliance with Syrian Kurds has ended @MollyGambhir has more details pic.twitter.com/rSW9TQFHKo — WION (@WIONews) January 22, 2026 Iraq has reinforced its northern border with tanks, particularly around Sinjar, where the Yazidi minority remembers brutal IS attacks in 2014. UN officials reported that clashes in Hassakeh province and Kobani have made the situation “very tense,” highlighting the ongoing risks despite IS’s territorial defeat in Syria and Iraq.   NATO Names Royal Air Force Officer as Deputy Commander NATO has appointed UK Air Chief Marshal John Stringer as the next deputy supreme allied commander Europe, a move that will place both of the alliance’s top military leadership posts in the hands of officers from air force backgrounds. Stringer will assume the role in March, succeeding British Royal Navy Admiral Keith Blount, and will serve under US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, who leads both NATO’s military operations in Europe and US European Command. The British defense ministry announced the appointment on Thursday, noting that Stringer will be the first Royal Air Force (RAF) officer to hold the deputy position since 1984. Congratulations to NATO’s incoming DSACEUR 🇬🇧 Air Chief Marshal Sir John Stringer KCB CBE is appointed as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe @SHAPE_NATO 🎉 The 1st RAF officer in 40 years✈️#NATO #DSACEUR pic.twitter.com/woa6UqBLzm — UK Joint Delegation to NATO (@UKNATO) January 22, 2026 The change stands out for its timing and symbolism, as NATO increasingly prioritizes airpower and missile defense in response to lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war. Historically, while an American has always served as supreme allied commander Europe and the deputy role has alternated between British and German officers, at least one of the two posts was typically filled by an officer from the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps. Since 2022, Stringer has served as deputy commander of NATO’s Allied Air Command, overseeing planning and coordination of allied air operations. In a statement, he said the appointment comes at a critical moment for European and transatlantic security and emphasized NATO’s mission to deter threats and protect its roughly one billion citizens.   Zelenskyy Criticizes Europe’s Slow Response to Russia, Meets Trump to Discuss Peace Talks Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sharply criticized Europe on Thursday for a slow, fragmented, and insufficient response to Russia’s nearly four-year-long aggression, saying the continent’s inaction has left Ukraine vulnerable to President Vladimir Putin. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Zelenskyy urged Europe to become a global force, noting ongoing disagreements within the European Union over defense, sanctions enforcement, and the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. He warned that battlefield and economic pressures on Russia have not eliminated the need for continued Western military and financial aid, highlighting Ukraine’s troop shortages, draft-dodging, and ongoing humanitarian struggles. “Europe loves to discuss the future but avoids taking action today” Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy tears into Europe for its apparent lack of willingness to stop Vladimir Putin, as he addresses the World Economic Forum in Davos https://t.co/MtkzNkuhNe pic.twitter.com/IBPjRUwXrF — Bloomberg (@business) January 22, 2026 Zelenskyy met privately with US President Donald Trump in Davos, describing their discussion as “productive and meaningful,” while Trump called it “very good.” The meeting came ahead of planned US-led peace negotiations with Russia in Moscow and trilateral talks in the United Arab Emirates beginning Friday, focusing on unresolved issues such as the status of eastern Ukrainian territories and postwar security guarantees. Zelenskyy acknowledged US support, including Patriot missile systems, and urged allies to provide more weapons and funding to prevent further civilian suffering amid Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power infrastructure.   Sources: News Agencies