Morning Brief: House Deadlocks on Venezuela War Powers Resolution, Minnesota Sees Mass Protests, Iran Protests Death Toll Tops 5,000

  House Approves $839B Defense Bill with Pay Raises, Ukraine Aid, and NATO Support The House passed a $839 billion Defense Department funding bill on Thursday, sending it to the Senate with less than a week to approve spending before the January 30 government shutdown deadline. The legislation, approved 341-88, includes an $8 billion increase over the Trump administration’s request, a 3.8 percent pay raise for service members, a 1 percent raise for Pentagon civilians, and funding for Navy shipbuilding, Marine barracks renovations, and medical research programs. The bill also provides $400 million for Ukraine’s Security Assistance Initiative and $200 million to support military aid and training for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, signaling continued US commitment to NATO. BREAKING: House passes government funding bill 341-88 pic.twitter.com/4lYPZJv4Lo — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 22, 2026 While Republicans praised the measure as a bipartisan effort to strengthen American military power and innovation, Democrats criticized it for not taking a stronger stance on protecting NATO allies amid Trump’s controversial Greenland push. The Senate must now act quickly to fund the Pentagon and other federal agencies for fiscal year 2026.   Minnesota Sees Mass Protests as Activists and Businesses Rally Against ICE Thousands of Minnesotans joined a coordinated protest Friday against federal immigration enforcement, following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer on January 7. Labor unions, progressive groups, and clergy from more than 100 organizations urged residents to stay home from work, school, and stores to pressure ICE to leave the state. The demonstrations included a march in downtown Minneapolis despite subzero temperatures, with faith leaders holding prayer services and fasting in solidarity. Vice President JD Vance visited Minneapolis earlier in the week to meet with ICE officials and called for peaceful protests, emphasizing cooperation with local authorities. .@VP: “We can do a good job of enforcing our immigration laws without the chaos, but it requires the cooperation of state and local officials.” pic.twitter.com/FVp9NLmRNX — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 22, 2026 More than a hundred small businesses closed or donated profits in support, while schools including the University of Minnesota and St. Paul public schools canceled in-person classes due to the extreme cold. Organizers framed the protests as a necessary response to what they described as ICE overreach, with national faith-based and civil rights networks joining from across the US to amplify the demonstration.   Pentagon Contractor Indicted for Leaking Classified Information to Reporter A Pentagon contractor, Aurelio Luis Perez-Lugones, was indicted Thursday for illegally removing and transmitting classified national defense information to a journalist, drawing attention after federal agents searched Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson’s home in Virginia. Perez-Lugones, 61, faces five counts of unlawfully transmitting and one count of unlawfully retaining classified documents. Authorities said he printed and copied sensitive materials from his job as a systems engineer and IT specialist for a government contractor, then shared them with a reporter who used the information in at least five published articles. The case has raised concerns among press freedom advocates about the Justice Department’s aggressive approach to leak investigations. Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pamela Bondi stressed that the disclosures threatened national security and the safety of US military personnel. 🚨 BREAKING: The leaker on President Trump’s Venezuela operations has been PUT IN JAIL, and more leakers are being hunted down FAFO. “The leaker was found, and is in jail RIGHT NOW. The leaker on Venezuela. A very bad leaker.” 🔥 “Will probably be in jail for a LONG TIME.” pic.twitter.com/Ve401dx4q3 — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 14, 2026 Perez-Lugones has remained in jail since his January 8 arrest. Meanwhile, the Washington Post is seeking the return of electronic devices seized from Natanson’s home, with a court temporarily barring authorities from reviewing the materials until a February 6 hearing.   Trump, NATO Reach Arctic Security Framework, Easing Greenland Tensions US President Donald Trump agreed to a framework with NATO leaders on Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, aimed at bolstering Arctic security and safeguarding Greenland from potential Russian or Chinese threats. The plan includes stationing US missiles, securing mining rights to limit Chinese influence, and increasing NATO presence in the region, while Trump committed not to impose tariffs on European allies. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized protecting sea lanes in the Arctic, though issues of Greenland’s sovereignty and permanent US troop presence remain unresolved. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that alliance members will need to strengthen their presence in the Arctic under a framework agreement with Donald Trump, after the US president backed off tariff threats and ruled out taking Greenland by force. pic.twitter.com/vqbCnLCjaN — DW News (@dwnews) January 22, 2026 The discussions build on prior talks between Danish officials and US leaders, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and aim to refresh a 1951 defense agreement covering Greenland. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stressed that any arrangement must respect international law and Greenland’s autonomy. Trump described the framework as giving the US “total access” to the island for security purposes, while Greenlandic authorities remain wary of potential American military expansion.   Carney Pushes Canadian Values Amid Trump’s Provocative Remarks Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday defended Canada’s sovereignty and values after US President Donald Trump said, “Canada lives because of the United States.” Returning from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Carney emphasized that Canada thrives because of its own principles, highlighting the country’s commitment to democracy, pluralism, and shared prosperity. He argued that Canada can serve as a global example of inclusive governance at a time of rising populism and authoritarianism. Carney responds to Trump: Canada and the United States have built a remarkable partnership in the economy, in security, and in rich cultural exchange. But Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian. pic.twitter.com/wqR1ipjlbH — Clash Report (@clashreport) January 22, 2026 Carney’s remarks came after Trump criticized Canada for benefiting from “freebies” from the US and revoked Carney’s invitation to join the newly formed Board of Peace, a body intended to oversee ceasefire efforts in Israel’s war with Hamas. Trump has also promoted controversial ideas about US territorial expansion to include Canada, Greenland, and other nations. Carney stressed that Canada and the US maintain a strong partnership in trade, security, and culture, but that Canada remains independent in charting its own future. He underscored the importance of Canadian values in sustaining the country’s sovereignty and role as a model for democratic and inclusive governance worldwide.   Putin, Trump Envoys Push Ukraine Peace Talks as Zelenskyy Criticizes Europe Russian President Vladimir Putin held overnight talks with US President Donald Trump’s envoys Thursday night in Moscow to discuss a potential settlement in Ukraine, with the Kremlin emphasizing that resolving territorial disputes is key to any peace deal. The meeting, which lasted nearly four hours, included Trump’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and focused on coordinating US, Russian, and Ukrainian discussions ahead of trilateral talks scheduled Friday in Abu Dhabi. Putin also reiterated his offer to contribute $1 billion from frozen Russian assets to Trump’s Board of Peace for Gaza reconstruction. JUST IN: 🇷🇺🇺🇸 Russian President Putin holds talks with US President Trump aides Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Kremlin. pic.twitter.com/6HeYIvPhoa — BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) January 22, 2026 Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized European allies at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, for a slow and inconsistent response to Russia’s invasion, calling on the continent to assert itself as a global force. Zelenskyy met privately with Trump in Davos for about an hour, describing the talks as “productive and meaningful,” and said future negotiations will focus on the status of eastern Ukrainian territory currently occupied by Russia. The broader conflict, which has persisted since 2014 and escalated with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, has left Ukraine short of funds, weapons, and troops, while Europe struggles with disunity over sanctions, defense spending, and enforcement against Russia’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers. US and Russian delegations will meet in Abu Dhabi to advance discussions on military, security, and economic issues as part of the ongoing US-mediated peace push.   Iran Protests Death Toll Tops 5,000 as Internet Blackout Continues, US Military Moves Closer Iran’s nationwide protests have claimed at least 5,002 lives, activists reported Friday, with many more feared dead amid the country’s most extensive internet blackout in history, now exceeding two weeks. The unrest, which began December 28, has left 4,716 demonstrators, 203 government-affiliated personnel, 43 children, and 40 civilians dead, while authorities have detained more than 26,800 people, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. Iran’s government has offered a lower toll of 3,117 fatalities, including civilians, security forces, and alleged “terrorists.” The death toll from Iran’s crackdown on nationwide protests reaches 5,002, with more feared dead, activists say. https://t.co/GBnuZmr2Us — The Associated Press (@AP) January 23, 2026 The blackout has hampered independent verification of casualties, as Iranian authorities restrict journalists’ reporting and portray demonstrators as foreign-backed “rioters.” Tensions have escalated internationally, with US President Donald Trump deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group and other assets toward the Middle East “just in case” military action becomes necessary. The United Kingdom also sent fighter jets to the Persian Gulf amid rising regional tensions, underscoring growing concern over potential conflict as Iran continues mass arrests and threatens charges carrying the death penalty for protesters.   Sources: News Agencies