January 13, 2026 – Short News

Arizona: Pro ICE press conference shut down after minutes!

Republican lawmakers in Arizona wanted to publicly show support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a press conference on Tuesday. The appearance had barely begun when loud protests formed. Shouts, banners, and chants drowned out the prepared statements, cameras focused on the confrontation instead of the speakers. After just a few minutes, an orderly continuation was no longer possible and the event was canceled. Organizers unsuccessfully tried to calm the situation, some participants left under police escort. Protesters accused those responsible of legitimizing abuses and ignoring reality. Images spread quickly on social media, support from the public failed to materialize. What had been planned as a demonstrative signal ultimately appeared isolated and reinforced the impression of a growing gap between political leadership and public sentiment.

Iran signals toughness and willingness to talk at the same time

US advises citizens to leave Iran – The Virtual US Embassy for Iran has issued a nationwide security alert. The background is escalating protests which, according to the notice, have led to arrests, injuries, and severe restrictions. The Iranian government has significantly limited access to mobile networks, landlines, air traffic, and the national internet. Airlines are canceling or reducing connections, several have suspended flights until at least Friday. US citizens should expect ongoing power and internet outages. It is recommended to plan alternative means of communication. Those who consider it safe should leave the country as soon as possible. Suggested routes include overland travel toward Armenia or Turkey. Those remaining in the country are advised to maintain a low profile. Large gatherings should be avoided. Emergency supplies and flexible departure plans are recommended. Dual nationals are warned in particular. The US emphasizes that it cannot guarantee safety.

Iran’s leadership declared on Monday that it is prepared for a possible conflict while not ruling out negotiations. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in Tehran that Iran does not seek war but is ready for it. He referred to the brief war with Israel last June, in which the US also participated. Talks are possible, Araghchi said, but only under fair conditions and with mutual respect. The statements followed threats by Donald Trump to consider military steps in response to the actions of Iranian security forces. At the same time, state media showed mass rallies in support of the government. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei interpreted them as a warning to Washington. Tehran simultaneously blamed Western states for the protests. Several European ambassadors were summoned. Communication channels with the US nevertheless remained open. Mediation efforts via Oman continue. The situation on the streets remains difficult to assess. Between threat and dialogue, Tehran is visibly buying time.

Trump fears tariff ruling and speaks of chaos

Donald Trump publicly warned on Monday of a possible Supreme Court ruling on his tariffs. On social media he said such a ruling would trigger total chaos. “Then we are finished.” The US would hardly be able to repay the money collected through the tariffs. Trump questioned whether refunds would even be feasible. Even if they were possible, he wrote, the sums involved would be almost unimaginable. It would take years just to determine the amounts. It is also unclear who would be entitled to repayment. Timing and procedure, in his view, could not be clarified. In recent days Trump has repeated these warnings several times. He repeatedly emphasized the practical consequences of a negative ruling. The statements noticeably increase pressure on the court. At the same time they show how much Trump is politicizing the case.

You can analyze it – or read the package insert

You can analyze it – or simply read the package insert. Maximilian Krah stands frozen while a little song is struck up. No one warns you beforehand. It feels rehearsed and at the same time dishonest. A moment that needs no arguments because it allows none. The event detaches itself from any verifiable reality. What remains is repetition of a spectacle. The scene lives off “What is this supposed to be.” Watching feels like waiting in a doctor’s office. You no longer ask what is meant, but why it is being shown this way. It is a spectacle of turning away from reality. A staging where one feels less like contradicting and more like simply medicating.

Trump fumes over Senate vote on war powers

Ahead of the vote on war powers related to Venezuela, Donald Trump was visibly angry, according to Majority Leader John Thune. Thune described a president who was clearly agitated on the issue. This did not stop five Republican senators from joining Democrats to advance a resolution aimed at limiting the president’s unilateral military actions. After the vote, Trump began making personal phone calls. Josh Hawley reported that Trump said the move tied his hands. Lisa Murkowski described the conversation as cool and lacking dialogue. The resolution now heads to a final vote later this week. Thune said no one should be surprised by Trump’s reaction. He was very, very upset. At the same time, Hawley suddenly expressed doubts about his previous support. The episode exposes how directly pressure is being applied. And how quickly loyalties shift when the president picks up the phone.

Republican Senator Josh Hawley is questioning his support for the Venezuela war powers resolution. Just last week he had voted to restrict Donald Trump’s military options. The shift was prompted by a phone call with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Hawley later said many of his concerns had been addressed. Rubio had assured him unequivocally that no ground troops would be deployed. That assurance, Hawley said, carried significant weight. The episode highlights the intense pressure the administration is currently exerting on the Senate. The goal is to block final passage of the resolution later this week. If two Republicans withdraw their support, the effort would fail. The margins are therefore extremely fragile. Closed door talks are visibly gaining importance. The decisions of individual senators could determine war or restraint.

Rubio intensifies diplomacy between Honduras and Germany

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stepped up his diplomatic pace on Monday. In Washington he met with Honduras’ president elect Nasry Asfura. The focus was on issues in the Western Hemisphere. The situation in Venezuela following the removal of Nicolás Maduro by a US military operation was discussed in particular. The aim, Rubio said, is to promote stability in the region. At the same time Rubio spoke with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. Venezuela again played a role, along with efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. Another topic was preventing an Iranian nuclear weapons program. The talks reflect the multitude of simultaneous crises. The administration is attempting to manage several conflict lines at once. Diplomacy has become a marathon.

Student walkout in Maple Grove against DHS and ICE

At Maple Grove High School in Minneapolis, students walked out of class to make a statement. They are demanding an end to operations by the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the state. The walkout was deliberately visible and not quietly organized. Classrooms emptied, hallways briefly filled, then students went outside. The demand is clearly stated and without detours. It is about safety in their own environment. It is about fear that has long since become part of daily life. Adults make decisions, young people bear the consequences. The protest comes without speeches and is effective precisely because of that. It shows how early political awareness emerges. And how little trust remains.

Kaizen daily life – the day after is always today

Minnesota and America are getting harder every day. Step by step. On the streets raw anger is spilling out because too much has built up. No one is putting on a show here anymore. It is about proximity and control. In Minneapolis ICE agents smashed the window of a car. The man inside was a US citizen and acting as a legal observer. They pulled him out, forced him to the ground, knelt on his neck, and arrested him. No confusion, no mistake. Violence against someone who is watching, documenting, bearing witness. Again violence against Americans.

ICE now operates without any visible boundary. Border agents use force against people who are not crossing a border. Watching is enough now. Standing there is enough. Asking questions is enough and you are in jail.

From Washington comes backing. The White House press secretary said the administration will continue to stand behind the officer who shot Renee Good. Self defense, they say. The dead woman is turned into a threat, part of a group, the guilty one. Words that clarify nothing and escalate everything.

For us this is not a political dispute. It is work. Every day. Going out, showing presence, finding lawyers. Getting people out of detention who have done nothing wrong. Exhausted at night, knowing it starts again tomorrow. Going out alone again, because the front line is thin. Trying again to get someone out of jail. This is not a state of emergency. This is the rhythm it takes to change something. And that is exactly why we do not stop.