The ACTUAL NEWS: Wednesday, January 22nd 2025 Recap
Today in History, Biden's Letter to Trump, Harris' Statement on J6 Pardons, More Trump Orders, and Other National and Global News
TODAY IN HISTORY
1905: On what was later known as Bloody Sunday, Russian workers marching on St. Petersburg were fired on by Russian troops.
1943: All Japanese resistance in Papua, on the island of New Guinea, site of an important Allied base at Port Moresby in World War II, ceased.
1973: The U.S. Supreme Court issued one of its most momentous decisions, ruling in Roe v. Wade that a Texas statute criminalizing abortion in most instances violated a woman's constitutional right of privacy.
1992: Serving as a payload specialist aboard the Discovery space shuttle, Roberta Bondar became the first Canadian woman and the first neurologist to travel into space.
1998: One of the most notorious domestic terrorists in U.S. history, Theodore Kaczynski, the so-called Unabomber, who killed three people and injured 22 in 16 attacks between 1979 and 1995, was sentenced to four terms of life in prison without parole.
2006: Evo Morales, a member of the Aymara indigenous group, was sworn in as president of Bolivia, becoming the first Indian to hold the office.
QUICK ACTUAL NEWS
NATIONAL
The Trump administration has removed the Coast Guard’s top admiral, according to a message sent to the service’s personnel on January 21. This could mark the beginning of several changes to military leadership under the new commander-in-chief.
Trump issued an executive order reversing the Biden-era directive that permitted transgender people to serve in the military.
The White House stated that President Donald Trump’s order this week to pause the disbursement of funds allocated under his predecessor’s landmark climate and infrastructure laws mainly targets programs that either discourage fossil fuel development or promote electric vehicles.
A federal judge who has overseen numerous criminal cases related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol condemned President Donald Trump’s sweeping pardons on Wednesday, calling them a reflection of a "revisionist myth" about the riot.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered U.S. attorneys to investigate local law enforcement officials who refuse to enforce new immigration policies, warning that non-compliance could lead to prosecution.
A day after President Trump signed an executive order to end birthright citizenship, 24 Democratic state attorneys general, along with the cities of San Francisco and Washington, D.C., filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the order. Legal experts believe the effort will likely fail, as the U.S. Constitution guarantees citizenship to all children born on U.S. soil, a right upheld twice by the Supreme Court. Trump aims to prevent future children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants from gaining U.S. citizenship.
The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee voted to advance President Donald Trump's nominee to head the U.S. Transportation Department. The committee voted 28-0 in favor of former Representative Sean Duffy’s nomination. Duffy has suggested that Boeing needs "tough love" to recover from a 2024 mid-air emergency and confirmed that an ongoing safety probe into Tesla will continue if he is confirmed.
Trump explicitly plans to use revenue from higher tariffs on imported goods to help fund the extension of trillions of dollars in tax cuts—an unprecedented shift that is likely to face opposition from many Republicans in Congress.
The U.S. military is preparing to send about 1,000 additional active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, according to a U.S. official. This move comes just two days after President Trump signed an executive order on immigration. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, did not specify when the troops would be deployed, but they will join thousands of active-duty National Guard troops already stationed on the border. (More information on this is in the MUST READ section of the newsletter)
The U.S. Supreme Court appeared inclined on Wednesday to revive a civil rights lawsuit filed by a Texas woman against the Houston police officer who fatally shot her son during a traffic stop. This case could make it easier for plaintiffs to demonstrate that police unlawfully used excessive force.
Meta social media users reported on Wednesday that their accounts had re-followed the profiles of President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and First Lady Melania Trump, after they had unfollowed those accounts following Trump's inauguration for his second term.
GLOBAL
Pope Francis is not expected to veto President Donald Trump's choice of a high-profile critic of his papacy as the next U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, according to two senior Vatican officials, despite misgivings about his stance on many issues.
The head of a major humanitarian organization said U.S. President Donald Trump's order to halt foreign aid for 90 days would have immediate and disastrous consequences in Afghanistan, where relief operations are already stretched thin.
President Donald Trump's escalating pressure on the private sector to ditch diversity programs has left some in Davos searching for new terms to describe workplace practices they say are essential to their businesses.
French President Emmanuel Macron called on Europe on Jan. 20 to “wake up” and spend more on defense in order to reduce its reliance on the United States for security, in a speech to the French military as Donald Trump returns to power.
A “minimum” of two hundred thousand European peacekeepers should be on the ground in Ukraine to guarantee its security in the case of a halt to the war with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at Davos. He has rejected Russia’s demand that Ukraine shrink its army to a fifth of its current size. Separately, the leaders of France and Germany have met to discuss their stance on the war in Ukraine.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas pushed back on Wednesday against Donald Trump’s claim that Europe lagged behind the U.S. in aid for Ukraine, insisting that the bloc must have a seat at the table when peace talks begin.
Europe should welcome, rather than rebuff, U.S. President Donald Trump's call for other NATO members to ramp up their military spending, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday, stressing the importance of security to the continent.
Indian and U.S. diplomats are trying to arrange a February meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, two Indian sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters.
Panama's President José Raul Mulino responded "Be serious, be serious" on Wednesday when asked in Davos whether he was concerned that the U.S. would invade, after President Donald Trump said he would take back the Panama Canal.
The Premier of Greenland, Mute B. Egede, seeks direct talks with Trump over his interest in acquiring the territory, he said yesterday. Last week, Denmark’s prime minister held a phone call with Trump on the issue. Trump has threatened tariffs on Denmark in that conversation.
Spain is a "reliable partner" in NATO, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Wednesday, after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Madrid for falling short on its financial contributions to the defense alliance.
Diplomat André Correa do Lago will helm this year’s UN climate conference in Belem, Brazil. Correa do Lago has often represented Brazil at international climate talks. The last two COP presidents in the UAE and Azerbaijan both had backgrounds working for state oil companies.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense said it signed its first procurement deal using a recent tranche of U.S. aid funds to buy more interceptors for Israel’s Iron Dome batteries, one of the three tiers of Israel’s multi-layered air defense systems. It has been widely used over the last 15 months of war on multiple fronts to intercept rockets, drones, and other projectiles.
Israel’s military leader said he would resign, citing the army’s failure to protect the country on Oct. 7, 2023, the most senior official to leave a position over the worst attack in Israeli history. The resignation of Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi comes after Israel racked up achievements in its fight against Iran and its allied militias, such as Hezbollah, and in the first week of a phased ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza.
President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy said on Wednesday that he would be part of a team of "outside overseers" deployed in and around the Gaza Strip to ensure safety following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas militants.
Iran hopes U.S. President Donald Trump will choose "rationality" in dealing with the Islamic Republic, Iran's Vice President for Strategic Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Wednesday, adding Tehran has "never sought nuclear weapons".
The CEO of German insurer Allianz said on Wednesday that he expected fewer regulatory fines under U.S. President Donald Trump than under Joe Biden's administration, which he called "extortion." Allianz in 2022 settled with U.S. authorities and agreed to pay $6 billion over allegations that its U.S. asset management unit defrauded investors in a group of funds that collapsed early in the COVID-19 pandemic.
An executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump to suspend refugee admissions has magnified the fears of an Afghan-American soldier who has long been worried about the fate of his sister in Kabul.
Ghana: The government appointed a former national security chief as envoy to the three junta-led countries of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. It signals rapprochement after Ghana’s bilateral relations with Burkina Faso collapsed in 2022 over accusations of allowing Wagner Group paramilitary fighters to operate in the border area.
Impeached President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol appeared at a hearing for the first time in a Constitutional Court trial over his potential removal from office yesterday. His lawyer said that Yoon’s December martial law declaration was not meant to be executed but to raise an alert over abuses by the country’s opposition. The lawyer also denied testimony by military commanders that Yoon had ordered the arrests of some lawmakers. Yoon will be back in court tomorrow.
Japanese companies remain bullish about investing in the United States but need to prepare for supply chain shocks that could arise during Donald Trump's presidency, the chief executive of drinks giant Suntory Holdings said on Wednesday.
Azerbaijan: Six of the defendants affiliated with Abzas Media, which focuses on corruption and human rights, and one reporter with the Azeri service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) face smuggling charges that they deny, which press freedom groups have denounced as attempts to stifle reporting. The director of RFE/RL denied that their reporter had worked for Abzas and called the case “baseless.”
French court has issued arrest warrant for Syria’s ousted dictator. This is the second French arrest warrant against Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia after last month’s rebel takeover of Syria. It accuses Assad of involvement in a 2017 bombing that killed a Franco-Syrian.
South Africa becomes the first African country to chair the G20 this year. Pretoria will direct the group’s planning forums to focus on how the debt of developing countries stifles climate and developmental progress and how they can carry out green industrialization goals.
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Wednesday that he was not worried about the country's relationship with the U.S. under President Donald Trump. Ramaphosa said he spoke to Trump after his U.S. election victory and looked forward to working with his administration.
Mexican authorities have begun constructing giant tent shelters in the city of Ciudad Juarez to prepare for a possible influx of Mexicans deported under U.S. President Donald Trump's promised mass deportations.
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Wednesday she has not agreed to accept non-Mexican migrants seeking asylum in the United States, a day after her new U.S. counterpart announced the return of a program to do so.
Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente spoke with new U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio about security and migration issues in a first official contact between the two diplomats, Mexico's president told reporters on Wednesday.
VIDEO OF THE DAY
Musk has been backing neo-Nazi parties around the world
PHOTO(S) OF THE DAY
The graphic speaks for itself..
MESSAGE(S) OF THE DAY
President Biden's Letter to President Trump that he left for him at the Oval Office
Dear President Trump,
As I take leave of this sacred office I wish you and your family all the best in the next four years. The American people - and people around the world - look to this house for steadiness in the inevitable storms of history, and my prayer is that in the coming years will be a time of prosperity, peace, and grace for our nation.
May God bless you and guide you as He has blessed and guided our beloved country since our founding.
Joe Biden
1-20-25
Statement from former Vice President Kamala Harris on January 6th Pardons (emailed on 1/22/25)
"In one of his first acts as president, Donald Trump pardoned nearly 1,500 people who stormed the U.S. Capitol and tried to overturn the 2020 election. They sought to overturn the will of the people.
A number of those pardoned violently assaulted police officers that day. One of the people he pardoned was the former head of the Proud Boys and another the head of the Oath Keepers, two far-right militias with histories of political violence.
They also make it clear as day that it has never been more important that we have a strong Democratic Party that will stand up to President Trump, believes in the rule of law and democracy, and the infrastructure that is capable of flipping one or both branches of Congress in the next election."
VIDEO QUICK NEWS
PA Governor Shapiro comments on J6 insurrectionists’ releases
Bernie Sanders shares his takeaways from the Trump Inauguration
What’s being discussed in EU parliament - this is Thomas Waitz from Austria
GAYLE KING: "In 2021, even you issued a statement saying the images of J6 stirred up anger in you, 'the nation was embarrassed.' How do you reconcile those feelings with Trump's pardons?""
MARCO RUBIO: "I used to be a Senator, and now I'm about to be sworn in as the Secretary of State. And that's what I'm thinking. I work for Donald J. Trump."
Farmer who voted for Trump says there will be no food within two days if ICE rounds up immigrants.
“I don’t believe he’ll follow through on his policies…”
Merkley to Project 2025 creator Vought: "You believe cutting off healthcare encourages people to work when they need to get better health in order to work? It doesn't make any sense."
Russia has a “bright” idea - to buy Alaska from the US using a part of Russian frozen assets
Israeli Military Escalates West Bank Operations Amid Gaza Cease-fire
Israel's military has intensified operations in the West Bank, launching a new campaign aimed at eradicating terrorism, as a cease-fire in Gaza remains in effect. At least 10 people were killed and 40 others wounded in the city of Jenin. This move follows attacks by Israeli settler groups on Palestinians and comes shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump lifted sanctions on individuals and settler groups linked to violence. Israeli officials, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have stated that the West Bank is now part of Israel's broader war goals, driven by concerns over Hamas fortifying its fighters there. Violence in the West Bank has escalated since the Gaza cease-fire, with the Palestinian Authority also conducting its own crackdown on militants.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sees "Small Window" for Negotiations with Trump Administration
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov expressed cautious optimism about the potential for negotiations with the newly inaugurated U.S. President Donald Trump, contrasting it with what he described as the "hopelessness" under the previous administration of Joe Biden. Ryabkov highlighted that while it is unclear how capable the Trump administration is for dialogue, there is a small opportunity to "build relations and manage risks". He also noted Trump’s stance on the Ukraine conflict, where Trump suggested he could end the war quickly, though without offering specifics. Furthermore, Trump indicated the possibility of imposing additional sanctions on Russia if President Vladimir Putin does not engage in talks to resolve the ongoing conflict.
MUST READ
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
LVMH, the French luxury conglomerate, is facing controversy over the quality of Olympic medals designed by its subsidiary, Chaumet. Athletes have shared images of rusted medals, prompting over 100 replacement requests. LVMH distanced itself from the issue, stating that Chaumet only designed the medals, while the mint Monnaie de Paris blamed the issue on a varnish change due to new EU regulations. Despite the backlash, LVMH recently reclaimed its position as Europe's largest company, surpassing Novo Nordisk.
Netflix reached a milestone of 300 million subscribers during an impressive fourth quarter. The entertainment giant, which has firmly established itself as the dominant player in the streaming wars, reported 19 million new subscribers—the biggest quarterly gain in its history. This surge helped Netflix generate $10.25 billion in revenue for the quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations. A significant portion of the success came from Netflix’s bold move into live sports: the platform streamed NFL games for the first time and showcased the much-hyped Tyson-Paul boxing match, which Netflix claimed was the most-streamed sporting event ever. This will be the last time Netflix publicly reveals subscriber numbers as it shifts focus toward prioritizing profits instead.
Instagram is reportedly offering creators cash bonuses of up to $50,000 a month if they post exclusively to Reels, seemingly in an effort to capitalize on TikTok’s uncertain status in the U.S.
Prince Harry settled with Rupert Murdoch’s British tabloids over claims of illegal information gathering. News Group Newspapers, owned by Murdoch, issued a full apology, acknowledging unlawful activities at The Sun and agreed to pay significant damages to Harry.
That’s it from me for now. Thank you so much for reading.
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