President Donald Trump has called for immediate passage of a federal funding package to avert a prolonged partial government shutdown. The move comes as House Speaker Mike Johnson faces significant challenges in uniting his caucus and addressing Democratic demands for immigration reforms.
Democrat Taylor Rehmet secured a significant victory in a special election for Texas State Senate District 9, flipping a long-held Republican seat. Rehmet, a labor union leader and veteran, defeated Republican Leigh Wambsganss in the Fort Worth-area district, which former President Donald Trump won by 17 points in 2024. The win is seen as a notable upset for the Democratic Party.
Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday, January 31, 2026. The move, which took place in Jalingo, increases the APC's gubernatorial count to 30, with leaders citing benefits for Taraba State.
The U.S. Senate failed to advance a critical spending package on Thursday, January 29, 2026, with a 45-55 procedural vote. The impasse, driven by Democratic demands for reforms to the Department of Homeland Security following recent incidents, raises concerns about a partial government shutdown as a January 30 deadline approaches.
Former President Donald Trump has officially endorsed Republican State Treasurer Stacy Garrity in her bid for Pennsylvania Governor in the 2026 election. Trump praised Garrity as an 'America First Patriot' on Truth Social, solidifying her position as a leading contender against incumbent Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro.
President Trump previously signed a significant science funding package for fiscal year 2019, but a partial government shutdown is imminent by Friday, December 21, 2018. The impending shutdown stems from an impasse over Homeland Security funding for a border wall, a debate intensified by ongoing immigration controversies, including the Minneapolis ICE protests.
Former Special Counsel Jack Smith publicly testified before the House Judiciary Committee, defending his investigations into former President Donald Trump's handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Smith asserted that evidence showed Trump 'willfully broke the law,' despite both cases concluding after Trump's 2024 re-election.
The entire Nationals frontbench, led by David Littleproud, has resigned from the shadow cabinet following a deep division over Labor's new hate speech laws. This mass resignation came after three Nationals senators defied party lines and crossed the floor to vote against the legislation, leading to a confirmed split within the Coalition.
Portugal's left-wing Bloco de Esquerda has officially approved a call to vote for António José Seguro in the upcoming presidential election runoff. Seguro, a Socialist Party candidate, will face far-right leader André Ventura on February 8, 2026, after leading the first round on January 18.
Portugal's Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda) has officially endorsed Socialist candidate António José Seguro for the second round of the presidential elections, scheduled for February 8, 2026. The move aims to counter the far-right candidate André Ventura, who also advanced to the runoff.
The U.S. Congress has reactivated the bipartisan Argentina Caucus, co-chaired by Representative Michael Rulli (R-Ohio) and Representative Darren Soto (D-Florida). The caucus aims to strengthen political and economic relations between the two nations, building on recent financial support and trade agreements, and reflecting a renewed focus on the U.S.-Argentina strategic partnership.
Hungary's government, through Minister Gergely Gulyás, has labeled opposition leader Péter Magyar 'mentally ill' following Magyar's claims of government plans to sow panic before the 2026 elections. This comes as Magyar's Tisza Party emerges as a significant challenger to the ruling Fidesz, intensifying the political climate in Hungary.
Greece's main opposition party, SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, expelled MEP Nikolaos Farantouris on January 7, 2026, for comments regarding a new political movement. This marks the second high-profile expulsion from its European delegation in a month, following Nikos Pappas's removal in December 2025 due to an altercation. The expulsions highlight ongoing internal turmoil within the party.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 230-196 to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies for three years, overriding Republican leadership. The measure, which saw 17 Republicans join all Democrats, now moves to the Senate, where a bipartisan compromise is being sought after the subsidies expired on December 31, 2025.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has frozen over $10 billion in federal child care and family assistance funds for California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York. The action, announced January 6, 2026, by HHS's Administration for Children and Families, stems from widespread fraud concerns in state-administered programs, impacting Child Care and Development Fund, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and Social Services Block Grant programs. Affected states, all led by Democrats, have condemned the move as politically motivated.
U.S. Representative Doug LaMalfa, a Republican from California, passed away on January 6, 2026, at the age of 65. His death, following a medical emergency and emergency surgery, reduces the Republican Party's slim majority in the House of Representatives to 218-213, intensifying legislative challenges for the GOP.
The Trump administration announced on January 6, 2026, a halt of approximately $10 billion in federal funding for social services across five Democrat-led states: California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York. The move, citing fraud allegations, impacts programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the Child Care Development Fund.
Congressional Democrats are facing mounting pressure to confront President Trump, leveraging a looming government shutdown to demand action on healthcare costs, including expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies and Medicaid cuts. The standoff also highlights concerns over the administration's use of executive authority, with a federal funding deadline approaching.
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has publicly urged Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to resign his governorship if he intends to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Kwankwaso, a political mentor to Yusuf, described the potential move as a 'betrayal' and warned that the mandate belongs to the party, not the individual. The demand comes amidst widespread speculation of Yusuf's imminent defection.
The crisis within the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has intensified following Dr. Nname Ewor's public declaration of support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's 2027 re-election and alignment with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. Ewor, a factional chairman, accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of deceiving the party and defecting to the APC.
