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.
The Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee voted to maintain the federal funds rate at 3.50%-3.75% following its first meeting of 2026 on January 28. This decision marks a pause after three consecutive rate cuts in late 2025, with the central bank citing solid economic activity, low job gains, and elevated inflation.
NASA is holding a news conference at Kennedy Space Center today, February 3, 2026, to discuss the results of the Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal. The critical fueling test for the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft concluded, paving the way for the first crewed lunar mission since 1972.
A coalition of over 47 conservative organizations, led by Them Before Us, has launched the 'Greater Than Campaign' with the stated goal of overturning the 2015 Supreme Court decision, Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. The campaign, launched on January 28, 2026, argues that same-sex marriage harms children by denying them the 'natural right' to a mother and a father.
President Donald Trump has announced that the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., will close for approximately two years starting July 4, 2026, for extensive renovations. The project, described as a 'complete rebuilding,' aims to transform the institution into a 'new and spectacular Entertainment Complex.'
The Halemaʻumaʻu eruption of Kīlauea volcano has paused, as reported by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on February 1, 2026. While lava fountaining has ceased, intermittent glow from the south vent and continued summit inflation suggest a potential resumption of activity, with Episode 42 forecast between February 11 and 16.
Top U.S. and Israeli military leaders, including General Dan Caine and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, met at the Pentagon to discuss escalating tensions with Iran. The closed-door discussions follow a prediction by Israel's army chief of a potential U.S. military strike on Iran within two months, amidst a significant U.S. military buildup in the Middle East.
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.
Los Angeles County Public Health is investigating a second confirmed measles case at LAX, linked to an international traveler. Potential exposure occurred at Tom Bradley International Terminal B on January 26-27, 2026, and a Woodland Hills Dunkin' Donuts on January 30, 2026. Officials urge vaccination and symptom monitoring.
South Carolina is grappling with the largest U.S. measles outbreak since 2000, with over 840 cases primarily in Spartanburg County. The surge, largely affecting unvaccinated individuals, fuels fears of the disease regaining a national foothold.
Former President Donald Trump has unveiled plans for a 250-foot 'Independence Arch' in Washington D.C., intended to commemorate America's 250th anniversary. The proposed monument, which would dwarf the Lincoln Memorial, is slated for a location near the Potomac River and Arlington National Cemetery, with construction potentially beginning in early 2026.
California's Department of Motor Vehicles canceled over 20,000 commercial driver's licenses, primarily affecting the state's Sikh trucking community. The cancellations, stemming from a federal audit flagging license expiration date discrepancies, have led to significant financial losses and a class-action lawsuit alleging clerical errors and due process violations.
The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni Kalagari, accusing him of overseeing the violent repression of nationwide protests. The sanctions, announced by the U.S. Treasury Department, also targeted an Iranian financier and two digital asset exchanges linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon and eight co-defendants have been indicted by a Minnesota grand jury on federal charges of conspiracy and interfering with First Amendment rights. The charges stem from an anti-immigration enforcement protest on January 18, 2026, at Cities Church in St. Paul. Lemon, arrested in Los Angeles, maintains he was reporting as a journalist.
The Trump administration has approved significant arms sales totaling $6.67 billion to Israel and $9 billion to Saudi Arabia. The deals, announced by the U.S. State Department, include Apache helicopters and Patriot missiles, and come amidst rising Middle East tensions and ongoing efforts for a Gaza ceasefire.
A federal judge has ruled that prosecutors cannot seek the death penalty for Luigi Mangione, accused in the 2024 murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The decision stems from a technical flaw in federal murder charges, though Mangione still faces federal stalking charges and state murder charges.
U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty advocated for the impeachment of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a Columbus ICE roundtable on January 29, 2026. Beatty cited concerns over increased ICE enforcement and Noem's immigration policies.
Samuel Calderon, 55, has been charged with murder, manslaughter, and other offenses following a fatal gas explosion and fire at the Boston Secor Houses in the Bronx on January 24, 2026. The blast, which killed Ronald McCallister, 60, and injured 15 others, was allegedly caused by Calderon disconnecting a stove to steal it.
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.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has returned with significant intensity in the United States in early 2026, resulting in the culling of over 1.1 million birds across multiple states this month. The H5N1 virus, linked to wild bird migration, poses an ongoing challenge to the poultry industry.
