Day: January 31, 2026

A viral post claims YouTuber Nick Shirley has landed in California to expose statewide fraud and confront Governor Gavin Newsom. Shirley, who drew national attention with a December 2025 video alleging widespread fraud at Somali-run Minnesota childcare sites that prompted federal scrutiny, has been both lauded by conservatives and criticized by mainstream outlets for shaky evidence. State investigators have not confirmed systemic fraud at the locations he visited, and Shirley has reported threats amid the backlash. His congressional testimony and social-media campaign have amplified partisan debate as authorities continue probing related allegations, and officials urge caution and due process nationwide. (en.wikipedia.org)

Thousands rallied in Minneapolis this month against ICE after two fatal shootings by federal agents — the January 7 killing of Renée Good and the January 24 killing of Alex Pretti — sparking local and nationwide demonstrations. At the B.H. Whipple Federal Building, protesters blocked access roads and refused dispersal orders, prompting law enforcement warnings and arrests as deputies sought to clear the area. Organizers called for strikes and citywide shutdowns, citing Operation Metro Surge and demanding accountability. The Justice Department opened a civil‑rights inquiry as similar protests spread to New York, Los Angeles and other cities, and continued nationwide. (washingtonpost.com)

On June 9, 2025, roughly two dozen anti‑ICE protesters occupied the public lobby of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, chanting “Bring Them Back” and reading names of deportees held at El Salvador’s CECOT prison. The demonstrators refused repeated NYPD orders to leave; a recorded dispersal warning was played. After about 40 minutes the NYPD Strategic Response Unit entered, used plastic zip‑tie restraints on about 24 protesters and escorted them into police vans. Officers said charges were not yet clear. The action was part of wider anti‑ICE demonstrations sweeping U.S. cities that day. No injuries were reported, officials said. (foxnews.com)

Virginia’s newly Democratic government has introduced more than 50 proposed tax increases this legislative session, targeting services from dog walking and gym memberships to dry cleaning, deliveries and new income brackets, critics say. (noticias.foxnews.com) Gov. Abigail Spanberger was sworn in Jan. 17, 2026, and Democrats now control the legislature, giving party leaders leverage to pursue tax and budget changes. (apnews.com) A social-media claim also alleges lawmakers introduced a bill allowing localities to use tax dollars to pay for government employees’ homes; that specific claim did not appear in mainstream coverage and could not be independently verified. Reporting is developing; details may change.

On January 30, 2026, tens of thousands poured into San Francisco’s streets for a coordinated “National Shutdown” protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), spurred by the fatal shootings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis and demands for investigations and accountability. (nationalshutdown.org) Organizers and student groups rallied at Dolores Park and Fruitvale before marching downtown, carrying “ICE OUT” signs and calling to defund or abolish the agency. (indybay.org) The action was part of nationwide demonstrations that weekend; organizers called it a movement rather than a moment, and social media amplified photos and turnout claims while official crowd estimates varied, organizers said. (theguardian.com)

Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced he will schedule a floor vote on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a GOP-backed measure pushed by Sen. Mike Lee (and supported in the House by Rep. Chip Roy) that would impose proof-of-citizenship and photo‑ID requirements for federal voter registration and voting. Backers say it will secure elections; critics argue it creates unnecessary barriers and amounts to voter suppression. Thune said the measure is being modified and will be brought to the floor “at some point,” while the bill’s fate depends on Senate support and procedural hurdles and partisan tensions are mounting. (dailysignal.com)

At 12:01 a.m. Eastern on January 31, 2026, the U.S. federal government entered a partial shutdown after Congress failed to enact remaining appropriations, leaving roughly half of federal departments unfunded. The Senate had approved a compromise spending package, but Speaker Mike Johnson delayed a House vote until February 2, creating a funding lapse. The Office of Management and Budget ordered agencies to implement contingency plans; essential services such as national defense, air traffic control, and law enforcement continue, while many nonessential staff face furloughs and paused programs. Negotiations will resume in Congress to restore funding and avert wider disruptions soon. (en.wikipedia.org)