On January 28, 2026, Nicki Minaj posted a viral video with former president Donald Trump and shared a photo of a so‑called “Trump Gold Card.” (people.com) She praised Trump, called herself his “No. 1 fan,” and said she was “finalizing” U.S. citizenship paperwork after attending a Trump Accounts summit where she pledged hundreds of thousands toward the program. (yahoo.com) The posts — and the gold‑card photo — exploded online, prompting swift backlash from critics and many former fans who called the move a dramatic political pivot. (forbes.com) The White House amplified the posts, and commentators debated whether the stunt was genuine or promotional. (yahoo.com)
At a February 4, 2026 House Financial Services Committee hearing on the Financial Stability Oversight Council report, Rep. Joyce Beatty pressed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for direct answers about the CDFI Fund and related matters. (finance.yahoo.com) She demanded, “You will say ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ or ‘I’m not answering, move on,’” and pushed back when Bessent offered to have staff follow up. (ar15.com) Bessent often declined to answer immediately and gave terse replies, prompting the chair to try to cut Beatty’s time. (beatty.house.gov) Video of the tense exchange went viral on social media as reporters also highlighted Bessent’s testimony on tariffs, stablecoins and financial stability. (finance.yahoo.com)
Federal agency the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced it filed a subpoena enforcement action against Nike in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, opening an investigation into allegations that Nike engaged in a pattern or practice of race discrimination against White employees tied to its 2025 DEI targets. The EEOC seeks records dating to 2018, including criteria used for layoffs, how race and ethnicity data were tracked or used (including executive compensation), and details on 16 programs alleged to offer race‑restricted mentoring or development. Nike says it has cooperated and provided materials while disputing wrongdoing publicly. (eeoc.gov)
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said at a Republican leadership press conference on January 28, 2026, he won’t back efforts that “undermine law enforcement’s ability to do their job” while discussing DHS and election proposals. (twstalker.com) Thune said he will schedule a Senate vote on the SAVE Act and supports a revised bill requiring documentary proof of citizenship for registration and photo identification for ballots. (democracydocket.com) The bill is being amended and hasn’t cleared committee; passage faces filibuster hurdles needing 60 votes. (democracydocket.com) Supporters Sen. Mike Lee and Sen. Rick Scott praised the pledge, while Democrats and voting-rights groups warned it could suppress turnout. (dailysignal.com)
At a House Financial Services Committee hearing on May 7, 2025, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent clashed with ranking member Rep. Maxine Waters over inflation, tariffs and housing policy. Waters pressed Bessent to oppose the administration’s tariffs and blamed immigration and trade for affordability problems; he pushed back, prompting a heated back-and-forth in which Waters told Bessent to “shut up” and Bessent retorted, “Can you maintain some level of dignity?” Waters later complained to committee chair Rep. French Hill that Bessent had used up her time. The exchange underscored partisan tensions over U.S. economic and immigration policy and inflamed public debate. (congress.gov)
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned the organization could be on the brink of financial collapse unless major contributors, especially the United States, resume full payments, citing roughly $2.2 billion owed to the U.N.’s regular (core) budget. He said record unpaid dues (about $1.57 billion at end of 2025) and near-exhausted liquidity risk preventing execution of the $3.45 billion 2026 budget and could force the U.N. to run out of cash by July 2026. Guterres urged member states to honor obligations or reform antiquated rules that require returning unspent funds, and warned immediate action is needed to avoid paralysis and disruption. (apnews.com)
