Politics

The Associated Press announced that it has revised its style guide to officially recognize the Gulf of America and Mount McKinley.

Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) proposed revising a constitutional amendment that would allow a president to serve three terms.

Newly confirmed CIA Director John Ratcliffe vowed Thursday to prioritize uncovering the origins of COVID-19, including whether the virus leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China. In his first interview after being sworn in by Vice President JD Vance, Ratcliffe criticized the CIA for failing to assess the pandemic’s origins and pledged to refocus the agency on addressing the growing threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Thursday to strengthen America’s leadership in cryptocurrency and financial technology. The order includes several sweeping measures to promote innovation, protect economic liberty, and evaluate the potential creation of a “national digital asset stockpile.”

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 538 individuals in a nationwide operation Thursday, focusing on illegal aliens involved in crimes ranging from gang activity to child predation and terrorism. Among those apprehended were 373 individuals with criminal convictions and 165 non-criminal arrests, according to the Trump administration.

Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a warning Thursday, claiming American consumers will face higher costs if President Donald Trump proceeds with plans to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian imports. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office earlier in the day that he is prepared to enforce the tariffs starting February 1, citing concerns over illegal migration and fentanyl crossing the U.S. border via Canada and Mexico.

President Donald Trump has called on NATO member nations to raise their defense contributions to five percent of their gross domestic product (GDP). Speaking virtually at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, Trump argued that the current two-percent goal is outdated and unfair to the United States.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for the deployment of American troops to Ukraine, insisting that a multinational peacekeeping effort without U.S. participation would not be effective in deterring further Russian aggression. Speaking at the Davos World Economic Forum, Zelensky emphasized the need for U.S. involvement alongside European allies to stabilize Ukraine and prevent Russia from rearming during a potential ceasefire.

California Governor Gavin Newsom accused former President Donald Trump on Thursday of spreading “misinformation” about the state’s ongoing water issues. Trump had suggested that water shortages in Southern California could be resolved by redirecting water supplies from Northern California to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Newsom dismissed this claim, saying there is no simple solution or “spigot” to fix the state’s complex water challenges.

Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez has pledged to prosecute protesters who engage in criminal acts, signaling a sharp departure from the policies of his predecessor, Mike Schmidt. Vasquez’s announcement came during a Wednesday press briefing following an anti-Trump protest in Portland that resulted in the arrests of five anarchist militants.