Board of Peace, Cause of Colds, & Matching Game

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Adam Rogers
January 21, 2026

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The Justice Department has issued subpoenas to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and other state and local officials as part of a federal investigation into whether Minnesota authorities obstructed federal immigration enforcement.
The investigation follows the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a US citizen, during an ICE operation in Minnesota. Federal authorities are examining whether state or local officials interfered with enforcement efforts, as well as whether Good’s partner impeded an officer before the shooting.
The probe relies on a rarely used federal statute dating back to the Civil War era. State officials say the subpoenas are for records and documents, not to compel them to testify personally. Walz, Frey, and Ellison accused the Trump administration of weaponizing the Justice Department for political purposes.

President Trump is creating a "Board of Peace" for Gaza with himself as chairman, offering countries permanent membership for $1 billion or smaller roles for around $20 million. The board will oversee Trump's Gaza plan and mobilize international resources for the territory's transition from conflict to peace.
More than 10 countries have agreed to join, though only five have publicly confirmed: the United Arab Emirates, Belarus, Morocco, Hungary, and Canada. Trump is considering expanding the board as a potential United Nations rival.
The initiative is facing resistance from US allies. Trump threatened France with 200% tariffs on wine and champagne Monday night if it doesn't join, though the White House won't say if he was serious. France doesn't plan to participate. Russia has been invited despite its invasion of Ukraine.

Yale researchers found that your body's immune response—not the cold virus itself—determines whether you get sick and how bad symptoms are. The team grew human nasal tissue in a lab to observe rhinovirus infections in real-time.
When nasal cells detect the virus, they release interferons that stop it from spreading. A quick interferon response prevents illness entirely, while a slow response allows infection to take hold. Cold symptoms, however, don’t come directly from the virus. They stem from the body’s immune overreaction, as both infected and healthy cells release excess mucus and inflammatory signals that cause congestion and breathing discomfort.
Rhinovirus is the leading cause of the common cold and a major trigger for asthma flare-ups. The findings could help guide treatments that ease symptoms without weakening the body’s antiviral defenses, researchers said.

Trump-backed Rep. Julia Letlow launched a primary challenge against Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, who voted to convict Trump in 2021. (More)

Second lady Usha Vance and Vice President JD Vance announced they're expecting their fourth child, a boy, in late July. (More)

The Supreme Court weighed whether states can ban guns in stores, restaurants, and other private businesses without the owner's permission. Five states currently have such restrictions. (More)

Sydney shut its beaches after four shark attacks in 48 hours left one surfer in cardiac arrest and a teenager in intensive care. (More)

Britain approved China's "super embassy" in central London after seven years, despite espionage and surveillance concerns. Residents are threatening legal action over potential evictions. (More)

Kurdish forces guarding ISIS prisons in Syria withdrew amid fighting with government forces, allowing around 1,500 fighters to escape. (More)

US stock markets closed lower on Tuesday (S&P -2.06%, Nasdaq -2.29%, Dow -1.76%). Stocks fell sharply after President Trump intensified his rhetoric on Greenland. (More)

A Danish pension fund is dumping its $100 million in U.S. Treasurys, citing America's debt crisis and escalating tensions over Trump's threats to take Greenland from Denmark. (More)

Netflix switched its $72 billion Warner Bros. Discovery takeover to all-cash to speed shareholder approval and fend off Paramount's rival bid. (More)

The Tennessee Titans hired Robert Saleh, the 49ers’ defensive coordinator and former Jets coach, as head coach on a five-year deal. (More)

Golden State's Jimmy Butler tore his ACL in Monday's win over Miami, ending his season. (More)

Center fielders Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Beltran got 84% of votes while Jones barely cleared the 75% threshold in his ninth year of eligibility. (More)

Engineers set a record with new solar cells made from common materials, which could make future solar panels cheaper and more efficient. (More)

Scientists created a blood test predicting breast cancer treatment success by analyzing tumor DNA. It helps doctors skip ineffective treatments and choose ones that will actually work for each patient. (More)

New pediatric guidelines say screen-time limits no longer work for kids. Parents should prioritize content quality, while tech companies must eliminate engagement-driven features like autoplay and targeted algorithms. (More)

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