7 Republicans join Dems to block major government funding package as shutdown looms
Senate Democrats stayed true to their threat by blocking a behemoth funding package, but in a surprising turn of events, they were joined by several Senate Republicans to derail the legislation. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and his caucus made it no secret that they would obstruct the government funding process over the last several days, demanding that Republicans strip the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill from the six-bill package. But the defection of seven GOP lawmakers – Sens. Ted Budd, R-N.C., Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Mike Lee, R- Utah, Ashley Moody, R-Fla., Rand Paul, R-Ky., Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. – was an unexpected development on Thursday. Senate Democrats are willing to support the five other bills in the package, however, and have reiterated that bundle would easily pass if given the chance. SENATE REPUBLICANS WEIGH DEM DEMAND TO SPLIT DHS BILL, TURN TO SHORT-TERM EXTENSION TO AVOID SHUTDOWN “Democrats are ready to avert a shutdown,” said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee. “We have five bills we all agree on. About 95% of the remaining budget. It is ready to go,” she continued. “We can pass those five bills, no problem. All Leader Thune has to do is tee them up for a vote.” But Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., sought to call their bluff and barreled forward with the key test vote, which would have opened up several hours of debate and eventually a final vote to send the package to President Donald Trump’s desk. Ahead of the vote, Thune said he hoped that conversations between the White House and Senate Democrats would produce the “the votes that are necessary to get it passed.” Thune threw cold water on Senate Democrats’ several demands for reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) making their way into the current package, too. “That’s not going to happen in this bill, but there are, I mean, there’s a path to consider some of those things and negotiate that out between Republicans, Democrats, House, Senate, White House,” Thune said. “But that’s not gonna happen in this bill.” With the six-bill package, which included major funding bills for the Pentagon and other agencies, now scuttled, Senate Republicans and the White House are looking for a plan B to keep the government open or to at least minimize the damage from a partial shutdown. SCHUMER ROLLS OUT LIST OF ICE DEMANDS AS WHITE HOUSE SAYS DEMS ‘BLOCKED’ DEAL-MAKING SESSION One option gaining momentum among Republicans would be to strip the DHS funding bill from the broader package, advance the smaller, five-bill bundle and then turn to a short-term funding extension, known as a continuing resolution (CR), for just Homeland Security. And there are ongoing negotiations among Senate Democrats and the White House on that particular idea. A White House official told Fox News Digital in a statement, “President Trump has been consistent — he wants the government to remain open, and the Administration has been working with both parties to ensure the American people don’t have to endure another shutdown.” “A shutdown would risk disaster response funding and more vital resources for the American people,” the official said. But taking that route presents several hurdles and challenges, particularly with the House out until next week. That’s because any modification to the current six-bill package would require the lower chamber to agree to it. The same is true for any CR that the Senate produces for DHS. SENATE REPUBLICANS TEE UP KEY SHUTDOWN TEST VOTE AS DEMOCRATS DIG IN ON DHS FUNDING Schumer pinned the possibility of a shutdown on Thune, arguing that if he just put the five-bill package on the floor, Senate Democrats would support it. “Well, let me tell you first, if funding lapses, it’s all because of Leader Thune,” Schumer said. “It’s on his back.” House Republicans have already signaled their unwillingness to support a modified funding package, and turning to a CR is a simmering taboo that many Republicans in the lower chamber aren’t likely to be happy with. But it’s an option that could be gaining steam with Schumer and the White House, despite Trump administration officials blaming the top Senate Democrat for canning a meeting among rank-and-file Senate Democrats and the administration on Wednesday. Turning to a CR would be an about-face for Senate Democrats, too. Last week they argued that a short-term extension for DHS would amount to a “slush fund” for Trump and the administration to use in their immigration operations with no guardrails.
Federal prosecutors charge man accused of spraying Rep Ilhan Omar at town hall
A federal criminal charge has been filed against the suspect accused of spraying a liquid on Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., during a town hall event this week. Anthony James Kazmierczak, 55, “forcibly assaulted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, and interfered with United States Representative Ilhan Omar,” says a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota and obtained by Fox News. The charge was filed by the Justice Department in Minnesota and assigned to Magistrate Judge Dulce J. Foster. Right before the attack, Omar called for the resignation or impeachment of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, following multiple fatal shootings involving federal immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis. Kazmierczak, who was previously convicted of two DUIs, was charged at the state level with third-degree assault and was booked into the Hennepin County Jail. ILHAN OMAR BLAMES TRUMP’S RHETORIC FOR SURGE IN DEATH THREATS, INCLUDING SPRAY ATTACK The criminal complaint featured an image of the syringe that federal prosecutors said was used by Kazmierczak in the incident. It cited a Minneapolis Police Department officer as saying that a hazmat specialist “field tested the substance from the syringe and determined it was water and apple cider vinegar.” “The substance was sent to a state laboratory for further testing and analysis,” the complaint added. ILHAN OMAR DEMANDS IMPEACEMENT OF NOEM AMID DHS FUNDING BATTLE: ‘WE MUST ABOLISH ICE’ “An MPD Detective Sergeant reviewed body worn camera footage of MPD’s arrest of Kazmierczak. The detective noted that Kazmierczak made a spontaneous utterance to the effect of ‘I squirted vinegar’ at the time he was being arrested,” it continued. The complaint also said that on Wednesday, an FBI special agent interviewed a close associate of Kazmierczak who “stated that several years ago, Kazmierczak was speaking to the person on the phone about Representative Omar and said, ‘Somebody should kill that b—-,’ referring to Representative Omar.” Fox News’ Jessica Sonkin and Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.
Al Jazeera denounces YouTube’s compliance with Israel’s ban on network
Livestreams of Al Jazeera Arabic, Al Jazeera English and Al Jazeera Mubasher blocked in Israel. Published On 29 Jan 202629 Jan 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Al Jazeera has condemned YouTube’s compliance with an Israeli law banning the network’s livestreams in the country, warning that the move signals how major tech companies can be “co-opted as instruments of regimes hostile to freedom”. YouTube’s submission to Israel’s ban became apparent on Wednesday, days after Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karahi ordered a 90-day extension of an existing ban on the network’s operations in Israel, blocking broadcasting and internet companies from carrying the network’s content. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list On Thursday, with livestreams of Al Jazeera Arabic, Al Jazeera English and Al Jazeera Mubasher blocked in Israel, the network denounced YouTube for failing to uphold the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. “Such principles mandate that global tech companies ensure freedom of expression and resist government pressures that lead to the withholding of the truth and the silencing of independent journalism,” it said in a statement. “The Network stresses that this escalation is part of a broader and systematic pattern of Israeli violations, including the killing and detention of its journalists and the closure of its offices in the occupied territories, aimed at suppressing the truth.” Israel has killed more than 270 journalists and media workers since it launched its genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023. Some have been from Al Jazeera, including correspondent Anas al-Sharif, 28, who was killed with three of his colleagues in an Israeli strike on a media tent in Gaza City in August. In May 2024, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet voted to shut down Al Jazeera’s operations in Israel, weeks after the Israeli parliament passed a law allowing the temporary closure of foreign broadcasters considered to be a “threat to national security”. Advertisement In September that year, Israeli forces stormed Al Jazeera’s offices in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, confiscating equipment and documents and closing the network’s office. In December last year, the Israeli parliament approved an extension of the 2024 law, called the “Al Jazeera law”, for two more years. In Thursday’s statement, Al Jazeera called on YouTube and other digital companies to immediately lift the ban on its channels, urging media freedom and human rights organisations join it in condemning Israel’s targeting of the media. Adblock test (Why?)
Hakan Fidan on Iran and Turkiye’s role in global security
Turkish foreign minister warns against escalation with Iran, explaining how Ankara sees the future of regional security. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warns that attacking Iran would be wrong and says Tehran is ready to return to negotiations. He urges a step-by-step diplomatic approach and cautions against escalation. Fidan also discusses Turkiye’s position on the future of regional and global security cooperation and the role it can play as the post-World War II order fractures and trust between states erodes. Published On 29 Jan 202629 Jan 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Adblock test (Why?)
Inside Gaza after Israel’s last captive is found
With the final Israeli captive returned, Palestinians are waiting to see if Israel will now implement a true ceasefire. The remains of the final Israeli captive have been returned from Gaza. For months, the Israeli government has cited the remaining bodies of captives as a reason for limiting crossings, delaying aid deliveries and slowing the implementation of the agreed ceasefire. With this justification now gone, what will change for Palestinians in Gaza? In this episode: Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili and Melanie Marich, with Tamara Khandaker, Tuleen Barakat, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Alexandra Locke. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhemm. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube Published On 29 Jan 202629 Jan 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Adblock test (Why?)
UGC regulations put on hold by Supreme Court amid massive protest: ‘Capable of Misuse’
Controversial UGC Bill norms put on hold by Supreme Court. The Supreme Court on Thursday began hearing petitions challenging the new UGC regulations.
Ajit Pawar cremated with state honours: Amit Shah, Devendra Fadnavis, Riteish Deshmukh present
For Ajit Pawar’s funeral, a large number of people gathered at the Vidya Pratishthan ground to bid a final goodbye to the Nationalist Congress Party leader, reflecting the widespread public mourning over his demise.
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta hosts World Champion Blind Women’s T20 Cricket Team, says ‘Our nation’s daughters are very strong’
In a high-energy final against Nepal, India clinched victory by seven wickets in Colombo on 23rd November 2025 (Sunday). India restricted Nepal to 114/5 and chased down the target in just 12.1 overs. The win was powered by outstanding performances across the team.
Uttar Pradesh: Meerut-Mawana-Pauri road to get makeover, government allocates Rs 39.34 crore for transformation, check details
The tender process for the project is expected to be completed by January 31, after which the selected contractor will begin work on the project.
No woman is safe: Delhi Police commando beaten to death by husband
A woman constable, posted as a commando in the SWAT unit of the Special Cell of the Delhi Police, died om January 27 five days after being brutally assaulted by her husband. She died at a private hospital in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.