Jury selection begins on Monday in the second federal corruptiontrial of New Jersey Democrat Senator Bob Menendez. Menendez and his wife, Nadine, are charged with accepting bribes from three affluent businessmen. The businessmen were charged alongside the Democrat, although one of them, Jose Uribe, had already pleaded guilty. He will testify against Menendez and the other two businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana.
Prosecutors say Menendez meddled in criminal investigations to benefit the governments of Egypt and Qatar. He is alleged to have used his influence to lobby the U.S. government and interfere in criminal investigations on behalf of Uribe, Daibes, Hana, and the foreign governments and interests tied to them.
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Menendez was previously indicted for bribery, fraud, and other offenses in 2015, related to claims he used his position to lobby the Dominican government on behalf of a donor. Jurors failed to agree on any of the charges, resulting in a mistrial, though the Democrat was still found to have “violated Senate Rules, federal law, and applicable standards of conduct” by the United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics.
Nevertheless, the Democratic Party did not expel him, and he retained the chairmanship of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He lost this after the latest round of indictments but remains a committee member. He bragged in November that his intelligence clearance had not been revoked despite the fact he is being tried as a foreign agent.
Menendez has said he will not run for reelection as a Democrat in November — although he may run as an independent, endangering the party’s slim Senate majority.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: While arriving at Davos, Switzerland, for the globalist World Economic Forum (WEF) summit on Tuesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) slammed the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner, María Corina Machado, as “pathetic.”
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Gov. Newsom, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, U.S. President Donald J. Trump, and European leaders.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: Tuesday, January 20, 2026, in Davos, Switzerland, at the World Economic Forum (WEF) summit.
💬KEY QUOTE: “I mean, handing out crowns—I mean, this is pathetic—Nobel Prizes that are being given away. I mean, it is just pathetic.” — Gavin Newsom
🎯IMPACT: Newsom slammed European and other world leaders for engaging in diplomacy with the Trump administration, calling their actions “pathetic.”
IN FULL
While arriving at Davos, Switzerland, for the globalist World Economic Forum (WEF) summit on Tuesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) slammed Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado as “pathetic.” Speaking in a press gaggle at the World Economic Forum (WEF), Newsom criticized foreign leaders who have shown appreciation for U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s mediation of foreign conflicts and the removal of Venezuela’s Marxist dictator, Nicolás Maduro.
“I can’t take this complicity, people rolling over—I should have brought a bunch of knee pads for all of the world leaders,” Newsom said, feigning indignation. He continued, “I mean, handing out crowns—I mean, this is pathetic—Nobel Prizes that are being given away. I mean, it is just pathetic.”
Machado, one of Venezuela’s top opposition leaders to the former Maduro regime, publicly dedicated and gifted her Nobel Prize to President Trump earlier this month for his decisive action in removing the country’s Marxist dictator. “I told him this: 200 years ago, General Lafayette gave Simon Bolivar a medal with George Washington’s face on it. Bolivar kept that medal the rest of his life,” Machado said on Capitol Hill last week, adding: “It was given by General Lafayette as a sign of the brotherhood between the people of the U.S. and the people of Venezuela in their fight against tyranny. Two hundred years on in history, the people of Bolivar are giving back to the heir of George Washington a medal, in this case, a medal of the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Newsom continued at Davos, stating, “I hope people understand how pathetic they look on the world stage. I mean, this is from an American perspective. It’s embarrassing.” The California Governor, widely seen as a top contender for the Democratic Party’s 2028 presidential nomination, went on to say that President Trump is playing European leaders “for fools.”
When pressed on the fact that Europe’s leaders believe this is the reality of diplomacy with President Trump, Newsom shot back, “This is diplomacy with Donald Trump? He’s a T. rex. You mate with him, or he devours you.”
NEW – Governor Newsom says Europeans should “stand tall and firm, have a backbone… I should have brought a bunch of knee pads for all the world leaders… Diplomacy with Donald Trump? He’s a T-Rex. You mate with him, or he devours you.” pic.twitter.com/haa3UNwOFr
❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has launched an investigation into housing policies in Minneapolis, Minnesota, citing concerns over potential violations of federal civil rights law.
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: HUD Secretary Scott Turner, Assistant Secretary Craig Trainor, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D), and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D).
📍WHEN & WHERE: The investigation was announced this week and focuses on alleged unlawful prioritization of ethnic minorities and foreigners over white people in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Minnesota is ground zero for fraud and corruption because they have chosen to ignore the law to serve a cynical political agenda.” – Scott Turner
🎯IMPACT: The investigation could lead to corrective action or enforcement measures if violations of federal law are found.
IN FULL
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has notified the City of Minneapolis that its Office for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) has opened an investigation into the city’s housing policies, citing potential conflicts with federal civil rights laws. According to HUD, the review will examine whether elements of Minneapolis’ long-term housing strategies and equity initiatives violate the Fair Housing Act or Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibit discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs.
HUD Secretary Scott Turner criticized Minnesota’s political leadership in announcing the investigation, stating, “Minnesota is ground zero for fraud and corruption because they have chosen to ignore the law to serve a cynical political agenda. This undermines our American values, united by a common heritage, language, and commitment to equal treatment under law.” Turner said HUD will not permit housing programs that rely on racial or ethnic preferences and added, “As HUD Secretary, I will continue to deliver on President Trump’s promise to provide affordable housing for American families.”
Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Craig Trainor said the agency is examining whether Minneapolis housing assistance improperly prioritizes race or national origin over financial need. He alleged that policies advanced under state Governor Tim Walz (D) and city Mayor Jacob Frey (D) raise serious legal concerns.
Trainor remarked, “Under the feckless leadership of Governor Tim Walz, Minnesota has become a Third World failed state, where criminals engage in massive, unchecked fraud and decent Minnesotans are held captive to the riotous impulses of left-wing cultural arsonists.”
HUD’s notice references several city planning documents, including the “Minneapolis 2040” comprehensive plan. That plan includes commitments to prioritize housing investments in designated “cultural districts” and to advance so-called racial equity goals by focusing resources on black, indigenous, people of color, and immigrant communities. Federal officials said the investigation will determine whether these provisions amount to unlawful racial or ethnic preferences.
The investigation marks the start of a formal review and does not represent a final determination. HUD said enforcement actions or corrective measures could follow if violations are found.
The inquiry comes amid broader federal scrutiny of Minnesota. Recent federal reviews have identified extensive fraud concerns, including improper distribution of housing and welfare funds, payments made to deceased recipients, and large-scale financial crimes investigations. The Trump administration has also halted federal loans to thousands of Minnesota borrowers over suspected fraud and expanded financial crimes enforcement targeting the state.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: The British government has approved China’s plans for a massive new embassy in central London, despite concerns about potential spying and security risks, including from the White House.
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The decision was confirmed by Housing Secretary Steve Reed, of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, with input from intelligence agencies including MI5 and GCHQ.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The embassy will be located at Royal Mint Court near the City of London, close to sensitive fiber-optic cable infrastructure.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Not realistic to expect to be able wholly to eliminate each and every potential risk.” – Britain’s domestic spy chiefs Sir Ken McCallum, of MI5, and Anne Keast-Butler, of GCHQ.
🎯IMPACT: Critics argue the decision risks facilitating China’s surveillance efforts and compromising Britain’s national security, and by extension that of America and other Five Eyes partners.
IN FULL
The British government has approved China’s plans to build a new mega-embassy at Royal Mint Court in London, close to the City of London and near sensitive fibre-optic infrastructure, which could serve as an espionage facility, despite objections from the White House. Housing Secretary Steve Reed, of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s left-wing Labour Party, signed off on the development, claiming that bringing China’s diplomatic operations together in one location would provide “clear security advantages.”
The proposal had been delayed several times as the government sought to balance closer engagement with Beijing against warnings about potential national security risks. Government ministers said the decision was taken with the full involvement of the intelligence services. In a joint letter, the director general of the British domestic spy agency MI5, Sir Ken McCallum, and the director of GCHQ, Anne Keast-Butler, appeared to tacitly acknowledge the danger but claimed that eliminating every possible risk was “not realistic.”
The Trump administration has previously expressed concern that the embassy, and in particular its hundreds of previously undisclosed secret underground rooms, which will be sited close to the aforementioned cables, could be used to surveil communications—a direct threat to U.S. national security, as Britain is a partner in the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance. “In a world where leverage with China matters, the UK is giving up all its leverage in the hope of a trade deal,” a U.S. official warned in comments to the British press.
Nigel Farage’s Reform Party has also criticised the embassy decision, arguing that Labour is allowing a “serious threat to national security” in “a desperate attempt by the Labour government to cosy up to the Chinese Communist Party.” Notably, Chancellor of the Exchequer (Treasury Secretary) Rachel Reeves and other senior officials have visited China in recent months as part of efforts to improve Sino-British relations.
China purchased the Royal Mint Court site in 2018 for $324 million. Once completed, the 20,000-square-metre complex will be the largest Chinese embassy in Europe.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Pro-illegal immigrant agitators disrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, over claims the pastor had ties to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); President Donald J. Trump has branded them “profressionals.”
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D), Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, and protesters at Cities Church.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The protest occurred on Sunday at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
💬KEY QUOTE: “These people are professionals! No person acts the way they act. They are highly trained to scream, rant, and rave, like lunatics, in a certain manner, just like they are doing.” – Donald Trump
🎯IMPACT: Federal authorities are investigating potential violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act to prosecute the protesters.
IN FULL
President Donald J. Trump on Tuesday described protesters whodisrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, over the weekend as “agitators and insurrectionists,” adding: “They are highly trained to scream, rant, and rave, like lunatics, in a certain manner… They are troublemakers who should be thrown in jail, or thrown out of the Country.”
Writing on Truth Social, the America First leader went on to say that the “first to go” should be Minnesota Governor and failed Democrat vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, a “Fake Sleazebag,” and Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN), “who is supposedly worth over $30 Million Dollars, even though she’s never had anything but a Government job. Investigate these Corrupt Politicians, and do it now!”
The church invasion occurred on Sunday at Cities Church, where demonstrators, accompanied by ex-CNN host Don Lemon, interrupted the worship service, chanting slogans. Protesters accused a pastor there of also serving as the acting field office director for ICE in Minnesota.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon has announced that the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is investigating possible violations of the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act), which also protects religious worship from interference.
The disruption follows heightened tensions in Minnesota related to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown on the state, which is riven with Somali fraudsters. Earlier this month, an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good, a trained activist who was obstructing immigration operations in her car, after she drove towards and struck him while attempting to evade detention.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta has updated its gross domestic product (GDP) estimate for the U.S. economy for the 4th Quarter (Q4) of 2025 to an astounding 5.3 percent.
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, American businesses, economists, and the Trump administration.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The estimate was released earlier in January, with an update scheduled for Wednesday, January 22. The initial 4th Quarter GDP numbers will be released on February 20.
🎯IMPACT: While jobsdata continues to suggest a softening in the job market, overall economic data shows the American economy continues to strengthen.
IN FULL
The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, which maintains the central bank’s GDP Now tracking system, estimates that the 4th Quarter gross domestic product (GDP) in the entire United States expanded by 5.3 percent. This would mark the highest jump in GDP since the 4th Quarter of 2021, when the economy expanded by seven percent—though this was exceptional, being the final significant jump in growth stemming from the lifting of lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before that, a brief surge following a sharp Q1 contraction occurred in 2014, and before that, the last growth rate above 5% was in 2003.
In the Second Quarter of 2025, the economy under President Donald J. Trump grew at three percent. At the same time, the initial Third Quarter number shows the economy grew by 4.3 percent. The robust expansion of the economy has been a key goal of the Trump administration, as high growth levels not only signal increasing economic productivity but also rebalance the United States’s debt-to-GDP ratio.
Notably, the Atlanta Fed’s data suggests almost all of the economic growth in the last quarter will have come from the private sector, allaying ongoing concerns about an economic contraction.
While jobs data continues to suggest a softening in the job market, overall economic data shows the American economy continuing to strengthen. With inflation numbers having fallen to just about the Federal Reserve‘s two percent target, it is likely the central bank will face continued pressure to slash interest rates for the foreseeable future.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the UK government’s decision to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, calling it an act of “great stupidity.”
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Nigel Farage, and the British government.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The controversy centers on the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), with key comments made on Tuesday.
💬KEY QUOTE: “The UK giving away extremely important land is an act of great stupidity.” – Donald Trump
🎯IMPACT: The decision has raised concerns over national security, U.S.-UK relations, and China’s growing influence.
IN FULL
President Donald J. Trump has sharply criticized the United Kingdom’s much-derided decision to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, officially the British Indian Ocean Territory, to Mauritius, describing it as “an act of GREAT STUPIDITY.” The archipelago includes Diego Garcia, home to a strategically vital joint British-American military base used for air, naval, and intelligence operations in the Indian Ocean and Asia-Pacific region.
In a post on Truth Social early Tuesday, Trump condemned the move by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his left-wing Labour Party, writing: “Shockingly, our ‘brilliant’ NATO Ally, the United Kingdom, is currently planning to give away the Island of Diego Garcia, the site of a vital U.S. Military Base, to Mauritius, and to do so FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER.”
He added: “The UK giving away extremely important land is an act of GREAT STUPIDITY, and is another in a very long line of National Security reasons why Greenland has to be acquired.” Trump noted that there is “no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness. These are International Powers who only recognize STRENGTH,” linking the handover to his broader push for U.S. control over Greenland.
Under its agreement with Mauritius, the British government will cede sovereignty to Mauritius—despite worries about the latter’s growing ties to China—and then lease back the Diego Garcia base for 100 years at exorbitant cost to ensure continued operations. This is despite the fact that Mauritius is thousands of miles from Chagos and has never been sovereign over the archipelago.
While Trump’s comments mark a reversal of his earlier support for the deal, it is widely understood that his administration was highly skeptical of it, and conditional on Britain paying to retain Diego Garcia. Reform Party leader Nigel Farage, a longtime ally of Trump who had previously lobbied him to block the deal, welcomed the belated intervention, stating: “Thank goodness Trump has vetoed the surrender of the Chagos islands.”
A British government spokesman defended the arrangement, claiming, “We acted because the base on Diego Garcia was under threat after court decisions undermined our position and would have prevented it operating as intended in the future… This deal secures the operations of the joint U.S.-UK base on Diego Garcia for generations, with robust provisions for keeping its unique capabilities intact and our adversaries out.”
In fact, International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings that the islands should be ceded to Mauritius were not legally binding, and even with the expensive lease, Mauritius could render Diego Garcia largely useless by leasing another Chagos island nearby to China or another Western adversary. The decision is likely less to do with the national interest than Labour’s “anti-colonial” ideology, with the British attorney general responsible for negotiating the deal openly despising the “racist” British Empire.
Notably, the Labour government has not addressed the fact that it is transferring Chagos against the wishes of the Chagossians, despite claiming any sale of Greenland would be impossible without the Greenlanders’ consent.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has announced a plan to dissolve parliament and hold a snap election.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the Japan Innovation Party, and the Centrist Reform Alliance.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The snap election is scheduled for February 8, 2026, in Japan, following an announcement on January 19, 2026.
🎯IMPACT: The election aims to restore the LDP’s majority in the Japanese legislature’s lower house and address pressing national issues like economic growth, defense spending, and the rising cost of living.
IN FULL
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has announced a snap national election for February 8, 2026. The decision comes as she seeks to capitalise on her surging public popularity and strengthen her party’s position in parliament.
The snap election will be a significant political test for Takaichi, who only took office in October of last year. She inherited a government where her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) had lost its parliamentary majority, currently holding 199 out of 465 lower house seats. The LDP governs in coalition with the Japan Innovation Party, and Takaichi’s rise to Prime Minister was initially frustrated by a coalition of opposition parties seeking political concessions.
Prime Minister Takaichi is an ally of U.S. President Donald J. Trump and an opponent of immigration, which had been increased in recent years as a supposed solution to Japan’s low birthrate. “It is a fact that unlawful activity and violation of rules by some foreigners are causing the sense of unease and unfairness among Japanese people,” Takaichi said in her first address after taking office, pledging: “The government will respond decisively to these activities. It’s not xenophobia,”
Most see the snap election as a bid to restore the LDP’s majority, thereby strengthening its ability to pass legislation and pursue key initiatives such as increased defense spending and economic growth measures. Cost of living is primarily seen as the top issue for voters, with 45 percent citing it as their main concern in a recent poll. Other key issues include foreign relations and national security, especially amid China’s hostile actions in the region.
Meanwhile, the main opposition has formed a new bloc called the Centrist Reform Alliance, which currently holds 172 seats.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: More than 10,000 illegal immigrants have been arrested in Minneapolis, Minnesota since the start of the second Trump administration, with 3,000 taken into custody in the last six weeks alone, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, federal agents, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D), Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D), and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D).
📍WHEN & WHERE: The arrests occurred in Minneapolis, with intensified operations beginning just after Thanksgiving.
💬KEY QUOTE: “In the last 6 weeks, our brave DHS law enforcement have arrested 3,000 criminal illegal aliens including vicious murderers, rapists, child pedophiles and incredibly dangerous individuals. A HUGE victory for public safety.” – Kristi Noem
🎯IMPACT: The arrests highlight ongoing immigration enforcement efforts and have drawn strong reactions, with claims of widespread fraud and criticism of local leadership.
IN FULL
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Monday that over 10,000 illegal immigrants have been arrested in Minneapolis, Minnesota, since the start of the second Trump administration, including roughly 3,000 in the past six weeks. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem highlighted the enforcement surge on social media, declaring, “PEACE AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN MINNEAPOLIS!”
““In the last 6 weeks, our brave DHS law enforcement have arrested 3,000 criminal illegal aliens including vicious murders, rapists, child pedophiles and incredibly dangerous individuals. A HUGE victory for public safety,” Noem said.
Noem criticized Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, accusing them of prioritizing criminals over the safety of residents. She said those arrested “were killing Americans, hurting children and reigning terror in Minneapolis.” Federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) have carried out what DHS describes as the largest immigration enforcement operation in the city’s history, with thousands of officers deployed since late November.
Noem said the operation has targeted individuals she called “vicious murderers, rapists, child pedophiles, and incredibly dangerous individuals.” She also pointed to a multibillion-dollar fraud investigation in Minnesota, claiming at least $19 billion has been stolen, double the $9 billion figure previously cited by U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson, and said much of it is connected to members of the Somali community.
President Trump echoed the crackdown on social media, targeting Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar and writing, “She should be in jail, or even a worse punishment, sent back to Somalia.”
Local officials have strongly criticized the federal enforcement actions. Mayor Frey described the surge as an “invasion” and has sought legal measures to restrict ICE operations. Civil liberties advocates and state authorities have also filed lawsuits, alleging constitutional violations and excessive use of force during arrests.
The crackdown has coincided with several violent incidents. In one case, a migrant allegedly rammed ICE agents with a vehicle in St. Paul, prompting an agent to fire shots. In another case, an ICE officer shot a Venezuelan in the leg after being attacked with a shove, sparking protests. Additional reports have raised concerns about attempts to intimidate federal agents, including live-streamed attempts by far-left activist groups to expose ICE officers’ personal information.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: Police in Britain are trialing AI technologies to prevent crime before it happens, reminiscent of Minority Report.
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Shabana Mahmood, the British Home Secretary, and Sir Andy Marsh, head of the College of Policing.
📍WHEN & WHERE: January 18, 2026, in the Britain.
💬KEY QUOTE: “[M]y ultimate vision… was to achieve, by means of AI and technology, what Jeremy Bentham tried to do with his Panopticon. That is that the eyes of the state can be on you at all times.” – Shabana Mahmood
🎯IMPACT: The initiative is drawing criticism for weaponizing AI technology to undermine citizens’ privacy.
IN FULL
Police forces across Britain are exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and deter criminal activity before offenses take place, a move that has drawn comparisons to the predictive policing depicted in the film Minority Report. Around 100 separate projects are currently being reviewed by police chiefs as part of efforts to integrate AI tools into crime-fighting and public-order strategies.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood—roughly equivalent to the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary—is expected to formalise the expanded role of AI in policing in a white paper due to be published next week. The proposals form part of a broader reform agenda at the Home Office. Sir Andy Marsh, chief executive of the College of Policing, has said that “predictive analytics” could help forces analyse data patterns and intervene earlier to prevent crime.
Mahmood, who previously served as Justice Secretary, has also argued for a significant expansion of GPS tagging for offenders. She has suggested that increased electronic monitoring could amount to “virtual prisons” for those serving community sentences, allowing authorities to maintain close supervision without custodial sentences. Since taking over the British Home Office, she has overseen the announcement of a nationwide rollout of live facial-recognition technology by police forces.
In a recent interview with arch globalist and former Prime Minister, Sir Tony Blair, Ms Mahmood said, “AI and technology can be transformative to the whole of the law and order space.” She added that, as Justice Secretary, her “ultimate vision… was to achieve, by means of AI and technology, what Jeremy Bentham tried to do with his Panopticon. That is that the eyes of the state can be on you at all times.”
The Panopticon, an 18th-century prison design proposed by philosopher Jeremy Bentham, allowed inmates to be observed at any moment, without knowing when they were being watched. Critics argue that Bentham’s concept has become an increasingly apt metaphor for modern surveillance technology. What was once a theoretical model is now cited by civil liberties groups concerned about the scale and reach of data collection, monitoring, and algorithmic decision-making being pursued by the state.
The push for AI-driven policing comes amid wider controversy over surveillance and free speech in Britain. The government has recently reinstated a COVID-era monitoring unit tasked with spying on online commentary related to immigration and public order, prompting accusations that lawful political speech is being spied on by the state. At the same time, government ministers have defended censorship of online platforms, arguing that restrictions are necessary to maintain public safety.
Internationally, Britain’s Labour Party government has faced criticism from President Donald J. Trump, who compared Britain to China after reports that the government pressured Apple to weaken iCloud security to assist law enforcement access.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) is putting distance between himself and anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protestors who stormed a church service with Don Lemon in St Paul, Minnesota, on Sunday, amid a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into the incident.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D), anti-ICE protesters, and the DOJ.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: Sunday at Cities Church in St Paul, Minnesota.
💬KEY QUOTE: “The Governor has repeatedly and unequivocally urged protesters to do so peacefully. While people have a right to speak out, he in no way supports interrupting a place of worship.” – Governor Walz’s office.
🎯IMPACT: A grand jury subpoena has been issued for Governor Walz and Mayor Frey, and the DOJ is investigating their potential involvement in obstructing federal immigration operations.
IN FULL
Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) is now claiming that he has “repeatedly” urged residents to protest “peacefully” following an incident in which anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agitators stormed a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Sunday. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating the incident that occurred during a Christian worship service at Cities Church, as well as Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s involvement in violent anti-ICE demonstrations in recent weeks.
“The Governor has repeatedly and unequivocally urged protesters to do so peacefully. While people have a right to speak out, he in no way supports interrupting a place of worship,” Walz’s office claimed in a statement on Monday. The Walz administration, along with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Frey, and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, is suing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over ICE operations in the state.
During the church service at Cities Church, one agitator recorded himself harassing attendees, accusing them of living “comfortable lives” while children were detained in “concentration camps.” He added, “You’re living real nice lives with your lattes, doing absolutely nothing for your Latino and Somali brothers and sisters.”
Alina Habba, a senior advisor to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, confirmed on Monday that the DOJ is examining the involvement of Walz and other officials in inciting the incident. Subpoenas have also been issued for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who has been vocal in his opposition to federal immigration enforcement, previously telling ICE to “get the f**k out of Minneapolis.”
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