By Zach Wendling | Nebraska Examiner

Lawmakers say they’re reviewing board shakeup; one called it the ‘nuclear option’

LINCOLN —&nbsp;The University of Nebraska and Clarkson Regional Health Services are replacing nearly all members of the Nebraska Medicine Board of Directors as NU moves forward with an $800 million deal for sole ownership of the nonprofit medical provider.

The restructuring could end a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-medicine-suing-to-stop-800-million-nu-clarkson-deal-for-nu-sole-ownership/">lawsuit pursued by the Nebraska Medicine board</a>&nbsp;to stop the deal. A majority of four new voting members, all NU and Clarkson leaders, support the deal.

“[NU and Clarkson] have since determined that this action was necessary to protect the organization’s reputation, stability, and future, and to ensure it can continue to fulfill its charitable mission effectively long into the future,” NU and Clarkson said in a joint statement.

The NU Board of Regents announced in a Thursday news release that it, along with Clarkson, had filed new articles of incorporation for Nebraska Medicine with the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office. The amended articles were filed shortly after 8 a.m. Thursday. NU and Clarkson have overseen the nonprofit hospital and clinic partner of the University of Nebraska Medical Center in a 50-50 split since 1997.

The NU-Clarkson transaction&nbsp;includes NU paying Clarkson $500 million for its 50% stake in the nonprofit, plus $300 million for related properties. The deal is expected to close by June 30.

After the transaction finishes, Clarkson has pledged to donate $200 million back to NU for “Project Health,” a $2.19 billion endeavor to build up the next generation of health care.

Regents say the Nebraska Medicine changes are needed because NU and Clarkson “have serious concerns about recent actions and behavior” of previous Nebraska Medicine board members. NU and Clarkson argue those actions “threatened critically important mission-driven strategic initiatives.”&nbsp;

The NU regents on Jan. 8 asked the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office to investigate the nonprofit board, too.

“We have initiated a thorough review of these allegations,” an AG’s Office spokesperson said in a text last week. “Any investigation our office conducts will remain strictly confidential.”

The Nebraska Medicine board, before the changes, pushed back on those claims before and said they had “no merit” and said they were an effort to distract from questions about the NU-Clarkson deal.&nbsp;The former board members said they had been left out of meaningful negotiations, including a possible alternative.

In a statement last week issued by the nonprofit’s former leadership, the board said it “must uphold its fiduciary duties to Nebraska Medicine, and our opposition to and questions about the regents’ transaction fully [align] with that duty.”

According to the joint statements Thursday, NU and Clarkson said they desired to complete the “transformative transaction” without board changes. They say the changes came after a “careful review of current circumstances,” Nebraska Medicine’s governing documents and the law.

Only Davies was actively on the board before Thursday. Gold was a member during his time as UNMC chancellor, starting as the inaugural board chair in 2016.

There will also be four nonvoting members who all previously served on the Nebraska Medicine board by virtue of their positions. They are the dean of the UNMC College of Medicine, chair of surgery in the UNMC College of Medicine, Nebraska Medicine’s chief nursing officer and chief of staff of The Nebraska Medical Center medical staff.

The changes remove Nebraska Medicine’s CEO, Dr. Michael Ash, and seven other members, including Lance Fritz, the previous chair, who led opposition to the NU-Clarkson changes.&nbsp;

Fritz, who was president and CEO of Union Pacific between 2015 and 2023, did not immediately return a call seeking comment Thursday.

The day before the vote last week, NU and Nebraska Medicine hosted competing forums with state lawmakers on the deal. In the wake of Thursday’s board restructuring, multiple senators said they needed to review what had happened before commenting.

State Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln called the board changes the “nuclear option.” Another senator said it was like adding gasoline to a fire.

Multiple senators described the situation as a “clash of the titans,” which was only made public Jan. 2 after strict non-disclosure agreements. The deal proceeded in less than two weeks.&nbsp;

State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston, a former hospital administrator, said he worried about impacts to the Omaha philanthropic community.

State Sen. Tony Sorrentino of the Elkhorn area proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=63652&amp;docnum=LB1125&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 1125</a>&nbsp;this year at Nebraska Medicine’s urging. It would require any such NU deals for hospitals above $100 million to obtain legislative approval.&nbsp;

Thursday’s action might increase pressure for lawmakers to step in.

“Came out of left field,” Sorrentino said Thursday of the board restructuring.

By Zach Wendling | Nebraska Examiner<h2>Lawmakers say they’re reviewing board shakeup; one called it the ‘nuclear option’</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769178318349.jpeg" alt=" University of Nebraska Dr. Jeffrey Gold, right, speaks with state senators and NU regents after a forum with dozens of Nebraska state senators regarding NU’s proposal to buy out the share of Nebraska Medicine owned by Clarkson Regional Health Services. At center is Dr. Bill Lydiatt, Clarkson’s CEO, and at left is State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte. Jan. 14, 2026. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> University of Nebraska Dr. Jeffrey Gold, right, speaks with state senators and NU regents after a forum with dozens of Nebraska state senators regarding NU’s proposal to buy out the share of Nebraska Medicine owned by Clarkson Regional Health Services. At center is Dr. Bill Lydiatt, Clarkson’s CEO, and at left is State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte. Jan. 14, 2026. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN —&nbsp;The University of Nebraska and Clarkson Regional Health Services are replacing nearly all members of the Nebraska Medicine Board of Directors as NU moves forward with an $800 million deal for sole ownership of the nonprofit medical provider.The restructuring could end a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-medicine-suing-to-stop-800-million-nu-clarkson-deal-for-nu-sole-ownership/">lawsuit pursued by the Nebraska Medicine board</a>&nbsp;to stop the deal. A majority of four new voting members, all NU and Clarkson leaders, support the deal.“[NU and Clarkson] have since determined that this action was necessary to protect the organization’s reputation, stability, and future, and to ensure it can continue to fulfill its charitable mission effectively long into the future,” NU and Clarkson said in a joint statement.<h2>Legal fights escalate</h2>The NU Board of Regents announced in a Thursday news release that it, along with Clarkson, had filed new articles of incorporation for Nebraska Medicine with the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office. The amended articles were filed shortly after 8 a.m. Thursday. NU and Clarkson have overseen the nonprofit hospital and clinic partner of the University of Nebraska Medical Center in a 50-50 split since 1997.The NU-Clarkson transaction&nbsp;includes NU paying Clarkson $500 million for its 50% stake in the nonprofit, plus $300 million for related properties. The deal is expected to close by June 30.After the transaction finishes, Clarkson has pledged to donate $200 million back to NU for “Project Health,” a $2.19 billion endeavor to build up the next generation of health care.Regents say the Nebraska Medicine changes are needed because NU and Clarkson “have serious concerns about recent actions and behavior” of previous Nebraska Medicine board members. NU and Clarkson argue those actions “threatened critically important mission-driven strategic initiatives.”&nbsp;The NU regents on Jan. 8 asked the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office to investigate the nonprofit board, too.“We have initiated a thorough review of these allegations,” an AG’s Office spokesperson said in a text last week. “Any investigation our office conducts will remain strictly confidential.”The Nebraska Medicine board, before the changes, pushed back on those claims before and said they had “no merit” and said they were an effort to distract from questions about the NU-Clarkson deal.&nbsp;The former board members said they had been left out of meaningful negotiations, including a possible alternative.In a statement last week issued by the nonprofit’s former leadership, the board said it “must uphold its fiduciary duties to Nebraska Medicine, and our opposition to and questions about the regents’ transaction fully [align] with that duty.”<h2>‘Transformative transaction’</h2>According to the joint statements Thursday, NU and Clarkson said they desired to complete the “transformative transaction” without board changes. They say the changes came after a “careful review of current circumstances,” Nebraska Medicine’s governing documents and the law.The four voting members will be:<ul>
 <li>Dr. Jeffrey Gold, president of NU since July 2024 who previously served as chancellor of the University of Nebraska Center beginning in 2014.</li><li>Dr. Dele Davies, interim UNMC chancellor who will chair the “interim” board.</li><li>Dr. Bill Lydiatt, a retired surgeon and CEO of Clarkson Regional Health Services.</li><li>Stephanie Moline, a current Clarkson board member and retired executive vice president of First National Bank Omaha.</li>
 </ul>Only Davies was actively on the board before Thursday. Gold was a member during his time as UNMC chancellor, starting as the inaugural board chair in 2016.There will also be four nonvoting members who all previously served on the Nebraska Medicine board by virtue of their positions. They are the dean of the UNMC College of Medicine, chair of surgery in the UNMC College of Medicine, Nebraska Medicine’s chief nursing officer and chief of staff of The Nebraska Medical Center medical staff.The changes remove Nebraska Medicine’s CEO, Dr. Michael Ash, and seven other members, including Lance Fritz, the previous chair, who led opposition to the NU-Clarkson changes.&nbsp;Fritz, who was president and CEO of Union Pacific between 2015 and 2023, did not immediately return a call seeking comment Thursday.<h2>‘Came out of left field’</h2>The day before the vote last week, NU and Nebraska Medicine hosted competing forums with state lawmakers on the deal. In the wake of Thursday’s board restructuring, multiple senators said they needed to review what had happened before commenting.State Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln called the board changes the “nuclear option.” Another senator said it was like adding gasoline to a fire.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769178289245.jpeg" alt="State Sens. Jared Storm of David City, Tony Sorrentino of the Elkhorn area, Dan Lonowski of Hastings and Glen Meyer of Pender, from left. Jan. 7, 2026. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>State Sens. Jared Storm of David City, Tony Sorrentino of the Elkhorn area, Dan Lonowski of Hastings and Glen Meyer of Pender, from left. Jan. 7, 2026. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Multiple senators described the situation as a “clash of the titans,” which was only made public Jan. 2 after strict non-disclosure agreements. The deal proceeded in less than two weeks.&nbsp;State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston, a former hospital administrator, said he worried about impacts to the Omaha philanthropic community.State Sen. Tony Sorrentino of the Elkhorn area proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=63652&amp;docnum=LB1125&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 1125</a>&nbsp;this year at Nebraska Medicine’s urging. It would require any such NU deals for hospitals above $100 million to obtain legislative approval.&nbsp;Thursday’s action might increase pressure for lawmakers to step in.“Came out of left field,” Sorrentino said Thursday of the board restructuring.

NU, Clarkson replace nearly all Nebraska Medicine board members in escalating ownership fight

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">Ariana Figueroa</a>

WASHINGTON — The House Thursday passed four appropriations bills to fund the government and avert a partial shutdown, but Democrats largely objected to spending on the Department of Homeland Security amid aggressive immigration enforcement in communities across the country.&nbsp;

Democrats have pushed for tougher oversight of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. In addition,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/progressives-congress-vow-oppose-immigration-enforcement-funding" target="_blank">members of the progressive wing</a>&nbsp;of the caucus vowed to not approve any funding for DHS after federal immigration agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis earlier this month.&nbsp;

The 37-year-old mother’s death led to massive community protests and&nbsp; thousands of ICE agents have aggressively descended into Minnesota.

“(Homeland Security Secretary) Kristi Noem and ICE are out of control,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement. “Taxpayer dollars are being misused to brutalize U.S. citizens, including the tragic killing of Renee Nicole Good. This extremism must end.”&nbsp;

<a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20260119/DEF%20LHHS%20HS%20THUD%20-%20Bill%20Text%20-%201-19-2026.PDF" target="_blank">The four bills</a>&nbsp;— Defense; Homeland Security; Labor, Health and Human Services and Education; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development — are the last remaining appropriations bills needed to avoid a partial government shutdown by Jan. 30.&nbsp;

The Homeland Security funding bill passed&nbsp;<a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202642?Page=2" target="_blank">220-207</a>. The remaining bills passed&nbsp;<a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202645?Page=2" target="_blank">341-88.</a>

Democrats who joined Republicans in voting for the Homeland Security bill included Reps. Jared Gold of Maine,&nbsp;Henry&nbsp;Cuellar of Texas, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington state, Tom Suozzi of New York, Don Davis of North Carolina, Laura Gillen of New York and&nbsp;Vicente Gonzalez of Texas.

Republican Thomas Massie of Kentucky voted against the DHS funding bill.

Separately, GOP Rep. Virginia Foxx, chairwoman of the Rules Committee, added a provision to repeal a law that allows members of the U.S. Senate to sue for up to half a million dollars if their phone records were obtained by special counsel Jack Smith during his investigation into President Donald Trump’s efforts to subvert the 2020 presidential election. In a rare move, the&nbsp;<a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202640" target="_blank">provision passed unanimously.&nbsp;</a>

Smith was also on Capitol Hill Thursday to testify about his investigation before lawmakers on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.&nbsp;

The Senate will take up the appropriations bills when senators return from recess next week.

What does the Homeland Security bill include?

The Homeland Security bill provides $64.4 billion in funding for fiscal year 2026. It cuts funding for Customs and Border Protection by $1.3 billion, and maintains flat funding for ICE at $10 billion.

The bill attempts to put guardrails around immigration enforcement by allocating $20 million for body cameras for ICE and CBP officers.&nbsp;

It also requires DHS to provide monthly updates on how the agency is spending the $190 billion it received from the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” the president’s signature tax and spending cuts package signed into law last summer.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The bill also restricts ICE to spending only $3.8 billion of its fiscal budget on detention. However, the agency will still be able to pull $75 billion from OBBBA, including for detention.

Most Dems say they can’t back any ICE funding

During Thursday’s debate of the bill, Republicans supported the Homeland Security bill, and argued that it contains other agencies beside immigration enforcement.&nbsp;

But a majority of Democrats said they could not vote to approve the agency’s funding because of ICE’s actions.

“I think we should look at the bill in its totality,” GOP Appropriations Chair Tom Cole of Oklahoma said. “Encouraging people to believe we have massive bad actors in a particular agency… comparing law enforcement officers to the Gestapo or Nazis, that’s not true. The right thing to do is to fund the people who protect America.”

Foxx criticized Democrats for their concerns over ICE enforcement tactics. On the House floor, she defended the agency, arguing that “ICE agents are arresting some of the worst criminals imaginable.”

“The issue is that ICE is terrorizing communities and attacking people, including U.S. citizens,” countered the top Democrat on the Rules Committee, Jim McGovern of Massachusetts. “This is an out-of-control agency at war with communities across the country and they don’t give a damn that you are a U.S. citizen.”

The top Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee, Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, said he could not support voting for the bill because the Trump administration has weaponized the agency and “DHS has strayed from its core mission.”

“Republicans in control of Congress, however, are conducting zero oversight and do nothing but send blank check after blank check to DHS,” he said in a statement. “I have consistently supported the DHS workforce over the past two decades and continue to do so, but I cannot – in good conscience – vote to send another dime to CBP and ICE as they terrorize our communities and sully the constitution.”

Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, said she will vote against the bill, even though she is proud of several provisions, such as the increase to Federal Emergency Management Agency funding and a pay raise for air traffic controllers.&nbsp;

But, she said, “It is impossible to ignore the impact ICE has had.”

“ICE is an agency that has shown itself to be lawless,” she said.

GOP Rep. Mark Amodei of Nevada, the chair of the panel that deals with funding for Homeland Security, defended the funding bill, and noted that it provides immigration officers with body cameras. He said funds are also provided in the measure for the Coast Guard and agencies dealing with cybersecurity.&nbsp;

Cuellar of Texas, the top Democrat on that same panel, acknowledged that “this bill is not perfect.”&nbsp;

“It’s better than the alternative, leaving the department with a blank check,” he said. “This bill flat funds ICE but at the same time, we strengthen oversight of ICE.”

Minnesota Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum said the ICE enforcement in Minnesota and across the country is one of the “worst cases of civil rights violations by the federal government in recent history.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Minnesotans are being racially profiled on a mass scale, assaulted on our streets, kidnapped from our communities,” she said.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768672710821.png" alt="Photo U.S. Homeland Security" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Homeland Security</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">Ariana Figueroa</a>WASHINGTON — The House Thursday passed four appropriations bills to fund the government and avert a partial shutdown, but Democrats largely objected to spending on the Department of Homeland Security amid aggressive immigration enforcement in communities across the country.&nbsp;Democrats have pushed for tougher oversight of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. In addition,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/progressives-congress-vow-oppose-immigration-enforcement-funding" target="_blank">members of the progressive wing</a>&nbsp;of the caucus vowed to not approve any funding for DHS after federal immigration agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis earlier this month.&nbsp;The 37-year-old mother’s death led to massive community protests and&nbsp; thousands of ICE agents have aggressively descended into Minnesota.“(Homeland Security Secretary) Kristi Noem and ICE are out of control,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement. “Taxpayer dollars are being misused to brutalize U.S. citizens, including the tragic killing of Renee Nicole Good. This extremism must end.”&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20260119/DEF%20LHHS%20HS%20THUD%20-%20Bill%20Text%20-%201-19-2026.PDF" target="_blank">The four bills</a>&nbsp;— Defense; Homeland Security; Labor, Health and Human Services and Education; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development — are the last remaining appropriations bills needed to avoid a partial government shutdown by Jan. 30.&nbsp;The Homeland Security funding bill passed&nbsp;<a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202642?Page=2" target="_blank">220-207</a>. The remaining bills passed&nbsp;<a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202645?Page=2" target="_blank">341-88.</a>Democrats who joined Republicans in voting for the Homeland Security bill included Reps. Jared Gold of Maine,&nbsp;Henry&nbsp;Cuellar of Texas, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington state, Tom Suozzi of New York, Don Davis of North Carolina, Laura Gillen of New York and&nbsp;Vicente Gonzalez of Texas.Republican Thomas Massie of Kentucky voted against the DHS funding bill.Separately, GOP Rep. Virginia Foxx, chairwoman of the Rules Committee, added a provision to repeal a law that allows members of the U.S. Senate to sue for up to half a million dollars if their phone records were obtained by special counsel Jack Smith during his investigation into President Donald Trump’s efforts to subvert the 2020 presidential election. In a rare move, the&nbsp;<a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202640" target="_blank">provision passed unanimously.&nbsp;</a>Smith was also on Capitol Hill Thursday to testify about his investigation before lawmakers on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.&nbsp;The Senate will take up the appropriations bills when senators return from recess next week.<h2>What does the Homeland Security bill include?</h2>The Homeland Security bill provides $64.4 billion in funding for fiscal year 2026. It cuts funding for Customs and Border Protection by $1.3 billion, and maintains flat funding for ICE at $10 billion.The bill attempts to put guardrails around immigration enforcement by allocating $20 million for body cameras for ICE and CBP officers.&nbsp;It also requires DHS to provide monthly updates on how the agency is spending the $190 billion it received from the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” the president’s signature tax and spending cuts package signed into law last summer.&nbsp;&nbsp;The bill also restricts ICE to spending only $3.8 billion of its fiscal budget on detention. However, the agency will still be able to pull $75 billion from OBBBA, including for detention.<h2>Most Dems say they can’t back any ICE funding</h2>During Thursday’s debate of the bill, Republicans supported the Homeland Security bill, and argued that it contains other agencies beside immigration enforcement.&nbsp;But a majority of Democrats said they could not vote to approve the agency’s funding because of ICE’s actions.“I think we should look at the bill in its totality,” GOP Appropriations Chair Tom Cole of Oklahoma said. “Encouraging people to believe we have massive bad actors in a particular agency… comparing law enforcement officers to the Gestapo or Nazis, that’s not true. The right thing to do is to fund the people who protect America.”Foxx criticized Democrats for their concerns over ICE enforcement tactics. On the House floor, she defended the agency, arguing that “ICE agents are arresting some of the worst criminals imaginable.”“The issue is that ICE is terrorizing communities and attacking people, including U.S. citizens,” countered the top Democrat on the Rules Committee, Jim McGovern of Massachusetts. “This is an out-of-control agency at war with communities across the country and they don’t give a damn that you are a U.S. citizen.”The top Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee, Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, said he could not support voting for the bill because the Trump administration has weaponized the agency and “DHS has strayed from its core mission.”“Republicans in control of Congress, however, are conducting zero oversight and do nothing but send blank check after blank check to DHS,” he said in a statement. “I have consistently supported the DHS workforce over the past two decades and continue to do so, but I cannot – in good conscience – vote to send another dime to CBP and ICE as they terrorize our communities and sully the constitution.”Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, said she will vote against the bill, even though she is proud of several provisions, such as the increase to Federal Emergency Management Agency funding and a pay raise for air traffic controllers.&nbsp;But, she said, “It is impossible to ignore the impact ICE has had.”“ICE is an agency that has shown itself to be lawless,” she said.<h2>Republicans tout body camera provision</h2>GOP Rep. Mark Amodei of Nevada, the chair of the panel that deals with funding for Homeland Security, defended the funding bill, and noted that it provides immigration officers with body cameras. He said funds are also provided in the measure for the Coast Guard and agencies dealing with cybersecurity.&nbsp;Cuellar of Texas, the top Democrat on that same panel, acknowledged that “this bill is not perfect.”&nbsp;“It’s better than the alternative, leaving the department with a blank check,” he said. “This bill flat funds ICE but at the same time, we strengthen oversight of ICE.”Minnesota Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum said the ICE enforcement in Minnesota and across the country is one of the “worst cases of civil rights violations by the federal government in recent history.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Minnesotans are being racially profiled on a mass scale, assaulted on our streets, kidnapped from our communities,” she said.&nbsp;

Many Dems refuse to vote to fund ICE as US House passes 4 spending bills

By Juan Salinas II | Nebraska Examiner

Governor, making case for reelection, speaks of need for bipartisanship and belittles critics

LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, in a tele-town hall call organized Tuesday to tout his final proposals before a reelection campaign, made property tax relief his calling card and asked conservative Nebraskans to rally legislative support or send him three more votes in the Legislature.

In a sharpened tone that seemed aimed at riling up his base for a possible GOP primary, the governor criticized Democrats and the media and called some of his critics names while saying he prefers bipartisanship because Nebraskans are “tired of politics.”&nbsp;

Pillen repeated his recent frustration with how some of his budget-cutting proposals are being covered, saying reporters have&nbsp;“bent” stories and won’t get the “facts out.” Most of Pillen’s proposals to cut about $500 million in state spending target the&nbsp;Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, including a program paying for often in-home family caregivers of the elderly and people with disabilities, changes&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/01/20/families-urge-lawmakers-dhhs-to-stop-medicaid-waiver-caps-for-nebraskans-with-disabilities-elderly/">some lawmakers oppose</a>.

Nebraska is trying to close a $471 million budget hole that has grown during an economic slowdown in agriculture and in the wake of Pillen seeking and passing stair-stepped income tax cuts that are about to finish phasing in at the same time he has increased state spending on local property tax relief.&nbsp;

The governor calls the discussion of the deficit a “make-believe budget crisis.” Legislative leaders, including Speaker John Arch, have described closing the budget gap as the most important task facing the Legislature.

Pillen also recently faced questions over some of his handling of state funds, including an Examiner&nbsp;story&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/aaron-sanderford/">that Pillen</a>&nbsp;steered the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to award a $2.5 million no-bid emergency contract to a bioeconomy consultant and lobbyist he knew. The Governor’s Office touts hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds the state gained. State Auditor Mike Foley argues the state should still have followed its own processes and law.

The call’s co-host with Pillen made plain the call’s tone with a question about how reporters had misled the public about progress under Pillen. He praised the governor for standing for conservative Nebraska “values.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I don’t really give a damn what those libtards and these people that want to criticize, quite honestly, the more they criticize me and our team and my family, [I know] we’re doing good work,” Pillen said.&nbsp;

The town hall host asked callers what the most important issues were for them during the 2026 legislative session.&nbsp;

The options he gave callers were straight out of “The Pillen Playbook,” a campaign handout Pillen shared during the 2022 campaign and tweaked for 2026: “Protect our kids, fix the property tax crisis, defend Nebraska values, bolster Nebraska agriculture and winner-take-all.”&nbsp;

The host said listeners chose property taxes as the most important issue. Pillen said the people he talked to during his tour of the state want lawmakers “to solve problems” – pointing to what he called the “property tax crisis.”&nbsp;

He said if people want “transformative” property tax reform, he needs three more legislative conservatives to “play ball on the team and make sure that we can broaden our sales tax so that there can be dollar-for-dollar property tax relief.” His talk of needing three votes could signal confidence in GOP pickup opportunities this fall in legislative races. It also could hint that the governor is looking to primary some legislative Republicans opposing his agenda.&nbsp;

Property tax relief has been a top Pillen priority since the 2022 GOP primary. He and the Legislature have taken both incremental and significant steps, including making a billion-dollar investment in special education and a foundation or baseline level of state aid for K-12 schools.&nbsp;

This year, Pillen has asked lawmakers for $170 million in property tax relief. He has said such an effort will require looking at eliminating some sales tax exemptions that lawmakers have balked at before.&nbsp;

Pillen said he needs a second term to provide more property tax relief.&nbsp;

“That’s why reelection is so critical,” Pillen said.

Several Republican operatives expect Pillen to draw at least one GOP primary challenger, partly because of local and national polling numbers that indicate the incumbent governor could be vulnerable. Multistate agribusinessman Charles Herbster has hinted he might challenge Pillen but has not announced a bid. Some have discussed another potential Republican challenger.&nbsp;

But Pillen has a $10 million campaign war chest and the benefits of incumbency, so a challenger would need to raise a significant sum. On Wednesday, former State Sen. Lynne Walz announced a Democratic bid for governor.

Many of the Pillen call’s themes sounded similar notes from his State of the State address. He praised President Donald Trump, who has endorsed his bid, and touted his relationship with the president. He bragged about the state hosting a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility for migrants in McCook. He said the state is pushing back against diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. And he emphasized running the state “like a business.”

“It’s time we stand up and get rid of some of this stuff that’s invaded our state,” Pillen said. “It’s time we fight like heck for it.”

The host asked Pillen if Nebraska is becoming liberal. Pillen said Nebraskans “are so conservative and so straight … I don’t think we can curl our hair anymore.” He said Nebraskans still care about faith, family, hard work and the American dream.&nbsp;

Then the governor said, “If you listen to the keyboard warriors that are libtards … you would think the sky is falling down.”

Some snickering and laughing could be heard in the background after Pillen said it. Pillen used the term two more times Tuesday evening. He called protestors who wear red robes and white bonnets “libtards” who have “lost their brains.” And, later, he made a similar comment about his critics and the press.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Pillen closed his town hall by saying this election is important for conservatives. He encouraged them to vote in the May and November midterm elections.

By Juan Salinas II | Nebraska Examiner<h2>Governor, making case for reelection, speaks of need for bipartisanship and belittles critics</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769017880791.jpeg" alt=" Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen. Oct. 22, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen. Oct. 22, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, in a tele-town hall call organized Tuesday to tout his final proposals before a reelection campaign, made property tax relief his calling card and asked conservative Nebraskans to rally legislative support or send him three more votes in the Legislature.In a sharpened tone that seemed aimed at riling up his base for a possible GOP primary, the governor criticized Democrats and the media and called some of his critics names while saying he prefers bipartisanship because Nebraskans are “tired of politics.”&nbsp;Pillen repeated his recent frustration with how some of his budget-cutting proposals are being covered, saying reporters have&nbsp;“bent” stories and won’t get the “facts out.” Most of Pillen’s proposals to cut about $500 million in state spending target the&nbsp;Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, including a program paying for often in-home family caregivers of the elderly and people with disabilities, changes&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/01/20/families-urge-lawmakers-dhhs-to-stop-medicaid-waiver-caps-for-nebraskans-with-disabilities-elderly/">some lawmakers oppose</a>.Nebraska is trying to close a $471 million budget hole that has grown during an economic slowdown in agriculture and in the wake of Pillen seeking and passing stair-stepped income tax cuts that are about to finish phasing in at the same time he has increased state spending on local property tax relief.&nbsp;The governor calls the discussion of the deficit a “make-believe budget crisis.” Legislative leaders, including Speaker John Arch, have described closing the budget gap as the most important task facing the Legislature.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769017856512.jpeg" alt="State Sen. John Arch of La Vista, speaker of the Nebraska Legislature. Jan. 12, 2026. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. John Arch of La Vista, speaker of the Nebraska Legislature. Jan. 12, 2026. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Pillen also recently faced questions over some of his handling of state funds, including an Examiner&nbsp;story&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/aaron-sanderford/">that Pillen</a>&nbsp;steered the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to award a $2.5 million no-bid emergency contract to a bioeconomy consultant and lobbyist he knew. The Governor’s Office touts hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds the state gained. State Auditor Mike Foley argues the state should still have followed its own processes and law.The call’s co-host with Pillen made plain the call’s tone with a question about how reporters had misled the public about progress under Pillen. He praised the governor for standing for conservative Nebraska “values.”&nbsp;&nbsp;“I don’t really give a damn what those libtards and these people that want to criticize, quite honestly, the more they criticize me and our team and my family, [I know] we’re doing good work,” Pillen said.&nbsp;The town hall host asked callers what the most important issues were for them during the 2026 legislative session.&nbsp;The options he gave callers were straight out of “The Pillen Playbook,” a campaign handout Pillen shared during the 2022 campaign and tweaked for 2026: “Protect our kids, fix the property tax crisis, defend Nebraska values, bolster Nebraska agriculture and winner-take-all.”&nbsp;The host said listeners chose property taxes as the most important issue. Pillen said the people he talked to during his tour of the state want lawmakers “to solve problems” – pointing to what he called the “property tax crisis.”&nbsp;He said if people want “transformative” property tax reform, he needs three more legislative conservatives to “play ball on the team and make sure that we can broaden our sales tax so that there can be dollar-for-dollar property tax relief.” His talk of needing three votes could signal confidence in GOP pickup opportunities this fall in legislative races. It also could hint that the governor is looking to primary some legislative Republicans opposing his agenda.&nbsp;Property tax relief has been a top Pillen priority since the 2022 GOP primary. He and the Legislature have taken both incremental and significant steps, including making a billion-dollar investment in special education and a foundation or baseline level of state aid for K-12 schools.&nbsp;This year, Pillen has asked lawmakers for $170 million in property tax relief. He has said such an effort will require looking at eliminating some sales tax exemptions that lawmakers have balked at before.&nbsp;Pillen said he needs a second term to provide more property tax relief.&nbsp;“That’s why reelection is so critical,” Pillen said.Several Republican operatives expect Pillen to draw at least one GOP primary challenger, partly because of local and national polling numbers that indicate the incumbent governor could be vulnerable. Multistate agribusinessman Charles Herbster has hinted he might challenge Pillen but has not announced a bid. Some have discussed another potential Republican challenger.&nbsp;But Pillen has a $10 million campaign war chest and the benefits of incumbency, so a challenger would need to raise a significant sum. On Wednesday, former State Sen. Lynne Walz announced a Democratic bid for governor.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769017835401.jpeg" alt="Former State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont is running for governor as a Democrat. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Former State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont is running for governor as a Democrat. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Many of the Pillen call’s themes sounded similar notes from his State of the State address. He praised President Donald Trump, who has endorsed his bid, and touted his relationship with the president. He bragged about the state hosting a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility for migrants in McCook. He said the state is pushing back against diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. And he emphasized running the state “like a business.”“It’s time we stand up and get rid of some of this stuff that’s invaded our state,” Pillen said. “It’s time we fight like heck for it.”The host asked Pillen if Nebraska is becoming liberal. Pillen said Nebraskans “are so conservative and so straight … I don’t think we can curl our hair anymore.” He said Nebraskans still care about faith, family, hard work and the American dream.&nbsp;Then the governor said, “If you listen to the keyboard warriors that are libtards … you would think the sky is falling down.”Some snickering and laughing could be heard in the background after Pillen said it. Pillen used the term two more times Tuesday evening. He called protestors who wear red robes and white bonnets “libtards” who have “lost their brains.” And, later, he made a similar comment about his critics and the press.&nbsp;&nbsp;Pillen closed his town hall by saying this election is important for conservatives. He encouraged them to vote in the May and November midterm elections.

Pillen tele-town hall on property tax relief, other priorities veers into tough talk against critics

LINCOLN — Roughly 200 of Nebraska’s National Guard members will be sent to Washington D.C. to serve as security for the country’s 250th anniversary celebration, Gov. Jim Pillen announced Thursday.

Nebraska will join 10 other states Pillen said are “answering the call” after being asked by the chief of the National Guard Bureau to keep national monuments safe. He said the initiative has been ongoing since August. Nebraska is sending troops in late February.

“This [is] everybody’s Capitol,” said Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly, a former prosecutor. “Not Virginia’s, not Maryland’s, but a federal Capitol. Now Nebraska is delighted to do our bid to keep that place safe.”

Nebraska’s mission will last between 90 to 120 days, according to Maj. Gen. Craig Strong, Nebraska’s adjutant general. Working in groups of four, Strong said Nebraska’s troops will primarily serve as monument security and conduct safety patrols throughout the Capitol region.

Pillen said the mission would not cost Nebraska taxpayers “a nickel,” as the project is entirely federally funded.

Pillen said he hasn’t heard any indication that national monuments would be under threat during the festivities. However, he said, having a National Guard presence would be a deterrent for potential crimes.

“When there’s a presence, bad people stay away,” Pillen said.

Pillen has deployed National Guard members multiple times throughout his first term, including multiple trips to the southern border and in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa for emergency response following the 2024 tornadoes.

By Erin Bamer | Nebraska Examiner<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769101683826.jpeg" alt=" Maj. Gen. Craig Strong (left), and Gov. Jim Pillen (right), speak about an upcoming deployment of 200 Nebraska National Guard members to Washington D.C. (Erin Bamer/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> Maj. Gen. Craig Strong (left), and Gov. Jim Pillen (right), speak about an upcoming deployment of 200 Nebraska National Guard members to Washington D.C. (Erin Bamer/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN — Roughly 200 of Nebraska’s National Guard members will be sent to Washington D.C. to serve as security for the country’s 250th anniversary celebration, Gov. Jim Pillen announced Thursday.Nebraska will join 10 other states Pillen said are “answering the call” after being asked by the chief of the National Guard Bureau to keep national monuments safe. He said the initiative has been ongoing since August. Nebraska is sending troops in late February.“This [is] everybody’s Capitol,” said Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly, a former prosecutor. “Not Virginia’s, not Maryland’s, but a federal Capitol. Now Nebraska is delighted to do our bid to keep that place safe.”Nebraska’s mission will last between 90 to 120 days, according to Maj. Gen. Craig Strong, Nebraska’s adjutant general. Working in groups of four, Strong said Nebraska’s troops will primarily serve as monument security and conduct safety patrols throughout the Capitol region.Pillen said the mission would not cost Nebraska taxpayers “a nickel,” as the project is entirely federally funded.Pillen said he hasn’t heard any indication that national monuments would be under threat during the festivities. However, he said, having a National Guard presence would be a deterrent for potential crimes.“When there’s a presence, bad people stay away,” Pillen said.Pillen has deployed National Guard members multiple times throughout his first term, including multiple trips to the southern border and in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa for emergency response following the 2024 tornadoes.

Nebraska to deploy 200 National Guard members to D.C. as security for nation’s 250th anniversary

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769089086118.png" alt="Image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump Participates in the Board of Peace Charter Announcement <a href="https://t.co/CJz0CmePJq">https://t.co/CJz0CmePJq</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2014279910278225942?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> arrives for the signing ceremony of the Board of Peace! 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/X5mXCxT9NT">pic.twitter.com/X5mXCxT9NT</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/2014283215075246426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Board of Peace signing ceremony! 🕊️ <a href="https://t.co/w92RRIGYnM">pic.twitter.com/w92RRIGYnM</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/2014287123759747504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump thanks each Board of Peace member 🕊️ <a href="https://t.co/2ePy4XkCR7">pic.twitter.com/2ePy4XkCR7</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/2014304577105866883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“We are here today because of President Trump’s vision” <a href="https://twitter.com/SecRubio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecRubio</a> 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/qXnkbuN2Fn">pic.twitter.com/qXnkbuN2Fn</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/2014305225574580385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/jaredkushner?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jaredkushner</a> thanks President Trump for his leadership 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/ncYhJ2SbtP">pic.twitter.com/ncYhJ2SbtP</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/2014308526416396558?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;This board has the chance to be one of the most consequential bodies ever created.&quot; - Board of Peace Chairman, President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/xo7AwSDdeV">pic.twitter.com/xo7AwSDdeV</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2014299643723543021?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥President Trump signs his Gaza 'Board of Peace' into being

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced in a social media post Wednesday that he and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte brokered a possible agreement on Greenland, though Trump provided few details or a timeline.&nbsp;

Trump’s comments came just hours after he took his case for acquiring the Arctic island to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, urging European leaders to begin negotiations while appearing to rule out a military takeover.&nbsp;

A few hours later, Trump wrote after meeting one-on-one with Rutte that the two “have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region.”&nbsp;

“This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations,” Trump wrote. “Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st.”

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-says-people-will-find-out-how-far-hes-willing-go-acquire-greenland" target="_blank">threatened over the weekend</a>&nbsp;to place a 10% tariff on goods coming into the United States from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom if they continued to oppose his attempts to acquire Greenland. Trump wrote he would increase the tariffs to 25% in June if a deal hadn’t been brokered before then.

Trump wrote in his most recent&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115934734335579278" target="_blank">social media post</a>&nbsp;that further negotiations about Greenland will be handled by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and several other officials.&nbsp;

“Additional discussions are being held concerning The Golden Dome as it pertains to Greenland,” Trump wrote, referring to a possible missile defense system. “Further information will be made available as discussions progress.”

Asked by reporters if the framework includes U.S. ownership of Greenland, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/president-trump-comments-on-reported-greenland-deal/672046" target="_blank">declined to say directly</a>.

“It’s a long-term deal. It’s the ultimate long-term deal. And I think it puts everybody in a really good position, especially as it pertains to security and minerals and everything else,” Trump said, later adding it would last “forever.”&nbsp;

Trump insisted during the 75-minute, wide-ranging speech he gave a few hours before his announcement that Greenland represents “a core national security interest” that “would greatly enhance the security of the entire” NATO alliance if it were fully controlled by the United States.&nbsp;

“I’m seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States,” Trump said. “Just as we have acquired many other territories throughout our history, as many of the European nations have … there’s nothing wrong with it.”

Trump signaled he will likely not use the U.S. military to take over Greenland, saying, “I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”

But he indicated any European country that objects to the U.S. making Greenland part of the country will face repercussions.

“You can say ‘yes,’ and we will be very appreciative, or you can say ‘no’ and we will remember,” Trump said.&nbsp;

Greenland would become the site of a missile defense system that Trump refers to as the Golden Dome, which he said could “keep our very energetic and dangerous potential enemies at bay” if the island becomes part of the United States.&nbsp;

Trump repeatedly criticized the other NATO countries during his speech, falsely claiming more than once the United States has never benefited from the military alliance formed following World War II.&nbsp;

“What we have gotten out of NATO is nothing, except to protect Europe from the Soviet Union and now Russia,” Trump said. “I mean, we’ve helped them for so many years.”

The United States is the only country in the history of the alliance&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bushcenter.org/publications/nato-has-invoked-article-5-only-once-in-its-history" target="_blank">to invoke Article 5</a>, which says that an attack against one is an attack against all.

That led NATO countries to send their military members to fight alongside U.S. troops in Afghanistan following the 2001 terrorist attacks. More than 1,000 of those NATO troops died,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.911memorial.org/learn/resources/digital-exhibitions/digital-exhibition-revealed-hunt-bin-laden/international-community-responds" target="_blank">according to</a>&nbsp;the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.&nbsp;

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte sought to reassure Trump of NATO’s security commitment to all of its member countries later in the day, when the two met one-on-one during the forum.&nbsp;

“Let me tell you, they will. And they did in Afghanistan, as you know,” Rutte said, according to audio of the exchange shared by the White House pool.

Rutte noted that for “every two Americans who paid the ultimate price, there was one soldier from another NATO country” or Australia.&nbsp;

“So you can be assured, absolutely, if ever the U.S. will be under attack, your allies will be with you. Absolutely. There’s an absolute guarantee,” Rutte said. “I really want to tell you this, because this is important. It pains me if you think it is not.”

Trump told reporters ahead of his meeting with Rutte that he “could see” paying a price for Greenland, though he did not elaborate. He said he had “no idea” when he might speak directly with leaders of Denmark about trying to acquire Greenland. He said he believes Rutte is “frankly more important.”

Trump focused some of his speech in Davos on domestic issues, talking briefly about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/01/stopping-wall-street-from-competing-with-main-street-homebuyers/" target="_blank">an executive order</a>&nbsp;he signed this week focused on the availability of housing within the United States.&nbsp;

“I have signed an executive order banning large institutional investors from buying single-family homes. It’s just not fair to the public. They’re not able to buy a house,” Trump said. “And I’m calling on Congress to pass that ban into permanent law, and I think they will.”

Trump said he wanted to take steps to help Americans afford homes, but that he didn’t want those actions to reduce the value of homes people already own. He didn’t elaborate on how that would work.&nbsp;

“I am very protective of people that already own a house, of which we have millions and millions and millions. And because we have had such a good run, the house values have gone up tremendously, and these people have become wealthy. They weren’t wealthy. They become wealthy because of their house,” he said. “And every time you make it more and more and more affordable for somebody to buy a house cheaply, you’re actually hurting the value of those houses, obviously, because the one thing works in tandem with the other.”

Trump said if he wanted to, he could “really crush the housing market” and decrease housing prices, though he didn’t say how exactly he would go about doing that if he wanted to.&nbsp;

Trump said he’s ordered “government-backed institutions to purchase up to $200 billion in mortgage bonds,” and that he expects to announce a new Federal Reserve chairman “in the not-too-distant future,” who he believes will decrease interest rates. Trump has been feuding over interest rates with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreservehistory.org/people/jerome-h-powell" target="_blank">Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell</a>, whose term as chair ends in May although Powell can remain as a governor.&nbsp;

Trump also called on Congress to approve legislation that would prevent credit card companies from hiking their interest rates above 10% for one year, saying that would help people save some money that they could use for buying a house.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769004214648.png" alt="President Trump speaking Wednesday at Davos-Photo by Margo Martin, Special Assistant to the President" />
 <figcaption>President Trump speaking Wednesday at Davos-Photo by Margo Martin, Special Assistant to the President</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced in a social media post Wednesday that he and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte brokered a possible agreement on Greenland, though Trump provided few details or a timeline.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on Greenland: &quot;The deal is going to be put out pretty soon... it gets us everything we needed to get.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/S3X95XCm1S">pic.twitter.com/S3X95XCm1S</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2014069502615466111?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 <a href="https://t.co/3FM8el4RAe">pic.twitter.com/3FM8el4RAe</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2014057541215408154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on Greenland: &quot;Well, we have a concept of a deal. I think it’s going to be a very good deal for the United States, also for them, and we&#39;re going to work together on something having to do with the arctic as a whole... it has to do with the security — great security.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/hpCQNmcAjV">pic.twitter.com/hpCQNmcAjV</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2014071312797278380?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump’s comments came just hours after he took his case for acquiring the Arctic island to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, urging European leaders to begin negotiations while appearing to rule out a military takeover.&nbsp;A few hours later, Trump wrote after meeting one-on-one with Rutte that the two “have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region.”&nbsp;“This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations,” Trump wrote. “Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st.”Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-says-people-will-find-out-how-far-hes-willing-go-acquire-greenland" target="_blank">threatened over the weekend</a>&nbsp;to place a 10% tariff on goods coming into the United States from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom if they continued to oppose his attempts to acquire Greenland. Trump wrote he would increase the tariffs to 25% in June if a deal hadn’t been brokered before then.Trump wrote in his most recent&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115934734335579278" target="_blank">social media post</a>&nbsp;that further negotiations about Greenland will be handled by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and several other officials.&nbsp;“Additional discussions are being held concerning The Golden Dome as it pertains to Greenland,” Trump wrote, referring to a possible missile defense system. “Further information will be made available as discussions progress.”Asked by reporters if the framework includes U.S. ownership of Greenland, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/president-trump-comments-on-reported-greenland-deal/672046" target="_blank">declined to say directly</a>.“It’s a long-term deal. It’s the ultimate long-term deal. And I think it puts everybody in a really good position, especially as it pertains to security and minerals and everything else,” Trump said, later adding it would last “forever.”&nbsp;<h2>‘I don’t have to use force’</h2>Trump insisted during the 75-minute, wide-ranging speech he gave a few hours before his announcement that Greenland represents “a core national security interest” that “would greatly enhance the security of the entire” NATO alliance if it were fully controlled by the United States.&nbsp;“I’m seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States,” Trump said. “Just as we have acquired many other territories throughout our history, as many of the European nations have … there’s nothing wrong with it.”Trump signaled he will likely not use the U.S. military to take over Greenland, saying, “I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”But he indicated any European country that objects to the U.S. making Greenland part of the country will face repercussions.“You can say ‘yes,’ and we will be very appreciative, or you can say ‘no’ and we will remember,” Trump said.&nbsp;Greenland would become the site of a missile defense system that Trump refers to as the Golden Dome, which he said could “keep our very energetic and dangerous potential enemies at bay” if the island becomes part of the United States.&nbsp;<h2>Trump bashes NATO</h2>Trump repeatedly criticized the other NATO countries during his speech, falsely claiming more than once the United States has never benefited from the military alliance formed following World War II.&nbsp;“What we have gotten out of NATO is nothing, except to protect Europe from the Soviet Union and now Russia,” Trump said. “I mean, we’ve helped them for so many years.”The United States is the only country in the history of the alliance&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bushcenter.org/publications/nato-has-invoked-article-5-only-once-in-its-history" target="_blank">to invoke Article 5</a>, which says that an attack against one is an attack against all.That led NATO countries to send their military members to fight alongside U.S. troops in Afghanistan following the 2001 terrorist attacks. More than 1,000 of those NATO troops died,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.911memorial.org/learn/resources/digital-exhibitions/digital-exhibition-revealed-hunt-bin-laden/international-community-responds" target="_blank">according to</a>&nbsp;the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.&nbsp;NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte sought to reassure Trump of NATO’s security commitment to all of its member countries later in the day, when the two met one-on-one during the forum.&nbsp;“Let me tell you, they will. And they did in Afghanistan, as you know,” Rutte said, according to audio of the exchange shared by the White House pool.Rutte noted that for “every two Americans who paid the ultimate price, there was one soldier from another NATO country” or Australia.&nbsp;“So you can be assured, absolutely, if ever the U.S. will be under attack, your allies will be with you. Absolutely. There’s an absolute guarantee,” Rutte said. “I really want to tell you this, because this is important. It pains me if you think it is not.”Trump told reporters ahead of his meeting with Rutte that he “could see” paying a price for Greenland, though he did not elaborate. He said he had “no idea” when he might speak directly with leaders of Denmark about trying to acquire Greenland. He said he believes Rutte is “frankly more important.”<h2>Investors and single-family homes</h2>Trump focused some of his speech in Davos on domestic issues, talking briefly about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/01/stopping-wall-street-from-competing-with-main-street-homebuyers/" target="_blank">an executive order</a>&nbsp;he signed this week focused on the availability of housing within the United States.&nbsp;“I have signed an executive order banning large institutional investors from buying single-family homes. It’s just not fair to the public. They’re not able to buy a house,” Trump said. “And I’m calling on Congress to pass that ban into permanent law, and I think they will.”Trump said he wanted to take steps to help Americans afford homes, but that he didn’t want those actions to reduce the value of homes people already own. He didn’t elaborate on how that would work.&nbsp;“I am very protective of people that already own a house, of which we have millions and millions and millions. And because we have had such a good run, the house values have gone up tremendously, and these people have become wealthy. They weren’t wealthy. They become wealthy because of their house,” he said. “And every time you make it more and more and more affordable for somebody to buy a house cheaply, you’re actually hurting the value of those houses, obviously, because the one thing works in tandem with the other.”Trump said if he wanted to, he could “really crush the housing market” and decrease housing prices, though he didn’t say how exactly he would go about doing that if he wanted to.&nbsp;Trump said he’s ordered “government-backed institutions to purchase up to $200 billion in mortgage bonds,” and that he expects to announce a new Federal Reserve chairman “in the not-too-distant future,” who he believes will decrease interest rates. Trump has been feuding over interest rates with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreservehistory.org/people/jerome-h-powell" target="_blank">Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell</a>, whose term as chair ends in May although Powell can remain as a governor.&nbsp;Trump also called on Congress to approve legislation that would prevent credit card companies from hiking their interest rates above 10% for one year, saying that would help people save some money that they could use for buying a house.&nbsp;

Trump announces ‘framework of a deal’ on Greenland, relents on 8-nation tariffs

(Aurora, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol located nearly 170 pounds of cocaine and arrested one person after an incident in central Nebraska last week.

In the late evening of Tuesday, January 13, a trooper observed a suspicious person at a gas station at the Aurora interchange, at mile marker 332 on Interstate 80. When the trooper attempted to contact the man, the man abandoned his vehicle and ran off.

Troopers searched the area with assistance from the Aurora Police Department and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. While the search was ongoing, an NSP K-9 detected the odor of a controlled substance coming from the man’s vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed 169 pounds of cocaine contained in large duffle bags, as well as 89 grams of heroin.

After several hours of searching, an NSP K-9 was able to track the suspect to a location south of I-80, approximately one-half mile away from the gas station, where the suspect was taken into custody. He was identified as Manjot Singh, 25, of Sacramento, California.

Singh was arrested for possession of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver, and obstructing a peace officer. He was lodged in Hamilton County Jail.

Press Release<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/7/1562084161517.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>(Aurora, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol located nearly 170 pounds of cocaine and arrested one person after an incident in central Nebraska last week.In the late evening of Tuesday, January 13, a trooper observed a suspicious person at a gas station at the Aurora interchange, at mile marker 332 on Interstate 80. When the trooper attempted to contact the man, the man abandoned his vehicle and ran off.Troopers searched the area with assistance from the Aurora Police Department and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. While the search was ongoing, an NSP K-9 detected the odor of a controlled substance coming from the man’s vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed 169 pounds of cocaine contained in large duffle bags, as well as 89 grams of heroin.After several hours of searching, an NSP K-9 was able to track the suspect to a location south of I-80, approximately one-half mile away from the gas station, where the suspect was taken into custody. He was identified as Manjot Singh, 25, of Sacramento, California.Singh was arrested for possession of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver, and obstructing a peace officer. He was lodged in Hamilton County Jail.

Troopers Find 169 LBs of Cocaine After Suspect Abandons Vehicle

Maureen Larsen asked about tourism, DED downsizing at confirmation hearing

LINCOLN — Nebraska’s new Economic Development Director Maureen Larsen expressed support for consolidating the department with the Nebraska Tourism Commission at her confirmation hearing Tuesday.

Gov. Jim Pillen named Larsen the permanent Department of Economic Development director in November. She had served as interim director since July following former director K.C. Belitz’ resignation. Prior to her appointment, Larsen served as Pillen’s general counsel and deputy director of his Policy Research Office.

Larsen, speaking before the Nebraska Legislature’s Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee, spoke on the possibility of a merger when she was asked about the state’s lagging tourism revenues. She noted that while national tourism levels had grown modestly over the last year, Nebraska remained relatively flat.

Larsen argued that consolidating the agencies would mean tourism initiatives would have a larger budget and more marketing resources to pull from, and DED has the capacity to utilize grant funding for tourism efforts. She noted that prior to 2012, the two agencies were one in the same.

“If you’re trying to recruit businesses, if you’re trying to recruit that talent to keep people in Nebraska, tourism is a giant component of that,” Larsen said.

Committee Chair State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte, who introduced an interim study Tuesday to examine the potential impacts of merging the agencies, asked Larsen if she knew why the agencies split in 2012. Larsen, though she wasn’t in state government at the time, said it was her understanding that lawmakers didn’t believe DED was doing an effective job of handling tourism.

Larsen also was asked about downsizing at DED during Larsen’s leadership. Between September and November,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/12/05/nebraska-department-of-economic-development-cuts-full-time-staff-by-22-people-in-two-months/">at least 22 workers exited the department,</a>&nbsp;and more high-ranking officials have left since then.

DED’s housing director resigned in December, and its deputy director Joe Fox plans to resign within the next two weeks, as confirmed by multiple sources.

When first asked by the Examiner in November, department spokesman Justin Pinkerman said in an email that “DED has had 0 layoffs/reductions in force.” He did note that the department “has had voluntary departures in that time” but did not specify how many.

Former DED deputy director of operations Joe Lauber, who was laid off over the summer, said there were signs of budget cuts impacting DED prior to his termination, like hiring freezes and directives to stop travel. He said during a management meeting he attended, then-interim director Larsen shared that it was the governor’s goal to reduce the size of DED through attrition.

Agencies often do this by not filling positions people vacate through retirements and having or encouraging people to leave on their own. Lauber said the state implemented strategies such as Pillen’s return-to-work order and enforcing a strict 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. work schedule in hopes of getting people to consider whether they wanted to keep working for the department. Lauber said employees were not allowed to end their days earlier than 4:30 p.m.

Larsen addressed the return-to-work policy at Tuesday’s hearing, saying that after she entered DED she realized that many employees were still working from home, and she enforced the policy to hold the staff accountable to the governor’s order so “everybody was on the same playing field.”

“I would never ask anyone else to work more than I do, or work in a place that I wouldn’t,” Larsen said.

Larsen said the downsizing can largely be attributed to high turnover, which she said is normal for DED, and an intentional winding down of pandemic-era programs. She said DED received an influx of cash during the COVID-19 pandemic — to the tune of about $900 million — which created several new programs that are now concluding.

Pinkerman shared data showing that between 2020 to 2023, the department’s full-time staff grew by about 10-15 people per year. It reached a peak of about 114 filled full-time positions on June 30, 2025, which dropped down to around 90 by the end of November.

“As DED winds down pandemic-era economic recovery programs and identifies greater operational efficiencies, not all positions that come open are being filled,” Pinkerman said in an email.

By Erin Bamer | Nebraska Examiner<h2>Maureen Larsen asked about tourism, DED downsizing at confirmation hearing</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769017434691.jpeg" alt=" Nebraska’s 2026 official state travel guide is now available and for free. The cover features an illustration by Lincoln artist Katie Nieland. (Courtesy of Visit Nebraska)" />
 <figcaption> Nebraska’s 2026 official state travel guide is now available and for free. The cover features an illustration by Lincoln artist Katie Nieland. (Courtesy of Visit Nebraska)</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN — Nebraska’s new Economic Development Director Maureen Larsen expressed support for consolidating the department with the Nebraska Tourism Commission at her confirmation hearing Tuesday.Gov. Jim Pillen named Larsen the permanent Department of Economic Development director in November. She had served as interim director since July following former director K.C. Belitz’ resignation. Prior to her appointment, Larsen served as Pillen’s general counsel and deputy director of his Policy Research Office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769017404621.jpeg" alt="Gov. Jim Pillen tapped Maureen Larsen, his office’s general counsel, as the interim director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development beginning July 21, 2025. (Capitol photo by Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner | Larsen photo courtesy of Office of Gov. Jim Pillen)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Jim Pillen tapped Maureen Larsen, his office’s general counsel, as the interim director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development beginning July 21, 2025. (Capitol photo by Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner | Larsen photo courtesy of Office of Gov. Jim Pillen)</figcaption>
 </figure>Larsen, speaking before the Nebraska Legislature’s Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee, spoke on the possibility of a merger when she was asked about the state’s lagging tourism revenues. She noted that while national tourism levels had grown modestly over the last year, Nebraska remained relatively flat.Larsen argued that consolidating the agencies would mean tourism initiatives would have a larger budget and more marketing resources to pull from, and DED has the capacity to utilize grant funding for tourism efforts. She noted that prior to 2012, the two agencies were one in the same.“If you’re trying to recruit businesses, if you’re trying to recruit that talent to keep people in Nebraska, tourism is a giant component of that,” Larsen said.Committee Chair State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte, who introduced an interim study Tuesday to examine the potential impacts of merging the agencies, asked Larsen if she knew why the agencies split in 2012. Larsen, though she wasn’t in state government at the time, said it was her understanding that lawmakers didn’t believe DED was doing an effective job of handling tourism.Larsen also was asked about downsizing at DED during Larsen’s leadership. Between September and November,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/12/05/nebraska-department-of-economic-development-cuts-full-time-staff-by-22-people-in-two-months/">at least 22 workers exited the department,</a>&nbsp;and more high-ranking officials have left since then.DED’s housing director resigned in December, and its deputy director Joe Fox plans to resign within the next two weeks, as confirmed by multiple sources.When first asked by the Examiner in November, department spokesman Justin Pinkerman said in an email that “DED has had 0 layoffs/reductions in force.” He did note that the department “has had voluntary departures in that time” but did not specify how many.Former DED deputy director of operations Joe Lauber, who was laid off over the summer, said there were signs of budget cuts impacting DED prior to his termination, like hiring freezes and directives to stop travel. He said during a management meeting he attended, then-interim director Larsen shared that it was the governor’s goal to reduce the size of DED through attrition.Agencies often do this by not filling positions people vacate through retirements and having or encouraging people to leave on their own. Lauber said the state implemented strategies such as Pillen’s return-to-work order and enforcing a strict 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. work schedule in hopes of getting people to consider whether they wanted to keep working for the department. Lauber said employees were not allowed to end their days earlier than 4:30 p.m.Larsen addressed the return-to-work policy at Tuesday’s hearing, saying that after she entered DED she realized that many employees were still working from home, and she enforced the policy to hold the staff accountable to the governor’s order so “everybody was on the same playing field.”“I would never ask anyone else to work more than I do, or work in a place that I wouldn’t,” Larsen said.Larsen said the downsizing can largely be attributed to high turnover, which she said is normal for DED, and an intentional winding down of pandemic-era programs. She said DED received an influx of cash during the COVID-19 pandemic — to the tune of about $900 million — which created several new programs that are now concluding.Pinkerman shared data showing that between 2020 to 2023, the department’s full-time staff grew by about 10-15 people per year. It reached a peak of about 114 filled full-time positions on June 30, 2025, which dropped down to around 90 by the end of November.“As DED winds down pandemic-era economic recovery programs and identifies greater operational efficiencies, not all positions that come open are being filled,” Pinkerman said in an email.

Nebraska Economic Development director vouches for merger with state Tourism Commission

Through Operation Souther Spear, the Department of War is unwavering in its mission to crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard,Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department.&nbsp; 

Tuesday morning, U.S. military forces, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended Motor Vessel Sagitta without incident, according to a social media report from the U.S. Southern Command. 

"The apprehension of another tanker operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean demonstrates our resolve to ensure that the only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully."

"As the joint force operates in the Western Hemisphere, we reaffirm that the security of the American people is paramount, demonstrating our commitment to safety and stability.

These operations are backed by the full power our elite joint force team deployed in the Caribbean."

Through Operation Souther Spear, the Department of War is unwavering in its mission to crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard,Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department.&nbsp; <div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Through <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OpSouthernSpear?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OpSouthernSpear</a>, the <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeptofWar</a> is unwavering in its mission to crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere in partnership with <a href="https://twitter.com/USCG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USCG</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DHSgov</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/TheJusticeDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheJusticeDept</a>. This morning, U.S. military forces, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended… <a href="https://t.co/UPADtiw681">pic.twitter.com/UPADtiw681</a>&mdash; U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2013718812424630376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Tuesday morning, U.S. military forces, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended Motor Vessel Sagitta without incident, according to a social media report from the U.S. Southern Command. "The apprehension of another tanker operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean demonstrates our resolve to ensure that the only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully.""As the joint force operates in the Western Hemisphere, we reaffirm that the security of the American people is paramount, demonstrating our commitment to safety and stability.

These operations are backed by the full power our elite joint force team deployed in the Caribbean."

🎥 US forces seize another oil tanker linked to Venezuela 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768960159653.png" alt="<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">Vice President JD Vance</a>&nbsp;and his wife,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usha-vance-attorney-jd-vance-wife-vp-63406da4f6739546391ed7797fc1fef2">second lady Usha Vance</a>&nbsp;photo from the Vice President's social media page" />
 <figcaption><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">Vice President JD Vance</a>&nbsp;and his wife,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usha-vance-attorney-jd-vance-wife-vp-63406da4f6739546391ed7797fc1fef2">second lady Usha Vance</a>&nbsp;photo from the Vice President's social media page</figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We’re very happy to share some exciting news. Our family is growing! <a href="https://t.co/0RohEBYXM7">pic.twitter.com/0RohEBYXM7</a>&mdash; Second Lady Usha Vance (@SLOTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/SLOTUS/status/2013712959608946721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Vice President JD Vance and his wife make a special announcement

By:<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/j-patrick-coolican/">J. Patrick Coolican</a> <a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/">Minnesota Reformer</a>

Days after&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/16/walz-frey-to-receive-subpoenas-in-criminal-matter-related-to-ice/">news leaked</a>&nbsp;of a criminal investigation of Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey over their handling of immigration enforcement in Minnesota, the U.S. Department of Justice has delivered subpoenas to the offices of Walz and Frey, as well as St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty.

The New York Times&nbsp;first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/20/us/politics/subpoena-minnesota-democrats-immigration.html" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;the delivery of the subpoenas, and other national outlets also confirmed that reporting. A spokesman for Ellison said they were in receipt of the subpoena and working on a response.

The subpoenas are an extraordinary escalation of the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and Minnesota, where heavily-armed, masked federal agents&nbsp;<a href="https://www.startribune.com/how-ice-numbers-compare-to-twin-cities-largest-police-forces/601562617" target="_blank">now outnumber all the metro police departments</a>&nbsp;combined, frequently using tactics a&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/16/federal-judge-tells-ice-to-cool-it/">federal judge has called unconstitutional</a>.

When the investigation became public last week, Walz replied in a statement: “Two days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly,” he said, referring to the&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/3-democratic-lawmakers-federal-investigation-illegal-orders-social/story?id=129244803" target="_blank">U.S. senators</a>&nbsp;who made a video telling U.S. servicemembers that&nbsp;they can and must refuse illegal orders, as well as the&nbsp;<a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5687457-fed-jerome-powell-justice-department-gop-criticism/" target="_blank">chairman</a>&nbsp;of the Federal Reserve, who has refused to lower interest rates as quickly as Trump desires. “Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic,” Walz said.

Frey called the investigation “an obvious attempt to intimidate me for standing up for Minneapolis, our local law enforcement and our residents against the chaos and danger this administration has brought to our streets.”

He added: “I will not be intimidated.”

The&nbsp;Washington Post&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/01/16/trump-minnesota-walz-frey-criminal-investigation/" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;that “the&nbsp;subpoenas suggest that the Justice Department is examining whether Walz’s and Frey’s public statements disparaging the surge of officers and federal actions have amounted to criminal interference in law enforcement work.”

Walz, who announced earlier this month he&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/05/minnesota-gov-tim-walz-ends-campaign-for-third-term/">won’t seek</a>&nbsp;a third term, also used his statement last week to criticize the federal government for not properly investigating the killing of Renee Good by federal immigration officer Jonathan Ross. “The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her,” he said.

Six prosecutors in the Minnesota Office of U.S. Attorney quit last week,&nbsp;The New York Times&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/us/prosecutors-doj-resignation-ice-shooting.html#:~:text=Six%20Prosecutors%20Quit%20Over%20Push,supposed%20ties%20to%20activist%20groups." target="_blank">reported</a>, because they objected to their bosses’ push to investigate the widow of Good and their ties to anti-ICE groups.

The ICE surge, which has put as many as 3,000 federal agents in the state — or nearly five times the number of sworn officers with the Minneapolis Police Department —&nbsp;is just the latest round of an ongoing conflict between Minnesota and the federal government. Fraud in Minnesota’s social programs —&nbsp;often funded in whole or part by the federal government —&nbsp;has caught the attention of right-wing media and activists, and the Trump administration has followed with a wide array of investigations of Minnesota programs across a range of agencies.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/15/homeland-security-audits-hennepin-healthcares/">auditing Hennepin Healthcare</a>&nbsp;—&nbsp;Minnesota’s largest safety net hospital —&nbsp;for compliance with immigrant employment eligibility laws.

The<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/01/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-establishes-new-department-of-justice-division-for-national-fraud-enforcement/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Trump administration</a>&nbsp;has frozen child care payments and halted small business grants. The administration also says it’s investigating possible housing assistance fraud and looking into Minnesota’s&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/trump-admin-announces-target-review-of-minnesotas-unemployment-insurance-program/">unemployment insurance program</a>. The federal government has also attempted to withhold funds to Minnesota for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, but a federal court issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/01/15/federal-judge-blocks-usda-from-cutting-snap-benefits-in-minnesota" target="_blank">preliminary injunction.</a>

Earlier this week, Trump said he would cut all federal funding to Minnesota and other states that have sanctuary cities beginning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/13/white-house-end-funding-sanctuary-cities-states-00726557" target="_blank">Feb. 1,</a>&nbsp;but it’s unclear what that means and few details have been released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768610962226.png" alt="Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz from his social media page" />
 <figcaption>Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz from his social media page</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/j-patrick-coolican/">J. Patrick Coolican</a> <a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/">Minnesota Reformer</a>Days after&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/16/walz-frey-to-receive-subpoenas-in-criminal-matter-related-to-ice/">news leaked</a>&nbsp;of a criminal investigation of Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey over their handling of immigration enforcement in Minnesota, the U.S. Department of Justice has delivered subpoenas to the offices of Walz and Frey, as well as St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/rGLZVW34kc">pic.twitter.com/rGLZVW34kc</a>&mdash; Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovTimWalz/status/2013670376220348484?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The New York Times&nbsp;first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/20/us/politics/subpoena-minnesota-democrats-immigration.html" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;the delivery of the subpoenas, and other national outlets also confirmed that reporting. A spokesman for Ellison said they were in receipt of the subpoena and working on a response.The subpoenas are an extraordinary escalation of the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and Minnesota, where heavily-armed, masked federal agents&nbsp;<a href="https://www.startribune.com/how-ice-numbers-compare-to-twin-cities-largest-police-forces/601562617" target="_blank">now outnumber all the metro police departments</a>&nbsp;combined, frequently using tactics a&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/16/federal-judge-tells-ice-to-cool-it/">federal judge has called unconstitutional</a>.When the investigation became public last week, Walz replied in a statement: “Two days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly,” he said, referring to the&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/3-democratic-lawmakers-federal-investigation-illegal-orders-social/story?id=129244803" target="_blank">U.S. senators</a>&nbsp;who made a video telling U.S. servicemembers that&nbsp;they can and must refuse illegal orders, as well as the&nbsp;<a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5687457-fed-jerome-powell-justice-department-gop-criticism/" target="_blank">chairman</a>&nbsp;of the Federal Reserve, who has refused to lower interest rates as quickly as Trump desires. “Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic,” Walz said.Frey called the investigation “an obvious attempt to intimidate me for standing up for Minneapolis, our local law enforcement and our residents against the chaos and danger this administration has brought to our streets.”He added: “I will not be intimidated.”The&nbsp;Washington Post&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/01/16/trump-minnesota-walz-frey-criminal-investigation/" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;that “the&nbsp;subpoenas suggest that the Justice Department is examining whether Walz’s and Frey’s public statements disparaging the surge of officers and federal actions have amounted to criminal interference in law enforcement work.”Walz, who announced earlier this month he&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/05/minnesota-gov-tim-walz-ends-campaign-for-third-term/">won’t seek</a>&nbsp;a third term, also used his statement last week to criticize the federal government for not properly investigating the killing of Renee Good by federal immigration officer Jonathan Ross. “The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her,” he said.Six prosecutors in the Minnesota Office of U.S. Attorney quit last week,&nbsp;The New York Times&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/us/prosecutors-doj-resignation-ice-shooting.html#:~:text=Six%20Prosecutors%20Quit%20Over%20Push,supposed%20ties%20to%20activist%20groups." target="_blank">reported</a>, because they objected to their bosses’ push to investigate the widow of Good and their ties to anti-ICE groups.The ICE surge, which has put as many as 3,000 federal agents in the state — or nearly five times the number of sworn officers with the Minneapolis Police Department —&nbsp;is just the latest round of an ongoing conflict between Minnesota and the federal government. Fraud in Minnesota’s social programs —&nbsp;often funded in whole or part by the federal government —&nbsp;has caught the attention of right-wing media and activists, and the Trump administration has followed with a wide array of investigations of Minnesota programs across a range of agencies.The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/15/homeland-security-audits-hennepin-healthcares/">auditing Hennepin Healthcare</a>&nbsp;—&nbsp;Minnesota’s largest safety net hospital —&nbsp;for compliance with immigrant employment eligibility laws.The<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/01/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-establishes-new-department-of-justice-division-for-national-fraud-enforcement/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Trump administration</a>&nbsp;has frozen child care payments and halted small business grants. The administration also says it’s investigating possible housing assistance fraud and looking into Minnesota’s&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/trump-admin-announces-target-review-of-minnesotas-unemployment-insurance-program/">unemployment insurance program</a>. The federal government has also attempted to withhold funds to Minnesota for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, but a federal court issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/01/15/federal-judge-blocks-usda-from-cutting-snap-benefits-in-minnesota" target="_blank">preliminary injunction.</a>Earlier this week, Trump said he would cut all federal funding to Minnesota and other states that have sanctuary cities beginning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/13/white-house-end-funding-sanctuary-cities-states-00726557" target="_blank">Feb. 1,</a>&nbsp;but it’s unclear what that means and few details have been released.

US Dept. of Justice delivers subpoenas to Walz, Frey, Her, Ellison, Moriarty

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/camikoons/">Cami Koons</a>

The American Farm Bureau Federation, along with soybean and specialty crop farm organizations, has asked congressional leadership for economic support to “fill in the gap of remaining losses for both field and specialty crop farmers.”&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fb.org/files/1.15.26-Ag-Letter-to-Congress-Economic-Assistance_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">letter</a>&nbsp;follows a December announcement from the Trump administration of a&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/12/08/repub/trump-to-send-12-billion-in-one-time-payments-to-farmers-to-offset-ag-losses/" target="_blank">$12 billion</a>&nbsp;one-time package to offset farmer losses across the country.

“These funds could provide a meaningful first step but do not cover the extensive and cumulative losses that farmers have absorbed over the last several years,” the letter said after acknowledging the farmer bridge payment program.&nbsp;

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is allocating the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/farmer-bridge-assistance-fba-program" target="_blank">funding</a>&nbsp;with commodity specific payment rates and set aside $1 billion of the $12 billion for specialty crop farmers.&nbsp;

The American Soybean Association, a signee on the recently submitted letter, said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://soygrowers.com/news-releases/asa-usda-farmer-bridge-assistance-payments-fall-short-for-soybean-farmers/" target="_blank">news release</a>&nbsp;the $30.88 per acre allotted for soybeans from the payment package was not enough to cover the “significant financial damage soybean farmers sustained this year due to the high cost of production and losses sustained during the China trade war.”&nbsp;

Grant Kimberley,&nbsp;Iowa Soybean Association’s director of market development, said the additional need from farmers is “complicated” and is a result of more than just one event in the past year.&nbsp;

“I think people don’t really realize this has been going on for a couple years now,” Kimberley said. “… Just about every row crop agriculture sector in the whole country has been losing money, probably, for the last three years.”

Kimberley said the ongoing downturn in the industry is due to several factors, including low commodity prices, high input costs, changes in global trade and uncertainty in domestic markets.&nbsp;

Data from Farm Bureau&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fb.org/market-intel/declining-farm-economy-continues-to-pressure-profitability" target="_blank">show</a>&nbsp;that commodity prices for major row crops like corn, soybeans, cotton and wheat have declined each year since 2022.&nbsp;

Kimberley said as the prices that farmers can get for their crops has declined, expenses have not declined, and have instead increased.&nbsp; Land, rent, equipment and inputs like fertilizer, seed and chemicals continue to squeeze farmers’ bottom lines, he said.

Farm Bureau economists found that farm expenses in 2025 were 12% higher than the previous five-year average cost.&nbsp;

Another piece to the puzzle, Kimberley explained, is the growing soybean and row crop markets in Brazil and other South American countries. He said the expansion of these markets has interrupted U.S. demand, especially with big buyers like China.&nbsp;

China also declined to purchase U.S. soybeans for the beginning part of harvest season due to President Donald Trump’s trade policies. While the country later&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/10/30/farm-groups-encouraged-by-trade-deal-with-china-for-u-s-soybeans/" target="_blank">agreed</a>&nbsp;to a trade deal, Kimberley said it’s less than what the country previously bought from the U.S. and the gap in purchasing this year has also had an effect.&nbsp;

Kimberley also pointed to the lack of finalized guidance from federal agencies on renewable fuel standards and tax credits. Many of these initiatives, like&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/briefs/biofuel-producers-stuck-in-neutral-without-finalized-tax-credit-guidance/" target="_blank">45Z tax credits</a>&nbsp;for low-carbon fuel, were initiated during the Biden administration and still do not have finalized guidelines.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761787157829.png" alt="Photo USDA" />
 <figcaption>Photo USDA</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/camikoons/">Cami Koons</a>The American Farm Bureau Federation, along with soybean and specialty crop farm organizations, has asked congressional leadership for economic support to “fill in the gap of remaining losses for both field and specialty crop farmers.”&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fb.org/files/1.15.26-Ag-Letter-to-Congress-Economic-Assistance_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">letter</a>&nbsp;follows a December announcement from the Trump administration of a&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/12/08/repub/trump-to-send-12-billion-in-one-time-payments-to-farmers-to-offset-ag-losses/" target="_blank">$12 billion</a>&nbsp;one-time package to offset farmer losses across the country.“These funds could provide a meaningful first step but do not cover the extensive and cumulative losses that farmers have absorbed over the last several years,” the letter said after acknowledging the farmer bridge payment program.&nbsp;The U.S. Department of Agriculture is allocating the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/farmer-bridge-assistance-fba-program" target="_blank">funding</a>&nbsp;with commodity specific payment rates and set aside $1 billion of the $12 billion for specialty crop farmers.&nbsp;The American Soybean Association, a signee on the recently submitted letter, said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://soygrowers.com/news-releases/asa-usda-farmer-bridge-assistance-payments-fall-short-for-soybean-farmers/" target="_blank">news release</a>&nbsp;the $30.88 per acre allotted for soybeans from the payment package was not enough to cover the “significant financial damage soybean farmers sustained this year due to the high cost of production and losses sustained during the China trade war.”&nbsp;Grant Kimberley,&nbsp;Iowa Soybean Association’s director of market development, said the additional need from farmers is “complicated” and is a result of more than just one event in the past year.&nbsp;“I think people don’t really realize this has been going on for a couple years now,” Kimberley said. “… Just about every row crop agriculture sector in the whole country has been losing money, probably, for the last three years.”Kimberley said the ongoing downturn in the industry is due to several factors, including low commodity prices, high input costs, changes in global trade and uncertainty in domestic markets.&nbsp;Data from Farm Bureau&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fb.org/market-intel/declining-farm-economy-continues-to-pressure-profitability" target="_blank">show</a>&nbsp;that commodity prices for major row crops like corn, soybeans, cotton and wheat have declined each year since 2022.&nbsp;Kimberley said as the prices that farmers can get for their crops has declined, expenses have not declined, and have instead increased.&nbsp; Land, rent, equipment and inputs like fertilizer, seed and chemicals continue to squeeze farmers’ bottom lines, he said.Farm Bureau economists found that farm expenses in 2025 were 12% higher than the previous five-year average cost.&nbsp;Another piece to the puzzle, Kimberley explained, is the growing soybean and row crop markets in Brazil and other South American countries. He said the expansion of these markets has interrupted U.S. demand, especially with big buyers like China.&nbsp;China also declined to purchase U.S. soybeans for the beginning part of harvest season due to President Donald Trump’s trade policies. While the country later&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/10/30/farm-groups-encouraged-by-trade-deal-with-china-for-u-s-soybeans/" target="_blank">agreed</a>&nbsp;to a trade deal, Kimberley said it’s less than what the country previously bought from the U.S. and the gap in purchasing this year has also had an effect.&nbsp;Kimberley also pointed to the lack of finalized guidance from federal agencies on renewable fuel standards and tax credits. Many of these initiatives, like&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/briefs/biofuel-producers-stuck-in-neutral-without-finalized-tax-credit-guidance/" target="_blank">45Z tax credits</a>&nbsp;for low-carbon fuel, were initiated during the Biden administration and still do not have finalized guidelines.Other standards, like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/06/13/epa-proposes-historic-renewable-fuel-blending-standards/" target="_blank">blending standards</a>,&nbsp;were proposed over the summer and have yet to be finalized. Kimberley, who is also executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board, said this uncertainty means overall biodiesel production has declined in the state, causing a “ripple in the pond” for soybean demand.“You can’t really just say it’s this or that, you know, it’s all of these things that have kind of added up a little bit over time,” Kimberley said.The letter from American Farm Bureau Federation also noted the compounding factors squeezing farmers. According to the letter, farmer bankruptcies are increasing and nationwide farmer losses are approaching $100 billion.&nbsp;“These trends aren’t just statistics; they represent an economic crisis in rural America,” the letter said.&nbsp;Specialty crop farmers are also struggling under similar pressures and asked Congress for relief.&nbsp;The majority of the more than 50 organizations that signed the letter represented specialty crop growers.&nbsp;In a news release about the letter, the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance said that despite the fact that specialty crops account for more than one-third of all U.S. crop sales, the farmer bridge program from USDA allocated just $1 billion to the industry.&nbsp;“Any agricultural aid package should reflect the economic contribution of specialty crops, which support rural communities and provide key nutrition,” the alliance leadership said in the release.&nbsp;The letter, addressed to House and Senate leadership, ask for “immediate” congressionally approved support.&nbsp;Kimberley said additional changes need to occur in the farm economy for farmers to be profitable, but those changes won’t happen overnight.“None of these things make farmers whole, and (aid packages) are not preferred, but sometimes they’re necessary,” Kimberley said.&nbsp;This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/01/16/farm-bureau-soybean-and-specialty-ag-groups-ask-congress-for-additional-farmer-support/" target="_blank">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Kansas Reflector, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.