NTD Good Morning

The head of Iran's judiciary system said today there will be fast trials and executions for detained protestors. President Trump warned on Tuesday during an interview on CBS that the U.S. will take action if Iran starts hanging protestors. He encouraged protestors to continue demonstrating, writing on Truth Social that 'help is on the way.' The London-based opposition broadcaster Iran International is reporting that at least 12,000 people may have been killed in Iran's brutal suppression of anti-government protests.

Officials from Greenland and Denmark will appear for meetings on Wednesday on Capitol Hill and the White House, as President Trump doubles down on security concerns in the region. He has emphasized that if the U.S. does not take some sort of action in Greenland, that China or Russia will. The Prime Minister of Denmark says that they want to engage in dialogue and are not looking for conflict, but makes it clear that Greenland is not for sale.

The fallout from alleged large-scale fraud in Minnesota is intensifying. President Trump says his administration will cut federal payments to sanctuary cities starting February 1, accusing them of protecting criminals and enabling fraud. Trump also vowed to revoke the citizenship of naturalized immigrants convicted of defrauding Americans, saying offenders would be deported.

A violent encounter involving an ICE agent in Minneapolis is under investigation. Homeland Security says an illegal immigrant ambushed an ICE officer, leading the officer to shoot him in the leg in self-defense. Both men have been hospitalized. Minnesota officials are calling for protesters not to engage in violence.

President Trump says Iran’s repression of protesters may be easing. He told reporters he has it on good authority that the government has no plans to execute demonstrators. Iran’s foreign minister has also denied any plans for hangings. Trump says the U.S. will watch and see, as Iran briefly shut down, then reopened its airspace amid concerns over possible military action.

A push from Democrats on Capitol Hill to limit President Trump's directives in Venezuela has failed after two Republicans decided to switch their vote in the final hour. The resolution would have blocked Trump from using military force within or against Venezuela. This comes as Venezuela's opposition leader Maria Corina Machado is expected to visit the White House on Thursday.

The U.S. Embassy in Iran is urging Americans to leave the country immediately if it's safe to do so. It says U.S. citizens should expect continued internet outages and consider leaving by land through neighboring countries. President Trump is also vowing that any country doing business with Iran will face a 25% U.S. tariff. This follows earlier warnings that the U.S. may carry out strikes over Iran's repression of protests in the country. Rights groups say nearly 600 people have died since the protests began.

The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Tuesday on whether male athletes can compete in female sports, while claiming to be transgender. Federal judges in West Virginia and Idaho have ruled that banning boys from girls' sports is a civil rights violation that discriminates based on sex. The Republican Attorneys General Association is urging the high court to uphold state bans, calling it a matter of fairness. Currently, 29 states, the NCAA, and the U.S. Olympic Committee all have bans on transgender athletes competing.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says alleged fraud schemes in Minnesota are far larger than expected, with taxpayer funds illegally sent overseas. In an exclusive interview, Bessent called Minnesota a blueprint for uncovering nationwide fraud, vowing to prosecute offenders, and recover stolen funds. Meanwhile, the Treasury and the IRS are expanding audits and launching new enforcement actions to stop the abuse.

President Trump says Iran’s leadership has reached out to negotiate. That follows his warning that military options are on the table amid protests rocking the country. A top Iranian official says U.S. bases and Israel would be targeted if Iran is attacked. Trump also says he may work with Elon Musk to restore internet access after Tehran imposed blackouts. A rights group says the unrest has killed more than 500 people so far.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell says the Fed has been served with grand jury subpoenas by the Department of Justice. Powell confirms officials threatened criminal charges tied to his June 2025 Senate testimony. Powell denies the probe is connected to that testimony, saying the threat stems from the Fed’s handling of interest rates.

Federal immigration enforcement is ramping up in Minnesota. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem says hundreds more agents are arriving after about 2,000 were sent to the Twin Cities. The surge follows a January 7th fatal shooting involving an ICE officer, sparking large protests. President Trump and federal officials are defending the officer, while Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says the operation is making the city less safe.

The FBI is investigating a shooting in Portland, Oregon. Authorities say a man and a woman were injured in an incident involving immigration agents.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said agents were conducting a targeted vehicle stop when the driver tried to run them over. Agents then fired a defensive shot before the two suspects drove away.

DHS says the driver and passenger are suspected members of the Tren De Aragua gang, and that one was involved in a recent shooting.

The Trump administration has announced a new Justice Department division dedicated to investigating fraud, led by an assistant attorney general overseeing major multi-agency investigations. The effort is already focused on Minnesota, where Vice President JD Vance says more than 1,500 subpoenas and nearly 100 indictments have been filed.

President Donald Trump says Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado is expected in Washington next week, where he said he’d be honored to meet her. And in a social media post on Jan. 9, the president said he canceled a second wave of strikes on Venezuela, following cooperation from the South American nation. This comes after Venezuela began releasing a large number of political prisoners. Trump also said at least $100 billion will be invested by what he called "big oil," and that he expects to meet with oil executives at the White House on Friday.

The FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are both investigating the shooting of a woman by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. The incident is drawing national attention, and the Trump administration says the officer acted in self-defense, alleging the woman attempted an act of domestic terrorism by using her vehicle as a weapon. Governor Tim Walz blames heightened immigration enforcement for escalating tensions, while the White House points to anti-ICE rhetoric.

Lawmakers held the first public hearing on Capitol Hill following allegations of fraud taking place in Minnesota. A federal prosecutor gave a report last month that around $9-billion may have been stolen. At the hearing, Republicans criticized Minnesota officials for not acting quickly enough. Democrats and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz have defended their handling of the crisis, but Walz has since dropped his re-election bid. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer has called on Walz to testify in February.

Efforts are underway to stabilize Venezuela following the removal of former dictator Nicolás Maduro. The White House says president Trump has a three-phase plan, beginning with stabilization. Marco Rubio says the next steps focus on economic recovery, national reconciliation, and a gradual transition of power led by the Venezuelan people.

The CDC made major changes to its vaccine recommendations on Monday, narrowing the number of shots recommended to all children from 14 down to 8. The recommendations now more closely align with other developed countries such as Denmark, Germany and Japan. HHS Secretary RFK Jr. said the decision protects children, respects families and rebuilds trust in public health.

Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores pleaded not guilty on Monday at an arraignment hearing in Manhattan. They are being charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, drug trafficking and weapons charges.vThe couple agreed to waive their right to a speedy trial and did not request bail at this time.vA second hearing is scheduled for March 17th.

A Minnesota hotel cancellation involving ICE agents is drawing sharp criticism from the Department of Homeland Security. It's also prompting apologies from Hilton and a local operator. DHS says agents’ reservations were canceled after being booked with official government emails. Hilton says the property is independently owned and that the actions were not company policy.

The CDC made major changes to its vaccine recommendations on Monday, narrowing the number of shots recommended to all children from 14 down to 8. The recommendations now more closely align with other developed countries such as Denmark, Germany and Japan. HHS Secretary RFK Jr. said the decision protects children, respects families and rebuilds trust in public health.

Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores pleaded not guilty on Monday at an arraignment hearing in Manhattan. They are being charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, drug trafficking and weapons charges.vThe couple agreed to waive their right to a speedy trial and did not request bail at this time.vA second hearing is scheduled for March 17th.

A Minnesota hotel cancellation involving ICE agents is drawing sharp criticism from the Department of Homeland Security. It's also prompting apologies from Hilton and a local operator. DHS says agents’ reservations were canceled after being booked with official government emails. Hilton says the property is independently owned and that the actions were not company policy.

Nicolas Maduro has arrived at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, where he is expected to be arraigned on Monday. President Trump says the U.S. is now in charge in Venezuela and plans to have American oil companies revive the country’s energy sector. Trump also predicted Cuba is close to collapse without Venezuelan oil, and hinted traffickers in Colombia and Mexico could face U.S. military action. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said the Maduro's capture was a law-enforcement operation without need of congressional approval.

For many Americans, it won't feel like the middle of winter. Forecasters say a big warm up is heading eastwards, bringing temperatures well above normal for this time of year. Record highs are expected in central U.S. A strong high pressure system is expected to keep temperatures high for the rest of the week. Meanwhile, California is dealing with flooding and mudslides.

Authorities say they’ve finished identifying all 40 victims of the deadly New Year’s Eve fire at a Swiss bar. Swiss police say, many of the victims were just teenagers, including two 14-year-olds. No names have been released yet. Hundreds of people marched in silence through the ski resort of Crans-Montana on Sunday to honor the victims. Swizterland will hold a national day of mourning on Firday, which church bells ringing and a moment of silence to honor the victims.

From Times Square to the streets of London, Madrid, and Rio, millions around the world rang in 2026 with spectacle, tradition, and reflection. Revelers in New York City were treated to a surprise, as the Times Square ball was relit in red, white, and blue, before rising again to mark the start of the United States’ 250th year. The Washington Monument in the District of Columbia also put on a light show for America’s upcoming 250th birthday.

The Trump administration imposed sanctions on four firms operating in Venezuela’s oil sector on Wednesday. The United States is accusing the oil tankers of being part of a shadow fleet serving President Nicolas Maduro’s government. The latest ship sanctions are meant to deny the firms and tankers access to any property or financial assets held in the United States. The actions are part of the Trump administration’s months-long pressure campaign on Maduro’s authoritarian regime.

Zohran Mamdani is officially the mayor of New York City. The Democratic Socialist took the oath of office at a historic, decommissioned subway station in Manhattan. Mamdani is the first Muslim leader of America’s biggest city, and took his oath on a Quran. The ceremony was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, and he will be sworn in again by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) at City Hall on Jan. 1.