Thursday, January 29, 2026

Another shutdown looms

Fallout of Alex Pretti's killing could stall federal funding. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 

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The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Thu Jan 29 2026

 

Nicole Fallert
Reporter & Newsletter Writer

Morning! Welcome to the Daily Briefing. Here's what's breaking this morning:

Does Trump have the second-term curse?
Costco was sued over $4.99 rotisserie chicken.
The U.S. figure skating community lives with loss.

Nicole Fallert here, bringing you the news to know on Thursday, from a looming government shutdown to a forecast for more severe cold. Also, can we come over to "Wuthering Heights"?!

Shutdown deadline is tomorrow night

Another government shutdown may be on its way .

Since the killing of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents sparked nationwide uproar, there's little hope on Capitol Hill for an eleventh-hour miracle to salvage a spending deal. Both parties in Congress have quickly dug into seemingly intractable positions, jeopardizing the remaining bills that lawmakers must pass by Jan. 30 to bankroll important government agencies, from the Pentagon to the Health and Human Services Department.

Senate Democrats have three main demands for reforming the Department of Homeland Security in the wake of Pretti's killing, including more accountability for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol. Even if Senate Republicans conceded to breaking up the funding package, the bills would be kicked back to the House of Representatives, which is on a weeklong recess.

Another impact: If tax season wasn't already unpleasant enough, the 2026 tax cycle could soon be bogged down if a shutdown stalls Internal Revenue Service services.

Meanwhile, the two immigration agents who fired upon Pretti have been placed on administrative leave.

More news to know now

FBI raids Atlanta election facility. Investigators arrived with a court order, signed by Magistrate Judge Catherine M. Salinas, to seize physical ballots, ballot images and voter rolls from the 2020 election in Fulton County, according to the order read by staff at the Georgia Recorder.
A weekend storm could intensify into a "bomb cyclone." Much of the East Coast is on high alert for another potentially powerful winter storm.
Nicki Minaj says she's President Donald Trump's "No. 1 fan." Nicki Minaj revealed that she received a so-called Trump "gold card" that offers applicants residency and a path to U.S. citizenship, following an appearance at an event touting Trump's government-supported investment accounts for babies.

Movies

'Wuthering Heights' goes goth

Film Wuthering Heights Photo Call

Director Emerald Fennell, Charli XCX, cast members Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Shazad Latif, Hong Chau and Alison Oliver promote 'Wuthering Heights' in Beverly Hills,California, on Wednesday.

Mario Anzuoni, REUTERS

We're going mad with excitement for the tenants of "Wuthering Heights." The stars of Emerald Fennell's adaptation of Emily Brontë's 1847 gothic novel have fans swooning as the press tour kicks off ahead of the film's Feb. 13 release.

Something to talk about

'Melania' as you've never seen her before

First lady Melania Trump is giving the public a look into her life in the weeks before President Trump's 2025 inauguration with her highly anticipated documentary, "Melania," which officially premieres Thursday. Here's how to watch the film.

Before you go

"Bridgerton" Season 4 is a fairy tale ... we've seen too much.
It's Grammys week! Best New Artist nominees partied.
The college football transfer portal is a "train wreck."

Have feedback on the Daily Briefing? Shoot Nicole an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.

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