The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Wed Jan 28 2026

Nicole Fallert
Reporter & Newsletter Writer

Halfway through the week. Welcome to the Daily Briefing. Here's the news:

•	More than one million Americans lost power in recent winter storms.
•	Homebuyers are nixing purchase agreements at record rates.
•	The NFL world is in disbelief over Bill Belichick's Hall of Fame outcome.

Nicole Fallert here, bringing you the news to know on Wednesday from President Donald Trump's evolving response to immigration enforcement to measles spiking in South Carolina. Plus, lawsuits allege GLP-1 drugs caused severe health effects.

Trump says 'no' to Americans bringing guns to protests

In Iowa on Tuesday, President Donald Trump twice questioned why 37-year-old Alex Pretti was carrying a gun at the time he was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis. Two border officers fired their guns during the fatal encounter that killed Pretti, according to a copy of the internal investigation obtained by USA TODAY. Agency personnel began firing about five seconds after the agent yelled about Pretti's gun, the report notes.

"You can't have guns. You can't walk in with guns. You can't do that. It's just a very unfortunate thing," Trump said. Here's how gun advocates are reacting to the president's comments.

Trump's words on guns come as he and his administration are shifting approach to immigration enforcement following Pretti's killing, the second fatal shooting of an American citizen by federal agents in Minneapolis. Amid a leadership reshuffle, Trump expressed he still has confidence in Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and won't ask her to step down from her position. But for Noem, an impeachment threat is growing.

Trump says these changes aren't a "pullback." And many protestors and immigration experts told USA TODAY the administration's moves might just be public relations.

More coverage on immigration from USA TODAY:

•	Another person was shot in an incident involving Border Patrol in Arizona.
•	ICE agents will have security role at Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
•	The U.S. agreed not to deport witnesses in a migrant's death at a Texas facility.
•	Republicans, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbot, have raised concerns about ICE while the issue continues to divide Congress and threaten another government shutdown.

More news to know now

•	A man was arrested after spraying Ilhan Omar. The man spoke to U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat born in Somalia, as he doused her torso with the material. It's unclear what he said or what he sprayed.
•	Trump's Venezuela oil sell-off sparks corruption concerns. The Trump administration has been selling the country's oil stash, netting millions of dollars and prompting concerns from lawmakers and industry insiders about corruption.
•	Measles surges in South Carolina. The U.S. is on the verge of losing its status of having eliminated the disease.

College basketball

Make room for Georgia, ladies

Ncaa Womens Basketball Georgia At South Carolina

Georgia Bulldogs guard Dani Carnegie (3) drives around South Carolina Gamecocks guard Raven Johnson

Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

Georgia' women's basketball are 4-3 in arguably the toughest conference in the sport. And for the first time this season, the Bulldogs are ranked in the USA TODAY Sports women's basketball coaches poll, breaking in at No. 25.

Health & Wellness

Are weight-loss drugs harming us?

A growing number of lawsuits allege popular class of weight-loss drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists failed to sufficiently warn of the risk of certain severe injuries. USA TODAY's review of suits revealed at least 110 plaintiffs across both the federal and state lawsuits allege the drugs caused sudden blindness or severe vision changes, among other severe outcomes.