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President Donald Trump is facing backlash from his base over Minnesota. That's where we're starting the seven from the Washington Post, I'm Hannah Jewell. It's Thursday, January 29th. Let's get you caught up with today's seven stories. This week, President Trump made a pivot in his approach to the immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota. He sent new leadership to oversee it and softened his tone. And he said he had positive and productive conversations with local Democratic leaders. Americans are increasingly uncomfortable with the aggressive approach that has led to the shooting deaths of two American protesters by federal agents this month. A poll released this week by The Economist and YouGov found that 55% of Americans have little confidence in ICE age. That's an increase of 10% since mid December. But Trump's moves to de escalate the situation have angered MAGA World and the loyal base of voters who elected him on a campaign promise of mass deportations. Trump's advisors are divided along similar lines and are offering opposing feedback on immigration strategy. Meanwhile, in Minneapolis and elsewhere, ICE is deploying an array of intrusive technologies like biometric trackers, cell ph location databases and drones. They are using them to locate and track undocumented immigrants and, increasingly, US Citizens who are opposed to the government's deportation campaign. The federal government is on track to partially shut down at the end of Friday. That's number two. After a series of shootings by federal agents, Democrats say they will not vote to fund the Department of Homeland Security without new accountability measures. But the funding is lumped into one piece of legislation with money for several other Cabinet departments, so blocking DHS's budget would close those agencies, too. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said yesterday that Republican leadership should separate out the DHS bill and include new oversight for ice.
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It's now on Leader Thune to separate out the DHS bill, just as Speaker Johnson did in the House, and start working with Democrats to rein in ice, imposing oversight, accountability and empowering local law enforcement in our communities.
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If it happens, the shutdown would be pretty limited. 6 of 12 annual appropriations bills that fund the government have already been signed into law, but the departments that are still unfunded include some of the largest federal agencies, including the Defense Department and Health and Human Services. Three. The FBI executed a warrant seeking ballots from Fulton County's 2020 election. Fulton county in Georgia is at the heart of right wing conspiracy theories about President Trump's 2020 election loss. Even though claims of fraud have repeatedly been debunked, the county's mail ballots have long been a fixation for the MAGA movement. Those ballots were among the items sought as the FBI executed a search warrant yesterday at the elections warehouse of Fulton County. The search came less than a week after Trump once again claimed the 2020 election was rigged. During his speech in Davos, Switzerland, he pivoted from talking about the war in Ukraine.
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It's a war that should have never started, and it wouldn't have started if the 2020 US presidential election weren't rigged. It was a rigged election. Everybody now knows that they found out. People will soon be prosecuted for what they did.
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Some Georgia Democrats characterized the search as a threat to the future of democratically run elections. Number four the US embassy in Denmark removed 44 Danish flags honoring fallen soldiers. The flags had been placed in planters outside the building in remembrance of 44 Danish soldiers killed in Afghanistan. A State Department spokesperson said there was no malicious intent in removing the flags and that the flags had been replaced. They added that security personnel typically clean up flags, banners and signs that demonstrators leave behind at the embassy. Nevertheless, the move drew outrage from the country's veterans. President Trump was recently dismissive of the contribution of NATO allies to the war in Afghanistan and adding to tensions with Denmark, he has also repeatedly threatened to take over the autonomous Danish territory of Greenland. The Kennedy Center's programming head resigned days after his hiring was announced. That's number five. In a January 16 news release, the Kennedy center announced that Kevin Couch would be its new senior vice president of artistic programming. On January 22, the center posted the announcement on X. Not a week later, Couch resigned. Couch confirmed his resignation yesterday, but declined to comment further. The surprisingly quick resignation comes as the Kennedy center is shedding talent from its stages. Several artists have canceled performances since President Trump, the center's new chairman, had his name added to the Kennedy Center's building and branding. 6A NOR' Easter is forecast to bring more snow and flooding to the East Coast. Sadly, some parts of the US can expect more bad weather in the coming days. Along the east coast, blizzard conditions, damaging winds, coastal flooding and dangerous cold are all forecast for this weekend. North and South Carolina are likely to get some of the heaviest Snowfall, with about 3 to 6 inches expected. Along North Carolina's Outer Banks, strong wind gusts could cause flooding and power outages. The other place bracing for some of the heaviest snow is along the coastline from southeast Virginia to southeast Massachusetts. There, snow could reach even higher than six inches. There is even a chance of snow as far west as Atlanta and as far south as Florida. So if you're sick of this. Maybe it's time to pack it in and move to Southern California. And at number seven, Karate Kid and 24 more titles were added. The National Film Registry. The National Film Registry is the Library of Congress list of influential movies honored for their cultural, historic or aesthetic importance. New films are added each year which have to be at least 10 years old. This year, 25 movies were selected for preservation. They included the Truman Show, Inception, Before Sunrise, and the 1995 classic Clueless.
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And in conclusion, may I please remind you that it does not say RSVP on the Statue of Liberty.
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Thank you very much. Four documentaries made the cut this year, including Brooklyn Bridge. That was the first film by Ken Burns to be widely distributed in 1981. You can find a full list of the new selections in our newsletter today. They might just inspire your weekend viewing. Alright, you're all caught up. Before you go, you should take advantage of a great deal on a subscription to the Washington Post. It's the best way you can support what we do right now. You can unlock your first six months of access to the Washington Post for just 50 cents a week. After that, it'll cost $14 every four weeks. You can cancel anytime. You'll get unlimited access to trusted journalism that helps you make sense of what's happening now and what's ahead. Go to washingtonpost.com subscribe and start the year informed with the Post. That's washingtonpost.com subscribe. I'm Hannah Jewell. I'll meet you back here tomorrow.
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The assignment with me, Audie Cornish. The Oscars will be at like the Golden Globes will be out. There's a Super bowl coming up with Bad Bunny.
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Yeah.
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Start of the year. Every year is really a time where some of these water cooler moments kick off. People really need anything that's galvanizing or hopeful. You seem like you're embodying cringe right now. Yeah, it's, it's weird to see the cringe process running course through me in real time. Listen to the Assignment with me, Audie Cornish. Streaming now on your favorite podcast app.
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The holidays may be over, but smart savings can still continue. Right now, you can unlock your first six months of access to the Washington Post for just 50 cents a week. After that, it's $14 every four weeks. You can cancel anytime. You'll get unlimited access online and in our app to trusted journalism that helps you make sense of what's happening now and what's ahead. If staying informed is one of your goals for the year, this Post holiday sale is the perfect place to start. Go to washingtonpost.com subscribe and begin the year informed. That's washingtonpost.com subscribe.