Top Stories • January 28, 2026

A Virginia judge blocked Democrats’ effort to redraw the state’s congressional maps, ruling that the legislative process was improper and the proposed constitutional amendment illegal, a setback Democrats say they will appeal. In Minnesota, tensions escalated after a man sprayed Congresswoman Ilhan Omar with an unknown substance during a town hall where she criticized ICE operations; she was not injured and authorities arrested the suspect. A new Department of Homeland Security watchdog report contradicts earlier claims by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem that protester Alex Pretti brandished a weapon before he was fatally shot, prompting further scrutiny of federal immigration tactics. Overseas, the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has arrived in the Middle East as tensions with Iran rise, and President Trump warned a “massive armada” is heading toward Tehran, urging negotiations and threatening force if diplomacy fails. After last week’s Davos summit, world leaders are watching for signs of Trump’s emerging global strategy, as his administration signals a shift toward transactional foreign policy and redefining America’s role in a changing world order. Pulse Correspondent, Daniel Compatangelo reports.