Ukrainian forces have successfully pushed Russian troops out of the northwestern part of Kupiansk, trapping approximately 200 remaining Russian soldiers in the city center. This counteroffensive, planned and commanded by the 2nd Corps “Khartia,” involved blocking and cutting off the Russian garrison from their main forces, resulting in the recapture of several villages and the targeting of Holubivka. The offensive intensified after Russia initiated an assault in the summer of 2025 with the goal of occupying the city and seizing a key logistics hub, but since then, Ukrainian forces have reportedly killed over 1,000 Russian troops. The operation in central Kupiansk is still ongoing.
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Minneapolis city officials are condemning the wrongful arrest of a U.S. citizen, Mubashir, who was apprehended by ICE agents and allegedly targeted for his Somali appearance. According to Mubashir, he was tackled and detained without proper identification, despite asserting his citizenship and offering his passport. After being held for hours, he was released and ordered to walk in the snow after being released, as Mayor Jacob Frey criticized the actions, calling it a violation of law and the Constitution. In response, local leaders are coordinating legal strategies and Governor Tim Walz has demanded a review of the operation, amid the backdrop of a recent immigration crackdown and comments made by former President Trump.
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Secretary Kristi Noem encountered significant pushback during a congressional hearing on Thursday. Democratic lawmakers aggressively called for her resignation, alleging she had lied and broken the law. These accusations stemmed from her role in assisting the Trump administration’s extensive deportation policies. The hearing highlighted a tense political climate and ongoing scrutiny of the administration’s immigration agenda.
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Democrats face a clear strategic opportunity to capitalize on the government shutdown by focusing on the consequences of the Trump administration’s actions. The first key message should highlight the massive job cuts, which are far greater than those seen with previous efforts and should be presented as deeply unpopular. Secondly, Democrats should highlight the views of Vought, who is seen as a Christian nationalist seeking to reshape the United States according to his beliefs. His vision is antithetical to the Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom.
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A federal judge has issued a temporary order preventing U.S. immigration authorities from detaining Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident. The ruling came after Abrego Garcia’s release from a Pennsylvania detention facility, and in anticipation of a routine ICE check-in. This decision follows months of litigation after Abrego Garcia’s deportation to El Salvador, despite having been granted protection from deportation. The DHS has criticized the order, claiming it lacks legal basis. Abrego Garcia is currently facing criminal charges and has a pending asylum application.
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The House Oversight Committee released a collection of images from the Jeffrey Epstein estate, including photos of prominent figures like Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, and Steve Bannon. The committee received over 95,000 photos, with this release representing a small portion. The released images, which were obtained as part of a subpoena to the Epstein estate, appear to be digitized copies, and their context remains unclear. Democrats are calling for the Department of Justice to release all files, while Republicans have criticized the release as a politically motivated effort.
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Germany has accused Russia of launching a cyber-attack on air traffic control in August 2024, attributing the incident to the Russian military intelligence service and the Fancy Bear hacker group. Furthermore, Germany alleges that Russia attempted to influence and destabilize the country’s recent federal election through a disinformation campaign. The German government has vowed to implement countermeasures in collaboration with its European partners. Russia has denied these accusations, calling them baseless and absurd, reflecting the continued strain in relations between the two countries.
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Despite Russian claims that Ukrainian forces were surrounded in Kupiansk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the city to highlight Ukrainian successes in the region. Zelenskyy’s visit, marked by a video address thanking soldiers and acknowledging the importance of results on the front lines, contradicted earlier reports from Russian state media. These reports detailed Russian General Staff briefings to Putin about the alleged capture of Kupiansk and an invitation to journalists to witness the supposed encirclement of Ukrainian forces. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out a successful counteroffensive near Kupiansk, encircling a Russian force inside the city, as reported by the command of the 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine’s Khartiia formation.
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On Wednesday, Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) initiated impeachment proceedings against Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., citing abuse of power and a threat to public health due to the spread of misinformation. Stevens, along with numerous medical and public health organizations, accuse Kennedy of undermining scientific consensus and endangering lives. While the impeachment is unlikely to succeed in the Republican-controlled Congress, it highlights growing concerns within the scientific community regarding Kennedy’s actions. These groups, including the American College of Physicians and the Infectious Disease Society of America, have independently called for his removal.
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The article discusses the author’s recent visit to the US, highlighting both the joys of family and travel and the author’s growing reservations about the current political climate. Proposed new regulations by the Trump administration, including invasive social media and family history inquiries for visa applicants from countries like Australia, are a major concern. The author observed the stark changes in the US, including reduced tourism and increased political division, spurred by actions such as the revocation of visas for protestors and the expansion of travel bans. While the author cherishes their connections within the US, they express that, as a tourist, they would opt for a more welcoming and less restrictive destination.
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John Q. Hosedrinker
ICE Detains US Citizen in Minneapolis, City Leaders Cite Racial Profiling
Minneapolis city officials are condemning the wrongful arrest of a U.S. citizen, Mubashir, who was apprehended by ICE agents and allegedly targeted for his Somali appearance. According to Mubashir, he was tackled and detained without proper identification, despite asserting his citizenship and offering his passport. After being held for hours, he was released and ordered to walk in the snow after being released, as Mayor Jacob Frey criticized the actions, calling it a violation of law and the Constitution. In response, local leaders are coordinating legal strategies and Governor Tim Walz has demanded a review of the operation, amid the backdrop of a recent immigration crackdown and comments made by former President Trump.
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