US EditionDaily Briefing
Pentagon pushes North Korea deterrence to South Korea; Artemis II goes forward; Bangladesh elections loom
69 Articles •
Israel Launches Major Operation to Recover Last Hostage
Left 31%
Center 46%
R 23%
What happened: The IDF launched a large-scale ground operation over the weekend in a northern Gaza cemetery to recover the remains of Sgt. First Class Ran Gvili, the last hostage. Specialized teams including rabbis and dental experts with portable X-ray units are searching among hundreds of bodies in the Shujaiyya-Daraj Tuffah area near the Yellow Line.
Why it matters: Finding Gvili's remains would remove the final obstacle to opening the Rafah crossing and advancing to the ceasefire's second phase, which includes Gaza reconstruction and potential Hamas disarmament. The Trump administration has been pressuring both sides to move forward, with U.S. envoys meeting Netanyahu yesterday to discuss next steps.
65% of sources are Original Reporting
71 Articles •
Obamas Condemn Minneapolis Shooting as Federal Tactics Face Scrutiny
Left 33%
Center 49%
R 18%
What happened: Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama issued a statement Sunday condemning the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, by Border Patrol agents during protests in Minneapolis on Saturday. Bystander videos show Pretti holding a phone and stepping between agents and a woman before being pepper-sprayed, disarmed of a concealed weapon he was licensed to carry, and shot approximately 10 times.
Why it matters: The Obamas warned that core American values are under assault, criticizing masked federal agents for using tactics designed to intimidate residents and noting this is the second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by immigration agents in Minneapolis within weeks. Federal authorities have blocked state investigators from the scene despite a judicial warrant, sparking a legal battle over control of the investigation and raising concerns about accountability in your community.
73% of sources are Original Reporting
24 Articles •
Scientists Split on Whether Warming Arctic Drives Polar Vortex Events
Left 25%
Center 67%
8%
What happened: Winter Storm Fern is bringing Arctic air, heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain across much of the U.S. this week, threatening over 160 million Americans from Texas to New England. The storm is driven by a stretched stratospheric polar vortex that pushed cold air southward, with National Weather Service warnings issued yesterday and forecasts showing hazardous conditions through Sunday.
Why it matters: Scientists debate whether rapid Arctic warming is increasing polar vortex disruptions that send severe cold snaps southward, creating a paradox where climate change may intensify winter storms in some regions. Understanding this connection affects forecasting accuracy and climate research funding, while the immediate storm threatens hazardous travel, dangerous wind chills and power outages lasting several days.
Blindspot: Low Coverage from Right Sources
83% of sources are Original Reporting
231 Articles •
Iran Crackdown Death Toll May Exceed 36,000, Leaked Documents Show
Left 28%
Center 44%
Right 28%
What happened: The UN Human Rights Council voted on January 23 to extend its investigation into Iran's deadly crackdown on protests that began December 28, with official tolls at 3,117 dead but rights groups estimating between 5,000 and 20,000 killed. The resolution, backed by at least 50 countries, extends the mandate by two years and launches an urgent probe to gather evidence for potential future legal proceedings.
Why it matters: Iran's nationwide internet blackout, now in its third week, has cost the country up to $37 million daily and left millions isolated from the outside world, unable to work or access basic services. The UN investigation could set the stage for future accountability and international legal proceedings, while Iranian authorities have threatened no leniency for thousands detained, raising fears of mass executions.
23 Articles •
Brazil Grants Visa-Free Entry to Chinese Citizens, Sparking Travel Surge
Left 64%
C 18%
R 18%
What happened: Brazil announced this week it will waive short-stay visas for Chinese citizens covering tourism, business, family visits, academic exchanges and transit for up to 30 days, following a January 22 phone call between Presidents Lula and Xi. No effective date has been published yet, and the policy is not currently in force.
Why it matters: Brazil framed the move as reciprocity after China granted visa-free entry to Brazilians in 2025, while American travelers still must obtain visas to enter Brazil since April 2025. The waiver could boost Chinese tourism, which grew 34% to 94,400 visitors in 2025, and reduce costs for companies deploying Chinese executives and technicians.
Blindspot: Low Coverage from Right Sources
91% of sources are Original Reporting
13 Articles •
House Democrats Propose QR Code Identification for ICE Officers
Left 50%
Center 40%
10%
The details: Representatives Ritchie Torres, Darren Soto, and Shri Thanedar introduced the Quick Recognition Act this week, requiring ICE and CBP officers to wear scannable QR codes during enforcement operations. The codes would link to a DHS page displaying officer names, badge numbers, agencies, active status, photos, and complaint counts, along with a secure complaint form.
Why it matters: The bill responds to heightened enforcement and recent fatal shootings, including the Minneapolis killing of Renee Good, aiming to increase transparency during enforcement encounters. With 52 percent of Americans disapproving of ICE's job performance and support for abolishing ICE rising from 19 to 43 percent since last year, the measure addresses growing public demands for accountability, though it faces only a 2 percent chance of enactment.
Blindspot: Low Coverage from Right Sources
85% of sources are Original Reporting
62% of sources are High Factuality
139 Articles •
NIH Halts Federal Funding for Fetal Tissue Research
L 17%
Center 48%
Right 35%
What happened: The National Institutes of Health announced last Thursday it will immediately stop funding research using human fetal tissue from elective abortions, affecting 77 projects totaling $53 million in fiscal year 2024. The policy exempts previously established cell lines like HEK 293 and allows some ongoing projects to continue if funds are rebudgeted for alternative research methods.
Why it matters: Scientists warn the ban will set back critical research on HIV, cancer, brain development, and autism that cannot be fully replicated with alternatives like organoids. The policy reverses Biden-era protections and expands first-term Trump restrictions, with NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya citing cost stewardship and alternative technologies as justification despite concerns from researchers about losing irreplaceable insights into human development.
Daily Briefing
Pentagon pushes North Korea deterrence to South Korea; Artemis II goes forward; Bangladesh elections loom
69 Articles •
Israel Launches Major Operation to Recover Last Hostage
Left 31%
Center 46%
R 23%
What happened: The IDF launched a large-scale ground operation over the weekend in a northern Gaza cemetery to recover the remains of Sgt. First Class Ran Gvili, the last hostage. Specialized teams including rabbis and dental experts with portable X-ray units are searching among hundreds of bodies in the Shujaiyya-Daraj Tuffah area near the Yellow Line.
Why it matters: Finding Gvili's remains would remove the final obstacle to opening the Rafah crossing and advancing to the ceasefire's second phase, which includes Gaza reconstruction and potential Hamas disarmament. The Trump administration has been pressuring both sides to move forward, with U.S. envoys meeting Netanyahu yesterday to discuss next steps.
65% of sources are Original Reporting
71 Articles •
Obamas Condemn Minneapolis Shooting as Federal Tactics Face Scrutiny
Left 33%
Center 49%
R 18%
What happened: Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama issued a statement Sunday condemning the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, by Border Patrol agents during protests in Minneapolis on Saturday. Bystander videos show Pretti holding a phone and stepping between agents and a woman before being pepper-sprayed, disarmed of a concealed weapon he was licensed to carry, and shot approximately 10 times.
Why it matters: The Obamas warned that core American values are under assault, criticizing masked federal agents for using tactics designed to intimidate residents and noting this is the second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by immigration agents in Minneapolis within weeks. Federal authorities have blocked state investigators from the scene despite a judicial warrant, sparking a legal battle over control of the investigation and raising concerns about accountability in your community.
73% of sources are Original Reporting
24 Articles •
Scientists Split on Whether Warming Arctic Drives Polar Vortex Events
Left 25%
Center 67%
8%
What happened: Winter Storm Fern is bringing Arctic air, heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain across much of the U.S. this week, threatening over 160 million Americans from Texas to New England. The storm is driven by a stretched stratospheric polar vortex that pushed cold air southward, with National Weather Service warnings issued yesterday and forecasts showing hazardous conditions through Sunday.
Why it matters: Scientists debate whether rapid Arctic warming is increasing polar vortex disruptions that send severe cold snaps southward, creating a paradox where climate change may intensify winter storms in some regions. Understanding this connection affects forecasting accuracy and climate research funding, while the immediate storm threatens hazardous travel, dangerous wind chills and power outages lasting several days.
Blindspot: Low Coverage from Right Sources
83% of sources are Original Reporting
231 Articles •
Iran Crackdown Death Toll May Exceed 36,000, Leaked Documents Show
Left 28%
Center 44%
Right 28%
What happened: The UN Human Rights Council voted on January 23 to extend its investigation into Iran's deadly crackdown on protests that began December 28, with official tolls at 3,117 dead but rights groups estimating between 5,000 and 20,000 killed. The resolution, backed by at least 50 countries, extends the mandate by two years and launches an urgent probe to gather evidence for potential future legal proceedings.
Why it matters: Iran's nationwide internet blackout, now in its third week, has cost the country up to $37 million daily and left millions isolated from the outside world, unable to work or access basic services. The UN investigation could set the stage for future accountability and international legal proceedings, while Iranian authorities have threatened no leniency for thousands detained, raising fears of mass executions.
23 Articles •
Brazil Grants Visa-Free Entry to Chinese Citizens, Sparking Travel Surge
Left 64%
C 18%
R 18%
What happened: Brazil announced this week it will waive short-stay visas for Chinese citizens covering tourism, business, family visits, academic exchanges and transit for up to 30 days, following a January 22 phone call between Presidents Lula and Xi. No effective date has been published yet, and the policy is not currently in force.
Why it matters: Brazil framed the move as reciprocity after China granted visa-free entry to Brazilians in 2025, while American travelers still must obtain visas to enter Brazil since April 2025. The waiver could boost Chinese tourism, which grew 34% to 94,400 visitors in 2025, and reduce costs for companies deploying Chinese executives and technicians.
Blindspot: Low Coverage from Right Sources
91% of sources are Original Reporting
13 Articles •
House Democrats Propose QR Code Identification for ICE Officers
Left 50%
Center 40%
10%
The details: Representatives Ritchie Torres, Darren Soto, and Shri Thanedar introduced the Quick Recognition Act this week, requiring ICE and CBP officers to wear scannable QR codes during enforcement operations. The codes would link to a DHS page displaying officer names, badge numbers, agencies, active status, photos, and complaint counts, along with a secure complaint form.
Why it matters: The bill responds to heightened enforcement and recent fatal shootings, including the Minneapolis killing of Renee Good, aiming to increase transparency during enforcement encounters. With 52 percent of Americans disapproving of ICE's job performance and support for abolishing ICE rising from 19 to 43 percent since last year, the measure addresses growing public demands for accountability, though it faces only a 2 percent chance of enactment.
Blindspot: Low Coverage from Right Sources
85% of sources are Original Reporting
62% of sources are High Factuality
139 Articles •
NIH Halts Federal Funding for Fetal Tissue Research
L 17%
Center 48%
Right 35%
What happened: The National Institutes of Health announced last Thursday it will immediately stop funding research using human fetal tissue from elective abortions, affecting 77 projects totaling $53 million in fiscal year 2024. The policy exempts previously established cell lines like HEK 293 and allows some ongoing projects to continue if funds are rebudgeted for alternative research methods.
Why it matters: Scientists warn the ban will set back critical research on HIV, cancer, brain development, and autism that cannot be fully replicated with alternatives like organoids. The policy reverses Biden-era protections and expands first-term Trump restrictions, with NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya citing cost stewardship and alternative technologies as justification despite concerns from researchers about losing irreplaceable insights into human development.