Month: January 2026

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar announced Thursday that she is running for governor of Minnesota, launching a high-profile campaign at a moment of political upheaval and heightened tension in the state. Her decision follows Gov. Tim Walz’s unexpected move earlier this month to abandon his bid for a third term, opening the door to a wide-open contest.

Klobuchar posted on social media: “Minnesotans, we’ve been through a lot. And I believe this moment calls for grit, resilience, and faith in each other. I believe we must stand up for what’s right. And fix what’s wrong. Today, I’m announcing my candidacy for Governor.”  She went on to say in a video message: “These times call for leaders who can stand up and not be rubber stamps of this administration, but who are also willing to find common ground and fix things in our state.” Framing her bid as a call for steady leadership, Klobuchar said Minnesota needs someone who can restore confidence, protect public safety, and confront federal overreach without deepening political divisions. “I like my job in the Senate,” she said, “but I love our state more than any job.”

Klobuchar’s announcement comes during a period of intense strain in Minnesota, fueled by an aggressive federal immigration enforcement effort and a series of violent incidents that have shaken communities statewide. In recent weeks, two Minnesotans — Renee Good and Alex Pretti — were fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis, triggering protests and renewed scrutiny of immigration tactics. Klobuchar has repeatedly criticized the surge of federal officers, saying ICE is “making us less safe” and calling its operations deeply troubling.

Klobuchar – a four-term senator (first elected to the Senate in 2006) and former Hennepin County attorney – enters the race as the dominant Democratic contender. No major rivals from her party have stepped forward, and her long record of statewide victories is expected to discourage challengers. If elected, Klobuchar would become Minnesota’s first female governor. Her departure from the Senate would allow the sitting governor to appoint a temporary replacement until a special election is held. She is not up for Senate reelection until 2030.

In her launch video, Klobuchar referenced the state’s recent hardships, including  a mass shooting at a Minneapolis-area church last summer, and the assassination of former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband. Klobuchar also pledged to confront alleged fraud in state programs, an issue that contributed to Walz’s withdrawal from the race. Investigations into a massive child care and nonprofit fraud scheme — centered on Feeding Our Future — have drawn national attention and fueled political attacks from the Trump administration. Klobuchar said she would aggressively pursue accountability, vowing to ensure “the people who steal taxpayer money go to jail” and promising to overhaul state systems to prevent future abuse.

The governor’s race is shaping up to be competitive. Republicans already face a crowded primary field that includes former state senator Scott Jensen, MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, House Speaker Lisa Demuth, Rep. Kristin Robbins, and businessman Kendall Qualls. Minnesota has not elected a Republican governor in nearly 20 years, but GOP leaders see an opening amid the state’s recent turmoil.

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The Senate failed to advance a government spending package on Thursday, pushing the federal government closer to a partial shutdown set to begin just after midnight Friday. Democrats blocked a package of six spending bills, as the White House worked on a deal to separate funding for the Department of Homeland Security from other departments.

The procedural vote to move the legislation forward failed 45–55, well short of the 60 votes required. While all Democrats voted against advancing the measure, several Republicans also broke ranks. Senate Majority Leader John Thune voted “no” as a procedural move that allows him to bring the measure back up if negotiations produce a deal.

At the center of the impasse is funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats are demanding major reforms to immigration enforcement agencies following two fatal shootings in Minnesota involving federal agents — the death of Renee Good earlier this month and the killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti over the weekend. Those incidents intensified calls to separate DHS funding from the broader package so changes could be negotiated without risking shutdowns at other federal agencies.

Democratic leaders want the five remaining bills — which cover funding for the military, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Head Start, and several cabinet departments — passed immediately, while DHS would receive only short-term funding. That temporary extension would allow time for negotiations on reforms aimed at tightening oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.

Among Democrats’ demands are ending roving patrols, restricting agents from wearing masks, requiring body cameras, tightening warrant rules, and holding federal agents to the same use-of-force standards as state and local law enforcement. “Until ICE is properly reined in and overhauled legislatively, the DHS funding bill doesn’t have the votes to pass,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said.

While Democratic leaders expressed cautious optimism, White House officials were more reserved, and no formal deal had been announced by late Thursday. President Trump said he was hopeful a prolonged shutdown could be avoided, noting that talks were “getting close.” Even if an agreement is finalized in the Senate, a brief partial shutdown appears likely. Any revised funding package would need approval from the House, which is in recess until Monday. That timing means some agencies could begin shutdown procedures over the weekend, though the practical effects would be limited.

With Republicans holding 53 Senate seats, at least seven Democratic votes are needed to advance the legislation. Thune acknowledged the difficulty of navigating changes that would also need to pass the House, where some conservatives have warned they could oppose a revised DHS bill.

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Two federal officers involved in the fatal shooting of Minneapolis ICU nurse Alex Pretti have been placed on administrative leave while investigations continue. The decision follows an internal review by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and contradicts earlier statements suggesting the agents had remained on duty in another city for safety reasons.

Pretti, 37, was shot and killed on Saturday during an encounter with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Border Patrol agents who were conducting enforcement actions as part of Operation Metro Surge near Nicollet Avenue and 25th Street. DHS said the temporary leave is standard protocol after an officer-involved shooting and “should not be viewed as any suspicion of wrongdoing.”

According to a preliminary DHS report sent to Congress, two officers discharged their agency-issued Glock pistols after a brief struggle. During the encounter, an agent repeatedly shouted, “He’s got a gun!” before shots were fired roughly five seconds later. Investigators have not confirmed whether bullets from both officers struck Pretti.

Homeland Security officials said early statements describing Pretti as a potential mass attacker were based on chaotic initial reports. “The initial statement was based on reports from CBP from a very chaotic scene on the ground. That’s precisely why an investigation is underway and DHS will let the facts lead the investigation,” a spokesperson said.

Federal officials said the confrontation began after officers tried to clear civilians from the roadway amid protests and whistle-blowing demonstrators. After pepper spray was used, agents attempted to detain Pretti, who resisted, leading to a brief struggle. Following the shooting, agents provided emergency medical aid until paramedics arrived. Pretti was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later at Hennepin County Medical Center.

Minnesota officials stated that Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry and no criminal history. Video footage reviewed by multiple news outlets appears to show him holding a phone in one hand and nothing in the other immediately before he was shot. Additional footage indicates that an officer retrieved a firearm from Pretti’s waistband just moments before gunfire erupted. The report does not mention Pretti attacking officers or pointing a weapon.

A federal judge has ordered authorities to preserve all evidence after state investigators were initially blocked from accessing the scene. Both DHS and CBP are conducting separate investigations, and the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office has yet to release autopsy results.

The shooting of Pretti follows another fatal encounter earlier this month, when 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was shot by an immigration officer. In response, Democratic leaders called for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s resignation “The country is disgusted by what the Department of Homeland Security has done,” House Democratic Reps. Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, and Pete Aguilar said in a joint statement. “Kristi Noem should be fired immediately,” they added, “or we will commence impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives.”

The CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility, which handles serious misconduct and criminal allegations, is leading the internal inquiry. Officials emphasized that the preliminary report outlines known facts but does not represent final conclusions.

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Amazon announced Wednesday it will eliminate about 16,000 positions across the company, marking its second major round of layoffs in three months as it continues to streamline operations and invest heavily in artificial intelligence.

In a memo to employees, Beth Galetti, Amazon’s senior vice president of people experience and technology, said the cuts aim to simplify the organization by reducing management layers, increasing ownership, and cutting bureaucracy. “The reductions we are making today will impact approximately 16,000 roles across Amazon, and we’re again working hard to support everyone whose role is impacted,” she wrote.

Most affected U.S.-based employees will receive 90 days to seek other roles within the company. Those who cannot find new positions will be offered severance pay, job placement assistance, and continued health benefits. Galetti said Amazon will keep hiring in strategic areas essential to its long-term growth, adding that the company does not plan to make broad layoffs a routine practice, but teams will continue adjusting staffing as business needs evolve. CEO Andy Jassy has said efficiency gains from generative AI are likely to reduce corporate headcount in coming years, following Amazon’s rapid hiring during the pandemic.

The move follows October’s layoffs of 14,000 corporate workers, bringing total cuts since then to roughly 30,000 — about 10% of Amazon’s corporate and technology workforce. Some reductions will impact divisions such as Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios.

Amazon, which employs about 1.55 million people worldwide, has cut more than 27,000 jobs since 2022 and continues to reshape its business, including closing its Amazon Fresh grocery and cashierless Go stores. The company is redirecting resources toward AI and large-scale data center expansion, with capital spending projected to reach $125 billion in 2026.

The announcement comes amid widespread corporate layoffs as companies pursue efficiency and automation in a slower hiring environment. Firms including Pinterest, Microsoft, Meta, Target, and UPS have recently announced workforce reductions as they pivot toward higher-margin and AI-driven operations.

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