Elisa Ballard

On January 3, 2026, U.S. forces conducted a large-scale strike in Caracas, Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in a dramatic operation tied to narcoterrorism charges; President Trump announced the U.S. would "run" or exert control over Venezuela temporarily, sparking global condemnation from China, Cuba (which mourned 32 killed Cuban fighters), and others, while triggering protests...

The Department of Health and Human Services put out a press release on January 5th announcing the reduction in the number of recommended childhood vaccines, aligning more with peer nations. All vaccines under the old schedule will be still be available. Certain vaccines will only be recommended for high risk groups or populations and other vaccines will fall under "shared clinical decision-making", allowing for flexibility based on needs to reduce unnecessary exposure to adjuvants.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has emerged as one of the nation's most aggressive defenders of undocumented immigrants, using the power of his office—and millions in taxpayer dollars—to shield non-citizens from federal enforcement while ensuring their access to state and federal benefits funded largely by California residents. Since taking office in 2021 and winning election in 2022, Bonta has filed dozens of lawsuits against the federal government, with a sharp escalation in 2025.