Zelenskiy Awaits U.S. Details as Ukraine Prepares for Possible Peace Talks Next Week 
Syria-Kurdish Ceasefire Marks Historic Step Toward National Unity 
Trump Orders DHS to Avoid Protests in Democratic Cities Unless Federal Assets Are Threatened 
Why Trump’s new pick for Fed chair hit gold and silver markets – for good reasons 
U.S. and El Salvador Sign Landmark Critical Minerals Agreement to Boost Investment and Trade 
U.S. Government Enters Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
Faith Leaders Arrested on Capitol Hill During Protest Against Trump Immigration Policies and ICE Funding 
Keir Starmer Urges Prince Andrew to Testify in U.S. Epstein Investigation 
Democrats Question Intelligence Chief’s Role in FBI Georgia Election Raid 
Minnesota Judge Rejects Bid to Halt Trump Immigration Enforcement in Minneapolis 
Trump’s Iraq Envoy Mark Savaya Ousted Amid U.S.-Iraq Tensions Over Iran Influence 
Putin Envoy Kirill Dmitriev to Visit Miami for Talks With Trump Administration Officials 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
Trump Says Fed Pick Kevin Warsh Could Win Democratic Support in Senate Confirmation 
Pierre Poilievre Retains Conservative Leadership After Election Defeat in Canada 
U.S. Approves Over $6.5 Billion in Military Sales to Israel Across Three Defense Contracts 
Trump Family Files $10 Billion Lawsuit Over IRS Tax Disclosure 
Several lawsuits that former President Donald Trump is currently facing are related to the insurrection last January 6. In response to an insurrection-related lawsuit filed against him by Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, Trump defended his actions, claiming that he had immunity as the president at the time.
Trump’s attorney defended the former president’s speech that took place hours before the violence that occurred at the Capitol during a joint session of Congress. Trump’s team said that the now-former president is protected by the First Amendment and that because he was still the president at the time, he has immunity against the suit. This also marks the first time Trump has formally defended his actions in court since the insurrection.
The former president also argues at the DC District Court that he had a “constitutionally protected act of the presidency” to encourage his supporters to oppose the election results being formally certified by Congress. To note, five people were killed in the insurrection with over 100 Capitol Police officers getting injured. The supporters were also revealed to have been targeting and threatening top Democrats and vice president Mike Pence, whom they threatened to have hanged.
“While holding that office, former President Trump was free to advocate for the appointment and certification of electors, just as he was entitled to advocate for the passage or defeat of a constitutional amendment, or the reconsideration of a congressional act over his veto even though the President does not directly participate in those congressional acts,” said Trump’s attorney Jesse Binnall. “The claims against former President Trump directly contravene the absolute immunity conveyed on the President by the Constitution as a key principle of separation of powers.”
Trump’s attorneys also went on to say that Swalwell cannot sue because the House has already impeached Trump and went through the Senate trial.
In other news, Newsweek has reported that a former adviser to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson alleged that Trump used the CIA to outbid other countries for Personal Protective Equipment such as masks and medical gowns at the height of the ongoing pandemic. Newsweek’s Brendan Cole cited that Dominic Cummings, a former adviser to Johnson, made the claims during a joint committee hearing in the UK that would review the country’s COVID-19 response.
Despite the claims, the US was known to have struggled to distribute PPE to professionals during the first wave of COVID-19 in the country.
