Unbiased Rundown: January 16, 2025
Threats of the Insurrection Act, a Nuclear Reactor on the Moon, a Massive Verizon Outage, and More.
Senate Republicans blocked a war powers resolution that would have limited President Trump’s authority to conduct military action against Venezuela. Two GOP senators reversed their earlier support, and Vice President Vance ultimately broke a 50–50 tie to defeat the measure.
The Trump administration has suspended visa issuances for applicants from 75 countries. The administration says the move is aimed at limiting entry by individuals likely to rely on public benefits. The pause does not apply to those seeking temporary visas.
President Trump is threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota following unrest after the killing of Renee Good. Under normal circumstances, U.S. military forces cannot be used for domestic law enforcement, but the Insurrection Act provides an exception.
ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan has resigned to run for Congress in Ohio. Sheahan is seeking election in Ohio’s 9th District, challenging Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, who has represented the district since 1983.
The Senate has cleared a three-bill spending package, sending it to the president’s desk for signature. The package funds the Departments of Justice, Interior, Commerce, and Energy, as well as the EPA, through the end of the current fiscal year. Congress still has six remaining appropriations bills to pass before January 30.
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Verizon says it has resolved a nationwide service outage that affected hundreds of thousands of customers. Verizon says affected customers will receive a $20 account credit to provide some relief.
Saks Global has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company says it has secured $1.75 billion in new financing, plans to restructure its debt, continue paying employees and vendors, and adapt its business as shoppers increasingly move away from department stores.
NASA and the Department of Energy announced plans to develop a nuclear reactor for the moon by 2030. A new memorandum of understanding outlines efforts to design and deploy a long-duration lunar surface reactor to support sustained lunar operations and future exploration.
Spotify is increasing the price of its Premium subscription by $1 per month for U.S. users. Starting in February, the monthly cost will rise from $11.99 to $12.99. Spotify last raised prices in June 2024.
The average interest rate on a conventional mortgage in the U.S. has dropped to a three-year low. Freddie Mac reports the current average rate at 6.06%. One year ago, the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage was 7.04%.
Actor Kiefer Sutherland was arrested on allegations of assaulting and threatening a rideshare driver. Police say the incident occurred early Monday after the driver refused to let Sutherland cancel the ride. Sutherland was released on $50,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 2.
Comedian Pete Davidson announced a new podcast titled The Pete Davidson Show. The weekly podcast will air exclusively on Netflix beginning Friday, January 30. It will be filmed primarily in Davidson’s garage and feature conversations with friends.
Actor Timothy Busfield turned himself in to authorities following allegations of sexual abuse. Busfield was booked on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. He is being held without bail, and his attorney has denied the allegations on his behalf.
Matthew McConaughey is trademarking his famous phrase, “alright, alright, alright.” He says the trademarks are intended to help prevent the unauthorized use of his voice or likeness by artificial intelligence. McConaughey has had eight trademark applications approved in recent months.
Harry Styles announced his first album in four years. Titled Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, the album will feature 12 songs and is set for release on March 6. Styles’ previous album, Harry’s House, won Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
A new report shows that cancer survival rates in the U.S. are improving. According to a January 13 report from the American Cancer Society, 70 percent of patients now live at least five years after diagnosis, up from 50 percent in the mid-1970s.
At least 171 measles cases have been confirmed across nine U.S. states so far in 2026, according to the CDC. Most cases involve unvaccinated individuals, with ongoing outbreaks in South Carolina and Utah.
A new study shows that vaccine exemptions for religious or personal beliefs have increased among U.S. children entering kindergarten. Exemption rates rose from 0.6% in the 2010–2011 school year to 3.1% in 2023–2024. More than half of U.S. counties reported higher non-medical exemption rates after the pandemic, with some exceeding 20%.
A new bill will allow schools to now serve whole and 2% milk in addition to low-fat and fat-free options. The legislation reverses previous USDA rules on milk fat content and permits nutritionally equivalent nondairy alternatives.
President Trump announced the Great Healthcare Plan. The plan aims to lower drug prices, reduce insurance premiums, hold insurance companies accountable, and increase price transparency. Most of the proposed actions would require legislation passed by Congress.
The Pentagon is redirecting a carrier strike group as tensions escalate between the U.S. and Iran. The group is moving from the South China Sea to the U.S. Central Command area, which includes the Middle East.
Denmark and the U.S. have agreed to form a working group to address diplomatic differences. The move follows talks between Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and senior Danish officials. After the meetings, a Danish official said a “fundamental disagreement” with President Trump over Greenland remains.
South Korean prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for former President Yoon. Yoon is on trial for allegedly leading an insurrection in December 2024. Prosecutors argue his actions threatened the constitutional order. The court is scheduled to issue a ruling on Feb. 19.
Japan and the Philippines have signed a defense pact. The agreement will allow the tax-free exchange of ammunition, fuel, food, and other supplies during joint military training. The agreement comes amid rising concerns over China’s regional aggression and still requires approval from Japan’s legislature.
The U.S. announced that the Israel-Gaza ceasefire would advance to a second phase. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the announcement as a “declarative move.” One day later, Israeli strikes in Gaza killed nine people.
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Contributor: Colette Lorge
It's insane to see things such as MM needing to trademark phrases like "alright, alright, alright" as some defense against AI. We need regulation on what AI can and cannot do. As an artist, it pains me to see how much "AI artists" are getting away with. I recently just listened to an "artist" that copied majority of the vocal track of an artist I actually listened to. The only difference was the beat... and only slightly.
The lunar nuclear reactor development is probably the most undercovered story here. A fission reactor on the moon by 2030 solves the baseline power problem that solar can't handle during the two-week lunar night. That 1.75 MW target makes sense for sustained habitation infrastructure, but the real challenge isn't just deployment, its maintaining reactor operations in lunar regolith and managing waste heat rejection without an atmosphere. I worked adjacent to space nuclear systems a few years back, the engineering constraints are wild compared to terrestrial reactors.