When you need a detector in your food allergy toolbox, get David Rancken’s App Of The Day. It’s called Soosee. You can find Soosee in the Apple Store and Google Play below.
Oath Keepers, Proud Boys leaders out of prison after Trump Jan. 6 pardons
(WASHINGTON) -- Enrique Tarrio, the former head of the Proud Boys, and Stewart Rhodes, the head of the Oath Keepers, were released Tuesday from prison following President Donald Trump's sweeping pardon of those convicted in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
They were serving 22- and 18-year sentences, respectively, for their roles in the riot.
Four years after they raided the Capitol, threatened Congress members and assaulted police officers, a group of some of the Jan. 6 rioters convicted of the most violent incidents that day are now free men thanks to Trump.
Other convicted members were scheduled to be released throughout the day from Washington, D.C. area, jails and prisons.
Of the nearly 1,600 individuals who have faced charges associated with the Capitol attack, according to figures released by the U.S. Attorney's Office, 608 individuals faced charges for assaulting, resisting or interfering with law enforcement trying to protect the complex that day, the office said. Approximately 140 law enforcement officers were injured during the riot, the Department of Justice has said.
A federal judge sentenced Rhodes in May 2023 after he was convicted of seditious conspiracy the year prior for his and his group's role in the riot. The Oath Keepers had stockpiled weapons at a D.C. hotel and organized the attack, according to prosecutors.
Rhodes himself did not enter the Capitol on Jan. 6 and maintained that his group only intended to provide security and medical aid to those attending multiple pro-Trump demonstrations in the area, prosecutors said.
Tarrio was sentenced in September 2023 for his conviction on seditious conspiracy and given the longest sentence of all of the convicted Jan. 6 rioters, though he was not at the Capitol on Jan. 6.
During his sentencing, prosecutors pointed to a nine-page strategic plan to "storm" government buildings in Washington on Jan. 6 that was found in Tarrio's possession after the riot, as well as violent rhetoric they say he routinely used in messages with other members of the group about what they would do if Congress moved forward in certifying President Joe Biden's election win.
As more of the rioters were released from jails and prisons, a group of Trump supporters, Proud Boys members and others gathered and cheered them on as they were released.
The group carried large flagpoles with Trump and American flags attached and signage that read, "no man left behind" and "pardon all j6 hostages day one."
Current and former DOJ officials have expressed alarm over the potential that Trump would hand down pardons -- or otherwise free -- violent offenders, citing the potential risk they could seek to target the prosecutors who oversaw their cases, the judges who sentenced them to periods of incarceration, or witnesses who may have testified against them.
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Donald and Melania Trump crypto tokens plummet
(NEW YORK) -- Cryptocurrencies affiliated with President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump plummeted in the initial hours after Trump was sworn into office Monday.
"Official Trump," a recently launched crypto token, plunged more than 20% in value over a 24-hour stretch ending Tuesday morning, according to crypto tracking site CoinGecko. After the drop, Official Trump stood at $38.
The decline for Trump's meme coin reverses some of the gains enjoyed in an initial surge after it hit crypto markets last week. The coin's price climbed from about $10 on Saturday morning to a high of about $74.59 before it began to slide.
"Melania Meme," which also launched last week, dropped in value by more than half over a 24-hour timespan ending on Tuesday morning, CoinGecko data showed. The price of the Melania Meme was $4.19 on Tuesday morning.
The recent decline for the coins associated with Trump and Melania coincided with a slight drop for bitcoin, the world's largest cryptocurrency. In early trading on Tuesday, bitcoin fell nearly one percentage point, putting its price at $102,853.
Many digital assets have climbed since Trump won the November election, indicating investor enthusiasm about declarations Trump made in support of cryptocurrency.
In July, Trump told the audience at a cryptocurrency conference in Nashville, Tennessee, that he wanted to turn the U.S. into the "crypto capital of the planet."
Trump also has promised to ease regulations for the sector and establish the federal government's first National Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
On Monday, Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler officially resigned from his position, marking the departure long-sought by some crypto boosters who viewed Gensler as overly restrictive toward digital assets.
There have been reports that Trump would sign an executive action that would prioritize cryptocurrency policy. However, no such order was among the dozens of actions Trump signed
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Marco Rubio is sworn in as secretary of state, discusses foreign conflict to make America ‘safe’ and ‘prosperous’
(WASHINGTON) -- After taking the oath of office to be sworn in as the nation's 72nd secretary of state, Rubio promised that every action taken by the State Department will be determined by the answers to three questions: "Does it make us stronger? Does it make us safer? And does it make us more prosperous?"
The Senate unanimously confirmed Rubio's appointment to secretary of state Monday evening, making Rubio the first confirmed Cabinet member of the second Trump administration.
Rubio also gave remarks in Spanish, giving thanks to God and his family members both present and not present -- including his parents, who he said came to the United States in 1956 and that the purpose of their lives was that their children could realize dreams that were not possible for them.
Rubio, a Cuban American son of refugees, is the first Hispanic American ever to hold this position.
"It's an incredible honor to be the secretary of state of the most powerful, best country in the world," he continued in Spanish, thanking President Donald Trump for the opportunity.
Switching back to English, Rubio joked, "I just said I saved a bunch of money by switching to Geico -- that's what I said."
The former senator also echoed themes from Trump's inaugural address and reiterated the president's platform.
"[Trump's] primary promise when it comes to foreign policy is that the priority of the United States Department of State will be the United States. It will be furthering the national interest of this country," Rubio said.
"We will work hard every second of the day to help him achieve the agenda the American people have given him to achieve," he added.
In addition to thanking his former colleagues, including Vice President J.D. Vance and Idaho Sen. James Risch, Rubio expressed gratitude to his family and emphasized that "the most important job I'll ever have is that of a father and husband."
Rubio told State Department employees later Tuesday that he wanted the department to "be where it belongs -- I want the Department of State to be at the center of how America engages the world."
"There will be changes. But the changes are not meant to be destructive," Rubio added. "They're not meant to be punitive, they're not -- the changes will be because we need to be a 21st century agency that can move, by a cliché that's used by many, at the speed of relevancy. But we need to move faster than we ever have because the world is changing faster."
Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony Tuesday morning, Rubio spoke with CBS and was asked about Trump's statement that he is "not confident" the ceasefire in Gaza will hold.
"Well, I'm hoping and praying it will hold -- but remember, on Oct. 6 there was a ceasefire in place between Israel and Hamas. Oct. 7 was a violation of that," Rubio said. "So when you're dealing with a terrorist organization that has committed atrocities, motivated by all kinds of evil, I don't think you can go into it very confident that things will hold in the long term.
"We want it to work out. We think there is the broader hope of a peace in the region," he added. "So we're hopeful, but I think we need to be realistic about what we're dealing with here."
Rubio also spoke with ABC's "Good Morning America" and discussed Trump's pardons for Jan. 6 rioters, TikTok and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Rubio sidestepped directly weighing on the pardons, saying his "focus needs to be 100% on how I interact with our counterparts, our adversaries, our potential enemies around the world to keep this country safe, to make it prosperous."
When asked about Trump's campaign pledge to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine on Day One, Rubio contended the matter is more complex and that negotiations will not be played out in public.
"Look, this is a complex, tragic conflict, one that was started by Vladimir Putin that's inflicted a tremendous amount of damage on Ukraine and also on Russia, I would argue, but also on the stability of Europe," Rubio said. "So the only way to solve these things, we got to get back to pragmatism, but we also get back to seriousness here, and that is the hard work of diplomacy. The U.S. has a role to play here. We've been supportive of Ukraine, but this conflict has to end."
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Trevor Noah returning to host Grammys
Trevor Noah is returning to host the Grammys.
It marks his fifth consecutive year emceeing the show. He’s also a producer on the broadcast.
A press release states the ceremony will “carry a renewed sense of purpose” this year in light of the LA wildfires. It will raise funds to support fire relief efforts, as well as honor fire responders.
The 67th annual Grammy Awards will air from the Crypto.com Arena in LA on Feb. 2 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.
Beyoncé leads the nominees with 11 nods.
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Judge blocks DOJ from sharing Jack Smith’s classified docs report with members of Congress
(WASHINGTON) -- The federal judge who oversaw Donald Trump's classified documents case has blocked the Department of Justice from sharing special counsel Jack Smith's final report on his probe with select members of Congress.
Judge Aileen Cannon, in an order issued one day after Trump's inauguration, offered a scathing criticism of the Department of Justice's "startling" conduct and willingness to "gamble" with the rights of Trump's former co-defendants by attempting to allow four members of Congress to review Smith's final report as directed by DOJ policy.
"Prosecutors play a special role in our criminal justice system and are entrusted and expected to do justice," Cannon wrote. "The Department of Justice's position on Defendants' Emergency Motion ... has not been faithful to that obligation."
Trump pleaded not guilty in June 2023 to 37 criminal counts related to his handling of classified materials, after prosecutors said he repeatedly refused to return hundreds of documents containing classified information. The former president, along with his longtime aide Walt Nauta and staffer Carlos De Oliveira, also pleaded not guilty in a superseding indictment to allegedly attempting to delete surveillance footage at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate.
Judge Cannon dismissed the case in July based on the constitutionality of Smith's appointment, and Smith dropped Trump from his appeal of the case after the election due to a longstanding Department of Justice policy prohibiting the prosecution of a sitting president -- but the Justice Department appealed the dismissal of the case against Nauta and De Oliveira.
Cannon, in her ruling issued Tuesday, criticized prosecutors for being willing to release sensitive court materials -- including material pursuant to grand jury subpoenas -- while the case against Trump's former co-defendants is ongoing.
"In short, the Department offers no valid justification for the purportedly urgent desire to release to members of Congress case information in an ongoing criminal proceeding," Cannon wrote.
Cannon expressed concern that the report, if shown to members of Congress, could be leaked publicly and prevent Trump's former co-defendants from having a fair trial.
"This Court lacks any means to enforce any proffered conditions of confidentiality, to the extent they even exist in memorialized form. And most fundamentally, the Department has offered no valid reason to engage in this gamble with the Defendants' rights," the order said.
Cannon's order remains in effect at least 30 days after the case proceedings conclude, at which point the Justice Department can advise the court about their position on the order.
The DOJ's new leadership under the Trump is not expected to press for the report's release, making it unlikely that the report will ever see the light of day.
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Trump renames Gulf of Mexico to ‘Gulf of America’ among 1st executive orders
(WASHINGTON) -- Among the first executive orders signed by President Donald Trump was an order to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the newly named "Gulf of America."
"President Trump is bringing common sense to government and renewing the pillars of American civilization," the newly inaugurated president's executive order said.
Trump also called for Alaska’s 20,000-foot mountain, Denali, to be reverted back to Mount McKinley, which was its name before former President Barack Obama had it changed in 2015.
Trump's executive order calls for the U.S. secretary of the interior to change the names on federal maps.
He has appointed former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum for the position.
During his January press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump declared he would change the name, saying the gulf is currently run by cartels and that "it's ours."
"We're going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring that covers a lot of territory, the Gulf of America," Trump said at the time. "What a beautiful name. And it's appropriate. It's appropriate. And Mexico has to stop allowing millions of people to pour into our country."
Presidents do have the authority to rename geographic regions and features, but it needs to be done via executive order.
The U.S. Board of Geographic Names typically has the jurisdiction for geographic names.
The Gulf of Mexico is one of the largest and most important bodies of water in North America. It's the ninth-largest body of water in the world and covers some 600,000 square miles.
Half of the U.S. petroleum refining and natural gas processing capacity is located along the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and it supplies about 40% of the nation's seafood, according to the Environmental Defense Fund.
Following Trump's inauguration on Monday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order on winter weather in the state that already refers to the gulf as the "Gulf of America."
While referring to a weather system that could impact the state beginning Tuesday, DeSantis' executive order said, "An area of low pressure moving across the Gulf of America, interacting with Arctic air, will bring widespread impactful winter weather to North Florida."
"For us and the whole world, it is still the Gulf of Mexico," Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday in a response to Trump's various decrees.
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New report says West Texas Oil companies leaked less methane. Environmentalists are skeptical.
ODESSA — Less methane escaped into the atmosphere from certain oil and gas equipment and oil wells in 2023, according to a report released earlier this month by an energy analytics firm that industry leaders promoted. Environmental experts said more information was needed.
Equipment used to find and produce crude oil, including those that control the pressure and flow of natural gas, pumps and pipes, leaked 25% less methane than in 2022. The report’s findings, published by S&P Global, a New York-based company, also included information on the methane leaking from the 162,000 oil wells, from which emissions also decreased.
The report focused only on the stage of oil production where companies search, drill and draw crude oil, known as upstream. Continue reading New report says West Texas Oil companies leaked less methane. Environmentalists are skeptical.
Trump 2nd term live updates: Capitol Police chief sends officers memo after pardons
(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump kicked off his second term with a flurry of executive actions on immigration, Jan. 6, health policy and more.
More orders are expected Tuesday amid fallout from his first moves, including his issuing pardons for more than a thousand rioters convicted in connection with the violent Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and his effort to end birthright citizenship.
Meanwhile, lawmakers will continue to question and process the president's Cabinet picks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been sworn in as other nominees, including Elise Stefanik for ambassador to the United Nations, face confirmation hearings.
Tech billionaires to visit White House, per source
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, OpenAI's Sam Altman and Oracle's Larry Ellison are expected to be at the White House Tuesday afternoon, according to a source familiar with the matter.
President Trump is set to announce $500 billion in private sector investment to build artificial intelligence infrastructure. It's a joint venture of three companies -- OpenAI, Softbank and Oracle -- collectively called Stargate.
Last month, Trump announced with SoftBank's Son in Mar-a-Lago that SoftBank would invest $100 billion in US projects over the next four years, creating 100,000 jobs. Those investments will focus on infrastructure that supports AI, including data centers, energy generation, and chips, according to a source.
The new announcement Tuesday has "overlap" with SoftBank's previous commitment of $100 billion, according to a source, who clarifies that this is not an entirely separate commitment.
– ABC's Selina Wang
Trump's 1st sit-down interview will air on Wednesday
President Donald Trump's first sit-down interview of his second term will be with Fox's Sean Hannity in the Oval Office.
It will air on Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET, the network announced.
During the interview, Trump will "discuss the executive orders he's signed thus far, his first 100 days in office and news of the day," according to the release from the news channel.
During his first term, Trump sat down with ABC News' David Muir for his first interview. That interview took place just five days after he was sworn into office in 2017.
-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart
Trump's tariff plans are still taking shape, despite pledges for Day 1 action
Tariffs were not in the executive orders Trump signed on Monday night and he suggested he’s still undecided on how far they might go -- which investors are reading as a good sign, reflected by the rallying market on Tuesday.
Trump said he was now targeting Feb. 1 as a potential target date for tariffs to take effect against Mexico and Canada, which he said could be as high as 25%. He said any plans for blanket tariffs are “not ready” just yet.
Trump has a history of using the threat of tariffs as a governing style.
Urging Mexico to crack down on border crossings in 2019, Trump threatened to slap a tariff on the country within 10 days through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) but relented after Mexico committed to specific measures.
-ABC's Cheyenne Haslett and Elizabeth Schulze
Capitol Police chief sends internal memo praising officers after Biden, Trump pardons
Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger sent an internal memo praising officers following the pardons made by President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden. The memo was obtained by ABC News Senior Political Correspondent Rachel Scott.
Manger said that "when there is no price to pay for violence against law enforcement, it sends a message that politics matter more than our first responders."
Manger cited the pardons from Trump for Jan. 6 rioters and from Biden for commuting the sentence of Leonard Peltier, a man convicted of the murder of two FBI agents in 1975.
"Police willingly put themselves in harm's way to protect our communities. When people attack law enforcement officers, the criminals should be met with consequences, condemnation and accountability," Manger said.
DOGE gets official government website
The page currently consists of a simple landing page displaying a logo featuring the iconic Shiba Inus from the original "doge" meme.
The official page comes after President Donald Trump's executive order on Monday night creating the now solely Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency. The order notably stated that the U.S. Digital Service (USDS) will be renamed the U.S. DOGE Service and placed under the Executive Office of the President.
DOGE will terminate on July 4, 2026, as Musk has previously detailed, and each agency in the Trump admin must create a DOGE Team, according to the order.
– ABC’s Will Steakin
Trump to meet with Republican leaders at White House
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House at 2 p.m., sources told ABC News.
At 3 p.m. ET, other GOP leaders from both chambers -- including Steve Scalise, Lisa McClain and John Barrasso -- will meet with Trump as well at the White House, sources said.
The White House has not yet formally released a schedule for Trump.
-ABC's Katherine Faulders, Rachel Scott, Lauren Peller and Allison Pecorin
Trump's 1st executive orders quickly face lawsuits
Eighteen states and the city of San Francisco filed a lawsuit challenging the president's executive order to cut off birthright citizenship Tuesday, calling it a "flagrantly unlawful attempt to strip hundreds of thousands American-born children of their citizenship based on their parentage."
The lawsuit accused Trump of seeking to eliminate a "well-established and longstanding Constitutional principle" by executive fiat.
A union representing thousands of federal employees also sued the Trump administration Monday evening over an executive order that makes it easier to fire career government employees, alleging the directive would violate the due process rights of its members.
"The Policy/Career Executive Order directs agencies to move numerous employees into a new excepted service category with the goal that many would then be fired," the lawsuit alleged.
– ABC News' Aaron Katersky and Peter Charalambous
Coast Guard commandant fired in part over DEI efforts: Source
Admiral Linda Fagan, who served as the Coast Guard Commandant and was the first woman to lead a U.S. armed forces branch, was "relieved of her duties" by Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Benjamine Huffman.
A source with knowledge of the decision said Fagan was fired in part because of her Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in the Coast Guard.
"She has served a long and illustrious career and I thank her for her service," according to a memo to the workforce obtained by ABC News.
Admiral Kevin Lunday is now acting commandant.
Trump promised to go after who he called "woke" generals in the military during his 2024 campaign. His nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has said he will follow through on that issue.
-ABC's Luke Barr
Reverend urges Trump to have 'mercy' on LGBTQ community, migrants
The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, during the prayer service at Washington National Cathedral, directed a message for President Donald Trump, who was seated in the front row.
"Let me make one final plea. Mr. President, millions have put their trust in you. And as you said, you have felt the providential hand of our loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now," she said.
Budde said there are LGBTQ citizens of all political creeds who now 'fear for their lives." She also referenced migrants who may not be in the U.S. legally but are devoted neighbors, workers and parents.
"Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were all once strangers in this land," she said.
Stefanik backs US withdrawing from WHO, pushes for UN reform
Rep. Elise Stefanik is facing senators for her confirmation hearing to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
The ideological divide between Republicans and Democrats over the utility of global organizations has taken center stage. Stefanik zeroed in on reform.
“Our tax dollars should not be complicit in propping up entities that are counter to American interests, antisemitic or engaging in fraud, corruption, or terrorism,” she said. “We must invest in programs to strengthen our national security and deliver results to increase the efficacy of U.N. programs. We must drive reform.”
She also defended Trump's decision to withdraw from another global body: the World Health Organization.
“I support President Trump's decision to walk away from WHO,” she said, arguing it had “failed on a global stage in the Covid pandemic for all the world to see, and instead spewed CCP talking points that I believe led to not only false information, but dangerous and deadly information across the globe.”
As Trump attends service, Episcopal Church leaders express concern about immigration actions
Episcopal Church leaders on Tuesday released a letter urging Trump to "exercise mercy" in his approach to immigration policy.
While the service Trump is currently attending incorporates many faiths, the National Cathedral itself is part of the Episcopal Diocese in Washington.
"Even as we gave thanks for a peaceful transfer of power, we learned from news reports that the new presidential administration has issued a series of executive orders that are a harbinger of President Trump’s pledge to deport undocumented immigrants at a historic scale, restrict asylum, and direct other immigration actions," the church leaders wrote in a letter.
"We read this news with concern and urge our new president and congressional leaders to exercise mercy and compassion, especially toward law-abiding, long-term members of our congregations and communities; parents and children who are under threat of separation in the name of immigration enforcement; and women and children who are vulnerable to abuse in detention and who fear reporting abuse to law enforcement."
Trump and Vance attend interfaith prayer service
President Trump and Vice President Vance are attending an interfaith prayer service at Washington National Cathedral.
It's the first public appearance for Trump since Monday night's inaugural festivities.
First lady Melania Trump, second lady Usha Vance and Trump's children are there as well.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican Rep. Mike Lawler are some of the lawmakers in attendance.
Trudeau responds to Trump tariff threats
Standing alongside his cabinet ministers, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed President Trump’s proposed tariffs, stating firmly that if the U.S. proceeds with the measure, Canada will not hesitate to respond in kind.
"Everything is on the table," Trudeau said adding, "We are prepared for every possible scenario."
ABC News' Aleem Agha
'For us and the whole world, it is still the Gulf of Mexico': Mexican president
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to Trump's various decrees issued after the inauguration in a point-by-point statement.
Sheinbaum said Trump's decrees concerning the emergency zone of the southern border and the Migrant Protection Protocols were no different than the orders made during Trump's first term.
"We will always act in the defence of our independence, the defense of our fellow nationals living in the U.S. We act within the framework of our constitution and laws. We always act with a cool head," she said in her statement.
Sheinbaum however pushed back on Trump's decree to rename the Gulf of Mexico.
"For us and the whole world, it is still the Gulf of Mexico," she said.
-ABC News' Anne Laurent and Will Gretsky
Rubio promises State Department will focus on making America 'stronger,' safer,' and 'more prosperous'
After being sworn in as the nation's 72nd secretary of state, Marco Rubio promised that every action taken by the department would be determined by the answer to three questions: "Does it make us stronger? Does it make us safer? And does it make us more prosperous?"
Rubio gave remarks in Spanish as well, giving thanks to God, his family present and not present, including his parents, who he said came to the U.S. in 1956 -- and that the purpose of their lives was that their children could realize dreams not possible for them.
"It's an incredible honor to be the secretary of state of the most powerful, best country in the world," he continued in Spanish, giving thanks to Trump for the opportunity.
Rubio also echoed themes from Trump's inaugural address and reiterated the president's agenda.
"As far as the task ahead, President Trump was elected to keep promises. And he is going to keep those promises. And his primary promise when it comes to foreign policy is that the priority of the United States Department of State will be the United States. It will be furthering the national interest of this country," Rubio said.
- ABC News' Shannon Kingston
Confirmation hearing begins for Trump’s VA pick
Doug Collins, Trump’s choice to lead the Veterans Affairs Department, will face questions from lawmakers as his confirmation hearing gets underway.
Collins, a former congressman, is a Navy veteran who currently serves as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command.
He was the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee during Trump’s first impeachment, and had defended the president.
Rubio is sworn in by JD Vance as secretary of state
After being unanimously confirmed by the Senate on Monday night, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was officially sworn in by Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday morning.
Rubio joined ABC’s “Good Morning America” ahead of the ceremony, where he discussed Trump’s pardons for Jan. 6 rioters, TikTok and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Rubio sidestepped directly weighing on the pardons, saying his “focus needs to be 100% on how I interact with our counterparts, our adversaries, our potential enemies around the world to keep this country safe, to make it prosperous.”
When asked about Trump’s campaign pledge to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine on Day 1, Rubio contended the matter is more complex and that negotiations would not be played out in public.
“Look this is a complex, tragic conflict, one that was started by Vladimir Putin that’s inflicted a tremendous amount of damage on Ukraine and also on Russia, I would argue, but also on the stability of Europe,” Rubio said. “So the only way to solve these things, we got to get back to pragmatism, but we also get back to seriousness here, and that is the hard work of diplomacy. The U.S. has a role to play here. We’ve been supportive of Ukraine, but this conflict has to end.”
White House signals Trump will make announcement on infrastructure
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said this morning that Trump will be making a a major announcement on infrastructure at 4 p.m. ET.
"I can confirm that the American people won't be hearing from me today," she wrote, indicating she would not hold a press briefing. "They'll be hearing from the leader of the free world," Leavitt said during an appearance on "Fox & Friends."
"Once again, President Trump will be speaking to the press later this afternoon at the White House, and we will have a big infrastructure announcement," she added.
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Rare winter storm is bringing heavy snow, sleet and ice to Texas
HOUSTON (AP) – A rare winter storm charging through Texas and the northern Gulf Coast on Tuesday has closed highways and airports and prompted the first blizzard warning for southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana.
The storm is expected to scatter heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain around the Deep South as a blast of Arctic air plunges much of the eastern U.S. into a deep freeze.
Nearly 2,000 flights within the U.S. or entering or leaving the country were canceled Tuesday with about 10,000 more flights delayed, according to online tracker FlightAware.com. In Texas, both Houston airports said that flight operations would be suspended starting Tuesday in expectation of hazardous conditions.
The East Coast endured a thick blanket of snow while people from the Northern Plains to the tip of Maine shivered in bitterly cold temperatures from the frigid arctic air mass that sent temperatures plunging well below normal. Dangerously cold wind chills were expected to persist through Tuesday morning.
Lakesha Reed, manager of Beaucoup Eats catering in New Orleans, had plans to fly out Tuesday to cook for a Mardi Gras-style event in the nation’s capital, but flights were canceled amid extreme cold. The 47-year-old New Orleans native said it was in the 30s early Monday afternoon in her port city, where near-freezing temperatures are rare.
“We can barely drive in the rain,” she said. “Last year, we wore shorts for Mardi Gras.”
Winter storm warnings extended from Texas to North Carolina on Tuesday, with heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain expected to move eastward through the region into Wednesday. Meanwhile, a state of emergency was declared Monday night across at least a dozen counties in New York as heavy lake-effect snow was expected around Lake Ontario and Lake Erie through Wednesday — with 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 centimeters) possible — along with extreme cold temperatures.
Snow on the Gulf Coast
Ahead of the storm, governors in Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, declared states of emergency and many school systems canceled classes Tuesday.
The blizzard warning in effect until midday Tuesday was the first issued by the office in Lake Charles, Louisiana, according to meteorologist Donald Jones. Strong winds with heavier snow bands were reducing visibility, and areas across the Gulf South that rarely see snow are expecting near-record or record snowfall, Jones said.
“The last time we saw snow of this magnitude was way back in 1960, and prior to that, the previous snowfall record that even stands to this day was way back in 1895,” Jones said. “By modern standards this is going to be a historic and very memorable storm for this part of the world.”
In Harahan, a suburb of New Orleans, as a rare snowstorm began to cover the roads, a Harahan police officer without gloves rubbed his hands to warm them, after responding to a church security alarm. Sleet changed to snow as the sun rose, with scarcely a car on the road.
Before snow and sleet began falling Monday night, Houston Mayor John Whitmire asked residents to stay off the roads.
“Get prepared to be in your house, in your residence, in your warming place for the next 48 hours,” he said noting that temperatures weren’t expected to get above freezing until Thursday. “So don’t let even clear skies on Wednesday and other days fool you. This is a serious arctic blast.”
Snowfall rates of 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) per hour or more were possible from eastern Texas to the western Florida panhandle and historic snowfall of 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15 centimeters) was forecast along the Interstate 10 corridor including Houston; New Orleans; Mobile, Alabama; and Pensacola, Florida, according to the National Weather Service. Heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain are expected across Georgia, northern Florida and the eastern Carolinas from Tuesday night into Wednesday.
Forecasters warned the subfreezing morning lows could threaten sensitive vegetation and exposed plumbing in areas unaccustomed to bitter cold.
Return of the Arctic blast
Much of the Eastern Seaboard is enduring some of the coldest temperatures this winter. Frigid temperatures persisted across the eastern two-thirds of the country with multiple record lows possible through midweek, especially across the Gulf Coast and portions of the Southeast, the weather service said. Normal temperatures were only expected to return slowly by the end of the week.
The cold weather prompted Donald Trump to take the oath as president Monday from inside the Capitol Rotunda, upending months of meticulous planning for an outdoor inauguration. The last time an inaugural ceremony was held indoors was Ronald Reagan’s in 1985.
Wind chills were expected to reach minus 30 degrees to minus 50 (minus 34 C to minus 46 C) at times across portions of the Dakotas and into the Upper Midwest, posing an extreme risk of hypothermia and frostbite. Subzero wind chills were forecast to continue from the central plains eastward through Wednesday night.
The extreme cold prompted school districts across the upper Midwest to close schools Tuesday, so students wouldn’t have to endure the severe wind chills. Some schools were still holding online classes.
The weather service issued cold weather advisories across the Great Lakes region.
Like earlier this month, this latest cold snap comes from a disruption in the polar vortex, the ring of cold air usually trapped about the North Pole.
In Texas, Jonathan LeBron, plumbing manager at Nick’s Plumbing & Air Conditioning in the Houston area, said the company began fielding calls Monday from homeowners worried about frozen pipes.
Houston’s low temperature Tuesday will be about 18 (minus 8 C), according to the weather service, or low enough for water to freeze in pipes, expand and then cause the pipes to burst. Several inches of snow were also possible.
Rachel Sennott, Bowen Yang to announce 2025 Oscar nominations
Rachel Sennott and Bowen Yang will announce the nominations for the 97th Academy Awards.
The two actors will come together live Thursday from the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater to reveal the nominees in all 23 Academy Award categories.
Sennott is an actor, writer and comedian known for her roles in the films Saturday Night, Shiva Baby, Bodies Bodies Bodies and Bottoms, which she also executive produced and co-wrote. She also starred in the television series The Idol and Call Your Mother.
Yang is an Emmy-nominated comedian, actor and writer known for Saturday Night Live. He is also a co-host on the podcast Las Culturistas. He most recently starred in Wicked alongside Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
The Oscar nominations ceremony was previously rescheduled from Jan. 17 to Jan. 19 due to the wildfires in Los Angeles. It was moved a second time to Jan. 23.
In addition to the new date for the nominations announcement, the voting period for nominations was also extended to Jan. 17, and the Oscars nominees luncheon, which was previously scheduled for Feb. 10, was canceled.
The nominations for the 97th Academy Awards will be revealed live on ABC's Good Morning America, ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu. It will also be live streamed on Oscars.com, Oscars.org and the Academy's digital platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.
The live presentation will begin at 5:30 a.m. PT/8:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, Jan. 23.
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At least 76 dead in Turkish ski resort hotel fire
(LONDON and ISTANBUL) -- A predawn fire at a hotel in the Kartalkaya Ski Resort in Turkey killed at least 76, with another 51 injured, Turkey's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said Tuesday.
"We are in deep pain," Yerlikaya told reporters during a press conference.
The fire ignited after 3 a.m. on Tuesday at the Grand Kartal, a hotel at the resort in Northwestern Turkey.
A city official told ABC News that after the fire broke out in the middle of the night, around 3:27 a.m. local time, most of the victims, including children, appeared to have lost life due to suffocation.
There were 238 registered guests in the 12-story hotel at the time of the fire, according to the interior minister.
The fire department had not reported a negative situation regarding the fire adequacy of the hotel until Tuesday, Yerlikaya said, adding that an investigation is ongoing.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an said an administrative and criminal investigation is underway.
"All necessary steps will be taken and are being taken to shed light on all aspects of the incident and to hold those responsible accountable," he said.
ABC News' Somayeh Malekian contributed to this report.
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Historic snowstorm hitting the South from Texas to Florida
(NEW YORK) -- The first-ever blizzard warning has been issued for parts of Texas and Louisiana as a historic snowstorm begins in the Gulf Coast and then pushes east across the South.
Over 7 inches of snow has been reported in Lafayette, Louisiana, and more than 5 inches of snow was reported near Beaumont, Texas -- the most snow Beaumont has seen in more than 100 years.
Authorities in Zavala County, Texas, said several people were killed in a major accident on slippery roads.
In Austin, Texas, county officials said they've responded to more than a dozen cold exposure calls, "including two fatal incidents."
One hypothermia-related death was also reported in Georgia, according to James Stallings, the director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency.
Debilitating travel conditions are possible throughout the South.
Houston's airports are closed and over 2,000 flights are canceled across the U.S.
The Louisiana State Police said it's responded to more than 50 crashes on Tuesday and is urging everyone to stay home.
In three Alabama counties, officials warned that all roads are impassible.
On Tuesday morning, the snow is underway from Texas to Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. By midday, the snow will leave the Houston area and push east, continuing across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and into Georgia and the Carolinas.
By the evening, the snow will be ending in Alabama and still hitting Tallahassee, Florida; Atlanta; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Charleston, South Carolina.
Blizzard-like whiteout conditions are being reported Tuesday morning around New Orleans, where residents are experiencing their biggest snowfall since 1963.
Most airlines at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport have canceled flights.
The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge, which spans Lake Pontchartrain outside of New Orleans, has been closed.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, may get 3 to 6 inches of snow and the Florida Panhandle may see 2 to 4 inches.
Parts of northern Georgia, including the Atlanta area, could see up to 2 inches of snow, state meteorologist Will Lanxton said.
Georgia officials warned that water pipes underground could freeze and burst.
Schools are closed from Houston to New Orleans to Savannah, Georgia.
"Our reality is this, we can do hurricanes and tropical storms, alright? We don't do cold and we don't do ice well," Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said Monday. "If you don't have to go outside, don't. Stay home."
The snow will be done by sunrise Wednesday.
ABC News' Alex Faul contributed to this report.
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Fire chief shot and killed after stopping to help driver who hit deer with their car
(CHAMBERS COUNTY, AL) -- A fire chief in Alabama has been shot and killed after he stopped to help a driver who had hit a deer with their vehicle, police said.
The incident occurred at approximately 5 p.m. on Sunday when Chambers County deputies in Alabama were dispatched to County Road 267 near U.S. 431 in the Stroud -- located about 100 miles northeast of Montgomery -- and found three individuals suffering from gunshot wounds upon their arrival, according to a statement from Chambers County Alabama Sheriff's Office released on Monday.
One of the shooting victims -- identified as 54-year-old James Bartholomew Cauthen from Moreland, Georgia -- was deceased when authorities arrived. The other two were taken by helicopter to LaGrange and Columbus trauma centers, police said.
“Early investigation indicates that Chief Cauthen was attempting to assist individuals that had struck a deer while traveling on County Road 267,” police said. “Another individual (William Randall Franklin) that resided in the area opened fire on Chief Cauthen and the individual that struck the deer. All individuals were injured during the shootout. Chief Cauthen succumbed to his injuries prior to deputies arriving on the scene.”
Police did not immediately say why Franklin may have opened fire on Cauthen and the unnamed person who struck the deer with their car, but they did say that Cauthen was a battalion fire chief with Coweta County Fire.
“At this time, investigators are working to piece together the events that led to this horrific scene,” Chambers County Alabama Sheriff's Office said. “Our hearts and prayers go out to Coweta County for his loss.”
An arrest warrant for murder was issued for Franklin and police said he will be arrested upon release from treatment at Piedmont Medical Center.
“Coweta County Fire Rescue continues to be devastated by the tragic passing of Battalion Chief Bart Cauthen,” Coweta Fire and Rescue said in a statement following Cauthen’s death. “Cauthen has been with our department for more than 24 years. He was an amazing, hard-working man with a gentle soul. Just like many of you, we have many questions as we navigate through this horrible tragedy. Our hearts and prayers go out to Cauthen’s family, friends and our brothers and sisters in the Fire Rescue family who worked closely with him.”
Anyone with information pertaining to this case is asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at Chambers County Alabama Sheriff's Office.
The investigation into the shooting currently remains open.
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Americans freed from Afghanistan in prisoner swap, family and Taliban say
(WASHINGTON) -- Ryan Corbett, an American held in Afghanistan since 2022, has been released from Taliban custody in a prisoner swap, according to his family.
The Taliban’s foreign ministry confirmed the swap in their own statement, saying Corbett and another American national were exchanged for Khan Mohammad.
Mohammad was sentenced to life in prison in 2008, two years after his arrest near Jalalabad, Nangahar Province, Afghanistan, according to a 2008 release from the Department of Justice. He had been extradited to the U.S. and convicted on narco-terror charges, the release said.
"A violent jihadist and narcotics trafficker, Khan Mohammed sought to kill U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan using rockets," Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Matthew Friedrich said in a statement at the time. "Today's life sentences match the gravity of the crimes for which he was convicted."
The Corbett family gave credit for the prisoner exchange to both the Trump and Biden administrations. Corbett’s wife had a call with former President Joe Biden recently and also met with members of the incoming Trump administration.
"The countless hours of negotiations, unwavering support, and determination demonstrated by all involved have not gone unnoticed, and we will forever hold this kindness in our hearts," the Corbett family said in a statement.
At least two other American nationals are still detained in Afghanistan.
U.S. officials say the Biden administration had explored freeing at least one prisoner held in the Guantanamo Bay detention facility as part of an exchange with the Taliban but ultimately decided it would be too complicated.
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