Trump defends ‘punishable by death’ comment, calls Democrats’ military video ‘seditious behavior’

Iran has closed its airspace to most flights amid escalating tensions with the U.S., coinciding with President Trump's claims that the killing of protesters in Iran has ceased, despite reports of impending executions. This development raises concerns about the stability in the region and the safety of air travel.

Two pivotal Senate Republicans, Josh Hawley and Todd Young, have withdrawn their support for a war-powers resolution that aimed to limit President Trump's military authority in Venezuela, following assurances from officials that there are no plans for U.S. ground troops in the country. This decision comes amid Trump's criticism of five GOP senators who previously sided with Democrats on the issue.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has downplayed the death toll from recent protests in Iran, attributing the unrest to an alleged Israeli plot during an interview on Fox News' 'Special Report with Bret Baier'. He dismissed casualty figures as exaggerated and suggested foreign interference as a cause of the turmoil.

A California court has allowed the state's new congressional redistricting plan, approved by voters in November, to proceed, potentially enabling Democrats to gain five additional House seats. This decision comes amid ongoing legal challenges from Republicans regarding the redistricting process.

President Trump has reiterated threats to cut federal funding to California and Los Angeles over their sanctuary city immigration policies, with potential implications starting February 1. This announcement comes amid ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and California's leadership regarding immigration and funding issues.

Recent discussions have seen U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, assert the necessity of acquiring Greenland for national security, leading to a rejection of this claim by envoys from Greenland and Denmark, who plan further talks. Trump's comments have raised concerns among Greenland's residents, particularly children, about the implications of U.S. intentions.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey stated that he does not support abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), while expressing criticism of the agency's operations under the Trump administration during an interview on Fox News. This statement comes amid rising tensions in Minneapolis following a series of incidents involving ICE.

A federal appeals panel has upheld California's Proposition 50, allowing temporary changes to congressional district maps aimed at benefiting Democrats, amidst a Republican effort to block these changes. This decision comes as a response to gerrymandering actions in Texas, where Republican leaders sought to redraw maps to increase their representation in the US House.