Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) criticized the response from state and local elected officials in Minnesota as the Trump administration faces mounting criticism over its immigration crackdown in the state. “These local governments gotta work with folks and with federal law enforcement officials,” Thune told reporters Friday. “You can’t just, you know, try and... ... Read full Story
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) compared Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller to fictional villains on Friday, calling them both a "sycophant" as tensions rise over the administration's immigration enforcement efforts. “A sycophant is more than just a ‘yes-man,’” Tillis wrote in a lengthy post on social platform... ... Read full Story
Tom Homan takes command of Minneapolis immigration operation after two fatal shootings spark protests, replacing Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino. ... Read full Story
Republicans' razor-thin House majority shrinks further as Democrats set to win Texas special election, giving GOP leadership new headaches in Congress. ... Read full Story
A conservative advocacy group is crying foul after LinkedIn temporarily removed one of their posts praising ICE agents that the company says was taken down by mistake. ... Read full Story
Acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns urges Democrats to restore New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary status for 2028, calling it vital for democracy. ... Read full Story
New Jersey is set to launch a portal for residents to upload videos of ICE agents conducting immigration operations, Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced. ... Read full Story
President Trump defended DHS Secretary Kristi Noem amid nationwide immigration protests, praising her leadership while accusing Democrats and “radical left" activists of targeting her. ... Read full Story
Congress failed to pass a new funding deal in time, triggering the second partial government shutdown in six months as federal agencies prepare for potential closure. ... Read full Story
President Trump on Friday defended his embattled Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem as she faces calls to resign, suggesting she's been targeted by critics "because she is a woman, and has done a really GREAT JOB!" "The Radical Left Lunatics, Insurrectionists, Agitators, and Thugs, are going after Kristi Noem, the Secretary of... ... Read full Story
President Trump praised his sweeping tariffs on foreign countries in an op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal Friday, arguing that they "brought America back." "When I imposed historic tariffs on nearly all foreign countries last April, the critics said my policies would cause a global economic meltdown," Trump wrote. "Instead, they have created an... ... Read full Story
President Trump on Friday nominated economist Brett Matsumoto to be commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) months after the president fired the previous agency head over substantial revisions to past jobs reports. "For many years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, under WEAK and STUPID people, has been FAILING American Businesses, Policymakers, and Families... ... Read full Story
Viral video shows protesters disrupting Rep. Tom Suozzi at Long Island temple over ICE funding vote, using crude props and profane insults during event. ... Read full Story
The U.S. has approve $15.67 billion in arms sales to Israel and Saudi Arabia amid ongoing Gaza ceasefire talks and rising Iran tensions in the region. ... Read full Story
As Trump weighs options on a possible strike on Iran, a senior Gulf official told Fox News that Saudi Arabia will not allow the U.S. to use its airspace or bases for such an attack. ... Read full Story
Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth is accusing ICE of “needlessly" detaining a 5-year-old child with his illegal immigrant father, after the agency said his mother refused to take custody. ... Read full Story
Democratic leader Jeffries' remarks about putting DHS Secretary Kristi Noem "on ice permanently" drew sharp criticism from a Trump administration source. ... Read full Story
Speaker Mike Johnson rallied Republicans around President Donald Trump's deal with Democrats to keep the government funded, Fox News Digital was told. ... Read full Story
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 31, 2026 is:
short shrift \SHORT-SHRIFT\ noun
Short shrift means “little or no attention or thought” or “quick work.” In religious use it refers to barely adequate time for confession before execution.
// Certain neighborhoods have received short shrift from the city government.
“[Charlie] Caplinger echoed the concerns of many speakers at the meeting, with charter captains saying the recreational fishing industry’s economic contributions were being given short shrift.” — Mike Smith, NOLA.com (New Orleans, Louisiana), 6 Nov. 2025
Did you know?
We’ve got a confession to make, but we’ll keep it brief: while it’s technically possible to make “long shrift” of something, you’re unlikely to find long shrift in our dictionary anytime soon. Short shrift, on the other hand, has been keeping it real—real terse, that is—for centuries. The earliest known use of the phrase comes from Shakespeare’s play Richard III, in which Lord Hastings, who has been condemned by King Richard to be beheaded, is told by Sir Richard Ratcliffe to “Make a short shrift” as the king “longs to see your head.” Although now archaic, the noun shrift was understood in Shakespeare’s time to refer to the confession or absolution of sins, so “make a short shrift” meant, quite literally, “keep your confession short.” However, since at least the 19th century the phrase has been used figuratively to refer to a small or inadequate amount of time or attention given to something.