The briefing for Thursday, January 8.

The Trump administration signed an executive order Wednesday suspending U.S. support for 66 international organizations, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change that underpins global climate negotiations. Nearly half of the targeted groups are UN-affiliated, with many focused on climate, labor, migration, and issues the administration categorizes as promoting 'woke' initiatives. The State Department described the organizations as 'redundant, mismanaged, unnecessary, wasteful, poorly run, or a threat to our nation's sovereignty.'

The withdrawal marks a dramatic escalation of the administration's retreat from multilateral cooperation following earlier exits from the World Health Organization, UNRWA, the UN Human Rights Council, and UNESCO. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the institutions have been 'captured by the interests of actors advancing their own agendas contrary to our own.' Daniel Forti of the International Crisis Group characterized the U.S. approach to multilateralism as 'my way or the highway,' noting it represents a major shift from how previous administrations—both Republican and Democratic—have dealt with the UN.

The move comes as the administration has launched military operations including the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and issued threats against allies over Greenland, rattling relationships worldwide. Despite the massive withdrawals, officials say they want to focus taxpayer money on expanding American influence in standard-setting UN initiatives where there is competition with China, such as the International Telecommunications Union and International Maritime Organization. The UN, already facing an internal reckoning, has responded with staffing and program cuts as it adapts to reduced U.S. engagement.

President Trump proposed Wednesday setting U.S. military spending at $1.5 trillion in 2027, citing 'troubled and dangerous times'—a massive increase from the current $901 billion budget. The proposal comes days after Trump ordered the military operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and as U.S. forces continue to mass in the Caribbean Sea. Trump has also called for taking over Greenland for national security reasons and suggested he's open to military operations in Colombia.

Trump said he feels comfortable surging military spending because of increased tariff revenues, though the numbers don't match his claims. The U.S. government collected $288.5 billion in gross revenues from tariffs and excise taxes in 2025, up from $98.3 billion in 2024 according to the Bipartisan Policy Center. That's a meaningful increase but insufficient to cover the proposed defense spending increase plus Trump's other promises to use tariff money for taxpayer dividends and paying down the national debt. The proposal is likely to face resistance from Democrats who seek parity between defense and non-defense spending, as well as GOP deficit hawks.

In a separate move Wednesday, Trump threatened to cut off Pentagon purchases from Raytheon, one of the biggest U.S. defense contractors, if the company doesn't end stock buybacks and invest more profits into weapons manufacturing capacity. Trump said Raytheon, which manufactures critical systems including Tomahawk cruise missiles and Javelin missiles, 'will no longer be doing business with Department of War' unless it steps up investment in plants and equipment. Shares of defense contractors fell on the news, with Northrop Grumman dropping 5.5%, Lockheed Martin declining 4.8%, and Raytheon slipping 2.5%.

The U.S. seized two sanctioned oil tankers Wednesday in back-to-back operations in the North Atlantic and Caribbean, expanding its control over Venezuelan petroleum following the weekend capture of President Nicolás Maduro. The Energy Department announced plans to 'selectively' remove some sanctions so the U.S. can oversee the sale of Venezuela's petroleum worldwide. Venezuela holds the world's largest proven reserves of crude oil, and the level of control could give the Trump administration influence over global oil supplies and prices.

U.S. forces boarded the Russian-flagged Marinera after tracking it for nearly two weeks across the Atlantic, with the ship eventually seized between Scotland and Iceland. The UK provided logistical support through RAF surveillance aircraft and naval assets. Russia's Foreign Ministry had expressed concern about the situation before the seizure, and Moscow's Transport Ministry demanded proper treatment of Russian crew members. A second tanker, the Sophia, was boarded in the Caribbean after being accused of conducting illicit activities.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Venezuela's interim leadership understands 'the only way they can move oil and generate revenue and not have economic collapse is if they co-operate and work with the United States.' Trump announced Tuesday that Venezuela would be turning over up to 50 million barrels of oil worth approximately $2.8 billion to the U.S., with proceeds to be controlled by the administration. China, the biggest buyer of Venezuelan oil in recent years, condemned the moves and accused the U.S. of threatening global energy security.

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot a 37-year-old Minneapolis woman Wednesday during a traffic stop, marking a deadly escalation of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operations. Videos taken by bystanders show an officer approaching an SUV stopped in the road and demanding the driver open the door. As the Honda Pilot begins to pull forward, a different ICE officer standing in front fires at least two shots at close range. The SUV then crashed into parked cars. It's unclear from videos if the vehicle made contact with the officer before the shooting.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described the incident as 'an act of domestic terrorism' by a woman who 'attempted to run them over,' saying the officer 'acted quickly and defensively.' But Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey sharply disputed that characterization, calling it 'garbage' and 'bullshit' after viewing the video himself. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara's account gave no indication the driver was trying to harm anyone, saying only that 'the vehicle began to drive off' when approached. The woman, later identified as Renee Nicole Macklin Good, was shot in the head in front of a family member.

The shooting occurred during what DHS calls its largest immigration enforcement operation ever, with more than 2,000 officers deployed to the Twin Cities. Noem said more than 1,500 people have been arrested. The operation, at least partly tied to fraud allegations involving Somali residents, has put the area on edge with schools canceling classes as a precaution. Hundreds gathered Wednesday evening for a vigil, with some later marching through the city chanting 'ICE out of Minnesota.' Governor Tim Walz said he's prepared to deploy the National Guard if necessary but called for peaceful protests, while state and local officials demanded ICE leave Minnesota.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday he will meet with Danish officials next week after the White House confirmed the Trump administration is 'actively' discussing options to acquire Greenland, including the potential use of military force. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Trump and his national security team are currently discussing what a potential purchase would look like, with all options on the table though 'the president's first option always has been diplomacy.' Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly stated the island is not for sale.

The escalating tensions pose an unprecedented challenge to NATO, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warning that a U.S. attack on another NATO member would mean the end of the alliance. On Tuesday, the leaders of France, the UK, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Denmark issued a joint statement affirming that 'Greenland belongs to its people, and only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters concerning their relations.' The European allies stressed their commitment to Arctic security through NATO collective action while calling for upholding UN Charter principles including sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Trump's interest in Greenland intensified after the weekend military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, with the administration arguing the island is vital to U.S. security against Russian and Chinese threats in the Arctic. The mineral-rich island's strategic location between North America and the Arctic has housed the U.S.-operated Pituffik Space Base since World War II. A day after the Venezuela operation, Katie Miller, wife of senior Trump aide Stephen Miller, posted a map of Greenland in U.S. flag colors with the word 'SOON,' while Stephen Miller declared it 'the formal position of the US government that Greenland should be part of the US.' Aaja Chemnitz, a Greenlandic member of Denmark's parliament, called the threats 'completely disrespectful' and a clear threat to annex the country.

The Trump administration released the 2025-2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines on Wednesday, with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasizing whole foods and explicitly urging Americans to avoid 'highly processed' foods and refined carbohydrates. The guidelines, required by law to be updated every five years, mark a new stance by telling consumers to avoid 'packaged, prepared, ready-to-eat or other foods that are salty or sweet, such as chips, cookies and candy'—a reference to ultraprocessed foods that make up more than half of U.S. calories and have been linked to chronic diseases.

The document emphasizes consumption of fresh vegetables, whole grains, and dairy products while continuing to recommend limiting saturated fat to no more than 10% of daily calories. Officials released a new graphic showing an inverted food pyramid with protein, dairy, healthy fats, and fruits and vegetables at the top. While the guidelines back away from revoking long-standing advice to limit saturated fats despite signals from Kennedy and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, they do suggest Americans choose whole-food sources like meat, whole-fat dairy, or avocados, noting 'other options can include butter or beef tallow.'

The new recommendations, condensed to just 10 pages from the previous edition's 164 pages, drew praise from prominent experts. Former FDA Commissioner David Kessler called it 'a major advance in how we approach diet and health,' while American Medical Association President Dr. Bobby Mukkamala said the guidelines 'affirm that food is medicine.' Nutritionist Marion Nestle expressed relief that the science linking saturated fat to heart disease wasn't ignored, noting 'they haven't changed in any fundamental way except for the emphasis on eating whole foods.' The guidelines will most significantly affect the National School Lunch Program, which feeds nearly 30 million U.S. children daily and must follow federal dietary recommendations.