Today's Headlines: How the Trump Administration Rushed to Judgment in Minneapolis Shooting
Alex Pretti’s Friends and Family Denounce ‘Sickening Lies’ About His Life
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The New York Times
Today's Headlines

January 26, 2026, 4:30 a.m. Eastern time

Top News

How the Trump Administration Rushed to Judgment in Minneapolis Shooting

The administration was in a race to control the narrative around the killing of Alex Pretti, even as videos emerged that contradicted the government’s account.

Alex Pretti’s Friends and Family Denounce ‘Sickening Lies’ About His Life

People who knew a man fatally shot by federal agents pushed back against what they called a smear campaign by federal officials. “He was a good man,” his family said.

Storm Pummels Eastern U.S., Shattering Temperature Records

World

In Xi’s China, Even the Mightiest General Can Fall

A combat veteran, Zhang Youxia was once seen as the most trusted man in Xi Jinping’s military. Now he is the most public example of disloyalty to Mr. Xi.

The Taliban Say They’re Ready to Release U.S. Prisoners. But Which Ones?

Top Afghan officials say they want two American detainees released “as soon as possible,” but the Trump administration says a third one should be included.

In Venezuela, Families Search for Relatives Who Are Detained and Missing

Even as dozens of political prisoners have been freed, at least 66 people taken by state authorities and never heard from again remain missing, relatives and rights groups say.

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U.S.

Killing Prompts Only a Defiant Response From Trump

Even as the second death of a protester in Minnesota brought demands for accountability, the president, insulated from dissenting voices, stuck to his pattern of reflexively blaming opponents.

Once Again, Federal Officials Exclude Minnesota From Investigation of a Fatal Shooting

State officials have resorted to unconventional methods as they press forward with their own inquiries into the killings of Alex Jeffrey Pretti and Renee Good.

Private Jet With 8 People Aboard Crashes at Maine Airport, F.A.A. Says

A Bombardier Challenger 600 crashed during takeoff at the Bangor airport, according to officials, as a paralyzing winter storm lashed the East Coast.

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Politics

Trump Blames Democrats for ‘Tragic’ Deaths as Agents Clash With Protesters

Top administration officials had earlier, and without evidence, accused each of the shooting victims in Minneapolis of “domestic terrorism.”

Republicans Struggle to Respond to Shooting, Reflecting Political Peril

The killing of a 37-year-old man by a federal agent exposed fresh cracks in G.O.P. unity, with some expressing alarm while others stayed silent or backed the Trump administration.

Eleanor Holmes Norton Files to End Re-election Campaign

It was not clear whether Washington’s 88-year-old veteran delegate, who has been in declining health but has insisted she would seek re-election, was aware of the filing.

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Business

As Europe’s Reliance on U.S. Natural Gas Grows, So Does Trump’s Leverage

Tension over Greenland has prompted worries that the Trump administration could turn the U.S. oil and gas industry into a way to pressure Europe.

Hard Times in the Delta as Farmers Consider Letting Crops Rot

Prices for nearly every major U.S. crop are below what it costs to grow them. But a drop in rice prices means another blow to farmers in Mississippi’s agricultural belt.

High January Is the New Dry January

Sales of beverages containing hemp-derived THC are rising as consumers look for the buzz without the booze. But a new federal law could push them off shelves.

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New York

Columbia Selects University of Wisconsin Chancellor as Its President

Jennifer Mnookin has led the flagship campus of the state university system since 2022. She takes the helm at Columbia after a tumultuous period.

New York City Schools Announce Remote Learning Day in Response to Storm

With as much as a foot of snow expected to fall across the city, schools will be closed on Monday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.

In Visits to Dealerships, Pair Schemed to Steal High-End Vehicles, Police Say

An organized theft ring in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York swapped or quickly cloned key fobs to steal millions of dollars’ worth of vehicles, officials said.

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Arts

A 200-Year Mystery: Finding the Missing Portrait of Scotland’s Top Poet

The whereabouts of a painting of Robert Burns by Henry Raeburn was unknown for two centuries. Now, the work is on display in time for the annual Burns Night honoring the writer.

Geese Gives ‘Saturday Night Live’ Viewers Something to Talk About

The buzzy Brooklyn band brought its off-kilter aesthetic to network TV this weekend, with performances that were both confounding and audacious.

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Food

When Pancakes Met Oatmeal

My oatmeal pancakes are browned and crackly-edged on the outside, creamy and soft on the inside.

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Real Estate

For Leonard Williams of the Seahawks, Florida Is the End Zone

In the football offseason, the defensive tackle for Seattle, and his wife, Hailey, return to their sunny place.

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