Trump launches ‘Board of Peace’; ICE memo expands home entry powers

President Donald Trump formally launches his new “Board of Peace” at the World Economic Forum in Davos, despite several major U.S. allies declining to join.

Plus, a newly surfaced ICE memo instructs agents to enter homes using administrative warrants rather than warrants signed by a judge, a shift from past practice that’s now drawing scrutiny.

And forecasters warn of a dangerous, potentially catastrophic winter storm spanning nearly 2,000 miles. Heavy snow, ice and extreme cold are expected. Widespread travel disruptions and power outages are likely.

These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, January 22, 2026.

Trump launches ‘Board of Peace’ with 35 countries joining

President Donald Trump has formally launched his “board of peace” with a signing ceremony on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Trump administration officials say 35 countries have accepted invitations to join the board, which began as a plan to oversee Gaza’s safety during reconstruction but has since expanded into a broader effort to mediate global conflicts.

About three dozen countries, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Vietnam, Paraguay and Belarus, have signed on. However, none of America’s major European allies have.

France and Norway declined the invitation, citing concerns the board could undermine the United Nations.

The UK’s foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, also announced that Britain will not join, pointing to Russia’s inclusion as a major concern.

Trump told reporters Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had accepted the invitation, but Russia has not confirmed whether it will participate.

Meanwhile, the president is also dialing back his threat to impose tariffs on Europe over Greenland.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he and NATO’s secretary general had agreed to a “framework of a future deal” not just on Greenland, but on security across the entire arctic region.

He said the details are still being worked out.

In a statement on Thursday, Denmark’s prime minister said arctic security is a matter for all of NATO and called it “good and natural” for it to be discussed by the U.S. president and NATO’s leader. However, she made it clear Denmark is not giving up its claim to Greenland.

ICE memo allows home entry without a judicial warrant

Videos coming out of Minneapolis show ICE agents breaking down a door to arrest someone. Now, a new internal memo is drawing scrutiny for how that could be legal.

A memo issued last May says ICE agents can enter the homes of people suspected of being in the U.S. illegally using an administrative warrant, not a traditional warrant signed by a judge.

Whistle blowers provided the memo to Congress, saying it permits forced entry with just probable cause that someone is in the country illegally.

Traditionally, law enforcement has needed a judicial warrant to enter a home. It’s a safeguard under the fourth amendment against unreasonable searches.

The memo says agents should “knock and identify” before entering and may use “reasonable force” if denied. However, critics argue it undermines longstanding constitutional protections. 

Immigration and civil rights advocates have opened legal and public attacks on the policy with some urging residents not to open their doors without a judicial warrant.

The memo was authored by lawyers for iCE and the department of homeland security but it has not been widely distributed and contradicts prior training materials, according to the Associated Press.

At the same time, the Trump administration is now targeting its mass deportation campaign on Maine.

According to the Associated Press, the state has a relatively few residents in the U.S. illegally but a notable presence of African refugees in its largest cities.

Jury acquits Uvalde school police officer on all counts

A Texas jury acquitted the first police officer put on trial over the failed response to the Uvalde school shooting.

Former Uvalde school police officer Adrian Gonzales found not guilty on all 29 counts of child endangerment on Wednesday, ending a rare and high-stakes case over law enforcement inaction.

Jurors deliberated for just over seven hours before clearing Gonzales. He was accused of failing to confront the gunman in the critical early minutes of the 2022 attack at Robb Elementary School. 21 people died, most of them children. 

Prosecutors argued Gonzales had a duty to act even if it meant going in alone and said he abandoned his active shooter training.

The defense countered that he never saw the gunman and risked his life by entering a shadowy hallway while other officers held back.

The jury heard emotional testimony from teachers, saw graphic photos from inside the classrooms, and watched body-cam video from the chaotic and hesitant response.

After the verdict, Gonzalez fought back tears and hugged his lawyers. He thanked the jury but declined to address the victims’ families.

Some of the victims’ family members wept in silence inside the courtroom. Others said the verdict sent the wrong message.

Only one other officer, former Uvalde police chief Pete Arredondo, faces criminal charges. His trial has not yet been scheduled.

Winter storm targets South and East this weekend

A dangerous winter storm is taking shape right now, and it’s expected to stretch from Texas to the Carolinas, putting nearly half the country at risk of heavy snow, thick ice and brutal cold.

Forecasters say a powerful system will develop in the southern Plains on Friday, then crawl east across the South and reach the East Coast through the weekend. A wide swath of the country is already under a winter storm watch.

Winter Storm Update

Here’s the latest on the impending winter storm set to begin across the south-central U.S. on Friday. Confidence continues to increase for damaging ice accumulations across parts of the South. Preparations should be completed as soon as possible. pic.twitter.com/hv4NeUhM1V

— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) January 22, 2026

The main concern is ice, particularly in the deep South, where the slow-moving storm might produce a half-inch of glaze in some areas. That’s enough to snap tree limbs, bring down power lines and trigger widespread outages.

At the same time, a blast of Arctic air is plunging south, sending temperatures well below normal and locking in dangerous conditions.

In Atlanta, stores are seeing higher demand for ice melt, generators, batteries and flashlights as residents prepare for the storm.

“They’re saying it’s a severe ice storm coming. It’s hard to believe when you look around, but we’re expecting it. We’re gonna be prepared, aren’t we? Going to be able to read, do things, play games,” Atlanta resident Wendy Chambers said.

Forecasters warn that travel could grind to a halt. Major airports, including Dallas, Memphis, Nashville, and Atlanta, could see widespread delays and cancellations as many southern airports lack de-icing equipment to handle this kind of storm.

FCC ends talk‑show exemption, requiring late‑night hosts to give rivals equal time

With the 2026 mid-term election fewer than ten months away, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is entering the political spotlight and targeting both late-night and daytime TV.

The FCC now states that any talk show hosting a political candidate must provide equal airtime to the opposing candidate. This ensures interviews are no longer one-sided.

For nearly 20 years, late-night and daytime shows were exempt from that rule. The FCC says the exemption has ended.

“For years, legacy TV networks assumed that their late-night and daytime talk shows qualify as ‘bona fide news’ programs — even when motivated by purely partisan political purposes.  Today, the FCC reminded them of their obligation to provide all candidates with equal opportunities,” FCC chair Brendan Carr said.

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, a Democrat, fired back, calling the move an escalation of the FCC’s push to censor and control speech.

Trump, who’s had a running feud with Jimmy Kimmel and has blasted shows like “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” for what he calls conservative bias, also joined in. He posted a Los Angeles Times story on Truth Social titled “FCC takes aim at ‘The View,’ ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ in fight over ‘equal time’ rules for politicians.”

Eagles’ Greatest Hits becomes the bestselling album in US history

As the Eagles prepare for their final shows, the band is proving that even in retirement, they’re not going anywhere. The band’s “Greatest Hits 1971 to 1975” album, released in 76, has become the best-selling album in U.S. history, with over 40 million units sold.

It’s now the first album ever to go quadruple platinum under the Recording Industry Association of America’s standards, just days before the record’s 50th anniversary.

To celebrate both the milestone and the anniversary, the band is releasing a special-edition album.

Also announced on Thursday: the Eagles’ 1976 classic, “Hotel California,” has been certified 28 times platinum — indicating 28 million units sold — retaining its position as the third best-selling album in the U.S. Only two albums have sold more: Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” with 34 times platinum, and The Eagles’ “Hotel California” at number one.

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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief