Newsom’s last budget as governor would give schools and community colleges an unexpected $22 billion

The increase comes from robust tax receipts 

and AI-driven revenue

John Fensterwald, Emma Gallegos, Zaidee Stavely, 

Diana Lambert, And Yuxuan Xie

Published January 9, 2026

Top Takeaways

• Budget proposal includes extending and increasing funding for the 2,500 existing community schools, teacher residencies, and multibillion-dollar post-COVID learning recovery funding through 2027-28.
• $40 million is earmarked to continue screening all students in kindergarten, first and second grades to identify students at risk of reading difficulties.
• One-time infusion of $100 million to increase access to college and career pathways for high school students.

Contrasting Chinese and US power plays in Venezuela and beyond

Let’s talk rare earths and Japan, but note first that the Orinoco ‘reserve’ of Trump’s fevered imagination is basically a giant tar pit

by Han Feizi
January 12, 2026

Oh, you’re a hard one
But I know you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin’ you
Can hurt you somehow
– The Eagles

The ghost of Winston Churchill is watching President Trump exhaust all of America’s possibilities. And it appears getting around to doing the right thing will have to be entrusted to the next administration – if we make it that far.

Trump Says Civil Rights Led to White People Being ‘Very Badly Treated’ During Interview with The New York Times

President Trump’s comments were a blunt distillation of his administration’s racial politics, which rest on the belief that white people have become the real victims of discrimination in America.

By Erica L. Green

White House correspondent

Jan. 11, 2026

President Trump said in an interview that he believed civil rights-era protections resulted in white people being “very badly treated,” his strongest indication that the concept of “reverse discrimination” is driving his aggressive crusade against diversity policies.

Hamas says it will dissolve its Gaza government when new Palestinian body takes over

BY SAMY MAGDY AND JULIA FRANKEL January 11, 2026

CAIRO (AP) — Hamas said Sunday it will dissolve its existing government in Gaza once a Palestinian technocratic leadership committee takes over the territory, as mandated under the U.S.-brokered peace plan. But the group gave no specifics on when the change will occur.

Federal prosecutors open criminal investigation into the Fed and Jerome Powell

By Bryan Mena

Federal prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the Federal Reserve’s $2.5 billion renovation of its headquarters in Washington, DC.

Washington — In an extraordinary video posted by Powell on Sunday night, he called the investigation “pretext” resulting from his ongoing struggle with the administration over interest rates, saying it was a consequence of broader “threats and ongoing pressure” by the administration.

Sen. Chris Murphy says annexation of Greenland ‘would be the end of NATO’

The senator's comments come after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would "do something on Greenland, 

whether they like it or not."

Jan. 11, 2026

By Megan Lebowitz

WASHINGTON — Sen. Chris Murphy said in an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that if the U.S. annexed Greenland, “it would be the end of NATO.”

Amidst Calls for Haste and Restraint, Trump's Approach to Iran Is Simply Unpredictable

Observers estimate that if the US reacts incorrectly, it may ultimately strengthen and solidify the regime's position in Iran

NEWSROOM / January 11, 2026 

Donald Trump is receiving warnings from Iranians that if he does not act immediately to fulfill his promise to help protesters under fire from security forces in Iran, it will be too late. At the same time, the US President is also receiving conflicting advice regarding the potential effectiveness of an American intervention.

Nationwide anti-ICE protests call for accountability after Renee Good's death (photos)

January 10, 2026
By Chandelis Duster, Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

People have been taking to the streets nationwide this weekend to protest the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics following the death of Renee Good in Minneapolis, a 37-year-old woman who was shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer this week.

Cuba defiant after Trump says island to receive no more Venezuelan oil or money

By Dave Sherwood and Marianna Parraga

January 11, 2026

Summary

• Cuba has the right to import fuel from any suppliers, foreign minister says
• Venezuela was Cuba's largest supplier last year, with some 26,500 barrels per day of crude and fuel
• Mexico is emerging as an alternative oil supplier to the island
• Cuban president says Cuba prepared to "defend homeland to last drop of blood."

Scientists just revealed a surprising new use for espresso coffee

PsyPost

by Karina Petrova

January 9, 2026

in Caffeine

Researchers have identified a common household beverage as an effective, non-toxic substitute for the hazardous chemicals traditionally used in high-resolution microscopic imaging. A new study demonstrates that ordinary espresso coffee can stain biological samples for electron microscopy with clarity and detail comparable to industry-standard radioactive solutions. The findings were published in the journal Methods.

Companies scramble to secure ships, assemble operations to transfer Venezuelan oil

By Marianna Parraga and Arathy Somasekhar

January 10, 2026

Summary

• Shipping firms want to expand operations for Venezuelan oil transfers

• Challenges include old vessels, maintenance issues and loading slot competition

• Maersk plans to replicate logistics used in Amuay Bay for oil transfers

• AET approached by clients for Venezuelan crude transfers to smaller vessels

Scientists warn of a new biological risk and call for an international summit

01-10-2026
By Adrian Villellas
Earth.com staff writer

Thirty-eight researchers from around the world are urging caution over mirror life – a hypothetical form of biology built from mirror-image molecules that could behave unpredictably in natural systems.

Neil Young says that Americans should rise up cause Donald Trump is destroying America

By Paul Brannigan
"Today, the USA is a disaster."

Neil Young has called out US President Donald Trump for making America a "disaster", and called on US citizens to "rise up" in peaceful protests against his regime. Young delivered his acerbic condemnation of Trump in a strongly worded editorial piece on the Times Contrarian section of his website.

Gustavo Petro: ‘Trump told me he was thinking of doing bad things in Colombia, a military operation’

In an interview with EL PAÍS, the Colombian president acknowledges that he feared being captured like Maduro, but believes that 

the call with the tycoon ‘froze’ the threat

Juan Diego Quesada, María Martín

Bogotá - JAN 09, 2026 - 03:07 CST

Gustavo Petro thought this past week that at any moment an assault force could land on the roof of the Casa de Nariño, the Colombian presidential residence, and burst into his office. He doesn’t have a bunker to run to, as Nicolás Maduro tried to do a week ago before he was captured and placed on a helicopter bound for the United States. The 65-year-old Colombian president felt threatened by Donald Trump’s insinuations that something similar could happen to him. The U.S. president has variously called Petro a drug addict, a thug, a drug trafficker, and a front man for Maduro. He has added him to the Clinton List — a red list of individuals and companies linked by Washington to drug trafficking — and revoked his visa. Petro, meanwhile, says he clung to “the people” as a shield against the army with the greatest firepower in history, and to Simón Bolívar’s sword, kept as a relic close to him.

Nobel Institute says Peace Prize cannot be transferred after María Corina Machado suggestion

The Norwegian Nobel Institute said once the prize is announced, "it cannot be revoked, shared or transferred to others."

Jan. 10, 2026, 9:34 PM EST 

By Reuters

The Norwegian Nobel Institute said the Nobel Peace Prize cannot be transferred, shared, or revoked, following remarks by Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado suggesting she might give her 2025 award to U.S. President Donald Trump.

Lawsuits by Trump allies could shape how the 2030 census is done and who will be counted

By MIKE SCHNEIDER
Updated 4:58 AM PST, January 11, 2026

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The next U.S. census is four years away, but two lawsuits playing out this year could affect how it will be done and who will be counted.

Chinese refiners turn to Canadian oil, but at a cost

Traders report increased interest in Canadian oil grades. These are seen as a suitable replacement for Venezuelan Merey crude. Major buyers of Venezuelan oil will now need to secure new supply sources from Canada.

Updated On Jan 9, 2026 at 08:36 AM IST

 Chinese oil refiners are turning to Canada for crude. This comes as their access to Venezuelan oil has been severely restricted.

Iran protesters defy crackdown as videos show violent clashes

Helen Sullivan, BBC News,
Shayan Sardarizadeh & Richard Irvine-Brown, BBC Verify,
and Sarah Namjoo, BBC Persian

Protesters in Iran defied a deadly government crackdown on Saturday night, taking to the streets despite reports suggesting hundreds of people have been killed or wounded by security forces in the past three days.