AP-The Morning Wire

"Trump administration withholding family funds from 5 Democrat-led states."

Views expressed in this World and US news update are those of the reporters and correspondents.  Accessed on 07 January 2026, 1526 UTC.

Content and Source:  "AP-The Morning Wire."

 https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQfBGfsxZZzZlBpsbBWMMTWzfDx

URL--https://apnews.com.

Please check email link, URL, or scroll down to read your selections.  Thanks for joining us today.

Russ Roberts (https://trendsingeopolitics.blogspot.com).

View in Browser

Policy changes, but facts endure. AP delivers accurate, fact-based journalism to keep the world informed in every administration. Support independent reporting today. Donate.

By Mark Garrison January 07, 2026

In the news today: The Trump administration withholds funding for programs that support needy families in five Democratic-led states over concerns about fraud; the U.S. leaves Maduro’s party in power as he faces charges; and Trump tells Republicans to keep control of Congress so he can avoid another impeachment. Also, a look at the high-adrenaline Olympic sport of skeleton, where athletes sled head first on rough ice at 80 mph. President Donald Trump listens as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Oct. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) US NEWS Trump administration withholding funds for families from 5 Democratic-led states over fraud concerns Five states — California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York — have been targeted, and the Department of Health and Human Services said they had been notified. Read more.

What to know: The HHS, which oversees the program, will require the states to provide extra documentation to access the funds. The administration has not laid out details about the fraud allegations. Federal child care funding has been on hold in Minnesota since late last month amid investigations into a series of alleged fraud schemes at day care centers run by people with family roots in Somalia. In the fallout, HHS officials said no state will receive child care funds without providing more verification. Several states have told The Associated Press that they have not received any guidance on that decision. Gov. Kathy Hochul said that New York is prepared to take the administration to court, as Democratic-led states have done scores of times now.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Homeland Security plans 2,000 officers in Minnesota for its ‘largest immigration operation ever’ A Craigslist ad seeking child actors for Minnesota day care center was posted as a prank WORLD NEWS US leaves Maduro’s party in power, sidelining Venezuela’s opposition Venezuela’s opposition supporters have long hoped for the day when Nicolás Maduro is no longer in power — a dream that was fulfilled when the U.S. military whisked the authoritarian leader away. But while Maduro is in jail in New York on drug trafficking charges, the leaders of his repressive administration remain in charge. Read more.

Why this matters: The nation’s opposition — backed by consecutive Republican and Democratic administrations in the U.S. — for years vowed to immediately replace Maduro with one of their own and restore democracy. But President Donald Trump delivered them a heavy blow by allowing Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, to assume control. Meanwhile, most opposition leaders, including Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado, are in exile or prison. Maduro’s government barred Machado from running for office to prevent her from challenging — and likely beating — him in the 2024 presidential election. Machado chose retired ambassador Edmundo González Urrutia to represent her on the ballot. Officials loyal to the ruling party declared Maduro the winner, but Machado’s well-organized campaign stunned the nation by collecting detailed tally sheets showing González had defeated Maduro by a 2-to-1 margin. Neither Trump nor Rodríguez have said when, or if, new elections might take place in Venezuela.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Former Trump adviser says Russia offered US free rein in Venezuela in exchange for Ukraine Trump says his voters loved the Venezuela attack — here’s what they think Behind the photo: How a woman running from US bombs in Venezuela captured the night’s fear and chaos What’s next in deposed Venezuela leader Nicolás Maduro’s criminal case POLITICS Trump tells Republicans: ‘You gotta win the midterms’ or ‘I’ll get impeached’ President Donald Trump insisted Tuesday that Republicans have “so many good nuggets” to campaign on this year as they try to hold onto their razor-thin margin in the House. Read more.

Why this matters: Trump’s appearance at the GOP’s policy forum was meant to ensure House Republicans and the White House were aligned on their agenda ahead of the November midterms that will determine control of Congress and the course of Trump’s final two years in office. Trump warned that if Democrats regain control of Congress, “they’ll find a way to impeach me.” Rising health care costs, Trump’s expansive foreign policy pursuits and other issues are dramatically splitting the GOP, as some Republicans become more comfortable crossing party lines to bypass House Speaker Mike Johnson and join proposals from Democrats. It all points to a difficult year ahead for the president and his party, especially as the House’s slim majority narrowed Tuesday with the sudden death of California Rep. Doug LaMalfa, and the resignation of former Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ WATCH: Trump’s impeachment warning to GOP Trump tells Republicans to be ‘flexible’ on abortion restrictions to get a health care deal LaMalfa’s death leaves a vacant House seat. What happens next? Denmark and Greenland seek talks with Rubio after the White House says again it wants the island Texas cracked down on teachers for posts about Charlie Kirk, union lawsuit says FACT FOCUS: Trump sows confusion on number of childhood vaccinations Ex-Arizona lawmaker who questioned election integrity gets probation for using forged signatures Gov. Tim Walz says he doesn’t know what future holds for him after abandoning reelection bid Indiana US Rep. Jim Baird expected to make a full recovery following car accident, his office says Surging electricity costs are pushing West Virginia residents to desperate measures A town in North Carolina is returning land to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Michael Reagan, the eldest son of President Ronald Reagan, dies at 80 Trump store in suburban Philadelphia ‘kind of run its course’ and is set to close ADVERTISEMENT IN OTHER NEWS READ Notorious spy: CIA turncoat Aldrich Ames, who sold US secrets to the Soviets, dies in prison at 84 Video confession: Shooter who killed Brown students and MIT professor planned attack for years, DOJ says Serial killings: Notorious New York City-area ‘Torso Killer’ confesses to 1965 killing Gen Z protests: Activists are angry at the government they installed in Nepal Legally single: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are officially divorced after 19 years Today in History: In 2015, gunmen killed 12 at Charlie Hebdo newspaper in Paris WATCH Secret project unveiled: Lego reveals Smart Brick and high-tech Star Wars toys at CES 2026 Party time: New Orleans kicks off Carnival season with colorful parades A CHANGE OF PACE Janine Flock, of Austria, slides during the women's skeleton run 3 at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, File) Head first on rough ice at 80 mph. Why skeleton is the Olympic sport for thrill-seekers Skeleton is the head-first sliding sport during the Milan Cortina Olympics. Races begin with the sled on the ice, and the slider grabbing one of its handles, usually with one hand. The slider runs to build up speed, then leaps onto the sled and settles in for a ride that can exceed 80 mph down the track. Athletes steer with subtle shifts of their body and legs, all while their chins are often no more than a few inches from the surface of the ice.

Please let us know what you think of this newsletter. You can sign up for more and invite a friend here. For news in real time visit APNews.com. - Mark

SUPPORT THE AP. DONATE.

Manage preferences or unsubscribe | Privacy Policy *Advertisers have no control over editorial decisions or content. If you're interested in advertising, contact us here. ADVERTISEMENT