Daily News — January 13, 2026
Ten Prosecutors Quit to Avoid Framing a Widow. Trump Promises to Save Iran's Protesters.
While others stenograph, grift, or chase the next distraction—this is the news that matters and how it’s connected.
The DOJ Purge
Six federal prosecutors walked out of the Minneapolis U.S. Attorney’s office today. Four more quit the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division yesterday.12 That’s ten career prosecutors in 48 hours—all refusing to participate in what’s becoming obvious: a coordinated effort to protect the ICE agent who killed Renee Good while prosecuting her widow.
Joseph Thompson—the prosecutor who led every major fraud case the administration used to justify flooding Minneapolis with 2,000 federal agents—tried to do his job. He wanted to investigate the shooting alongside Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.¹ Senior DOJ officials said no. Instead, they ordered him to open a criminal investigation into Becca Good—Renee’s widow—for her “ties to activist groups.”¹
Thompson refused.
Meanwhile in Washington, Harmeet Dhillon—the Trump loyalist running the Civil Rights Division—decided her office wouldn’t investigate the shooting at all.² The division’s criminal section normally handles fatal law enforcement shootings. Its chief quit. Its principal deputy chief quit. Its deputy chief quit. Its acting deputy chief quit.²
Dhillon’s response? She “welcomed” the departures. The division should “enforce federal civil rights laws—not woke ideology,” she said.²
Let’s be clear: investigating whether a federal agent lawfully shot an American citizen in the head is now “woke ideology.”
Minneapolis Police Chief O’Hara: ”When you lose the leader responsible for making the fraud cases, it tells you this isn’t really about prosecuting fraud.”¹
The pretext has collapsed. They didn’t come to Minneapolis to stop fraud. They came to occupy it.
“Help Is On Its Way”
The same president whose federal agents just occupied Minneapolis is telling Iranians to overthrow their government. “TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!” he posted. “Help is on its way. MIGA!!!”3
Yesterday, the death toll from Iran’s protest crackdown stood at 599. Today, Iran International’s Editorial Board—after reviewing sources from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, the presidential office, and IRGC commanders—has concluded that at least 12,000 people were killed over two nights.4 They’re calling it “the largest killing in Iran’s contemporary history”—carried out on the direct order of Ayatollah Khamenei, most victims under 30. CBS News reports the toll could be as high as 20,000.5
Trump canceled all meetings with Iranian officials.³ He slapped 25% tariffs on any country doing business with Tehran. His White House says airstrikes are among “many, many options” on the table.6
Here’s what Trump didn’t mention: eight days ago, his ICE agent shot Renee Good in the head.
Iran kills protesters: “HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”
ICE kills protesters: Prosecute the widow.
“Take over your institutions.” That’s rich, coming from the man systematically capturing ours.
Meanwhile...
Venezuela: Rubio Defies Courts Again. Rubio told a federal judge the administration “cannot locate” 137 Venezuelans it deported to El Salvador’s megaprison—and won’t provide court-ordered hearings because it would jeopardize “extraordinarily delicate” negotiations.7 Multiple courts ruled the deportations unlawful. Meanwhile, Trump threatened to sideline Exxon from Venezuelan oil after its CEO called the market “uninvestable.”8 Trump: “They’re playing too cute.”
Greenland: “We Choose Denmark.” Greenland’s PM: “If we have to choose between the United States and Denmark, we choose Denmark... Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States.”9 Trump: “That’s going to be a big problem for him.” Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) joined Democrats to introduce the “No Funds for NATO Invasion Act.”10
Epstein Files: Protecting Pedophiles, Prosecuting Clintons. James Comer’s “investigation” into Jeffrey Epstein has interviewed exactly two people in a year—while declining to subpoena seven others, including the sitting Attorney General whose DOJ is still illegally withholding files Congress ordered released by December 19th.11 So naturally, Comer’s priority is holding Bill Clinton in contempt. The Clintons refused to testify, calling it “a ploy to embarrass political rivals, as President Trump has directed.” In their letter, they called out the ICE killing of Renee Good and wrote: “Bringing the Republicans’ cruel agenda to a standstill... would be our contribution to fighting the madness.”¹⁰
Polling: Regime Change Theater Isn’t Working. Despite capturing Maduro, threatening Iran, and playing strongman—Trump’s approval is down 0.2 points since Friday.12 His favorability dropped 0.4 while unfavorability rose 0.4. Net approval: -8.6.¹² Turns out occupying American cities and purging prosecutors costs more than regime change abroad gains.
There's more below, but first: If connecting prosecutor purges to presidential hypocrisy feels worth having in the world, consider supporting The American Manifesto. Paid subscriptions make this work possible.
The Pattern
We’ve been mapping this administration against the fascism syndrome—ten indicators that a democracy is backsliding into fascism. Today:
Weaponized justice: Investigate the widow. Protect the shooter. Call the victim a terrorist. Welcome the resignations of anyone who objects.
Capture of the state and elimination of accountability: Ten career prosecutors forced out in 48 hours for refusing to serve political goals. The Civil Rights Division now opposes civil rights investigations.
War on reality: “Freedom” for Iranian protesters; federal occupation for American ones. Millions saw the video. DOJ says self-defense.
If ICE wants to arrest criminals, they should raid the DOJ. There’s definitely a higher rate of lawbreakers there than among immigrants.
This is the machine. Here's how to break it:
Your Move
What’s your reaction to “investigating police killings” being called “woke ideology”?
Have you contacted your representatives about the DOJ purge?
What exactly is DOJ for now?
Ernesto Londoño, “Six Prosecutors Quit Over Push to Investigate ICE Shooting Victim’s Widow“, The New York Times, January 13, 2026.
Documents six federal prosecutors resigning over DOJ’s push to investigate Becca Good while refusing to investigate the shooting. Names Joseph H. Thompson (former acting U.S. Attorney, fraud investigation lead), Harry Jacobs (Thompson’s deputy). Reports Thompson tried to partner with Minnesota BCA but was overruled. Includes Police Chief O’Hara’s statement that losing Thompson “tells you this isn’t really about prosecuting fraud.” Notes Thompson was on Biden classified documents investigation in 2023. Reports Walz calling it “pushing nonpartisan career professionals out of the justice department.”
Erum Salam, “Top DOJ officials quit after their division refused to probe Minnesota ICE shooting“, MS Now, January 12, 2026.
Reports four Civil Rights Division criminal section leaders resigned after Harmeet Dhillon decided not to investigate the Renee Good shooting. Documents that video evidence shows Good’s wheels were turned away from the officer—contradicting administration’s self-defense claim. Notes Dhillon said she “welcomed” departures and the division should enforce civil rights laws “not woke ideology.”
Susan Heavey, “Trump urges Iranians to keep protesting, says ‘help is on its way’“, Reuters, January 13, 2026.
Documents Trump’s Truth Social post calling on Iranians to “TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS” and announcing he cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials. Reports Iranian government official acknowledging approximately 2,000 deaths—the first time authorities have given an overall death toll.
Iran International Editorial Board, “At least 12,000 killed in Iran crackdown as blackout deepens“, Iran International, January 13, 2026.
Editorial statement documenting methodology for determining the death toll. Based on sources from the Supreme National Security Council, presidential office, IRGC commanders in Mashhad, Kermanshah, and Isfahan. Concludes “at least 12,000 people were killed” over January 8-9—”the largest killing in Iran’s contemporary history”—carried out “on the direct order of Ali Khamenei” with most victims under 30.
Iran International Editorial Board, “At least 12,000 killed in Iran crackdown as blackout deepens“, Iran International, January 13, 2026.
Editorial statement documenting methodology for determining the death toll. Based on sources from the Supreme National Security Council, presidential office, IRGC commanders in Mashhad, Kermanshah, and Isfahan. Concludes “at least 12,000 people were killed” over January 8-9—”the largest killing in Iran’s contemporary history”—carried out “on the direct order of Ali Khamenei” with most victims under 30.
Iran International Editorial Board, “At least 12,000 killed in Iran crackdown as blackout deepens“, Iran International, January 13, 2026.
Editorial statement documenting methodology for determining the death toll. Based on sources from the Supreme National Security Council, presidential office, IRGC commanders in Mashhad, Kermanshah, and Isfahan. Concludes “at least 12,000 people were killed” over January 8-9—”the largest killing in Iran’s contemporary history”—carried out “on the direct order of Ali Khamenei” with most victims under 30.
Salvador Rizzo, “Rubio says court hearings no longer possible for deported Venezuelans“, The Washington Post, January 13, 2026.
Documents Rubio’s sworn declaration that administration cannot comply with Judge Boasberg’s order to provide hearings for 137 deportees removed under Alien Enemies Act. Reports Rubio claims U.S. “does not know—nor does it have any way of knowing” whereabouts of deportees. Notes this is not the first time Trump officials have refused Boasberg’s orders; the men were “secretly spirited away” to El Salvador despite a court order barring deportation.
Sam Meredith, “Trump threatens to sideline Exxon from Venezuela’s oil: ‘They’re playing too cute’“, CNBC, January 12, 2026.
Reports Trump threatening to exclude Exxon Mobil from Venezuelan oil market after CEO Darren Woods said the country was “uninvestable.” Documents Trump pushing for $100 billion U.S. oil investment in Venezuela following the Jan. 3 military operation to depose Maduro. Notes Exxon would need “pretty significant changes” to commercial frameworks and legal protections before reentering.
Paulin Kola, “We choose Denmark over US, Greenland’s PM says“, BBC News, January 13, 2026.
Documents Greenland PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen’s strongest rebuke of Trump’s annexation plans: “Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States.” Reports Trump’s response: “That’s going to be a big problem for him.” Notes Denmark’s PM condemned “completely unacceptable pressure from our closest ally” and European allies have rallied to Denmark’s support with statements on sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Alexander Bolton, “Murkowski, Shaheen push bill to block Trump from seizing Greenland“, The Hill, January 13, 2026.
Documents bipartisan congressional opposition to Trump’s Greenland threats. Reports Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced the “NATO Unity Protection Act” to prohibit DoD or State funding for blockading, occupying, or annexing NATO territory. Also reports Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) joined House Democrats to introduce the “No Funds for NATO Invasion Act.” Notes Stephen Miller declared on CNN that “nobody’s going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland.”
Chris Stein, “Bill and Hillary Clinton refuse to testify in House Epstein investigation“, The Guardian, January 13, 2026.
Documents the Clintons’ refusal to comply with subpoenas, calling them “a ploy to attempt to embarrass political rivals, as President Trump has directed.” Reports Comer’s committee has interviewed only two people (Acosta and Barr) while declining to question seven other subpoenaed officials. Notes DOJ continues releasing Epstein files past the December 19 legal deadline. The Clintons’ letter explicitly called out the ICE killing of Renee Good and Republicans’ “cruel agenda,” writing that forcing Congress to halt work on a contempt charge “would be our contribution to fighting the madness.”
RealClearPolling, “Donald Trump Approval Rating“, RealClearPolling, accessed January 13, 2026.
Aggregated polling data showing Trump’s approval at 43.9% (down 0.2 from January 10), disapproval at 52.5%, favorability at 42.9% (down 0.4), and unfavorability at 53.8% (up 0.4). Net approval stands at -8.6 points despite high-profile foreign policy moves including the Venezuela operation and Iran threats.
Cheeto And DOJ Election Interference In 2026 Midterms
Marc Elias over at Democracy Docket(https://bit.ly/4sA0IWc) discusses the weakening of the voting process coming up in the 2026 midterms and the obstacles being placed by the current Nazi regime to “rig” the election in their favor with the help of Cheeto’s executive orders
As he has already voiced publicly impeachment is high on Cheeto’s concerns if the results don’t favor him So as in the 2024 election when he lied through his teeth to get elected to avoid almost certain jail time, in 2026 it’s to avoid a third impeachment He probably can’t count on Nazi Republican votes to not convict him in the Senate in January 2027 so his most important task is to prevent a free and fair election Cheeto knows the American electorate hates him and with his dictator bent due to his polling numbers which are in the toilet and protesters are nearing 11 million and the magic 3.5%
So Cheeto and his Nazi sycophants will be pulling out all stops this November The responsibility rests on WE the People’s shoulders If you happen to live in a RED state begin contacting your Secty of State and local representatives to demand that they follow the law and not give into DOJ and Cheeto’s demands Also vote early to avoid the possibility of being disenfranchised by vigilante challenges All hands on deck!!