Good morning everyone. Important developments overnight. I exclusively broke a story for the MeidasTouch Network after sources told me that Governor Gavin Newsom had received reports that the Trump administration was planning to conduct live fire military drills, including possibly launching missiles from Navy ships off the California coast into Camp Pendleton, as a show of force this weekend that could shut down parts of the I-5, creating chaos in Southern California.
That reporting has since been verified and confirmed by the San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, and Governor Newsom himself.
I am continuing to deliver that level of exclusive, sourced reporting as I build out The Parnas Perspective. Journalism is not a side project for me. It is my full-time commitment. At a time when the Pentagon is actively silencing journalists, independent media has never been more important, and last night proved why.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Trump administration is planning a major overhaul of the IRS to expand its authority to investigate left-leaning groups, with a senior Trump ally expected to lead the agency’s criminal division and reportedly drafting a list of potential targets including prominent Democratic donors; critics warn the move could politicize federal tax enforcement and weaponize the IRS against political opponents.
In 2019, Donald Trump said: “I will never allow the IRS to be used as a political weapon.”
Brown University and MIT have rejected a Trump administration offer that would grant expanded federal funding in exchange for sweeping ideological changes to university policies, including banning consideration of sex and ethnicity in admissions, capping international enrollment, and policing faculty viewpoints; the proposed “compact,” sent to nine elite universities, has been condemned as an attempt to impose federal control over higher education and undermine academic freedom.
California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned a Trump administration plan to fire live missiles over Interstate 5 as part of a Navy “Sea to Shore” anniversary event near Camp Pendleton, calling it an “absurd show of force” and “totally uncalled for” during a government shutdown. The White House event, expected to feature Vice President JD Vance, comes amid escalating tensions between Trump and California officials following threats to deploy federal troops to San Francisco and withhold state funding. I actually broke this story first for MeidasTouch last night. It has since been confirmed by Governor Newsom’s office, the LA Times, and the San Francisco Chronicle.
President Trump threatened to deploy federal troops to San Francisco, claiming the city is plagued by violent crime, but local and state officials strongly rejected the move as an unnecessary “authoritarian crackdown,” citing data showing violent crime has fallen sharply; Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Daniel Lurie emphasized the city’s record-low homicide rates, while immigrant rights groups warned that any troop deployment would fuel fear and civil rights violations.
Lara Trump volunteered to perform at Turning Point USA’s planned conservative alternative to the Super Bowl halftime show, despite admitting she has not been asked to do so.
A melting ice sculpture spelling “Democracy” was installed in front of the U.S. Capitol as a symbolic protest highlighting the fragility of democratic institutions.
A new Guardian–Harris poll found that 75% of Americans say their household costs have risen by at least $100 a month despite Trump’s claims that inflation is “over,” with most blaming tariffs and government policies for continued price hikes; over half of respondents believe the economy is in recession, and while confidence in both parties has dropped, Democratic economic proposals such as banning food price gouging and expanding the child tax credit remain more popular than Trump’s agenda of tax cuts, tariffs, and mass deportations.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected the Trump administration’s claim that cartels have placed bounties on U.S. immigration officials, saying her government has “no information” on such threats and learned of them only through a DHS statement. Security experts, including former DEA officials and a former cartel trafficker, also dismissed the allegation as implausible, noting that Mexican cartels avoid targeting U.S. law enforcement to prevent retaliation. Analysts suggested the claim may be politically motivated to justify the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement measures.
General Motors reported a $1.6 billion loss tied to scaling back its electric vehicle plans as U.S. automakers face slowing EV demand, high costs, and the end of federal tax credits under Trump’s economic bill, signaling a major shift away from earlier pledges to rapidly electrify their fleets.
President Trump said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally assured him that India would stop buying Russian oil, following U.S. tariff hikes on Indian imports to 50% in response to the purchases. While Trump praised his “great relationship” with Modi, India has not confirmed the agreement, saying energy import decisions remain guided by domestic consumer interests amid global volatility.
Los Angeles prosecutors charged USC graduate student Sizhe “Steven” Weng, a 30-year-old Chinese national, with drugging and raping multiple women after police found evidence linking him to assaults dating back to 2021, and investigators are seeking additional victims; if convicted, he faces up to life in prison.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, was indicted on three federal arson-related charges for allegedly starting the January 1 Pacific Palisades fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of structures, with prosecutors saying he set the blaze deliberately before returning to watch it burn; he faces up to 45 years in prison if convicted.
Oscar-winning actor Diane Keaton died at age 79 from pneumonia, her family confirmed, thanking fans for their support and encouraging donations to food banks or animal shelters in her memory; the beloved star of “Annie Hall” and “The Godfather” was remembered by peers like Jane Fonda and Reese Witherspoon for her creativity, warmth, and enduring influence.
Canadian parents of internationally adopted children are condemning a new Liberal government citizenship bill that would force adopted kids born abroad to prove a “substantial connection” to Canada before passing citizenship to their own children, calling the proposal discriminatory and in breach of international law; critics argue the rule unfairly treats adoptees as foreigners and undermines their equal citizenship rights.
Nestlé announced plans to cut 16,000 jobs worldwide—about 6% of its workforce—over the next two years as part of a cost-cutting drive fueled by automation and AI adoption, with most layoffs hitting white-collar positions. The company’s new CEO, Philipp Navratil, said the decision was “hard but necessary” to boost efficiency amid leadership turmoil and consumer uncertainty, even as Nestlé’s stock surged more than 7% following the announcement.
