Read Time: 5 min 57 sec | Listen to Podcast

Protests are still raging in Minneapolis over ICE operations.

A federal judge set new limits on ICE agents’ crowd control tactics Friday, banning the use of pepper spray and nonlethal munitions on “peaceful and unobstructive” protesters. Also on the no-no list: stopping drivers without “reasonable articulable suspicion” that they’re interfering with enforcement ops. DHS Secretary Noem said the judge’s orders “didn’t change anything” because the tactics are only used on violent demonstrators. 

Meanwhile, Governor Walz (D) has the Minnesota National Guard on standby and the Pentagon has 1,500 active-duty troops in Alaska on standby; President Trump threatened Thursday to invoke the Insurrection Act but later said it wasn’t needed right now. 

Meanwhile, the Justice Department is investigating Governor Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Frey (D) over alleged conspiracy to impede immigration agents—a probe Walz called an “authoritarian tactic.”

__

ABOVE ALL, LOVE
Whether you’re critical of federal agents or think they’re unfairly criticized, the command for Christians is to love neighbors and enemies alike. That requires speaking about others with dignity and respect, even if we feel like they haven’t earned it.

“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Hatred stirs up conflicts, but love covers all offenses.” 
Proverbs 10:11-12 (CSB) (read full passage)

We received lots of questions after Saturday’s basic “What is ICE?” explainer about why breaking immigration law is typically a civil, not criminal offense. We explain more here and pray for Minneapolis and ICE here.

And then there were four.

The NFL’s Divisional Round wrapped up this weekend, featuring MLK tributes in the endzones. On Saturday, the Seattle Seahawks soared past the San Francisco 49ers, and the Denver Broncos bucked the Buffalo Bills (but lost quarterback Bo Nix to a broken ankle). Yesterday, the New England Patriots beat the Houston Texans, earning their first post-Brady AFC Championship game, and the Los Angeles Rams stole the Chicago Bears’ honey.

Meanwhile, the New York Giants are hoping coach John Harbaugh can restore pride to the franchise that’s gone 7-27 over the previous two seasons. Harbaugh agreed to a five-year contract with the Giants after 18 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. 

Tonight, unbeaten #1 Indiana and #10 Miami will play for the College Football Championship, with President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in attendance.  

__

Verse to consider if you’re wondering if loving sports is appropriate with so much heavy news filling your feeds and your heart: “I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the good life. It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts.” 
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 (CSB) (read full passage)

Yeah, you probably use Amazon… but do you actually use Amazon?

Brad (yep, he’s a real guy) was a broke college student who needed to save money. He looked into cheaper ways to shop and started sharing his secrets with friends. And thus… Brad’s Deals was born. 

Brad’s Deals unlocks a world of deals you probably knew nothing about. Brad will help you maximize the value of your Amazon Prime Membership with nine lesser-known benefits that can transform your shopping, streaming, and saving experience. 

Get alllll the deals from Brad’s Deals by signing up for free with your email address. Happy shopping (and saving)!

Curious how we choose sponsors?  Learn more  |  Advertise with us

President Trump announced Saturday that eight NATO nations will face a 10% tariff “until a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland.” 

The threat of tariffs is the latest escalation in the White House’s bid for the arctic island governed by Denmark; #47 says “world peace is at stake” if Uncle Sam can’t counter Russia and China by including Greenland in its “Golden Dome” defense system. 

Europe… disagrees. Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands, and Finland released a joint statement saying they stand “in full solidarity” with Greenland and that the tariffs “threaten to undermine transatlantic relations.” Some American lawmakers agree, saying the tariffs help adversaries by dividing NATO. 

The 10% tax will start in February and rise to 25% in June if a deal isn’t done.

__

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Negotiations progress and regress, and leaders succeed and let us down—but our hope is not in presidents, policies, or even achieving earthly peace. Put your trust in the Lord, who alone brings true justice, provision, and deliverance.

“Do not trust in nobles, in a son of man, who cannot save. When his breath leaves him, he returns to the ground; on that day his plans die. Happy is the one whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them. He remains faithful forever, executing justice for the exploited and giving food to the hungry.” 
Psalm 146:3-7 (CSB) (read full passage)

President Trump was given a piece of peace hardware. On Thursday, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize (see photo), praising his “principled and decisive” actions in Venezuela. The Nobel Committee says the medal and diploma can be given away, but the honor itself is "inseparably linked” to the designated laureate.

The U.S. killed an al-Qaeda affiliate leader linked to the death of three Americans in Syria. The U.S. said a Friday strike eliminated Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, a terrorist “directly connected” with the ISIS gunman who killed two Iowa National Guardsmen and an American interpreter on December 13. Since then, Operation Hawkeye Strike has hit over 100 ISIS targets.

President Trump has assembled his “Board of Peace” to reconstruct Gaza. The panel, announced Friday, includes Secretary Rubio, Trump’s son-in-law/advisor Jared Kushner, and former British PM Tony Blair—a divisive figure in the Middle East due to his role in the 2003 Iraq invasion—among others. The board is tasked with implementing the next steps in Trump’s 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan.

Houston, we’re going back. NASA slowly rolled its rocket 4 miles to the launchpad Saturday (watch here) in preparation for the first crewed flight around the moon in 50+ years. More testing is required before Artemis II is cleared for takeoff, but the four-member crew could launch by early February, paving the way for Artemis III’s moon landing—mankind’s next giant leap.

Recovery crews made a breakthrough Sunday in their search for a plane that vanished from radar in Indonesia Saturday. A body was recovered near aircraft wreckage in the mountainous region where a plane carrying 11 lost contact with air control after being instructed to adjust its approach. Rescue teams continue to search despite poor weather and terrain.

Ten of the cutest animals in the world…

One Way to Take Control of Debt in 2026
With a 0% APR credit card*

Paying down credit card debt can feel like swimming upstream: slow going, impossible, and, let’s face it… discouraging. Here’s the good news: there’s another way.

A 0% APR credit card can help you take back the reins by saving hundreds in interest over the next year. Plus, you earn cash-back rewards. Plus plus, there are no annual fees. 

The cherry on top? All the legwork has been done for you. FinanceBuzz’s 120+ experts have compiled the best cards for you to get the most gain for the least hassle. 

This is a limited-time offer, so don’t wait! Check out your options, and crush debt in 2026.

How We Tackled Our Team Retreat
With LMNT in our cups*

I learned three things at my first TPO staff retreat: 
1. Everyone’s names.
2. How far people will go in an egg drop competition. 
3. How much TPO loves LMNT…

Okay, so maybe I learned more than that (I promise, Nate), but LMNT was definitely among the most important. 

Their science-backed ratio of electrolytes gave us the boost we needed to dominate in team-building Olympic games without the added sugar dragging down our afternoon brainstorming sessions. With LMNT, we’re practically unstoppable! Look out 2026. 

As a TPO reader, you get 8 single-serve packs free with any purchase, so you too can tackle 2026 (or your coworker in a friendly wrestling match… see ours here).

Katherine Anne Thierfelder | Recently Initiated Writer

Referral count: {{rp_num_referrals}}
Referral link: {{rp_refer_url}})