Friday morning news: January 9, 2026

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House Obamacare subsidies vote » The House voted Thursday to extend COVID-era Obamacare subsidies:

AUDIO: On this vote, the yeas are 230. The nays are 1 96. The bill is passed.

That after 17 Republicans joined Democrats to back the bill, bypassing objections from GOP leaders.

The subsidies expired last week. Supporters say without them, premiums are rising and more people could lose coverage. The bill would renew the aid for three years.

A budget analysis says it would add about $80 billion dollars to the deficit over a decade. And most Republicans say there are better options. Congressman Jason Smith:

SMITH:  What I have been trying to convince my Democrat colleagues is, is let's work on policies to lower the cost of healthcare, lower premiums for every single American.

The bill now heads to the upper chamber, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is pressuring the Senate majority leader to bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote.

JEFFRIES:  John Thune knows that a majority of the United States Senate supports a straightforward, clean, three year extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits.

Senators are looking at a possible scaled-back version of the plan that could replace the House bill.

Senate advances war powers measure » Meantime, in the Senate, lawmakers voted Thursday to send a message to President Trump about any potential further military action against Venezuela.

The resolution would limit Trump’s ability to launch any further strikes without approval from Congress.

Senate majority leader, John Thune remarked shortly before the vote:

THUNE: This is the Democrats trying to, you know, poke the president, and I hope that we have the, the votes to defeat it.

But the vote succeeded, 52 to 47, with five Republicans joining Democrats to pass it.

Democrat Tim Kaine said he was encouraged by the outcome.

KAINE:  I came to the Senate obsessed about these war power issues 'cause I'm a military dad and I represent a state that has deep, deep military equities. But we all should be obsessed about it.

But Thursday’s vote was largely symbolic.

While it clears the way for a full Senate vote next week passage on the Senate floor would require 60 “yes” votes, which is unlikely. And even then, President Trump would have to sign it into law.

The president criticized the senators who supported the resolution, saying it could weaken national security.

ICE shooting investigation » Heated protests have erupted in Minneapolis after a federal immigration agent shot and killed a woman that federal officials say tried to strike the agent with her car.

Many protesters say they want immigration enforcement out of the city.

AUDIO:  We don't want you. You have no right to be here. You're destroying our communities. Just leave.

The Trump administration says not enforcing the law is not an option.

City officials dispute the claim that 37-year-old Renee Goode tried to strike the agent. And state officials are complaining that the FBI has shut them out of the investigation. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz:

WALZ:  I will continue to press that we be part of the investigation, that we do the investigation so that Minnesotans can trust what the outcome is.

But Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem says:

NOEM: They have not been cut out. They don’t have any jurisdiction in this investigation.

Noem added that from her understanding of the facts, the agent acted appropriately and in accordance with his training.

New nutrition standards for food stamp retailers » The Trump administration unveiled a new food pyramid and other dietary guidelines this week. But officials are not stopping there.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says her department wants to see action from many retailers.

ROLLINS:  We are requiring any of those 250,000 retailers that accept food stamps or SNAP dollars have to double their offering of healthy food.

The new recommendations call on Americans to eat more whole foods and protein, and less processed carbohydrates. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the data show that American children eat far too many processed carbs.

KENNEDY:  That is the result of a food pyramid that was driven by mercantile impulses that put fruit loops at the top of the fruit pyramid pyramid.

Experts praised the emphasis on eating less ultra-processed foods.

Some, however, criticized the new food pyramid's focus on meat and dairy.

The guidelines still recommend Americans limit saturated fat consumption.

Iran protests » Protests broke out in Tehran Thursday as the unrest continues over Iran’s weak economy and a collapsing currency. WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher has more.

BENJAMIN EICHER: Residents chanted from windows and rooftops and crowds filling streets, after Iran’s exiled crown prince called for nationwide demonstrations.

Markets and bazaars also shut down in several cities.

Shortly thereafter internet and phone service went dark.

Watchdog groups say the Iranian government cut communications in a bid to quell the protests.

A U.S.-based rights group says dozens have been killed and thousands arrested in recent weeks.

The growing demonstrations are ramping up pressure on Iran’s leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Culture Friday with John Stonestreet. Plus, a look at a new film from Angel Studios.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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