24/7 News: The Latest
The Latest: 01/28/2025 04:59pm ET
"This is your 24/7 News Update, the latest views this hour in just four minutes." President Trump's first week actions are being highlighted by the White House. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt discussed immigration raids, drones in New Jersey and the federal aid freeze during her first press briefing. Levitt also defended Trump's executive order that aims to limit birthright citizenship. In Tuesday's briefing, Levitt said the administration is prepared to defend the action all the way to the highest court in the land. This administration believes that birthright citizenship is unconstitutional. And that is why President Trump signed that executive order. Trump signed the order after being sworn back into office last week. The order would limit birthright citizenship to children born to at least one parent who is either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. A federal judge temporarily blocked the order after at least five lawsuits were filed against it. Investors believe the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged tomorrow. The central bank's two-day policy meeting got underway today. It comes as the Fed weighs how the Trump administration's economic agenda might impact inflation and the economy as a whole. Americans' confidence in the economy is down, but responses are split along party lines. Gallup's Economic Confidence Index sits at -19 on a scale from -100 to positive 100. It rose by 30 points with GOP voters since President Trump won the White House the same amount that it dropped among Democrats. New Orleans is putting up giant new barriers on Bourbon Street following the terrorist attack that killed 14 people. The city says the steel wedges are designed to prevent a similar attack in the French quarter. The city is gearing up for both the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras. Wall Street is closing with stocks higher. The Nasdaq rebounded today after shedding more than 3 percent on Monday over concerns of a Chinese-owned AI startup company. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones industrial average gained 136 points, the S&P rose by 55, and the Nasdaq gained 391 points. Posting "Let's Get Carving," Tampa Bay Area Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna announced she's officially introduced legislation to add President Trump to Mount Rushmore. I'm Lisa Taylor. Democratic state attorneys general are taking legal action against President Trump's federal aid freeze. A lawsuit is being filed by Arizona Attorney General Chris Mayes and others over the order. Mayes says Trump's action would put school lunches and other critical assistance at risk. In part of the pause on aid to allow for agency programs to be reviewed, Democratic lawmakers criticize the move with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer saying Donald Trump's administration blatantly disobeys the law by holding up virtually all vital funds that support programs in every community across the country. Homeland Security Secretary Christine Gnome says she's committed to giving her all to ensure Americans remain safe. Speaking in front of Homeland Security staffers for the first time, Gnome says it's her responsibility to make sure the department has what it needs to do its job correctly. The former South Dakota governor added that they will always keep the American people first. Gnome was confirmed by the Senate over the weekend. Federal student loans and Pell grants are not part of the U.S. Education Department's federal spending pause. That's what a spokesperson for the department said in a statement after a memo alarmed students worried that their assistance would freeze. The memo from the Office of Management and Budget did mention an exception for assistance received directly by individuals. In grants and loans can be sent directly to schools, so students do not necessarily receive the money directly. Lawmakers are discussing the Panama Canal's impact on U.S. trade at National Security on Capitol Hill today. Texas Senator Ted Cruz said the Panama Canal is vital to America's economic interests, and added Panama is treating America unfairly. The Panama Canal was not just given away. President Carter struck a bargain. He made a treaty. President Trump is making a serious and substantive argument that that treaty is being violated right now. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation held the hearing where witnesses speaking included representatives from the Federal Maritime Commission and shipping law experts. I'm Lisa Taylor.