Blue 812 News Issue 52 - January 18

^{January 18 2026}

Blue812News is BACK! New & improved with its own domain at blue812.news; the original Blue812News is still in Substack jail, so:

Trump spent last week threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act, the little-known law that allows him to send the National Guard into US cities, before walking it back on Friday as Democratic lawmakers consider withholding support for an appropriations bill, possibly teeing up yet another government shutdown. Now, the Justice Department is investigating Minnesota officials, including Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, over an alleged conspiracy to impede federal immigration agents, an extraordinary escalation in the Trump administration's clash with Democratic leaders there, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CBS News. Saying mean things is now a felony? I’d better watch it…

One week after a federal agent shot and killed Renee Good, a Minneapolis mother of three, a new poll shows a plurality of Americans now support abolishing ICE. At least six prosecutors have resigned over the Justice Department’s handling of the investigation into the murder, plus in the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office, an additional six career prosecutors — a majority of the leadership team — resigned over the decision to squeeze state investigators out of the federal investigation into the incident and a related DOJ request to investigate Good’s widow for her protest activities, according to the Star Tribune.

Governor Walz has mobilized the National Guard in Minnesota to enforce a recent ruling that bars U.S. immigration enforcement operation from detaining or tear gassing peaceful protesters who aren’t obstructing authorities, including when these people are observing the agents. In response, the Pentagon has ordered about 1,500 active-duty soldiers to prepare for possible deployment to Minnesota, according to a Trump administration source.

All of this is of a piece with more reports of excessive force and outright lies from ICE and DHS officials. Last week, CNN reported that the Department of Homeland Security had to alter its account of an immigration enforcement-related shooting in a Baltimore suburb on Christmas Eve after details in its initial statement were contradicted by local police. Marimar Martinez, who suffered several gunshot wounds and was accused of ramming ICE with her car, had all federal charges dismissed with prejudice in late November, after a judge ruled that the case could not proceed due to major evidence‑handling failures by federal agents.

Now Trump’s team is nervous about the public’s growing disenchantment with its immigration agenda, according to Axios. “What [Trump] doesn’t want is what people are seeing,” one of his advisers said. “He doesn’t like the way it looks. It looks bad, so he’s expressed some discomfort at that.” Maybe don’t let masked ICE agents drag a woman from her car, pepper spray protestors… or shoot a mother multiple times?

Last week, 5 grown-ups in Congress did a very rare thing and voted to limit Donald Trump’s ability to start more wars in Venezuela or elsewhere without congressional approval. You know, one of those checks and balances we learned about from Schoolhouse Rock. Trump got big mad and declared those 5 senators (which includes Indiana Senator Todd Young) never be elected again. But then on Wednesday, Todd Young was one of two flipped votes that tanked the war powers resolution Wednesday.

This comes as the president actively threatens to bomb Iran and continues to saber-rattle at Denmark over Greenland, and 56% of Americans feel Trump was gone too far with his military interventions – against 8% who think he hasn’t gone far enough.

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On Wednesday morning, Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson had her home searched and her computers seized. Natanson, who covers the Trump administration’s attacks on federal workforce, was “obtaining and reporting classified and illegally leaked information from a Pentagon contractor. The leaker is currently behind bars,” Attorney General Pam Bondi tweeted. This fits naturally with the investigations into Sen. Elissa Slotkin, Rep. Jason Crow, and the other members of Congress who made that video about disobeying legal orders. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) confirmed she’s being investigated by federal prosecutors over the video she and other lawmakers filmed urging service members to resist illegal orders. “Facts matter little, but the threat matters quite a bit,” Slotkin said. “The threat of legal action; the threat to your family; the threat to your staff; the threat to you.”

It’s that time of year: Gov. Braun gave his ceremonial State of the State address Wednesday night, and on the same day released a brief policy agenda (pamphlet?) roughly corresponding to the speech and the current actions of the legislature. You can read the text of the speech and see IndyStar’s annotations here.

Main takeaways:

Democrats released their rebuttals from House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta:

and Democratic Leader and Senator, Shelly Yoder:

We are two weeks into 2026’s short session. Lawmakers will likely adjourn in February, so everything is speeding along. This upcoming week is the last week for committee hearings. Bills that have passed committee are eligible to move forward in the legislative process, but bills that do not get passed by their committee will be ineligible to move forward, and thus be considered "dead" bills.

Where some big bills are now:

On the radar:

Advocate for these bills:

Billtrackers:

Terre Haute City Council started off the year with re-organization, electing Anthony Dinkel as the new Terre Haute City Council President. Dinkel also recently moved into the role of Executive Director of the Swope Art Museum. In Thursday’s meeting, the Council appointed new members of the Redevelopment Commission, Karrum Nasser and Aaron Atterson. President Anthony Dinkel said these members will have a very active role in the development of new Margret Ave., new College Ave. and Hunt Rd.

A special prosecutor has been appointed for a dispute between Vigo County Council members David Thompson and Randy Gentry back in October. Court records state that Gentry made a report with ISP alleging fellow Vigo County Council member Thompson threatened him that Gentry “needed to consider his safety and his family’s safety”

on October 14, 2025. A special prosecutor was called in and approved based on the positions of both individuals, as well as Vigo County Prosecutor Chief Deputy Rob Roberts being present at the incident and listed as a witness. Thompson spoke with WTWO, stating Gentry was the one to escalate the situation and made other statements claiming that Gentry has shown similar behavior in the past as well.

feedback is essential

TH senator Greg Goode has released his constituent survey for 2026 - your chance to let him now your thoughts on the General Assembly’s priorities. It’s only 5 multiple-choice questions and a comment box, so it won’t take long to complete. Take care of it next time you take your phone to the bathroom.

always election season

This week was the first full week of candidate filing for the 2026 election. The best way to make change in the government is by participating in it! This year we are electing Precinct Committeepersons, the local party representative who connects neighbors to the party, recruits volunteers, and helps turn out voters - the grassroots link between the community and the party’s organization - AKA YOU!

If you’re not sure where to get started, MADVoters has launched their MADVoters Candidate Hub to answer all the questions!

Nasty Women can keep up on who’s filed in Vigo County with updates posted regularly in the Facebook group. 

|visit the Blue812News Local Events calendar to see all upcoming events|

Monday, January 19th at 6pm: 2026 Legislative Update from League of Women Voters IN and Common Cause IN. It’s not easy to keep up. That’s why LWVIN & CCIN are teaming up to host a webinar to bring you up to date on important statehouse issues. In addition to updates on voting and election bills, environmental and health care issues; you’ll also find out what to expect if you are planning to attend Democracy Day on January 28th. Register here.

Monday, January 19th at 6pm: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration at the Vigo County History Center

Wednesday, January 21 at 1pm: Developing Your Local Democratic Party’s Structure and Priorities virtual training hosted by NDTC. More info & register here.

Wednesday, January 28th at 3pm: Mingle with the Mayor at Grand Traverse Pie Co. At this informal and relaxed gathering, various topics will be covered each month with opportunities to ask questions and voice concerns. Free pie and coffee will be served courtesy of Clinton Gardens.

HHS reversed some $2 billion in cuts to mental health and substance abuse programs following public pressure and lawmaker backlash.

Rep Robin Kelly (D-IL) has introduced articles of impeachment against Kristi Noem. About time!

A federal judge upheld California’s new congressional maps, an initiative spearheaded by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) after Texas Republicans moved to reshape their maps to help Donald Trump.

The Ford worker who Donald Trump flipped off after calling him a “pedophile protector” was suspended from his job — but he’s in good spirits. “As far as calling him out, definitely no regrets whatsoever,” TJ Sabula told the Washington Post. “I don’t feel as though fate looks upon you often, and when it does, you better be ready to seize the opportunity … I think I did that.” Two GoFundMe’s for Sabula have raised over $700,000 in the past day.

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