Trump to Kick Off Midterm Campaign in Iowa Amidst Policy Scrutiny

President Trump planned to hold a rally in Clive, Iowa, on Tuesday, January 28, 2026, to preview his administration's campaign message ahead of the midterm elections, according to NPR News. The speech was expected to focus on energy and the economy, two areas where Trump's policy changes in the last year have negatively impacted the state.

The rally came as polls showed that voters were unhappy with many elements of his messaging so far, NPR News reported. The Iowa event was seen as a de facto midterm kickoff, aiming to address voter concerns regarding the economy and energy prices.

In other news, activists expressed concerns that new U.S. visa restrictions for Palestinians would hurt diplomacy, according to NPR Politics. Palestinians were reportedly no longer able to apply for a U.S. visa with documents issued by the Palestinian Authority, a move activists said was another sign that the Trump administration was sidelining Palestinians.

Meanwhile, federal immigration enforcement authorities faced scrutiny over their tactics, including the lack of body-worn cameras, following the killing of two U.S. citizens by immigration officers in Minneapolis, NPR News reported. The incident, which involved the death of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse at a VA medical center, prompted widespread criticism and calls for mandatory body camera usage. "Federal law does not mandate the use of body cameras by the two agencies," according to NPR News.

In the realm of international media, CJ ENM's Tving was expanding its global reach, launching a new slate of Korean dramas across Japan and the Asia-Pacific region via Disney+ and HBO Max, Variety reported. The CJ ENM-owned streaming platform secured a fresh lineup of K-dramas premiering this year, to be released through these partnerships.

Additionally, a Nature News article highlighted the reliance of African science on foreign donors. Recent donor-funding cuts had slowed research activity, left many scientists in uncertain positions, and exposed the fragile nature of the continent's scientific systems, according to Nature News.