Diplomacy: Secretary Rubio's regional calls
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. Rubio commended Azerbaijans shipments of fuel to Armenia as a confidence-building gesture tied to the August 8, 2025 White House summit and discussed additional steps to advance peace and prosperity in the South Caucasus.
- Rubio also spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to coordinate on regional security and the situation in Iran; both ministers agreed to remain in close contact on regional developments.
Sources: U.S. Department of State readouts.
White House: National Championship message and Martin Luther King Jr. holiday
- Presidential message on the College Football Playoff National Championship: the White House released a congratulatory statement noting the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes as participants in the game and praising college footballs traditions and values.
- Presidential proclamation: January 19, 2026 was proclaimed the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday, with the President urging acts of service and referencing the declassification of documents related to King's assassination (noting the administrations prior action to declassify).
Source: White House briefings and proclamations.
DHS / ICE: Enforcement readouts and calls to local officials
- DHS/ICE announced weekend arrests described as including murderers, pedophiles, rapists, and gang members, and publicized enforcement results from Operation Metro Surge. The Department also urged Minnesota officials — Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey — to honor ICE arrest detainers for more than 1,360 noncitizens in state/local custody, and highlighted that ICE has marked roughly 3,000 arrests during Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis.
- These DHS/ICE releases emphasize removal of individuals they characterize as the "worst of the worst" and are framed to press local authorities to cooperate with ICE detainers. Such public messaging aligns with DHSs operational and policy incentives to demonstrate enforcement outcomes and to influence state and local policies on detainer cooperation.
Source: Department of Homeland Security news releases.
Media items and White House video
- The White House posted a short-form video titled "IT'S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP NIGHT" (YouTube Shorts). The short was linked in White House materials related to the Presidential message on the College Football Playoff National Championship; viewers should consult the YouTube page for captions or publisher details.
Source: White House video link (YouTube).
Notes on sourcing and context
- State Department and White House items are official readouts and statements; they present the views and summaries the administration chose to publicize.
- DHS/ICE releases focus on enforcement metrics and include calls for state/local cooperation; readers should note the department's institutional interest in showcasing removals and in securing partner cooperation when assessing emphasis and framing.