The Trump administration is beefing up security at the U.S.-Mexico border. And a new California wildfire is raging, with at least one fire official calling it “a completely different beast.” These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.
Pentagon deploys 1,500 troops to southern border
President Donald Trump has swiftly followed through on his Day 1 executive orders. On Wednesday, Jan. 22, the Pentagon announced it was deploying 1,500 active-duty troops, including U.S. Army soldiers and Marines, to the southern border with Mexico. They will arrive in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California by next week.
“This is just the beginning,” Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses said.
The troops will assist border patrol agents and help in the construction of barriers. However, as of now, there is no plan for the troops to engage in law enforcement, as they have for decades past.
The Pentagon said it will also provide military aircraft for Department of Homeland Security deportation flights for more than 5,000 detained migrants. Defense officials said the department is prepared to send even more troops if needed, including up to 2,000 additional Marines.
The active-duty troops will join the roughly 2,500 National Guard and reserve members already at the southern border. This is a 60% increase as the Trump administration gets started.
Trump expected to sign ‘Laken Riley Act’ into law
The 119th Congress passed its first bill of its new session, and Trump is expected to sign it into law. The Laken Riley Act, named after a Georgia nursing student who was murdered by an undocumented migrant in February 2024, passed Congress with bipartisan support on Wednesday.
The bill will require illegal immigrants in the country arrested for certain nonviolent offenses, like burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting, to be detained until trial.
Lauren Taylor has more on the legislation’s history and what it means for undocumented immigrants in the U.S. here.
Trump taps head of personal security detail to lead Secret Service
The president tapped his personal security director, Sean Curran, to head the Secret Service. Curran was one of the first agents to rush on stage when a gunman opened fire at Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July.
A bullet grazed Trump’s ear while he was speaking to the crowd.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump called Curran a “brilliant leader” and said he “proved his fearless courage when he risked his own life to help save mine from an assassin’s bullet.”
Curran will replace Ronald Rowe as the agency’s director. Rowe took over as the head of the Secret Service in July after then-Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned in the wake of Trump’s first assassination attempt. Many believe the attack happened due to failures by agents to secure the building where the shooter fired from.
A second assassination attempt was thwarted on Trump’s life in September while he was golfing in Florida. An agent spotted a gunman in the bushes. The suspect escaped but was later captured by local sheriff’s deputies.
New Los Angeles fire threatens thousands, prompts evacuations
Another massive wildfire now burns north of Los Angeles and has led to more evacuations. The Hughes Fire started Wednesday and quickly grew to more than 10,000 acres.
As of CalFire’s last update, the Hughes Fire is only about 14% contained. Authorities said it “blew up overnight” and is likely to grow as more Santa Ana winds sweep across Southern California.
More than 50,000 people remain under evacuation orders or warnings.
This comes as the area deals with the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have scorched more than 40,000 acres. Since the fires broke out earlier this month, 28 people have died in the infernos.
The Palisades fire was 70% contained and the Eaton fire was 95% contained as of Thursday morning.
Teen opens fire in Nashville high school cafeteria, killing 1 student
Authorities are investigating a deadly shooting at a high school in Nashville, Tennessee. Police said a 17-year-old gunman opened fire just after 11 a.m. CST on Wednesday, Jan. 22, in the school cafeteria.
Police said a bullet struck and killed a 16-year-old girl before the teen gunman turned the gun on himself. A 17-year-old boy was also grazed in the shooting.
A motive is unclear. Investigators are looking into the shooter’s postings on social media, WTVF reported.
Police have not identified any connection between the gunman and the victims. Authorities said they might have been struck by random gunfire.
The high school remains closed for the remainder of the week.
Post Malone, Oreo collaborate for a new twist
In just a little over one week, the best in the music industry will be honored at the 67th annual Grammy Awards. One of those looking to win big is artist Post Malone. He is up for eight Grammys, including Best Country Album and Record of the Year for his collaboration with Taylor Swift.
But before Post Malone gets to the Grammys, he’s working on another collaboration: the Post Malone Oreo.
The singer, known for his hit “Circles,” worked with the maker of Oreo to create a new version of the popular cookie. The limited-edition Oreo features a first-of-its-kind swirled creme combining salted caramel and shortbread flavors, sandwiched between one chocolate and one golden cookie.
The Post Malone Oreos will be available nationwide starting Feb. 3, the day after the Grammy Awards.