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In the news today: Democrats say a White House proposal on ICE is “incomplete and insufficient” as they threaten a shutdown of the Homeland Security Department; Tulsi Gabbard’s office fires back on a top-secret complaint about her handling of classified material; and the “Walk for Peace” by Buddhist monks that has captivated the U.S. comes to an end in Washington, D.C. Also, why Galentine’s Day is growing as an alternative to Valentine’s Day.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., center, speaks as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. listens, at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

POLITICS

Democrats say White House offer on ICE is ‘insufficient’ as Homeland Security funding set to expire

Democratic congressional leaders said in a statement late Monday that a White House counterproposal to the list of demands they transmitted over the weekend “included neither details nor legislative text” and does not address “the concerns Americans have about ICE’s lawless conduct.” Read more.

Why this matters:

• The Democrats’ statement comes as time is running short, with another partial government shutdown threatening to begin Saturday. Their demands include judicial warrants, better identification of DHS officers, new use-of-force standards and a stop to racial profiling. Many Democrats who are furious about Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s aggressive crackdown have said they won’t vote for another penny of Homeland Security funding until enforcement is radically scaled back.
  
  

• Republicans have balked at the Democrats’ requests and some have demands of their own, including the addition of legislation that would require proof of citizenship before Americans register to vote and restrictions on cities that they say do not do enough to crack down on illegal immigration.

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• US immigration court blocks deportation of Tufts graduate student from Turkey, her attorneys say

POLITICS

Gabbard’s office warns attorney against sharing classified complaint with Congress

The general counsel for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Monday warned the attorney for an anonymous government employee not to directly share a top-secret complaint about Gabbard’s handling of classified material with members of Congress. Read more.

Why this matters:

• The letter to attorney Andrew Bakaj is the latest escalation in the back-and-forth accusations over the complaint. It alleges that Gabbard withheld top-secret material for political reasons. Two inspectors general for the intelligence community reviewed the claim and found that particular allegation did not appear to be credible. Gabbard has denied any wrongdoing and said she did all she could to ensure the report reached Congress.
  
  

• Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees have blasted Gabbard’s office over the handling of the complaint, questioning why it took eight months for it to be sent to select members of Congress as required by law.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

• Trump is threatening to block a new bridge between Detroit and Canada from opening
  
  

• WATCH: Ghislaine Maxwell appeals for clemency from Trump as she declines to answer Epstein questions
  
  

• Netanyahu wants Trump to demand more from Iran. The leaders will meet this week
  
  

• Navy leader wants to move faster and leaner instead of turning to aircraft carriers in crisis
  
  

• Survey says democracies’ anti-corruption efforts are slipping and raises concern about the US
  
  

• Governors tackle rising cost of living with relief checks, tax cuts and housing policy
  
  

• Her jabs go viral. He’s known to quote the Bible. How social media is shaping a Texas Senate race
  
  

• GOP lawmakers both critical and cordial with Charlotte leaders after high-profile crime
  
  

• Jury convicts 2 in signature scandal that doomed 2022 Michigan candidates for governor
  
  

• Bad Bunny may have trounced Kid Rock in Super Bowl halftime showdown if historic trends hold

RELIGION

Buddhist monks head to DC to finish a ‘Walk for Peace’ that captivated millions

A group of Buddhist monks is set to reach Washington, D.C., on foot Tuesday, capping a trek from Texas that caught the country’s attention. The monks in their saffron robes are walking to advocate for peace and have become fixtures on social media, along with their rescue dog Aloka. Read more.

Why this matters:

• The monks’ simple message has resonated across the U.S. as a welcome respite from conflict and political divisions. Thousands have gathered along Southern roadsides to watch the monks’ quiet, single-file procession that began in late October. Millions have followed them online. On Tuesday, the monks will complete 108 days of walking. It’s a sacred number in Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. It represents spiritual completion, cosmic order and the wholeness of existence.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

• WATCH: Reactions to the monks in North Carolina

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