WASHINGTON, D.C. – Iran’s nationwide protests have entered a third week, and President Donald Trump is stepping up the U.S. military posture in the Middle East. Key U.S. assets are shifting closer to Iran as Trump issues sharp warnings to Tehran.

The moves come as human rights groups describe an exceptionally violent crackdown, with reports that security forces have killed thousands.

Trump’s comments, often posted on Truth Social, have fueled talk of possible U.S. action. At the same time, he has signaled he may pause strikes after claims that the killing has slowed.

Anti-government protests spread across all 31 Iranian provinces in late December 2025. Demonstrations began amid economic collapse, hyperinflation, and anger over corruption. Many protests later turned into open demands to end clerical rule. Large numbers of Gen Z protesters and people from different ethnic communities have joined, calling for freedom and democracy.

The state response has been severe. Reports say security forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and police, have used live fire, metal pellets, and beatings against crowds described as mostly peaceful. A near-total internet blackout since early January has made verification harder, but accounts from exiled groups and witnesses describe widespread bloodshed.

Death toll estimates vary and remain difficult to confirm. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency has reported more than 2,500 deaths. Iran International, citing internal documents, reported claims of up to 12,000 killed over two nights, January 8 to 9, 2026, during the peak of the crackdown.

Norway-based Iran Human Rights said it documented at least 3,428 protester deaths by mid-January, including children, along with thousands injured and more than 18,000 arrests. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have condemned what they describe as unlawful lethal force, arbitrary arrests, and attacks on medical sites, warning these could amount to crimes against humanity.

Footage said to be smuggled out shows people running from gunfire, bodies stored in makeshift morgues, and families grieving. Iranian officials have labeled protesters as foreign-backed “rioters” and warned of rapid trials and executions. One reported case involves 26-year-old Erfan Soltani, who was said to receive a death sentence shortly after being detained.

The violence builds on a long pattern of repression, including the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests and earlier crackdowns. Many observers now describe the current unrest as potentially the deadliest since the 1979 Revolution.

Trump’s Warning to Iran

Trump has used blunt language in public statements. On Truth Social, he urged Iranians to “KEEP PROTESTING” and “TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS.” He also promised “HELP IS ON ITS WAY” and said those responsible for the killings would “pay a big price.” He warned of “very strong action” if the government began hanging protesters or continued large-scale killings.

In interviews, Trump said Iran’s leaders face “tremendous” economic pressure and repeated that the U.S. was “locked and loaded.” He pointed to the June 2025 U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities as proof of U.S. willingness to act. Trump also said he had “very important sources” indicating the killings had paused, and he suggested that helped him hold off on immediate strikes. Still, he emphasized that “all options remain on the table.”

His messaging has lifted morale for some protesters, but it has also worried regional partners who fear a wider conflict.

U.S. Military Buildup

The U.S. military posture is shifting in visible ways. Sources say at least one U.S. aircraft carrier strike group is moving toward the Middle East. More air, ground, and naval assets are expected to follow in the coming days and weeks. The repositioning gives Trump a broader menu of options, from limited strikes on regime command sites to larger operations.

This comes after a recent drawdown that left fewer major assets close by. Some carriers, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, were redirected to the Caribbean after prior missions. The U.S. has also evacuated nonessential personnel from locations such as Al Udeid in Qatar, a sign officials are preparing for possible Iranian retaliation against U.S. bases. Defense planners say these steps keep choices open without committing the U.S. to a full war.

Analysts note that the on-station force level is smaller than during the 2025 Israel-Iran clashes. Even so, the U.S. can still act quickly, including with long-range bombers flying from the United States. The current U.S. aircraft carrier movement and broader Iranian military buildup appear aimed at deterrence, while also signaling support for protesters without direct involvement on the ground.

Congress Responds With Caution

Lawmakers in Washington are split. Leading Republicans have voiced support for Iranian protesters while pushing caution on military steps. Senators, including Kevin Cramer and Roger Wicker, have pointed to sanctions and diplomacy as preferred tools, and they have said they were not fully briefed on any plan for strikes.

Democrats have raised sharper objections. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stressed that major military action would require congressional approval under the War Powers Act. Other Democrats warned that strikes could backfire and push some Iranians to rally around the regime.

Polling suggests the public remains uneasy. Many Americans oppose U.S. strikes on Iran and say Trump should seek congressional approval first. Recent U.S. actions in Venezuela have also added to bipartisan concerns about the scope of presidential power overseas.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – American conservative politics, plus the online spaces that feed on conspiracy claims, rarely stay quiet for long. A new flashpoint hit in early January 2026 when an old documentary clip resurfaced featuring Erika Kirk, the CEO of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) and the widow of the late Charlie Kirk.

Jimmy Dore, a comedian and political commentator known for blunt criticism of establishment power, jumped on the clip and called it a possible “smoking gun.” In his framing, the footage raises uncomfortable questions about Kirk’s early access to national security circles and whether those links go back further than most people knew.

The viral segment shows a younger Erika Frantzve (Kirk’s maiden name) speaking about the risks of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack and how it could knock out the U.S. power grid. In the same film, she appears alongside well-known national security voices, including former CIA Director R. James Woolsey. Some social media accounts first claimed the documentary was a hidden or “buried” CIA project, which added fuel to the rumor mill.

The Documentary Source: Black Start and Why It Went Viral Again

The clip comes from Black Start, an independent documentary made by filmmaker Patrea Patrick through Heartfelt Films LLC. The movie was released publicly around 2017, with some interviews and material that appear to date back to about 2013.

The film focuses on weak points in the U.S. electrical grid and what could take it down, including cyberattacks, physical attacks, natural threats like solar flares, and high-altitude EMP events that could cause major, long-lasting blackouts.

In the resurfaced section, Erika Kirk, then in her mid-20s, delivers a calm, structured presentation. She talks through EMP dangers, basic mitigation ideas, and the chain reaction that could follow a grid failure. The setting looks like a talk given to people with a security or technical background.

Woolsey appears in the documentary as well, and in some circulating edits, he’s labeled as a former CIA leader tied to national security and energy. Woolsey has spent years warning about EMP risks and pushing for grid hardening, so his presence has become a central part of the debate.

Dore’s commentary focused on what he sees as unusual access. He pointed to the polished delivery and the audience as signals that this wasn’t a random appearance. In his view, young outsiders don’t usually get a platform in rooms like that without real connections. He also suggested her comfort level reads like prior coaching or preparation for high-stakes discussions.

Family Backstory

As the clip spread, online commentators started tying it to Kirk’s family history. One common thread involves her mother, Lori Frantzve, who founded companies such as GTeK (later connected in online discussions to E3Tek Group or AZ-Tech International). Those businesses have been linked to Department of Defense (DoD) and Homeland Security contract work, with topics that include network security, risk work, and EMP-related protection tech.

A separate piece of old footage also made the rounds, a 2020 interview clip where Erika Kirk described her family’s move to Arizona. In that clip, she said the relocation was tied to her mother’s growing DoD-related work.

That move also put the family within reach of Fort Huachuca, an Army base known for intelligence training, drone operations, and ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) programs. In conspiracy spaces, those details often get stitched together into a bigger story. Supporters of the theory argue that growing up around defense contracting, plus early exposure to EMP topics, could have created an on-ramp to intelligence networks.

Claims of CIA Links

The loudest claims say Erika Kirk has direct or indirect ties to the CIA, and they treat the documentary clip as proof. Some conspiracy-focused accounts have labeled it a “buried CIA video” or a “leaked briefing,” suggesting she was delivering insider-level knowledge or working in intelligence-adjacent roles.

Public reporting and fact checks push back on that. Black Start has been described as an independent film, not a CIA production, and it has been available publicly (including on YouTube). It features a range of public figures and commentators, including Fox News contributor Jeanine Pirro and former Congressman Trent Franks. Kirk also is not prominently credited on IMDb, and her presence fits a simpler explanation for many viewers: she had subject-matter exposure through family ties to defense and security work, not secret agency involvement.

Dore has treated the story as part of a wider pattern. Even if the CIA claim doesn’t hold up, he argues the overlap between intelligence circles, contractors, and political movements still matters. He has also used the clip to talk about influence and access in conservative organizing, a topic that gained fresh attention after Charlie Kirk’s assassination in September 2025, which elevated Erika into TPUSA leadership.

Critics of the conspiracy narrative say the story is being used to target Kirk during a painful period and a major leadership change. Kirk has compared these kinds of claims to a “mind virus,” saying they feed on tragedy and turn it into content.

Why It’s a Big Story in 2026

This resurfaced clip landed at a moment when trust in major institutions is already low. It also touches a real policy issue, EMP threats and grid security, which figures like Woolsey have warned about for years. The clip sits at the crossroads of national security fear, internet speculation, and political influence, which is why it keeps spreading.

Under Kirk’s leadership, TPUSA remains a high-profile force, so attention comes with the job. The debate around this footage has settled into two camps. One side sees a young speaker drawing on family experience and a public documentary setting. The other side sees early access that feels too connected to ignore. Either way, the revived Black Start segment has kept the conversation going, and it doesn’t look like it will fade soon.

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MINNESOTA – The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation involving Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

The inquiry focuses on accusations that the two leaders took part in a conspiracy to hinder federal immigration enforcement, with attention on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the Minneapolis area.

CBS News first reported the investigation on January 16, 2026. The probe follows public comments and actions by both officials during a major federal operation that sent nearly 3,000 ICE and Border Patrol agents into the Minneapolis-St Paul region. The deployment, labeled Operation Metro Surge, drew protests and national attention. Tensions rose further after the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer on January 7.

ICE Becomes a Local Flashpoint

The large federal presence arrived as the Trump administration pushed harder for deportations and sstepped upenforcement in jurisdictions seen as friendly to immigrants. Minnesota, under Walz, has backed policies that limit local cooperation with ICE detainers.

Critics often call those rules “sanctuary” policies and argue they can protect undocumented people, including some with criminal records.

After Good’s death, demonstrations intensified and continued day after day. Walz and Frey spoke out against the federal operation, saying it was creating disorder and putting public safety at risk.

Walz encouraged residents to protest peacefully and to record encounters with ICE for possible future review. Frey used sharper language in public, demanding agents “get the f**k out of Minneapolis,” and said the situation “wasn’t sustainable.”

Federal leaders responded with their own accusations. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem argued the officials were fueling obstruction and unrest. Blanche posted on X that he was “focused on stopping YOU [Walz and Frey] from your terrorism by whatever means necessary,” and he described the turmoil as an “insurrection” tied to their words.

Protected Speech or Illegal Interference

Sources say investigators are looking at whether Walz and Frey crossed a legal line by encouraging resistance to federal officers, including citizen monitoring of ICE actions.

The reported focus includes a federal conspiracy law often described as “conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer.” That statute targets agreements to use force, threats, or intimidation against officials carrying out their duties.

Some legal analysts have said a case built mainly on public statements would be unusual and could raise First Amendment issues. No charges have been filed. A grand jury process could bring subpoenas soon, with requests expected for communications, instructions, or coordination tied to protests and responses to the ICE deployment.

Both officials have rejected the accusations. Walz has called the investigation an effort to turn the justice system against political opponents, and he has argued there has not been enough scrutiny of the ICE officer involved in Good’s death.

Frey has described the probe as an attempt to scare him into silence, and he has said he plans to stay focused on safety in the city.

Possible Federal Charges and Penalties

If prosecutors decide to move forward, a key charge could involve 18 U.S.C. § 372 (conspiracy to impede or injure officers). Investigators could also consider other obstruction-related laws, including 18 U.S.C. § 1505 or § 1512. In many conspiracy cases, penalties track the underlying alleged offense.

• A conviction could carry up to 6 years in federal prison per count, along with fines that can reach $250,000.
• Prosecutors could argue for tougher sentencing if they claim the conduct helped drive violence or threats during unrest.
• Any indictment of elected officials would likely set off immediate political fallout, including potential impeachment efforts in Minnesota, removal fights, and long-term damage to future campaigns.
• Convictions could also open the door to civil lawsuits, and asset forfeiture could become an issue if prosecutors link actions to a wider pattern.

To win in court, prosecutors would need to show more than criticism of policy. They would need evidence of an agreement to obstruct federal officers and overt steps taken to carry it out. The defense would likely point to protected political speech and a lack of direct incitement.

Political Stakes and What Comes Next

The investigation signals a sharper clash between the federal government and Democratic-led cities and states that resist ICE cooperation. It also comes as Walz faces added attention tied to other controversies, including separate inquiries connected to state welfare fraud scandals.

Walz also ran unsuccessfully as Kamala Harris’s vice presidential pick in 2024, which keeps him in the national spotlight.

Minneapolis remains tense, with continued protests and federal agents staying on alert. Whether the DOJ probe results in charges or works mainly as political pressure is still unclear. What is clear is that the fight over immigration enforcement, local authority, and federal power is intensifying.

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