标签： North America

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell disclosed on Sunday that federal prosecutors have initiated a criminal investigation targeting his congressional testimony regarding Federal Reserve building renovations. The unprecedented probe, announced via video statement, involves subpoenas served to the agency by the U.S. Justice Department and includes threats of criminal indictment.

Powell characterized the investigation as retaliatory, suggesting it stems directly from his refusal to accelerate interest rate cuts despite sustained public pressure from President Donald Trump. ‘This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions, or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation,’ Powell stated.

While affirming his ‘deep respect for the rule of law and accountability,’ Powell contextualized the Justice Department’s action within what he described as the administration’s pattern of threats and ongoing pressure campaigns. The Fed chair becomes the latest high-profile figure to clash with the president and subsequently face criminal investigation.

The confrontation between Powell and Trump escalated throughout 2025, with the president repeatedly criticizing the Fed chair’s pace of interest rate reductions despite three separate cuts implemented in the latter half of the year.

Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, announced he would block all Federal Reserve Board nominations—including Powell’s potential replacement—until the legal matter is resolved. In a strongly worded statement, Tillis warned that ‘if there were any remaining doubt whether advisers within the Trump Administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve, there should now be none,’ adding that ‘it is now the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice that are in question.’

According to initial reporting by The New York Times, the investigation will be supervised by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

In a dramatic escalation of hemispheric pressure, former U.S. President Donald Trump has delivered a stark warning to Cuba through his Truth Social platform, declaring that the island nation will no longer receive petroleum or financial support from Venezuela. The statement signals a significant shift in regional energy politics following recent developments in Caracas.

Trump’s social media proclamation on Sunday explicitly stated: “THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.” This ultimatum comes amid substantial geopolitical realignments in the region, particularly regarding Venezuela’s oil exports.

The strategic context involves Venezuela’s status as Cuba’s primary petroleum supplier, a relationship that has undergone radical transformation since the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces. Intelligence assessments indicate that Trump has successfully persuaded interim President Delcy Rodriguez to redirect Venezuelan oil shipments toward the United States instead of Cuba.

This energy blockade poses existential challenges for Havana. Shipping data and documents from Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA reveal that between January and November last year, Venezuela supplied approximately 27,000 barrels per day to Cuba, covering nearly half of the island’s petroleum deficit. The potential termination of this energy lifeline coincides with already severe economic strains within Cuba’s critical sectors including agriculture and tourism, exacerbated by frequent blackouts and international trade sanctions.

While U.S. intelligence agencies acknowledge Cuba’s deteriorating economic situation, they provide no substantiation for Trump’s assertion that the communist government is “ready to fall.” The CIA assessment portrays a nation struggling under multiple pressures but maintains stability through decades of institutional control established since Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution.

The ultimatum represents the latest chapter in the complex triangular relationship between Washington, Havana, and Caracas, with energy resources serving as both economic necessity and geopolitical instrument in Western Hemisphere diplomacy.

The Trump administration announced plans to deploy hundreds of additional federal officers to Minneapolis following controversial shooting incident involving a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. The escalation comes amid growing tensions between federal and local authorities over immigration enforcement tactics.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the deployment during a Fox News interview, stating the reinforcements would ensure safety for ICE and Border Patrol personnel operating in the city. The decision follows the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, who was killed by an ICE agent during what authorities describe as an enforcement operation last Wednesday.

Contrasting narratives have emerged regarding the circumstances of the shooting. Federal authorities maintain the agent acted in self-defense, while local officials assert Good posed no imminent threat. Video evidence shows ICE agents approaching Good’s vehicle in the middle of a street before the confrontation escalated.

The incident has triggered widespread demonstrations across multiple U.S. cities. Minneapolis witnessed one of the largest gatherings with tens of thousands participating in the ‘ICE out of Minnesota’ rally this past weekend. Parallel protests emerged in Austin, Seattle, New York, and Los Angeles, though Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey characterized his city’s protest as peaceful despite 31 arrests over two days.

Secretary Noem has drawn criticism for characterizing Good’s actions as ‘domestic terrorism,’ claiming the victim had ‘weaponized’ her vehicle against federal agents. Minneapolis Mayor Frey directly contradicted this assessment, telling CNN that video evidence clearly shows ‘a victim is not a domestic terrorist’ but rather someone attempting to execute a three-point turn to escape the scene.

The political confrontation intensified when Minnesota Senator Tina Smith (D) accused the Trump administration of attempting to ‘cover up what happened here.’ The White House responded through spokesperson Abigail Jackson, accusing Smith of spreading lies that ‘inflame tensions and incite violence against law enforcement officers.’

Multiple investigations are now underway, including an FBI probe and a separate state-level inquiry initiated after Minnesota officials claimed they were excluded from the federal investigation. The involved agent has been identified as Jonathan Ross, a veteran ICE officer previously injured in the line of duty.

The escalating situation reflects broader tensions between federal immigration enforcement strategies and local governance, with Minnesota experiencing a significant surge in federal law enforcement presence as the administration intensifies immigration operations in the state.