South Carolina to Vote First in Democrats’ Revamped 2028 Presidential Primary Calendar

The Democratic National Committee has approved sweeping changes to the 2028 presidential primary calendar. Under the new schedule, South Carolina voters would cast the first ballots on January 22, followed by Nevada on February 1. Iowa and New Hampshire would no longer be the first states to hold nominating contests. The move could expand the influence of Black and Latino voters on narrowing the field of presidential contenders. www.democracynow.org

Federal Judge Blocks Idaho from Prosecuting Doctors Who Provide Health-Saving Abortions

A federal judge has ruled that the state of Idaho must allow abortions when the pregnant person’s health and life are at risk. U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled Idaho state officials cannot prosecute physicians who perform abortions under these circumstances, saying Idaho’s near-total abortion ban violates the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment. Physicians faced up to five years in prison if found in violation of the ban. In his ruling, Judge Winmill wrote, “It is about self-preservation and the limit of the state’s power to make a woman suffer for the sake of an unborn child. … A pregnant woman’s health is not a state resource to be allocated at the legislature’s whim.” www.democracynow.org

Attorney General Todd Blanche Won’t Pledge to Operate Independently from White House

President Trump’s former personal lawyer, Attorney General Todd Blanche, has declined to pledge that the Justice Department will operate independently of the White House. Blanche was asked about the topic by NBC’s “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker. Kristen Welker: “You, of course, used to be President Trump’s former personal defense attorney. Can you pledge that the Justice Department will always act independently of the White House?” Attorney General Todd Blanche: “Well, what — that’s — there’s a big difference between saying we will be — we will always do our job and investigate any case and act independently of the White House. No, I’m not going to pledge that.” www.democracynow.org

Mass Shooting Erupts at Virginia State University Hours After Freshmen Orientation Events

In northern Michigan, a gunman killed five people on Friday, prompting a manhunt that ended when the shooter was found dead alongside one of his victims. Separately, police in Petersburg, Virginia, arrested a 19-year-old suspect on Saturday following an overnight shooting at Virginia State University that left five people injured — one of them critically — just hours after officials welcomed freshmen to campus. According to the Gun Violence Archive, the U.S. has seen at least 305 mass shootings since the start of the year. www.democracynow.org

Taliban Marks Five Years in Power Since U.S. Withdrawal

In Afghanistan, the Taliban have marked five years in power since U.S. forces withdrew from the country. Since retaking control in 2021, the Taliban have stripped away the rights of women and girls, with UNESCO reporting some 2.4 million girls are now barred from secondary and higher education. The United Nations warns more than half of women’s organizations still working in Afghanistan could cease operations within the next year due to funding problems. This is the permanent representative of Denmark to the United Nations. Christina Markus Lassen: “The Taliban’s systematic repression of women and girls has become a defining feature of the current system. Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls are banned from secondary and higher education. The grave abuse of the right to education is also having far-reaching consequences for Afghanistan’s economic development and provision of essential public services.” www.democracynow.org

Israel Announces Plans to Hand Over Policing of Settlers to an Israeli Civilian Police Force

In the occupied West Bank, Israel’s military has announced plans to hand over responsibility for policing Israeli settlers to a civilian police force. Palestinian officials condemned the plan as a flagrant violation of international law, calling it another step toward Israeli annexation of the West Bank. This comes as a siege by Israeli settlers on the village of Qusra has entered its second week, with 15 Palestinians, including two children, cut off from food, water and electricity by armed Israeli settlers backed by soldiers. Human rights groups say it’s part of a concerted effort by Israelis to seize even more Palestinian land. This is a video filmed by Aysha Hassan, whose family has been confined to their home for over a week while Israeli soldiers occupy a neighboring building. Aysha Hassan: “We are in our besieged house and have been under siege for the last seven days. The soldiers are stationed on the nearby house of my brother Yousif. They keep screaming and singing all day.” www.democracynow.org

Jared Kushner Meets with Hamas’s Political Chief in Cairo

President Trump’s son-in-law and envoy Jared Kushner has met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Israel rejected a 15-point plan for Gaza promoted by President Trump’s so-called Board of Peace. The proposal would see Hamas gradually disarm and turn over governance of the Gaza Strip to an international force in exchange for Israel’s withdrawal. Over the weekend, Kushner met in Cairo with Hamas’s political chief Khalil al-Hayya. Also joining the talks were Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair and Qatari, Turkish and Egyptian mediators. www.democracynow.org