We’ll lead by passing along Megan E’s abbreviated message for today.
“Hello People’s Action,
”I hope you’re all hanging in there. I’m in a convening today so this will be short but there are a bunch of mass calls and webinars [involved with People’s Action initiatives to fight back] listed below.
“The Senate is on recess. The House is trying to pass government funding bills.
“And no, I don’t know if we’re going to invade Denmark. From Punchbowl “As tens of thousands of people lined the streets of Copenhagen Saturday to protest Trump’s threats toward Greenland, the president announced he planned to impose new tariffs on Denmark and seven other European nations for opposing his drive to acquire Greenland.” Republicans in Congress are pretty much uniformly opposed to this plan but almost uniformly unwilling to speak up against it (with a couple notable exceptions). “ [Megan is People's Action federal affairs director.]
We can’t beat Megan’s account of GOP fearful subservience to the Glorious Leader at this point. Denmark? Yes, invading Greenland is like invading Denmark. Copenhagen, all that. See our several articles on the one-year “Move Fast and Break Things” behavior Trump has used to keep our eyes fixed on him (in self-defense). Trump is crashing the big billionaires’ party in Davos as we write, and Bloomberg reports that many of those hardnosed billionaires are getting scammed by sharpsters selling elite access passes supposed to bring them within ring-kissing range of Himself. Alas, they’ll be out of pocket and disappointed.
Watch this (Trump) space, as if we could safely ignore it. It’s News You Can Use.
HERE IN MARYLAND
Economists: Whittling General Fund Would Mean Slashing Ed & Health Care: Economists said that Gov. Wes Moore’s claim to whittle down the general fund would require slashing education and health care programs, providing little to no relief for Marylanders anytime soon. Taxpayers are still reeling from last year’s tax hikes, they added. Democrats and Republicans differ on what cuts Moore needs to make, but they both agree that cuts are essential to addressing the state’s financial woes. Baltimore Sun.
Senate Bill 1: Legislation Would Ban Ice Agents' Masks: It is not coincidental that a bill restricting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers’ face coverings was designated as “Senate Bill 1,” the first major piece of legislation of a new General Assembly session. Maryland Democrats assigned it that number to illustrate its importance to a party eager to demonstrate its opposition to federal immigration officers’ tactics — notably the use of masks hiding agents’ identities when making immigration arrests. Baltimore Sun.
Appeals court vacates FERC decision on PJM capacity results for Delmarva zone The court ordered the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to revisit a complaint over $183 million in “anomalous” capacity costs for parts of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Utility Dive
Brown On Protecting Maryland's Rule of Law from Trump Admin: To Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown (D), it’s about stopping the “chaos coming from Washington” since President Donald Trump returned to office on Jan. 20, 2025. Brown was reflecting on his part in the push by 23 attorneys general from Democratic states and the District of Columbia to challenge Trump administration policies in court. Planning for the lawsuits began after Trump’s election in 2024 and were guided by policies outlined in the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, which served as a policy roadmap for the administration and the Republican-controlled Congress. Maryland Matters.
For Latino Caucus, Immigrant Protections Are Top Priority: ‘We Cannot Afford To Be Silent’ “This is the moment we are in right now,” says Del. Gabe Acevero of Montgomery County, who serves as vice chair of the Maryland Latino Legislative Caucus. “We serve as the voice of the Latino and immigrant community to assure that we are reflecting their concerns and aspirations with legislation and a budget that is fair, equitable and meets the moment.” [Assembly members and local officials get frequent pleas to help constituents swept up in immigration raids.] Acevero says the caucus can use its 91 members – the largest caucus in Annapolis – to leverage its priorities to address fears like those in that short note. Maryland Matters
Congress Approves More Funding For Bay Cleanup Than Expected: Rebuffing deep spending cuts proposed by the Trump administration, Congress has approved more funding for Chesapeake Bay cleanup and conservation than the White House requested —including boosts for restoring oysters, dealing with invasive blue catfish and addressing whether menhaden, an important forage fish in the Bay, are being overfished. Bay Journal. [and see Bay article in next section]
Although Flu Appears On Downward Trend, It Killed 14 Marylanders This Year: As quickly as it arrived, state health data shows that Maryland may now be on a downward trend of a “severe” influenza surge occurring over the winter holidays and early January. But public health officials say now is not the time for Marylanders to let up on protective measures and public health practices, as the season is not over yet. There have already been 14 flu-related deaths in Maryland so far this year, already doubling last year’s death toll, with weeks left in the current flu season. Last year’s season did not peak until February. Maryland Matters.
THE REGION AND THE OTHER 49
New year, new environmental battles brew in Chesapeake Bay states Partisan clashes in Pennsylvania and budget headaches in Maryland cloud prospects for climate and environmental legislation in those states this year. But things are different in Virginia, where the election of a Democratic governor has raised expectations that measures stalled by her Republican predecessor will move forward. Bay Journal
Moore, Other Govs, Join With Trump Over PJM Data Center Plan: Gov. Wes Moore (D) found himself in a rare position Friday: Joining forces with President Donald Trump’s (R) administration on energy policy. Moore was one of 13 governors who signed an agreement with the Trump administration, pushing for PJM Interconnection, the operator of the nation’s largest electric grid, to bring $15 billion worth of new power online — with data center companies paying the tab. Maryland Matters
One Year Of Donald Trump: States Sound Alarms Over Relentless Expansion Of Presidential Powers After joking he would only be a dictator on “Day One” Trump has expanded executive grip steadily. Stateline Daily via Maryland Matters
Spanberger Sworn In As Virginia’s First Woman Governor, Moves Swiftly To Set Agenda Democrat Abigail Spanberger was sworn in Saturday as Virginia’s 75th governor, making history as the first woman to hold the commonwealth’s highest office and pledging to lead with unity, affordability and pragmatic action amid deep national divisions and growing uncertainty coming out of Washington. Virginia Mercury via Maryland Matters
Tennessee’s public records watchdog is raising questions about a Republican-backed bill that would conceal the names of all law enforcement officers involved in immigration enforcement. Tennessee Lookout/Stateline
VA: Virginia lawmakers send reproductive rights amendment toward November vote | Virginia Mercury via Stateline
WI: GOP efforts to limit DEI move ahead as Democrats criticize ‘attack’ on marginalized communities | Wisconsin Examiner via News from the States
GLOBAL, NATIONAL AND THE FEDS
At its one-year mark, the Trump administration is dismantling the systems that once helped the US move toward a more open and equal democracy. The Conversation
Following up on Megan E’s Report above in our leader, Politico reports a FUNDING BREAKTHROUGH: A government shutdown now looks less likely after House and Senate leaders put out text of a significant compromise deal to fund DHS, the Pentagon and more, POLITICO’s Jennifer Scholtes and Katherine Tully-McManus report. Appropriators’ agreement is expected to come up for votes in the House later this week, possibly with the Homeland Security bill voted on separately from the minibus of Defense, Labor-HHS-Education and Transportation-HUD. Still, the timing will be tight for both chambers to clear these and other funding bills before the Jan. 30 deadline.
How the US treats its allies has been a crucial question for every president. What evolved over the centuries into an official embrace of friendly nations is now being reversed by Donald Trump. The Conversation