January 15, 2026

VP Casts Tie-breaking Vote, Long Island Rail Road Versus Labor Organizations 2nd Mediation Board Established, More Tariffs, Critical Minerals, S222 Signed Into Law, America 250: 1783 Treaty Of Paris Ratified, And More

By S.E. Gunn, PhD -�All News Pipeline

On January 14, 2026, SJR98 - A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress�(aka "Anti-Trump War Powers Act) introduced by Tim Kaine (D-VA) on December 3, 2025 with 30 cosponsors,�ended in a tie vote�(I think Collins, Murkowski, & Paul need to change their party from R to D to reflect their voting record). Vice President Vance then cast the 101st vote killing the legislation. The bill's purpose was to direct the removal of US Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that were not authorized by Congress under article I, section 8, clause 11 of the US Constitution. Congress proposed termination of the President's use of US Armed Forces for hostilities within or against Venezuela unless explicitly authorized by Congress.

This is not the first time Congress has attempted to restrict President Trump's use of the military in Venezuela. SJR90 - A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress�was previously introduced by Tim Kaine (D-VA) on October 16, 2025 with 18 cosponsors. The latest vote information for this bill was 49 yea and 51 nay�on November 6, 2025 effectively killing the bill.

On January 14, 2026, President Trump signed EO Establishing a Second Emergency Board to Investigate Disputes Between the Long Island Rail Road Company and Certain of its Employees Represented by Certain Labor Organizations�establishing the background to the disputes between Long Island Rail Road Company and the following labor organizations:�

• Transportation Communications Union,�
• Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen,
• Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen,
• International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and�
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

EO 14349 Establishing an Emergency Board to Investigate Disputes Between the Long Island Rail Road Company and Certain of Its Employees Represented by Certain Labor Organizations signed September 16, 2025 (and discussed in my September 17, 2025 ANP Article) established the first Emergency Board; however, that board was terminated upon its report to the President and its recommendations were not accepted by all parties (identified above).�

A request has been made to establish a 2nd emergency board IAW Section 9A of the RLA (Railway Labor Act 45 USC 151-188). Section 1 establishes a 3-member board appointed by the President effective January 16, 2026. Section 2 requires a report be issued within 30 days of receipt of the above parties' submissions of final offers for settlement. Section 3 establishes conditions to make no changes to the submissions of final offers for settlement from the time they are submitted to the board until 60 days after the board submits its findings to the President. Section 4 charges the National Mediation Board to maintain physical custody of the records and files the board produces. Section 5 sets termination of the board to occur upon submission of the board's report to the President (specified in Section 2). Section 6 charges the Department of Transportation for the costs of publication of this order.

The labor unions could have called a strike when an agreement was not met at the end of the first board; however, they are requesting a 2nd board to hopefully avert a strike again.�

On January 14, 2026, President Trump signed the Proclamation Adjusting Imports of Semiconductors, Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment, and Their Derivative Products into the United States�proclaiming additional tariffs of 25% shall take effect on January 15, 2026 in addition to already existing duties, fees, exactions, and charges. The Secretary of Commerce, Trade Representative, and Secretary of Homeland Security will continue to monitor the situation and report to the President on any changes needed to this proclamation.

The accompanying Fact Sheet President Donald J. Trump Takes Action on Certain Advanced Computing Chips to Protect America�s Economic and National Security�explains that this Proclamation supports the US semiconductor industry with an indication that broader tariffs may be imposed in the near future. This Proclamation is necessary because these items are critical for economic and National Security, especially for our military.

On January 14, 2026, President Trump also signed the�Proclamation Adjusting Imports of Processed Critical Minerals and Their Derivative Products into the United States�directing the Secretary of Commerce and the Trade Representative to pursue negotiation agreements for these critical minerals and derivative products. They are to provide a report within 180 days of this Proclamation.

The accompanying�Fact Sheet President Donald J. Trump Directs Negotiations to Adjust Imports of Processed Critical Minerals and Their Derivative Products into the United States�explains that this Proclamation is necessary to ensure National Security with respect to imports of processed critical minerals and their derivative products. These minerals are indispensable to national defense, critical infrastructure, and many other aspects of industry across the nation.

On January 14, 2026, the White House released the article ICYMI: �The Trump Administration Is Moving To Fix a Broken Permitting System��citing a Newsweek opinion written by White House Council on Environmental Quality Chairman Katherine Scarlett highlighting how the Trump Administration has sped up the permitting process through both paperwork reduction and consolidation of duplicative tasks, starting with EO 14154 Unleashing American Energy signed January 20, 2025 (and discussed in my May 4, 2025 ANP Article)

On January 14, 2026, the White House released the article As President Trump Tackles Housing Affordability, Progress Emerges � and More Relief Is on the Horizon�reminds us that home sales are rebounding, affordability is improving, mortgage rates are falling, and President Trump is working on more relief. Unfortunately, I don't think a 50-year mortgage is the way to go since the average age of first time homebuyers is about 38 years old. A 50-year mortgage would have them paying on their mortgage until they were 88 years old! This is simply not acceptable. I think reducing the mortgage rate, building more single family housing, and preventing corporations from buying up single family homes to turn them into rentals are more likely to solve this issue.

On January 14, 2026, the White House released the article Mass Deportations Are Improving Americans� Quality of Life�acknowledges that as deportations of illegal aliens (and others determined to be no longer eligible to reside in the US, such as those on TPS) rise, housing costs lower, wages rise, more jobs hit the labor force, and lower crime is reported.

On January 14, 2026, the White House published Congressional Bill S. 222 Signed into Law

S222 - Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 was introduced by Roger Marshall (R-KS) on January 23, 2025 with 16 bipartisan sponsors: Peter Welch (D-VT), David McCormick (R-PA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Chuck Grassley (R_IA), Kirsten E Gillibrand (D-NY), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Angus S King Jr (I-ME), James E Risch (R-ID), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Jerry Moran (R-KS), James C Justice (R-WV), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM). This act amends the Richard B Russell National School Lunch Act to serve whole milk to students. Section 2 changes the language to:

(i) shall offer students a variety of fluid milk; (ii) may offer students options which may include flavored and unflavored organic or nonorganic whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free fluid milk and lactose-free fluid milk, and nondairy beverages that are nutritionally equivalent to fluid milk and meet the nutritional standards established by the Secretary (which shall, among other requirements to be determined by the Secretary, include fortification of calcium, protein, vitamin A, and vitamin D to levels found in cow�s milk); . . .�(D) SATURATED FAT.�Milk fat included in any fluid milk provided under subparagraph (A) shall not be considered saturated fat for purposes of measuring compliance with the allowable average saturated fat content of a meal under section 210.10 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).

The Act also includes adding training modules for food allergies so that food workers can prevent, recognize, and/or respond to food-related allergic reactions.

The Layoff Tracker 2025�- There have been no updates to the Layoff Tracker since January 7, 2026.

President Trump's Presidential Actions published in the Federal Register (FR) to date:

• 226 Executive Orders
• 116 Proclamations
• 99 Presidential Orders, Memoranda, Determinations, Permits, and Notices

The following 4 Presidential Actions were published in the FR on January 14, 2026:

Denial of Presidential Permit for the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas signed December 16, 2025 was sent straight to the FR for publication.

The permit sought permission to construct, maintain, and operate a commercial and personally owned vehicle crossing located near Eagle Pass, Texas. President Trump has determined that a personally owned border crossing point is not in the best interest of the US foreign policy or National Security of the US.

Delegation of Authority Under Section 614(a)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 signed December 26, 2025 was sent straight to the FR for publication.

The memorandum for the Secretary of State delegates to the Secretary the ability to determine whether cluster munitions technology sales to the Republic of Korea is in the best interest of the National Security of the US.

Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Energy signed January 12, 2026�was sent straight to the FR for publication.

This notice extends the national emergency declared in EO 14156 Declaring a National Energy Emergency�signed January 20, 2025 (discussed in my 2025-05-04 ANP Article)�for another year because the precursors to the declaration are still present.

Continuation of the National Emergencies With Respect to the Southern Border of the United States and Cartels and Other Transnational Organizations signed January 12, 2026�was sent straight to the FR for publication.

This notice extends the national emergency declared in 1 proclamation and 4 EOs for another year: Proclamation 10886 Declaring A National Emergency At The Southern Border Of The United States signed January 20, 2026 (discussed in my 2025-06-02 ANP Article), EO 14157 Designating Cartels And Other Organizations As Foreign Terrorist Organizations And Specially Designated Global Terrorists signed January 20, 2025 (discussed in my 2025-08-29 ANP Article), EO 14193 Imposing Duties to Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Northern Border signed February 1, 2025 (discussed in my 2025-06-02 ANP Article), EO 14194 Imposing Duties to Address the Situation at Our Southern Border signed February 1, 2025 (discussed in my 2025-06-02 ANP Article), and EO 14195 Imposing Duties to Address the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People's Republic of China signed February 1, 2025 (discussed in my 2025-07-31 ANP Article).

LAWFARE lawsuit tracker to date:

• 253 active cases
• 19 suits filed by the Trump Administration
• 18 SCOTUS stays or motions to vacate of lower court orders
• 1 SCOTUS affirmation of lower court order
• 8 suits where judges ruled for the federal government
• 9 suits where judges ruled against the federal government
• 6 criminal prosecutions by the DOJ:�
• Representative McIver,�
• former FBI Director James Comey, dismissed without prejudice 11/24/2025,
• former National Security Advisor John Bolton,�
• (illegal alien) Kilmar Abrego Garcia, ordered released 12/11/2025;
• New York AG Letitia A James, dismissed without prejudice 11/24/2025,
• Congressional candidate Katherine Abughazaleh

In the lawsuit Bost et.al., v. Illinois State Board of Elections et.al.,�docket # 24-568 filed at SCOTUS and argued October 8, 2025, decided January 14, 2026 SCOTUS in a 7:2 ruling�in favor of the plaintiffs allowing candidates to challenge counting of mail-in ballots after Federal Election Day because Illinois laws conflict with Federal Laws 2 USC �7 and 3 USC �1 which sets the Tuesday following the first Monday in November as Federal Election Day. Of course, Jackson and Sotomayor dissented.

Please note that SCOTUS only ruled on the "standing" of candidates to bring suit NOT on whether Illinois Election Law conflicts with Federal Election Law.

On January 14, 2026, The White House published America 250: Presidential Message on the Anniversary of the Ratification of the 1783 Treaty of Paris�which was signed on September 3, 1783 but not ratified by the 2nd Continental Congress until January 14, 1784 ending the Revolutionary War and establishing the US as an independent sovereign nation.

The Definitive Treaty of Peace 1783:

In the Name of the most Holy & undivided Trinity.

It having pleased the Divine Providence to dispose the Hearts of the most Serene and most Potent Prince George the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Lunebourg, Arch- Treasurer and Prince Elector of the Holy Roman Empire etc.. and of the United States of America, to forget all past Misunderstandings and Differences that have unhappily interrupted the good Correspondence and Friendship which they mutually wish to restore; and to establish such a beneficial and satisfactory Intercourse between the two countries upon the ground of reciprocal Advantages and mutual Convenience as may promote and secure to both perpetual Peace and Harmony; and having for this desirable End already laid the Foundation of Peace & Reconciliation by the Provisional Articles signed at Paris on the 30th of November 1782, by the Commissioners empowered on each Part, which Articles were agreed to be inserted in and constitute the Treaty of Peace proposed to�be concluded between the Crown of Great Britain and the said United States, but which Treaty was not to be concluded until Terms of Peace should be agreed upon between Great Britain & France, and his Britannic Majesty should be ready to conclude such Treaty accordingly: and the treaty between Great Britain & France having since been concluded, his Britannic Majesty & the United States of America, in Order to carry into full Effect the Provisional Articles above mentioned, according to the Tenor thereof, have constituted & appointed, that is to say his Britannic Majesty on his Part, David Hartley, Esqr., Member of the Parliament of Great Britain, and the said United States on their Part, - stop point - John Adams, Esqr., late a Commissioner of the United States of America at the Court of Versailles, late Delegate in Congress from the State of Massachusetts, and Chief Justice of the said State, and Minister Plenipotentiary of the said United States to their High Mightinesses the States General of the United Netherlands; - stop point - Benjamin Franklin, Esqr., late Delegate in Congress from the State of Pennsylvania, President of the Convention of the said State, and Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America at the Court of Versailles; John Jay, Esqr., late President of Congress and Chief Justice of the state of New York, and Minister Plenipotentiary from the said United States at the Court of Madrid; to be Plenipotentiaries for the concluding and signing the Present Definitive Treaty; who after having reciprocally communicated their respective full Powers have agreed upon and confirmed the following Articles.

Article 1st:

His Britannic Majesty acknowledges the said United States, viz., New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to be free sovereign and Independent States; that he treats with them as such, and for himself his Heirs & Successors, relinquishes all claims to the Government, Propriety, and Territorial Rights of the same and every Part thereof.

Article 2d:

And that all Disputes which might arise in future on the subject of the Boundaries of the said United States may be prevented, it is hereby agreed and declared, that the following are and shall be their Boundaries, viz.; from the Northwest Angle of Nova Scotia, viz., that Angle which is formed by a Line drawn due North from the Source of St. Croix River to the Highlands; along the said Highlands which divide those Rivers that empty themselves into the river St. Lawrence, from those which fall into the Atlantic Ocean, to the northwesternmost Head of Connecticut River; Thence down along the middle of that River to the forty-fifth Degree of North Latitude; From thence by a Line due West on said Latitude until it strikes the River Iroquois or Cataraquy; Thence along the middle of said River into Lake Ontario; through the Middle of said Lake until it strikes the Communication by Water between that Lake & Lake Erie; Thence along the middle of said Communication into Lake Erie, through the middle of said Lake until�it arrives at the Water Communication between that lake & Lake Huron; Thence along the middle of said Water Communication into the Lake Huron, thence through the middle of said Lake to the Water Communication between that Lake and Lake Superior; thence through Lake Superior Northward of the Isles Royal & Phelipeaux to the Long Lake; Thence through the middle of said Long Lake and the Water Communication between it & the Lake of the Woods, to the said Lake of the Woods; Thence through the said Lake to the most Northwestern Point thereof, and from thence on a due West Course to the river Mississippi; Thence by a Line to be drawn along the Middle of the said river Mississippi until it shall intersect the Northernmost Part of the thirty-first Degree of North Latitude, South, by a Line to be drawn due East from the Determination of the Line last mentioned in the Latitude of thirty-one Degrees of the Equator to the middle of the River Apalachicola or Catahouche; Thence along the middle thereof to its junction with the Flint River; Thence straight to the Head of Saint Mary's River, and thence down along the middle of Saint Mary's River to the Atlantic Ocean. East, by a Line to be drawn along the Middle of the river Saint Croix, from its Mouth in the Bay of Fundy to its Source, and from its Source directly North to the aforesaid Highlands, which divide the Rivers that fall into the Atlantic Ocean from those which fall into the river Saint Lawrence; comprehending all Islands within twenty Leagues of any Part of the Shores of the United States, and lying between Lines to be drawn due East from the Points where the aforesaid Boundaries between Nova Scotia on the one Part and East Florida on the other shall, respectively, touch the Bay of Fundy and the Atlantic Ocean, excepting such Islands as now are or heretofore have been within the limits of the said Province of Nova Scotia.

Article 3d:

It is agreed that the People of the United States shall continue to enjoy unmolested the Right to take Fish of every kind on the Grand Bank and on all the other Banks of Newfoundland, also in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and at all other Places in the Sea, where the Inhabitants of both Countries used at any time heretofore to fish. And also that the Inhabitants of the United States shall have Liberty to take Fish of every Kind on such Part of the Coast of Newfoundland as British Fishermen shall use, (but not to dry or cure the same on that Island) And also on the Coasts, Bays & Creeks of all other of his Britannic Majesty's Dominions in America; and that the American Fishermen shall have Liberty to dry and cure Fish in any of the unsettled Bays, Harbors, and Creeks of Nova Scotia, Magdalen Islands, and Labrador, so long as the same shall remain unsettled, but so soon as the same or either of them shall be settled, it shall not be lawful for the said Fishermen to dry or cure Fish at such Settlement without a�previous Agreement for that purpose with the Inhabitants, Proprietors, or Possessors of the Ground.

Article 4th:

It is agreed that Creditors on either Side shall meet with no lawful Impediment to the Recovery of the full Value in Sterling Money of all bona fide Debts heretofore contracted.

Article 5th:

It is agreed that Congress shall earnestly recommend it to the Legislatures of the respective States to provide for the Restitution of all Estates, Rights, and Properties, which have been confiscated belonging to real British Subjects; and also of the Estates, Rights, and Properties of Persons resident in Districts in the Possession on his Majesty's Arms and who have not borne Arms against the said United States. And that Persons of any other Description shall have free Liberty to go to any Part or Parts of any of the thirteen United States and therein to remain twelve Months unmolested in their Endeavors to obtain the Restitution of such of their Estates � Rights & Properties as may have been confiscated. And that Congress shall also earnestly recommend to the several States a Reconsideration and Revision of all Acts or Laws regarding the Premises, so as to render the said Laws or Acts perfectly consistent not only with Justice and Equity but with that Spirit of Conciliation which on the Return of the Blessings of Peace should universally prevail. And that Congress shall also earnestly recommend to the several States that the Estates, Rights, and Properties of such last mentioned Persons shall be restored to them, they refunding to any Persons who may be now in Possession the Bona fide Price (where any has been given) which such Persons may have paid on purchasing any of the said Lands, Rights, or Properties since the Confiscation.

And it is agreed that all Persons who have any Interest in confiscated Lands, either by Debts, Marriage Settlements, or otherwise, shall meet with no lawful Impediment in the Prosecution of their just Rights.

Article 6th:

That there shall be no future Confiscations made nor any Prosecutions commenced against any Person or Persons for, or by Reason of the Part, which he or they may have taken in the present War, and that no Person shall on that Account suffer any future Loss or Damage, either in his Person, Liberty, or Property; and that those who may be in Confinement on such Charges at the Time of the Ratification of the Treaty in America shall be immediately set at Liberty, and the Prosecutions so commenced be discontinued.

Article 7th:

There shall be a firm and perpetual Peace between his Britannic Majesty and the said States, and between the Subjects of the one and the Citizens of the other, wherefore all Hostilities both by Sea and Land shall from henceforth cease: All prisoners on both Sides shall be set at Liberty, and his Britannic Majesty shall with all convenient speed, and without causing any Destruction, or carrying away any Negroes or other Property of the American inhabitants, withdraw all his Armies, Garrisons & Fleets from the said United States, and from every Post, Place and Harbour within the same; leaving in all Fortifications, the American Artillery that may be therein: And shall also Order & cause all Archives, Records, Deeds & Papers belonging to any of the said States, or their Citizens, which in the Course of the War may have fallen into the hands of his Officers, to be forthwith restored and delivered to the proper States and Persons to whom they belong.

Article 8th:

The Navigation of the river Mississippi, from its source to the Ocean, shall forever remain free and open to the Subjects of Great Britain and the Citizens of the United States.

Article 9th:

In case it should so happen that any Place or Territory belonging to great Britain or to the United States should have been conquered by the Arms of either from the other before the Arrival of the said Provisional Articles in America, it is agreed that the same shall be restored without Difficulty and without requiring any Compensation.

Article 10th:

The solemn Ratifications of the present Treaty expedited in good & due Form shall be exchanged between the contracting Parties in the Space of Six Months or sooner if possible to be computed from the Day of the Signature of the present Treaty. In witness whereof we the undersigned their Ministers Plenipotentiary have in their Name and in Virtue of our Full Powers, signed with our Hands the present Definitive Treaty, and caused the Seals of our Arms to be affixed thereto.

Done at Paris, this third day of September in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three.�Signed by DAVID HARTLEY, JOHN ADAMS, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, and JOHN JAY

Notice the treaty did not include reparations to colonizers who remained loyal to Great Britain, nor did it repay France for their involvement. Benjamin Franklin soothed French sensibilities with a letter in which he also successfully asked for more money (which was also not repaid) which bankrupted France.�

President Trump writes:

This year�our 250th year of glorious American independence�we reaffirm the righteous principles that breathed life into our Republic more than two centuries ago. We renew our resolve to uphold and defend peace through strength, the rule of law, loyalty to our citizens, and faith in Almighty God. Above all, we vow that the timeless truths forged by our forefathers will forever remain a mighty beacon of hope, prosperity, and liberty to the entire world.