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  • Fewer Americans sign up for Affordable Care Act health insurance as costs spike

    Fewer Americans sign up for Affordable Care Act health insurance as costs spike

    NEW YORK — Fewer Americans are signing up for Affordable Care Act health insurance plans this year, new federal data shows, as expiring subsidies and other factors push health expenses too high for many to manage.

    Nationally, around 800,000 fewer people have selected plans compared to a similar time last year, marking a 3.5% drop in total enrollment so far. That includes a decrease in both new consumers signing up for ACA plans and existing enrollees re-upping them.

    The new data released Monday evening by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is only a snapshot of a continuously changing pool of enrollees. It includes sign-ups through Jan. 3 in states that use Healthcare.gov for ACA plans and through Dec. 27 for states that have their own ACA marketplaces. In most states, the period for shopping for plans continues through Jan. 15 for plans that start in February.

    But even though it’s early, the data builds on fears that expiring enhanced tax credits could cause a dip in enrollment and force many Americans to make tough decisions to delay buying health insurance, look for alternatives or forgo it entirely.

    Experts warn that the number of people who have signed up for plans may still drop even further, as enrollees get their first bill in January and some choose to cancel.

    Healthcare costs at the center of a fight in Congress

    The declining enrollment comes as Congress has been locked in a partisan battle over what to do about the subsidies that expired at the start of the new year. For months, Democrats have fought for a straight extension of the tax credits, while Republicans have insisted larger reforms are a better way to root out fraud and abuse and keep costs down overall. Last week, in a remarkable rebuke of Republican leadership, the House passed legislation to extend the subsidies for three years. The bill now sits in the Senate, where pressure is building for a bipartisan compromise.

    Up until this year, President Barack Obama’s landmark health insurance program had been an increasingly popular option for Americans who don’t get health coverage through their jobs, including small business owners, gig workers, farmers, ranchers and others.

    For the 2021 plan year, about 12 million people selected an Affordable Care Act plan. Enhanced tax credits were introduced the following year and four years later enrollment had doubled to over 24 million.

    This year’s sinking sign-ups — sitting at about 22.8 million so far — mark the first time in the past four years that enrollment has been down from the previous year at this point in the shopping window.

    The loss of enhanced subsidies means annual premium costs will more than double for the average ACA enrollee who had them, according to the healthcare research nonprofit KFF. But extending the subsidies would also be expensive for the country. Ahead of last week’s House vote, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that extending the subsidies for three years would increase the nation’s deficit by about $80.6 billion over the decade.

    Americans begin looking for other options

    Robert Kaestner, a health economist at the University of Chicago, said some of those who abandon ACA plans may have other options, such as going on a partner’s employer health plan or changing their income to qualify for Medicaid. Others will go without insurance at least temporarily while they look for alternatives.

    “My prediction is 2 million more people will lack health insurance for a while,” Kaestner said. ”That’s a serious issue, but Republicans would argue we’re using government money more efficiently, we’re targeting people who really need it and we’re saving $35 billion a year.”

    Several Americans interviewed by The Associated Press have said they’re dropping coverage altogether for 2026 and will pay out of pocket for needed appointments. Many said they are crossing their fingers that they aren’t affected by a costly injury or diagnosis.

    “I’m pretty much going to be going without health insurance unless they do something,” said 52-year-old Felicia Persaud, a Florida entrepreneur who dropped coverage when she saw her monthly ACA costs were set to increase by about $200 per month. “It’s sort of like playing poker and hoping the chips fall and try the best that you can.”

  • Democrats seek answers on donor access tied to Trump’s White House ballroom

    Democrats seek answers on donor access tied to Trump’s White House ballroom

    Senate Democrats are asking the nonprofit group that is managing donations to the White House ballroom to explain how much money has been raised and whether donors have been promised any special access or influence in exchange for supporting the estimated $400 million project, a top priority of President Donald Trump.

    “You owe Congress and the public answers about your role in managing funds for President Trump’s ballroom,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) and colleagues wrote in a letter Tuesday to the Trust for the National Mall that was shared with the Washington Post. The lawmakers gave the group two weeks to respond.

    Democrats say limited public disclosure has made it impossible to assess whether safeguards are in place to prevent donors from gaining access or influence through the project. The concerns are heightened, they argue, by Trump’s personal involvement in both the project’s design and fundraising.

    The White House has said private donors will entirely cover the ballroom addition’s cost but has declined to share basic details about the value of those gifts, or whether donors were offered meetings, access or other consideration in return. Publicly identified donors, such as Amazon, Google and Lockheed Martin, collectively have billions of dollars in contracts before the administration. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns the Washington Post.)

    The Trust for the National Mall, which has managed past fundraising campaigns to restore the Washington Monument and other projects, has largely referred questions to the White House and the National Park Service since its role in the ballroom project was announced last year. The group also is expected to retain a small percentage — about 2.5% — of donations to the ballroom project for its own use, Democrats wrote. The Trust did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Administration officials have said the Trust could receive hundreds of millions of dollars in donations tied to the ballroom project, placing the group at the center of a fundraising effort unlike any it has previously managed.

    Trump administration officials have shared few details about the project, the most significant change to the White House grounds in decades, including the building’s final design. The lack of disclosure has also drawn legal scrutiny. Historic preservationists last month sued the Trump administration, arguing that the ballroom construction is illegal because the project did not undergo required review by two federal panels and Congress did not appropriate funding. The White House has denied the allegations. A hearing in the case is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 29 in U.S. District Court in Washington.

    Trump administration officials made their first public presentation on the ballroom Thursday, justifying their rapid teardown of the White House’s East Wing annex last fall as a financial decision.

    “The cost analysis proved that demolition and reconstruction provided the lowest total cost ownership and most effective long-term strategy,” Joshua Fisher, a senior White House official who is helping manage the project, said at a meeting of the National Capital Planning Commission, a review board set to weigh in on the ballroom’s design.

    Trump has also steadily increased the project’s planned seating capacity and estimated cost since announcing the ballroom in July. Officials now say the ballroom will seat about 1,000 people.

    “I started off with a building half of the seats … and then it just kept growing and growing, and the money kept pouring in and pouring in,” the president told the New York Times last week, adding that he would make the ballroom “bigger” if he could.

    Shalom Baranes, the architect Trump tapped to lead the project, told the National Capital Planning Commission last week that the ballroom would not grow further.

    In their letter to the Trust for the National Mall, Warren and her colleagues asked the group to explain whether it has internal controls or has undertaken other steps to ensure that donors are not given preferential treatment by the Trump administration.

    “This leaves open the question of whether the Trust is being misused to facilitate special-interest access and influence,” the senators wrote. They also asked whether Meredith O’Rourke, a longtime Trump fundraiser who has been coordinating donations, is employed by the Trust or otherwise affiliated with the group. O’Rourke referred questions about her role with the Trust to the White House, which did not immediately respond.

    Warren’s office also shared letters the senator received from companies that have donated to the project, which offered varied explanations for how they expected their gift to be used. Comcast, for instance, said its donation “included no specific limitations or conditions,” while Microsoft said its gift would go toward construction. Trump has also said several companies have pledged to cover specific aspects of the project, such as Carrier offering to cover an estimated $17 million in air-conditioning and heating costs.

  • Greenland official calls it ‘unfathomable’ that the U.S. is considering taking over the island

    Greenland official calls it ‘unfathomable’ that the U.S. is considering taking over the island

    NUUK, Greenland — A senior Greenland government official said Tuesday it’s “unfathomable” that the United States is discussing taking over a NATO ally and urged the Trump administration to listen to voices from the Arctic island’s people.

    Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland’s minister for business and mineral resources, said people in Greenland are “very, very worried” over the administration’s desire for control of Greenland.

    She spoke a day before a key meeting in Washington between foreign ministers of the semi-autonomous Danish territory and Denmark and top U.S. officials, at a time of increased tensions between the allies over the stepped-up U.S. rhetoric.

    “People are not sleeping, children are afraid, and it just fills everything these days. And we can’t really understand it,” Nathanielsen said at a meeting with lawmakers in Britain’s Parliament.

    Earlier, a Danish government official confirmed that Denmark provided U.S. forces in the east Atlantic with support last week as they intercepted an oil tanker for alleged violations of U.S. sanctions.

    The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly on the sensitive matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity, declined to provide details about what the support entailed.

    The U.S. interception in the Atlantic capped a weeks-long pursuit of the tanker that began in the Caribbean Sea as the U.S. imposed a blockade in the waters of Venezuela aimed at capturing sanctioned vessels coming in and out of the South American country.

    The White House and Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Danish support for the U.S. operation was first reported by Newsmax.

    Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland on Wednesday at the White House to discuss Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland, according to a U.S. official and two sources familiar with the plans who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting has not yet been formally announced.

    Denmark’s foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, said earlier that Vance would host a meeting with him and his Greenlandic counterpart, Vivian Motzfeldt, in Washington this week, with Rubio in attendance.

    At a joint news conference with Danish Prime Minster Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen, Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen reiterated that Greenland isn’t for sale, Danish media reported. Nielsen said Greenland doesn’t want to be owned or ruled by the U.S.

    Frederiksen also underlined Denmark’s willingness to invest in Arctic security. She said it hasn’t been easy to stand up to unacceptable pressure from a close ally and there are many indications that the most difficult part lies ahead.

    Nathanielsen, the minister, said of Greenland’s people: “We have no intentions of becoming American … but we have worked towards more collaboration with the Americans for many, many years.”

    “We feel betrayed. We feel the rhetoric is offensive,” she added, “but also bewildering.”

    NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte refused to be drawn into the dispute, insisting that it was not his role to get involved.

    “I never, ever comment when there are discussions within the alliance,” Rutte said, at the European Parliament in Brussels. “My role has to be to make sure we solve issues.”

    He said that the 32-nation military organization must focus on providing security in the Arctic region, which includes Greenland. “When it comes to the protection of the High North, that is my role.”

    Tensions have grown this month as Trump and his administration push the issue and the White House considers a range of options, including military force, to acquire Greenland. Trump reiterated his argument that the U.S. needs to “take Greenland,” otherwise Russia or China would, in comments aboard Air Force One on Sunday.

    He said he’d rather “make a deal” for the territory, “but one way or the other, we’re going to have Greenland.”

    Nathanielsen said Greenlanders understand that the U.S. sees Greenland as part of its national security sphere.

    “We get it. We want to work with it,” she said, adding that “we understand the need for increased monitoring in the Arctic as a consequence of the growing geopolitical insecurity.”

    Nathanielsen said Greenland understands the need to “shake things up, to make things different … But we do believe that it can be done without the use of force.”

    She said “it is just unfathomable to understand” that Greenland could be facing the prospect of being sold or annexed.

    A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation is headed to Copenhagen for meetings on Friday and Saturday in an attempt to show unity between the United States and Denmark.

    Nathanielsen said she thinks the people of Greenland have a say in their own future.

    “My deepest dream or hope is that the people of Greenland will get a say no matter what,” she said. ”For others this might be a piece of land, but for us it’s home.”

  • Clinton fails to show for Epstein deposition, threatened with contempt of Congress

    Clinton fails to show for Epstein deposition, threatened with contempt of Congress

    House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R., Ky.) threatened Tuesday to hold Bill Clinton in contempt of Congress after the former president declined to appear before the panel for a closed-door deposition related to its investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

    “I think it’s very disappointing,” Comer told reporters Tuesday. ” … We will move next week in the House Oversight Committee … to hold former president Clinton in contempt of Congress.”

    Clinton, along with his wife, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, were among 10 individuals the panel voted in July to subpoena for testimony related to crimes committed by Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell. Hillary Clinton is scheduled to testify Wednesday but does not plan to appear.

    Neither Clinton has been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, and both have said they have no knowledge related to the investigation. A spokesman for the former president has previously said he met Epstein several times and took four trips on his airplane, but knew nothing about Epstein’s crimes. Bill Clinton has appeared in Epstein-related photographs released by Congress and the Justice Department.

    The Clintons called the subpoenas from the panel “invalid and legally unenforceable” in a letter obtained and published by the New York Times.

    In the letter, the Clintons noted that they had provided Comer with sworn statements similar to those he had accepted from other subpoenaed individuals, who were later excused from testifying before the committee.

    “We are confident that any reasonable person in or out of Congress will see, based on everything we release, that what you are doing is trying to punish those who you see as your enemies and to protect those you think are your friends,” the Clintons wrote.

    Contempt of Congress is punishable by up to a year in prison. If Comer’s committee moves forward with a contempt finding, the full House would next vote whether to refer the matter to the Justice Department for possible prosecution.

    Comer initially issued subpoenas for the testimony of both Clintons in August, according to aides, who said the committee had made several attempts to accommodate both of their schedules.

    Both were first scheduled for appearances in October, which were later moved to December. Those dates were moved again after the Clintons said they planned to attend a funeral, according to committee aides. Both Clintons declined to suggest alternative dates in January, the aides said.

  • Letters to the Editor | Jan. 13, 2026

    Letters to the Editor | Jan. 13, 2026

    Zero empathy

    We see the picture of the car with the bloody airbag and the stuffed animals in the glove compartment. We have viewed the crime on video in slow motion and from a few different angles. We think about or remember those mornings of getting our kids or grandkids to school, and we are brought to deep sadness and even tears. That is what we feel when we are human and part of a community. Vice President JD Vance has called the killing of Renee Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent “a tragedy of her own making.”

    Similarly, President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem are working hard to make sure the ICE agent doesn’t face accountability for his disgusting overreaction. There has been no apology. They have shown no remorse. Not even thoughts and prayers. Leaders do not lose their jobs over policy differences. They are removed from office because their behavior and lack of morality are unbecoming of their positions. This time it was Renee Good. She did not deserve this. The next time, it could be someone we know and love.

    Elliott Miller, Bala Cynwyd

    Predatory interest

    Regarding Donald Trump’s call to cap credit card interest rates, it is time for the federal government to intervene and regulate the predatory interest rates these companies have charged consumers for years. Between 2008 and 2015, while the prime rate remained at a historical low of approximately 3.25% and U.S. Treasury yields were near 1%, credit card companies continued to charge interest rates exceeding 20%, and in some cases, 30%. This disparity is unacceptable. There is an old saying: “Those who control the debt, control the debtor.” This is particularly evident when consumers making only minimum payments see their outstanding balances actually increase each month due to excessive interest. I urge Congress to take action to protect consumers from these practices.

    Paul Benedict, Broomall

    Might makes right?

    This country was born in war, in defiance of a king. We would do well to remember our origins. None of our ancestors wished to kneel before a throne and the tyranny it embodied. We were founded on resistance and should expect other peoples and other nations to react similarly. The aspirations of our forefathers are shared by others around the world, and none want to exchange one tyrant for another. The “might makes right” approach we have embarked on fails to recognize the human condition we all share: stiff necks and a yearning for freedom and self-determination. Subservience is not peace; it is a slow boil that will require cycles of war to contain, if it can be contained at all.

    War is death and always represents failure in human advancement, particularly when it is chosen. Often at the center of war is an ambitious man, a “man who would be king” who sends the precious youth of a society into harm’s way. The weight of war is etched on headstones and carried in the psyches of veterans. It is no way to live. This chapter of our evolution has been written so many times before in human history. How does this end?

    Kevin Deeny, Levittown

    . . .

    U.S. Sen. John Fetterman said on Fox & Friends: “I don’t know why we can’t just acknowledge that it’s been a good thing what’s happened … We all wanted this man gone, and now he is gone.” Respectfully, senator: “Good” doesn’t mean much if the United States broke the rules to get there. I won’t defend Nicolás Maduro. I want accountability for corruption and political violence. But the U.S. can’t claim to stand for democracy while it seizes a foreign leader by force and calls it justice. Supporters point to Panama, but even then, we handed power to the democratic opposition. Trump sidelined María Corina Machado — whose coalition won Venezuela’s 2024 election — and installed a Maduro loyalist instead. Democracy isn’t restored if you ignore the vote or refuse new elections. Two wrongs don’t make a right. Pennsylvania deserves leaders who remember that.

    Lauren Steinmeyer, Ardmore

    Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 150 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.

  • Horoscopes: Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026

    ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’re in charge of the crew today. The less you say, the more likely they are to listen and obey. And if you can get away with saying nothing except that which can be said with action, even better!

    TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Remember when you didn’t want to express your thoughts and opinions because you honestly weren’t having any? Some subjects just fail to capture your imagination, and that’s good to know. There are hotter topics out there for you, so keep moving.

    GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Everyone wants love, attention and credit for what they do. Some want the whole circus — passion, applause and bragging rights — whether they earned it or not. So, sprinkle your effort where it bounces back. Stop tossing it into black holes.

    CANCER (June 22-July 22). You made a few habits without realizing what you were doing, and now every time you enact a certain behavior, a string of other (possibly unwanted) behaviors follows. The easiest way to break this pattern is to change environments entirely.

    LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You know it’s love by what you’re willing to pay for it. In addition to time, thought and energy, inconvenience and discomfort may be part of the price. And if that seems expensive and not quite worth it, that’s good information, too.

    VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). It’s a classic scenario: the subject falls in love with the biographer, the patient projects romance onto the therapist, the model adores the photographer. You may notice a similar dynamic today. Few things are more seductive than genuine interest.

    LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). There’s something you enjoy simply for the sake of it, and it’s calling you back. What would it take to get absorbed in this again? A change of venue? A guard against interruption? Do it. Pure enjoyment restores you.

    SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). However much attention you need, that’s the amount of attention you need. It is, arguably, out of your control. So, there’s no benefit from feeling ashamed or proud of the amount. But there’s a lot of benefit to finding a way to fulfill the order.

    SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Perhaps the way you look has little bearing on the outcome today, but the way you feel about the way you look has a definite impact. Taking time to put a little extra thought into presentation will make a big difference in your attitude.

    CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Your work is developing in a remarkably layered, generous and meaningful way. Each step forward reveals new insights that enrich the whole and make the journey a pleasure in itself. It hasn’t always gone like this, so you cherish the moment.

    AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Emotions are the fire that forges relationships. Too much heat and things can bend in ways you don’t quite understand until it has all cooled off. You may return to a relationship as an armored person with wisdom in your arsenal.

    PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). While having fewer possessions means more freedom, fewer relationships can be confining. Every friendship is a world. Your experience will be limited to the worlds open to you. Making new friends doesn’t take a lot of time now, though it does take initiative.

    TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Jan. 13). This is your Year of Cosmic Connections, in which the right people find you at the right moments. Conversations open doors. Introductions ripple outward. You’re reminded that chemistry isn’t accidental, but, boy, is it fortuitous. More highlights: Travel invites you somewhere thrilling. Love grows easier, warmer and wonderfully mutual. A financial upgrade is tied to your reputation. Taurus and Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 41, 4, 44, 3 and 13.

  • Dear Abby | Grandson has distanced himself from family

    DEAR ABBY: My grandson “Ethan” and his fiancee lived with his mother until four years ago. When they moved out, they decided not to give his parents their new address. It has been several years since my daughter has seen her son. Apparently, they occasionally text.

    Ethan was married seven months ago. He didn’t invite his parents as he felt they would “make it about themselves” and distract from his day. He said I’d be invited to his wedding and would receive a nice picture from the photographer. The wedding date came and went. I saw pictures on social media, so I knew it had transpired. At the time, my gut feeling was that he felt awkward inviting me and his aunt but not his parents.

    In the past, I have sent Ethan a check on his birthday and at Christmas and helped him financially with vehicle repairs. Although I was not invited, I sent a congratulatory card for the wedding, with a significant check enclosed. He cashed the check but did not acknowledge receipt of the card.

    Because neither he nor his wife acknowledged my wedding gift, I am debating what to do for his next birthday. Should I ignore the occasion, or be an example of unconditional love and send a card? I will not send him money, as I think it was beyond rude not to acknowledge my wedding check. What would Dear Abby do?

    — ESTRANGED BY ASSOCIATION

    DEAR ESTRANGED: Dear Abby would recognize that not being invited to the wedding, after being told I would be, was a breach of etiquette. That I lovingly sent a check as a wedding gift, which was cashed with no acknowledgment, would indicate (to me) that my grandson has chosen to distance himself from me. By all means, send a birthday card if you wish, but please don’t be surprised when it, too, garners no response.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: My 25th class reunion is coming up, and I’m debating whether to go because I’m not sure how to handle a conversation that is sure to come up. I was very close to my classmates until five years ago, when my husband and I faced a series of family tragedies that took all of my time and energy. The worst was losing a daughter who would have been graduating this year.

    I’m ready to reconnect with my old friends, but how do I deal with casual conversations without making light of the situation or being a wet blanket? If someone asks, “How is your daughter doing?” I need to have a reasonable response that isn’t going to be awful for both of us. The thought of having to talk about it makes me want to stay home. Advice?

    — UNDECIDED IN LOS ANGELES

    DEAR UNDECIDED: Please accept my sympathy for the loss of your daughter. If someone at the reunion hasn’t already heard about her death and asks how she’s doing, respond with the truth, which is that she passed away several years ago. If someone asks for the details, simply say you don’t want to discuss it further and change the subject.

  • Sixers ride 80-point first half, Tyrese Maxey’s 33 points to beat the Raptors 115-102

    Sixers ride 80-point first half, Tyrese Maxey’s 33 points to beat the Raptors 115-102

    TORONTO — Tyrese Maxey scored 33 points, Joel Embiid had 27 and the 76ers used an 80-point first half to beat the Toronto Raptors 115-102 on Monday night.

    VJ Edgecombe and Paul George each scored 15 points as the Sixers bounced back from Sunday’s overtime loss to Toronto to win for the sixth time in eight games.

    Embiid (left knee and left groin) and George (left knee) were back in the lineup after sitting out Sunday.

    Kyle Lowry returns to Toronto as a Raptors legend and Sixers leader: ‘I embrace it, and they embrace me’

    Fans chanted “We want Lowry!” in the fourth quarter, then rose for a standing ovation when former Raptors player Kyle Lowry checked in for Maxey with 1 minute, 57 seconds left to play.

    Lowry starred for the Toronto team that won the 2019 NBA championship. He airballed a three-pointer on his first attempt and missed all three shots he took.

    Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey (left) scored a game-high 33 points.

    Immanuel Quickley scored 18 points and Brandon Ingram had 17 points and 10 rebounds. Scottie Barnes scored 15 points for Toronto.

    Barnes, who hit the game-winning free throw Sunday, was named Eastern Conference player of the week on Monday.

    Philadelphia’s 80 first-half points were the most by a Raptors opponent this season. The 76ers made 27 of 37 field goals in the opening half, including 13 of 20 from long range, and shot 13 -for-13 at the free throw line.

    Sixers mailbag: Will Joel Embiid make the All-Star Game? Will Jared McCain be here after the trade deadline?

    Maxey scored 18 points in the first quarter to help Philadelphia build a 45-28 lead after one. He connected on 6 of 7 attempts, including 3 of 4 from distance.

    After shooting 8 for 31 from long range Sunday, the Sixers combined to make 7 of 8 three-pointers in the first. They followed that by making four straight to begin the second.

    Ingram returned after missing two games because of a sore right thumb. RJ Barrett (left thumb) sat for the second straight game.

    Philadelphia’s biggest lead was 33 points, 87-54, after an Edgecombe three with 8:24 remaining in the third.

    The Sixers host the Cleveland Cavaliers (22-19) on Wednesday at Xfinity Mobile Arena (7 p.m., ESPN).

  • Trump says Iran wants to negotiate as the death toll in protests rises to at least 646

    Trump says Iran wants to negotiate as the death toll in protests rises to at least 646

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran wants to negotiate with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic over its crackdown on protesters in nationwide demonstrations that activists said Monday had left at least 646 people dead.

    Iran had no direct reaction to Trump’s comments, which came after the foreign minister of Oman — long an interlocutor between Washington and Tehran — traveled to Iran this weekend. It also remains unclear just what Iran could promise, particularly as Trump has set strict demands over its nuclear program and its ballistic missile arsenal, which Tehran insists is crucial for its national defense.

    Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking to foreign diplomats in Tehran, insisted “the situation has come under total control” in remarks that blamed Israel and the U.S. for the violence, without offering evidence.

    “That’s why the demonstrations turned violent and bloody, to give an excuse to the American president to intervene,” Araghchi said, in comments carried by Al Jazeera. The Qatar-funded network has been allowed to report live from inside Iran, despite the internet being shut off.

    However, Araghchi said Iran was “open to diplomacy.” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said that a channel to the U.S. remained open, but talks needed to be “based on the acceptance of mutual interests and concerns, not a negotiation that is one-sided, unilateral, and based on dictation.”

    Meanwhile, pro-government demonstrators flooded the streets on Monday in support of the theocracy, a show of force after days of protests directly challenging the rule of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state television aired chants from the crowd, which appeared to number in the tens of thousands, who shouted “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!”

    Others cried out: “Death to the enemies of God!” Iran’s attorney general has warned that anyone taking part in protests will be considered an “enemy of God,” a death-penalty charge.

    On Monday, the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Virtual Embassy Iran issued an urgent warning to U.S. citizens in Iran to “leave now,” citing the surge in violence and communications blackout.

    Trump acknowledges proposal for talks

    Trump and his national security team have been weighing a range of potential responses against Iran, including cyberattacks and direct strikes by the U.S. or Israel, according to two people familiar with internal White House discussions who weren’t authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

    “The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night. Asked about Iran’s threats of retaliation, he said: “If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before.”

    Meanwhile, Trump announced Monday that countries doing business with Iran will face 25% tariffs from the United States. Trump announced the tariffs in a social media posting, saying they would be “effective immediately.”

    It was the first direct action from the president, who believes exacting tariffs can be a useful tool in prodding friends and foes on the global stage to bend to his will.

    Brazil, China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia are among economies that do business with Tehran.

    The White House did not immediately offer any further details on the new tariffs.

    Trump said that his administration was in talks to set up a meeting with Tehran, but cautioned that he may have to act first as reports of the death toll in Iran mount and the government continues to arrest protesters.

    “I think they’re tired of being beat up by the United States,” Trump said. “Iran wants to negotiate.”

    Iran, through the country’s parliamentary speaker, warned Sunday that the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if Washington uses force to protect demonstrators.

    More than 10,700 people also have been detained over the two weeks of protests, said the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in previous unrest in recent years and gave the latest death toll early Tuesday. It relies on supporters in Iran crosschecking information. It said 512 of the dead were protesters and 134 were security force members.

    With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the toll. Iran’s government hasn’t offered overall casualty figures.

    Those abroad fear the information blackout is emboldening hard-liners within Iran’s security services to launch a violent crackdown. Protesters flooded Tehran’s streets on Saturday night into Sunday morning. Online videos purported to show more demonstrations Sunday night into Monday, with a Tehran official acknowledging them in state media.

    At 2 p.m. Monday, Iranian state television showed images of demonstrators thronging Tehran toward Enghelab Square, or “Islamic Revolution” Square, in the capital. It had been airing statements all morning from Iranian government, security, and religious leaders to attend the demonstration.

    It called the rally an “Iranian uprising against American-Zionist terrorism,” without addressing the underlying anger in the country over the nation’s ailing economy. State television aired images of such demonstrations around the country, trying to signal it had overcome the protests.

    Fear pervades Iran’s capital

    In Tehran, a witness told the AP that the streets were empty at the sunset call to prayers each night. By the Isha, or nighttime prayer, the streets are deserted.

    Part of that stems from the fear of getting caught in the crackdown. Police sent the public a text message that warned: “Given the presence of terrorist groups and armed individuals in some gatherings last night and their plans to cause death, and the firm decision to not tolerate any appeasement and to deal decisively with the rioters, families are strongly advised to take care of their youth and teenagers.”

    Another text, which claimed to come from the intelligence arm of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, also directly warned people not to take part in demonstrations.

    The witness spoke on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing crackdown.

    The demonstrations began Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at more than 1.4 million to $1, as iran’s economy is squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Iran’s theocracy.

    Video shows corpses outside capital

    Meanwhile, video circulating online purports to show dozens of bodies in a morgue on the outskirts of Iran’s capital.

    People with knowledge of the facility and the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said Monday that the video shows the Kahrizak Forensic Medicine Center.

    In the footage, people are seen walking by dozens of bodies in bags laid out in a large room, attempting to identify those there. In some cases, bodies can be seen lying outside on blue tarps. A large truck can be seen in part of the footage.

  • Minnesota and the Twin Cities sue the federal government to stop the immigration crackdown

    Minnesota and the Twin Cities sue the federal government to stop the immigration crackdown

    MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota and its two largest cities sued the Trump administration Monday to try to stop an immigration enforcement surge that led to the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman by a federal officer and evoked outrage and protests across the country.

    The state, joined by Minneapolis and St. Paul, said the Department of Homeland Security is violating the First Amendment and other constitutional protections. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order to halt the enforcement action or limit the operation.

    “This is, in essence, a federal invasion of the Twin Cities in Minnesota, and it must stop,” state Attorney General Keith Ellison said at a news conference. “These poorly trained, aggressive, and armed agents of the federal state have terrorized Minnesota with widespread unlawful conduct.”

    Homeland Security is pledging to put more than 2,000 immigration officers into Minnesota and says it has made more than 2,000 arrests since December. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has called the surge its largest enforcement operation ever.

    The lawsuit accuses the Republican Trump administration of violating free speech rights by targeting a progressive state that favors Democrats and welcomes immigrants.

    “They’re targeting us based on what we look and sound like. Our residents are scared. And as local officials, we have a responsibility to act,” said St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, who was born in Laos.

    Feds say they’re protecting the public

    In response, Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin accused Minnesota officials of ignoring public safety.

    “President Trump’s job is to protect the American people and enforce the law — no matter who your mayor, governor, or state attorney general is,” McLaughlin said. “That’s what the Trump administration is doing; we have the Constitution on our side on this, and we look forward to proving that in court.”

    The government also faces a new lawsuit over over a similar crackdown in Illinois. More than 4,300 people were arrested last year in Operation Midway Blitz as patrols of masked agents swept the Chicago area. The lawsuit by the city and state says the campaign had a chilling effect, making residents afraid to leave home or use public services.

    Since the deployment in the Twin Cities, whistle-burst warnings by grassroots activists are commonly heard when agents flood streets. Witnesses have regularly posted video of federal officers using tear gas to discourage the public from following them.

    Earlier Monday, agents fired tear gas to break up a crowd of people who showed up to see the aftermath of a car crash in Minneapolis, just a few blocks from where Renee Good was fatally shot.

    A crowd emerged to witness a man being questioned by agents who had rear-ended his car. Agents used tear gas to try to discourage the group, then drove off as people screamed, “cowards!”

    “I’m glad they didn’t shoot me or something,” Christian Molina told reporters.

    Standing near his mangled fender, he wondered aloud: “Who’s going to pay for my car?”

    It was another tense scene following the death of Good on Jan. 7. There were dozens of protests or vigils across the U.S. to honor the 37-year-old mother of three and to passionately criticize the Trump administration’s tactics.

    Trump administration officials have repeatedly defended the immigration agent who shot her, saying Good and her vehicle presented a threat. But that explanation has been widely panned by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and others based on videos of the confrontation.

    Students walk out of school

    Hundreds of students walked out of Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, where federal agents had deployed tear gas on students and staff last week. Adults wearing safety vests cleared traffic, and many parents who are Roosevelt alumni showed up in old school wear.

    Marchers held signs that said, “ICE out” and “Welcome to Panem,” a reference to the dystopian society from the Hunger Games book series.

    Meanwhile, in Portland, Ore., federal authorities filed charges against a Venezuelan national who was one of two people shot there by U.S. Border Patrol on Thursday. The U.S. Justice Department said the man used his pickup truck to strike a Border Patrol vehicle and escape the scene with a woman.

    They were shot and eventually arrested. Their wounds were not life-threatening. The FBI said there was no video of the incident, unlike the Good shooting.