Today's Top Stories from NBC News

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

In today's newsletter: Minneapolis woman is shot dead by an ICE officer. The U.S. seizes a Russian-flagged oil tanker that fled the Venezuela blockade. And Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveils new dietary guidelines.

Here's what to know today.

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▼ The Lead

After fatal ICE shooting, DHS and Minnesota officials share contrasting accounts

(Stephen Maturen / Getty Images)

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed a woman yesterday in Minneapolis, officials said.

The incident sparked a large protest near the scene of the shooting, where demonstrators chanted Renee Nicole Good, the name of the person officials identified as the victim.

Contrasting narratives emerged over what led to the shooting.

Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said Good was shot after people began blocking officers during an immigration-related operation.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said she was engaged in "an act of domestic terrorism" without providing further evidence.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey pushed back on those claims, saying, "Having seen the video of myself, I want to tell everybody directly that is b---s---."

President Donald Trump defended the ICE agent and said the officer was "viciously" run over.

In a Truth Social post, he wrote: "It is hard to believe he is alive, but is now recovering in the hospital."

Witnesses described seeing the woman trying to flee officers when she was shot, disputing the notion that she was trying to run them over.

Good's mother said that her daughter was not part of ICE-related protests.

The Minneapolis City Council described the 37-year-old as a resident who was out "caring for her neighbors" when she was killed.

Here's what else we know and follow the live coverage here.

The United States seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic following a weekslong chase on the high seas.

The sanctioned vessel, called the Marinera, had fled the American blockade of Venezuela last month. Crew onboard the vessel "will be brought to the United States for such prosecution if necessary," the White House said.

Another sanctioned tanker, the M/T Sophia, was seized for "conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea," U.S. officials said.

The Kremlin, a longtime supporter of deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, accused the U.S. of violating maritime law by seizing the Marinera.

The saga is a new flashpoint between Washington and Moscow in the wake of the Trump administration's capture of Maduro.

It comes as Venezuela's state-run petroleum company said that it is in negotiations to sell crude oil to the U.S. The process "is based on a strictly commercial transaction, with criteria of legality, transparency, and benefit for both parties," the company said, according to an NBC News translation.

Read the full story here.

More Venezuela news:

Venezuelans hopeful of regime change are dismayed as the government appears to remain the same after Maduro's capture.

Democrats believe unexpected military action, on top of Trump's threats to other countries, offer them an array of anti-Republican messaging that could be potent as they head into a volatile midterms season.

While some conservatives have questioned Trump's endgame in Venezuela, allies of the president who spoke to NBC News this week said that they support his actions in the region so far.

Trump's Venezuela oil plan faces steep security and economic questions, as experts warn of militia groups endangering workers and questionable returns.

Republican leaders of the House and Senate dismissed the idea of using the U.S. military to take over Greenland, even as the White House has insisted it is on the table.

Pro-colonialist sentiment is surging among some prominent figures inside the White House and the broader MAGA political movement.

What to know about RFK Jr.'s new food pyramid

New U.S. dietary guidelines unveiled yesterday make notable changes to prior guidance about healthy eating, placing a higher emphasis on protein and full-fat dairy while advising against sugar and highly processed foods.

"My message is clear: Eat real food," Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said, adding that he was "ending the war on saturated fats."

Gone is the MyPlate visual guide for what foods to eat, replaced by an updated version of the food pyramid. Protein, dairy and healthy fats, along with vegetables and fruits, dominate while whole grains are de-emphasized.

However, the American Heart Association warned the recommendations could lead people to consume too much sodium and saturated fats, bringing higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

Here are six of the biggest changes.

▼ Read All About It

Nick Reiner's lawyer withdrew from the case, postponing an arraignment hearing on the killings of movie director Rob and his wife Michele.

A shooting outside a church in Salt Lake City killed two people and injured six others yesterday, police said

The House Oversight Committee approved more subpoenas related to Jeffrey Epstein, including for billionaire and former Victoria's Secret CEO Les Wexner.

More than a week since an Ohio dentist and his wife were fatally shot in their Columbus home, police have released few details as the search for the suspect continues.

Hilary Duff's husband called Ashley Tisdale "self obsessed" after a viral essay in which Tisdale accused her mom friend group of acting like high school mean girls.

▼ Staff Pick

Alysa Liu retired at 16. Now, the figure skater is back — and going for gold on her own terms.

Alysa Liu has seen and done more before the age of 20 than most people see and do in a lifetime.

There was her first figure skating career, which she ended at age 16 after feeling unfulfilled — even after representing the United States at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.

After a journey of self discovery, however, Liu made it back to the ice. And now, not only is she chasing Olympic gold in Milan, she is doing it entirely on her own terms, taking control of her career in a way she never has before.

— Rohan Nadkarni, sports reporter

Read the full story here.

▼ NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified

January is about reset and readiness. We rounded up the best KN95 masks to keep on hand and highlighted a deal on at-home COVID and flu tests worth bookmarking. Plus, major sales are live at Nordstrom, Ulta and REI, making it a smart moment to stock up on beauty, outdoor gear and everyday essentials.