South Korean president reacts to arrest after massive police operation
The death toll rises slightly as relentless Southern California wildfires continue to burn. And President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary wins over a key senator for his confirmation. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025.
South Korean president arrested in massive police operation
After weeks of avoiding arrest, South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol is in custody after a massive law enforcement operation Wednesday morning, Jan. 15.
Point phone camera here
Investigators with the country’s anti-corruption agency arrested Yoon for questioning in multiple criminal investigations related to his short-lived declaration of martial law in December 2024, including accusations of leading an insurrection — a crime punishable by life imprisonment or even the death penalty in South Korea.
Following his arrest, which saw around 3,000 police officers descending on his residence, Yoon released a pre-recorded video message calling the investigations “illegal,” saying “rule of law in this country has completely collapsed” and adding that he only agreed to cooperate with the investigation to prevent violence. The embattled president avoided arrest for weeks, holed up in his fortified residence and surrounded by his presidential security team.
President Yoon Suk Yeol has been taken into custody, but he again reached out to his supporters decrying the investigation as illegal and that he was complying with the warrant to avoid "bloodshed."#SouthKorea #news
— The Korea Herald 코리아헤럴드 (@TheKoreaHerald) January 15, 2025
Here is the break down: https://t.co/mn8CM5nRoI pic.twitter.com/Qks6ganmiU
Officials said that so far, Yoon has refused to answer investigators’ questions or comment and will not allow the sessions to be recorded.
The anti-corruption agency has 48 hours to request a court order for a formal arrest on a charge of attempting a rebellion or release Yoon. If Yoon is formally arrested, investigators can extend his detention to 20 days before transferring the case to public prosecutors for indictment.
South Korea is a key American ally. The U.S. has nearly 30,000 troops stationed there. In addition, President Joe Biden hosted Yoon for a state visit in Washington, D.C. in April 2023.
Southern California wildfire death toll rises to 25, ‘dangerous situation warning’ issued
The National Weather Service issued a warning that the Los Angeles California area is “not out of the woods yet,” even though winds were not as strong as expected on Tuesday, Jan. 14. Wind gusts are forecast to pick up Wednesday, with a dangerous situation warning in effect from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. PST for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Evacuation orders remain in place for 88,000 Los Angeles residents. About 90,000 others remain in evacuation warning zones, meaning they might need to leave at a moment’s notice. A total of 6 million people are under a critical fire threat.
The death toll from the fires rose to 25 on Tuesday. The Eaton and Palisades fires — burning for a full week — are now considered the most destructive and second-most destructive wildfires in Southern California history.
The Palisades fire remains the largest, scorching nearly 24,000 acres of land. It is only 18% contained, a small improvement from Tuesday’s 14% containment.
The Eaton fire spans about 14,000 acres and is now 35% contained. The Auto fire in Ventura County grew slightly from 56 to 60 acres but is now 47% contained, according to CalFire’s latest update.
As of Wednesday morning, five fires continued to scorch the region, with winds forecast to hit 70 miles an hour later Wednesday and into Thursday, Jan. 16.
Get up to speed on the stories leading the day every weekday morning. Sign up for the newsletter today!
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
Pete Hegseth faces tough questions on Capitol Hill
Senate confirmation hearings continue Wednesday for President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks. The proceedings kicked off Tuesday, Jan. 14, with a four-hour Senate Armed Services Committee hearing for Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth.
Late Tuesday night, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, told Fox News she’d vote to confirm Hegseth. She was on the fence ahead of the hearing, and many Democrats hoped she would vote no. Her support for Hegseth could put him over the top.
The hearings continue Wednesday for several nominees, including Trump’s picks for attorney general, Pam Bondi; secretary of state, Marco Rubio; and CIA director, John Ratcliffe.
Find Straight Arrow News political correspondent Ray Bogan’s full recap of Tuesday’s proceedings here.
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission files lawsuit against Elon Musk over X shares
Elon Musk, one of the heads of Trump’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency, faces a new lawsuit over his social media company X. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Musk.
Since Trump appointed Musk to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency during his second term, it’s unlikely the incoming Trump administration will pursue this lawsuit.
Straight Arrow News reporter Lauren Taylor has more on what the lawsuit has to do with Musk’s ownership stake in X here.
US watchdog sues Capital One, alleges bank cheated customers out of $2B
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is suing Capital One, saying the bank misled consumers about its offerings for high-interest savings accounts and cheated customers out of more than $2 billion in interest payments.
The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, focuses on Capital One’s promises and handling of its “360 Savings” accounts. The Bureau said despite promoting 360 Savings as an account that provides one of the nation’s highest interest rates, Capital One froze its rate at a low level for at least several years, even as interest rates rose nationally.
The CFPB said that at the same time, Capital One created “360 Performance Savings,” which saw a much higher growth rate but did not notify 360 Savings account holders about the new offering and instead “worked to keep them in the dark.”
The lawsuit alleges the company marketed the products similarly to obscure their distinction and banned employees from “proactively telling” those with 360 Savings accounts about 360 Performance Savings.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is seeking to impose civil penalties on Capital One and provide financial relief to those impacted.
Musicians come together for benefit concerts to support wildfire victims
With the wildfires in California impacting so many people and uprooting people’s lives, entertainers are coming together to hold benefit concerts to support the victims.
Ringo Starr is taking the famous song lyrics, “I get by with a little help from my friends,” seriously. The former Beatles drummer is holding a two-night benefit concert this week in Nashville. It will feature guest performances from Jack White, Sheryl Crow and “War and Treaty.”
Funds from the concert, which will air as a special on CBS later this year, will be directed to the American Red Cross.
Live Nation is gearing up for its benefit concert, titled “FireAid,” to be held on Jan. 30. Sources told TMZ the response from musicians has been so overwhelming that the event will likely be held in two different venues.
Live Nation is expected to announce the lineup within days.
Tags: CFPB, consumer financial protection bureau, Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, Eaton Fire, Pacific Palisades, Pete Hegseth, Weather, CBS News, Fundraising, evacuations, corruption, Investigation, Entertainment, Banks, Arrest, Joe Biden, Twitter, Elon Musk, South Korea, Donald Trump, Social Media, Joni Ernst, California, Los Angeles, Fox News, Lawsuit, Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. Senate, Marco Rubio, Wildfire, Securities and Exchange Commission, Impeachment, Live Nation, Central Intelligence Agency, Red Cross, X, Severe Weather, CIA, CNN, Concert, Extreme weather
AFTER WEEKS OF AVOIDING ARREST — SOUTH KOREA’S IMPEACHED PRESIDENT YOON SUK YEOL IS NOW IN CUSTODY AFTER A MASSIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATION EARLIER TODAY.
INVESTIGATORS, WITH THE COUNTRY’S ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENCY, ARRESTED YOON FOR QUESTIONING IN MULTIPLE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS RELATED TO HIS SHORT-LIVED DECLARATION OF MARTIAL LAW IN DECEMBER — INCLUDING ACCUSATIONS OF LEADING AN INSURRECTION, A CRIME PUNISHABLE BY LIFE IMPRISONMENT OR EVEN THE DEATH PENALTY IN SOUTH KOREA.
FOLLOWING HIS ARREST THAT SAW AROUND 3 THOUSAND POLICE OFFICERS DESCENDING ON HIS RESIDENCE… YOON RELEASED A PRE-RECORDED VIDEO MESSAGE CALLING THE INVESTIGATIONS “ILLEGAL“ SAYING QUOTE “RULE OF LAW IN THIS COUNTRY HAS COMPLETELY COLLAPSED” AND ADDING THAT HE WAS ONLY AGREEING TO COOPERATE WITH THE INVESTIGATION TO PREVENT VIOLENCE.
THE EMBATTLED PRESIDENT HAD BEEN HOLED UP IN HIS FORTIFIED RESIDENCE FOR WEEKS SURROUNDED BY HIS PRESIDENTIAL SECURITY TEAM, AS HE AVOIDED ARREST.
OFFICIALS SAY SO FAR — YOON HAS REFUSED TO ANSWER INVESTIGATORS’ QUESTIONS OR COMMENT… AND WON’T ALLOW THE SESSIONS TO BE RECORDED.
THE ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENCY NOW HAS 48 HOURS TO REQUEST A COURT ORDER FOR A FORMAL ARREST ON A CHARGE OF ATTEMPTING A REBELLION… OR RELEASE YOON.
IF YOON IS FORMALLY ARRESTED — INVESTIGATORS CAN EXTEND HIS DETENTION TO 20 DAYS BEFORE TRANSFERRING THE CASE TO PUBLIC PROSECUTORS FOR INDICTMENT.
SOUTH KOREA IS A KEY ALLY OF THE UNITED STATES AS THE U-S HAS NEARLY 30 THOUSANDS TROOPS, STATIONED THERE. IN ADDITION, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HOSTED YOON FOR A STATE VISIT IN WASHINGTON BACK IN APRIL OF 2023..
BACK HERE IN THE U-S — THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS WARNING THE LOS ANGELES AREA IS ‘NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET” EVEN THOUGH WINDS WERE NOT AS STRONG AS EXPECTED YESTERDAY.
THEY ARE FORECAST TO PICK UP TODAY, WITH A DANGEROUS SITUATION WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 A-M TO 3 P-M LOCAL TIME FOR PARTS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES.
EVACUATION ORDERS ARE IN-PLACE FOR 88-THOUSAND LOS ANGELES RESIDENTS. ABOUT 90-THOUSAND OTHERS ARE IN EVACUATION WARNING ZONES, WHICH MEANS THEY MIGHT NEED TO LEAVE AT A MOMENT’S NOTICE. A TOTAL OF 6-MILLION PEOPLE ARE UNDER WHAT IS CALLED ** A CRITICAL FIRE THREAT**
THIS AS THE DEATH TOLL FROM THE FIRES HAS RISEN TO 25.
THE EATON AND PALISADES FIRES — WHICH HAVE NOW BEEN BURNING FOR A FULL WEEK — ARE NOW THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE AND SECOND-MOST DESTRUCTIVE WILDFIRES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HISTORY, RESPECTIVELY.
THE PALISADES FIRE REMAINS THE LARGEST — SCORCHING NEARLY 24-THOUSAND ACRES OF LAND. IT IS ONLY 18 PERCENT CONTAINED. BUT THAT DOES MARK A SMALL IMPROVEMENT FROM YESTERDAY’S 14 PERCENT.
THE EATON FIRE SPANS ABOUT 14-THOUSAND ACRES AND IS NOW 35 PERCENT CONTAINED.
AND THE AUTO FIRE IN VENTURA COUNTY HAS GROWN SLIGHTLY FROM 56 TO 60 ACRES.
THAT FIRE IS 47 PERCENT CONTAINED, ACCORDING TO CAL FIRE’S LATEST UPDATE.
CNN IS REPORTING THIS MORNING THERE ARE TOTAL OF FIVE FIRES CURRENTLY BURNING IN THE REGION, WITH WINDS FORECAST TO HIT 70 MILES AN HOUR LATER TODAY AND OVERNIGHT.
SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS CONTINUE TODAY FOR PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP’S CABINET PICKS. THE PROCEEDINGS KICKED OFF TUESDAY WITH TRUMP’S NOMINEE FOR DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH’S FOUR-HOUR HEARING IN FRONT OF THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE. OUR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT RAY BOGAN HAS A RECAP FROM WASHINGTON.
OUR RAY BOGAN REPORTING. LATE LAST NIGHT, REPUBLICAN JONI ERNST WENT ON FOX NEWS AND SAID SHE **WILL VOTE** TO CONFIRM HEGSETH. SHE HAD BEEN ON THE FENCE GOING INTO THE HEARING, AND MANY DEMOCRATS had HOPED SHE WOULD HOLD-OUT AND VOTE NO. HER SUPPORT FOR HEGSETH COULD PUT HIM OVER THE TOP.
THE HEARINGS CONTINUE TODAY FOR SEVERAL NOMINEES INCLUDING TRUMP’S PICKS FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL PAM BONDI, SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO, AND CIA DIRECTOR JOHN RATCLIFFE.
ELON MUSK, ONE OF THE HEADS OF PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP’S NEWLY CREATED DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, IS FACING A NEW LAWSUIT OVER HIS SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANY – X. THE SUIT COMES FROM THE SEC. HERE’S STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS REPORTER, LAUREN TAYLOR WITH MORE ON WHAT THIS HAS TO DO WITH HIS OWNERSHIP STAKE IN THE COMPANY FORMERLY KNOWN AS TWITTER.
LAUREN TAYLOR REPORTING. AS WE MENTIONED, SINCE DONALD TRUMP APPOINTED MUSK HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO CO-LEAD THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY DURING HIS SECOND TERM, IT’S UNLIKELY THE INCOMING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WILL PURSUE THIS LAWSUIT.
THE CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU IS SUING CAPITAL ONE — SAYING THE BANK MISLED CONSUMERS ABOUT ITS OFFERINGS FOR HIGH-INTEREST SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND CHEATED CUSTOMERS OUT OF MORE THAN 2 BILLION DOLLARS IN INTEREST PAYMENTS AS A RESULT.
THE LAWSUIT FILED ON TUESDAY FOCUSES ON CAPITAL ONE’S PROMISES AND HANDLING OF ITS “3-60 SAVINGS” ACCOUNTS.
THE BUREAU SAYS DESPITE PROMOTING 3-60 SAVINGS AS AN ACCOUNT **THAT PROVIDES ONE OF NATION’S HIGHEST INTEREST RATES**, CAPITAL ONE FROZE ITS RATE AT A LOW LEVEL FOR AT LEAST SEVERAL YEARS, – EVEN AS INTEREST RATES NATIONALLY, ROSE.
THE C-F-P-B SAYS AT THE SAME TIME — CAPITAL ONE CREATED “3-60 PERFORMANCE SAVINGS” — WHICH SAW A MUCH HIGHER RATE GROWTH — BUT DID NOT NOTIFY 3-60 SAVINGS ACCOUNT HOLDERS ABOUT THIS NEW OFFERING AND INSTEAD QUOTE ” WORKED TO KEEP THEM IN THE DARK.”
THE LAWSUIT ALLEGES THE COMPANY MARKETED THE PRODUCTS SIMILARLY TO OBSCURE THEIR DISTINCTION AND BANNED EMPLOYEES FROM “PRO-ACTIVELY TELLING” THOSE WITH 3-60 SAVINGS ACCOUNTS ABOUT 3-60 PERFORMANCE SAVINGS.
THE CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU IS SEEKING TO IMPOSE CIVIL PENALTIES ON CAPITAL ONE AND PROVIDE FINANCIAL RELIEF TO THOSE IMPACTED.
WITH THE WILDFIRES IN CALIFORNIA AFFECTING SO MANY PEOPLE AND UPROOTING PEOPLE’S LIVES – ENTERTAINERS ARE COMING TOGETHER TO HOLD BENEFIT CONCERTS TO SUPPORT THE VICTIMS.
RINGO STARR IS TAKING THE FAMOUS SONG LYRIC “I GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS” SERIOUSLY. THE FORMER BEATLES DRUMMER IS HOLDING A TWO-NIGHT CONCERT THIS WEEK IN NASHVILLE — FEATURING GUEST PERFORMANCES FROM JACK WHITE, SHERYL CROW, AND COUPLE **WAR AND TREATY**.
FUNDS FROM THE CONCERT WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS. THE CONCERT WILL AIR AS A SPECIAL ON CBS LATER THIS YEAR.
MEANTIME – LIVENATION IS GEARING UP FOR ITS BENEFIT CONCERT – TITLED FIREAID TO BE HELD ON JANUARY 30TH. SOURCES TELL TMZ THE RESPONSE FROM MUSICIANS HAS BEEN SO OVERWHELMING THAT THE EVENT WILL LIKELY BE HELD IN TWO DIFFERENT VENUES — THE INTUIT DOME IN INGLEWOOD AND THE FORUM.
LIVENATION IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE THE LINEUP WITHIN DAYS.
Straight to your inbox.
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
