Senators are divided on how to proceed with a spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security, after federal immigration officials fatally shot a Department of Veterans Affairs nurse over the weekend.

Last Saturday in Minneapolis, a Border Patrol agent fatally shot Alex Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, during an altercation between federal immigration officials and protestors.

In a statement immediately following the shooting, the Department of Homeland Security said Pretti was shot after he “approached” Border Patrol officers with a handgun. Bystander videos of the shooting show Pretti holding a phone in his hand, but none appear to show him holding a gun. Pretti was licensed to carry a concealed weapon.

According to the Associated Press, Pretti is the sixth person to die during the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement campaign in the U.S.

VA Secretary Doug Collins confirmed on Sunday that Pretti was a nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.

“As President Trump has said, nobody wants to see chaos and death in American cities, and we send our condolences to the Pretti family. Such tragedies are unfortunately happening in Minnesota because of state and local officials’ refusal to cooperate with the federal government to enforce the law and deport dangerous illegal criminals,” Collins wrote.

VA employees expressed outrage over Pretti’s death. Coworkers remembered him as someone who cared for his patients.

An internal document obtained by Federal News Network shows that Pretti recently received a “VA gratitude” email message from his supervisors.

“Thanks for staying on your day off and helping out taking care of the veterans,” the email to Pretti states. “You are an invaluable member of the team!”

“Alex Pretti was a great nurse and researcher,” a VA employee told Federal News Network on Saturday.

Doug Massey, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 17, which represents VA Central Office employees, said members are “generally upset and very concerned following” the shooting. Massey said it was a “senseless” shooting, and that Pretti was trying to assist a protester on the ground moments before the shooting.

“I know a lot of nurses, and they tend to be that type where they like to help people. He saw the woman getting pushed down,” Massey said.

Daniel Amyx, a rehab and extended care nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, said he spoke with some of Pretti’s ICU coworkers following the shooting, and that they described him as “very kind and gentle,” and a “great guy to work with.”

“Alex was a dedicated nurse. He was science-minded, evidenced by the fact that he moved from research into becoming a nurse, and I heard that he very much cared for his patients,” Amyx said in a virtual meeting hosted by the Federal Unionists Network on Sunday. Amyx said the Minneapolis VAMC is planning a memorial service for Pretti.

Sharda Fornnarino, a VA registered nurse in Colorado and secretary of the VA division for National Nurses United, called Pretti’s death a “blatant attack on federal workers.”

“VA workers, we’re shocked, stunned and now we’re getting angry,” Fornnarino said.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the shooting a “tragedy,” during a briefing with reporters on Monday, but said it “occurred as a result of a deliberate and hostile resistance by Democrat leaders in Minnesota.”

“This incident remains under investigation and nobody here at the White House, including the president of the United States, wants to see Americans hurt or killed and losing their lives in American streets,” Leavitt said

Matthew Silverman, national president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, said in a statement that “respect for lawful authority and adherence to the rule of law are essential to preventing further tragedies.”

“In an era of rising threats against law enforcement, it is critical that officers are supported, not second-guessed in real time, as they carry out their duties under extraordinary pressure,” Silverman said.

Before the shooting, a comprehensive spending deal for the rest of fiscal 2026 was slated for a full Senate vote. But following Pretti’s death, Senate Democrats are calling on the Senate to pull DHS funding from the six-bill package.

This package currently includes the full-year funding bills for DHS and the departments of Defense, Treasury, Labor, Health and Human Services, State, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, as well as several other agencies. The House of Representatives approved these six bills last week.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), ranking member of the Senate Appropriation Committee’s subcommittee on commerce, justice, science and related agencies, called on the Senate to pull the DHS funding bill from the final package of spending bills for the rest of fiscal 2026.

Van Hollen told Federal Drive with Terry Gerton on Monday that this would allow lawmakers to “dive in and make necessary changes to the Department of Homeland Security budget.”

“There’s no reason that Republicans should hold all of those bills hostage as we work to rein in and dramatically reform the parts of DHS that need to be dramatically reined in. That will be the question — whether or not Republicans in the Senate are willing to do that,” Van Hollen said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on Monday that Senate Democrats plan to advance five of the spending bills, separately from the DHS funding bill, before the Jan. 30 deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown.

“The responsibility to prevent a partial government shutdown is on Leader Thune and Senate Republicans,” Schumer said in a statement.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins (R-Maine) urged her colleagues on Monday to vote for the full six-bill package that includes DHS funding, to “show that we can work together in a bipartisan manner to finish the job.”

“It is so important that we do so, because looming is a government shutdown — another harmful, unnecessary and disastrous government shutdown if we do not complete our work,” Collins said on the Senate floor.

Collins said more than 80% of the DHS spending bill covers non-immigration and non-border security functions — such as cybersecurity and funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Transportation Security Administration.

The post Senators seek pause on DHS spending bill, following fatal shooting of VA nurse by Border Patrol first appeared on Federal News Network.

© AP Photo/Adam Gray

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Bitcoin Magazine

The 15 Types of Bitcoiners You’ll Definitely See at Bitcoin 2026

Loud. Friendly. Huggy. The Bitcoin Bro is your hype man for hyperbitcoinization. He doesn’t know what “joules per terahash” means, but he does know where the nearest bar is and will yell “Buy the dip!” during your panel Q&A.

They party hard, orange-pill harder, and are basically Bitcoin’s version of a frat brother with a bull market permanently tattooed on his soul.

Think this might be you? Take the “Which Bitcoin 2026 Persona Are You?” Quiz to find out. No halving knowledge required.

Slicker than a freshly backed-up seed phrase, this guy’s teeth are whiter than your Lightning wallet. He rented a Lambo for the afternoon and drops your first name way too often – like he’s trying to sell you a fractional NFT of a parking garage.

He doesn’t care about decentralization. He cares about gains. And tailoring. Always with the tailoring.

The apocalypse isn’t a threat – it’s a plan. This person hasn’t touched fiat since 2018 and bathes exclusively in non-KYC sats. They’ve learned to make soap, catch fish, and explain monetary collapse in a calm, reassuring tone.

They’re not paranoid. They’re prepared.

Are you spiritually prepared, too? Take the “Which Bitcoin 2026 Persona Are You?” Quiz and see where you land.

Lives in a van. Pays for tacos with Lightning. Might be hiding from the IRS (but only spiritually). They believe Bitcoin is peace, man. And also chaos. And also freedom.

Will fix your flat tire in exchange for a hammock spot and a cold yerba mate.

The unsung hero of Bitcoin. Speaks exclusively in thermodynamic math and obscure hardware specs. Makes ASIC firmware upgrades look like wizardry, but cannot explain their job to their mom without causing emotional distress.

Knows the exact BTU-to-wattage ratio of their off-grid setup. Does not know what “small talk” is.

Don’t understand them? That’s okay. Take the “Which Bitcoin 2026 Persona Are You?” Quiz anyway — they’re building the future while you click answers.

Yes, plural. Yes, anonymous.

They don’t want to talk to you. They don’t want to be on your podcast. They don’t even want you to know they’re here. Ask when something will be done and you’ll receive the sacred prophecy: “Two weeks.”

Shadowy super-coders, quietly pushing upgrades that will redefine monetary history – while actively avoiding eye contact.

Armed with a gimbal and a dream. Their camera roll is 80% memes, 20% selfies with CEOs. Some are spreading the signal. Some are chasing clout. All are uploading something right now.

Will say “Let’s run it back!” at least 17 times per day.

Identifiable by the gravity-defying stack of laminated badges swinging from his neck like a wearable timeline. He doesn’t say much – the passes do the talking.

He’s not here to attend panels. He’s here to assert conference dominance.

Is this your origin story? Take the “Which Bitcoin 2026 Persona Are You?” Quiz and confirm your status.

Branded polo. Branded backpack. Branded soul. You don’t remember agreeing to this conversation, but you’re holding his business card now.

Moves in packs. Wears the lanyard like a badge of honor. Will be back at the booth exactly 15 minutes after lunch.Doesn’t talk about Bitcoin. Is Bitcoin.

Old-school finance types who smelled smoke on Wall Street and walked toward the orange glow. Calm. Calculated. Dollar-cost-averaging into the sunset.

They don’t shill. They don’t yell. They just nod knowingly.

Same data. Two conclusions. Infinite confidence. 

They believe balance sheets are destiny – or disaster. One thinks corporate Bitcoin accumulation is inevitable, elegant, and inevitable again. The other thinks leverage is a ticking time bomb wrapped in a TradFi costume. 

Both have read the filings. Both have spreadsheets. Both will reference Michael Saylor – either as a visionary or as a cautionary tale – and neither will back down.

Sleeps three to a room and burned half their runway to get to the conference. They’re pitching a Lightning wallet-slash-social network-slash-AI-powered-something and just need one person to believe.

Respect the hustle.

Take the “Which Bitcoin 2026 Persona Are You?” Quiz before they raise your next round.

Absolute legends. They’ve stood beside their Bitcoin-obsessed partner for three straight days, nodding politely through debates about mining fees and custody models.

They are the backbone of the conference. The true MVPs. Quietly Googling spa availability.

Not who you expect. No megaphones. No flexing. Just quiet confidence and a phone that never leaves their hand.

Some got lucky. Some built empires. All will ignore your pitch deck.

Yes, they exist. Yes, they know more than you. And yes, they are already five steps ahead of your “Have you heard of Bitcoin?” opener.

Bonus: They will almost certainly explain immersion cooling better than you.

One Event. Endless Energy. Absolute Chaos.

Bitcoin 2026 isn’t just a conference – it’s a decentralized carnival of code, conviction, and characters. Whether you’re here to build, learn, argue, chill, or meme, there’s a place for you.

Ready to see where you fit in? Take the “Which Bitcoin 2026 Persona Are You?” Quiz and find out who you really are.

This article was inspired by the video “The People of Bitcoin 2022 Miami Conference” by SPACE DESIGN WAREHOUSE. We acknowledge and appreciate the original creative concept, which served as a foundation for this updated and expanded interpretation for Bitcoin 2025. We encourage readers to view the original video and support the creator on YouTube.

This post The 15 Types of Bitcoiners You’ll Definitely See at Bitcoin 2026 first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Josh Plischke.

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As the vast scientific possibilities of cannabis rapidly become more researched, so too does the studying and research behind the fascinating components that are terpenes. These botanical compounds are the building blocks that give cannabis buds their characteristics—everything from the aromas of the bud to the physical appearance to the various feelings and sensations that cannabis strains can provide.

Myrcene gives indica strains their relaxing and “couchlock” feelings, while terpinolene and limonene, for instance, give sativa strains the boost in energy and creativity that they’re commonly known for. Pinene can exude a very forest-like aroma while caryophyllene exudes a pepper-like smell. Truly, the study of terpenes is a marvelous new field of botanical sciences. And a few very innovative companies are not only researching but also creating these unique compounds.

“Terpenes are the aromatic soul of cannabis,” says True Terpenes CEO Daniel Cook. “They’re what give each strain its signature scent and flavor—from citrusy bursts to deep, earthy notes.”

Since 2016, True Terpenes has been at the forefront of terpene science and production. Prior to creating the company, Founder Chris Campagna ran a medical cannabis clinic in Oregon and personally witnessed how drastically inconsistent the terpene profiles in cannabis products could be. Additionally, Campagna observed how many terpenes are destroyed during common extraction methods.

The removal of those crucial terpenes could be very problematic, especially as most states have some form of a medical cannabis program and people from all types of societal demographics have become medical cannabis patients. For instance, if a patient relied on a myrcene-heavy indica to alleviate sleeping issues or anxiety, the destruction of that myrcene could lessen the potency of their medicine. If a patient were using a pinene-dominant strain for muscle pain, the deletion of that terpene could possibly worsen that patient’s pain.      

From reading the vast research on the entourage effect of cannabinoids by neurologist Dr. Ethan Russo, Campagna realized the true essential nature of terpenes and how vitally useful they could be for cannabis cultivators and consumers alike. 

“That insight led to the creation of True Terpenes, a company dedicated to supplying high-quality, consistent terpene blends to product innovators,” Cook says. “By rebuilding terpene profiles, brands could craft reliable, effective products that honored the complete cannabis experience—not just its THC content.”

There’s a multitude of reasons why terpene solutions such as True Terpenes’ blends have greatly increased in popularity. First, there’s the rapid expansion of the US cannabis industry itself to thank. Despite only being recreationally legal in 24 states, the country’s cannabis industry surpassed $30 billion in sales in 2024, according to the 2025 Vangst Jobs Report. Cultivators and extractors from across the legal markets are very likely coming to the same realization that Campagna did in Oregon and are eager to find ways to strengthen their terpene profiles against damaging manufacturing practices. As the later states legalize and create statewide cannabis industries of their own, diverse terpene blends will almost certainly become of greater necessity.

Next, the awareness of terpenes and their many possibilities became greater common knowledge among cannabis consumers as the retail cannabis industry expanded. Whereas only THC content mostly mattered in the unlicensed market days, an increasing number of consumers now know the difference in feelings and effects between indica versus sativa and between ocimene, terpinolene and linalool.  

“The evolution of our terpene solutions mirrors the evolution of the cannabis consumer, from simple curiosity to sophisticated preference,” Cook says. “Early on, the industry leaned into basic flavors and strain mimicry. Today, people expect authenticity, consistency and depth.”

The growing adoption of terpene blend solutions can also be attributed to their inherent flexibility, as they can seamlessly integrate into virtually every cannabis product, from gummies and beverages to vape cartridges and various topicals. This allows brands to fine-tune flavor, aroma and effect with consistency. Because terpene blends can be used across so many product formats, they’re accessible to virtually every type of cannabis consumer. Whether it’s a pack of mini-prerolls enjoyed by someone in their early twenties or a topical chosen by a senior exploring cannabis for the first time, both experiences can be enhanced by the very same terpene profile.

“People want more than just THC or CBD percentages; they’re seeking products that deliver mood, taste and effect with nuance and intention,” Cook says. “Flavor and aroma make that possible.”

As prestigious institutions such as The University of Arizona and privately funded companies continue to advance the overall research and knowledge on terpenes, Cook predicts a bright future for their scientific appeal and usage: “We’re entering the experience economy of cannabis and terpenes are the key to unlocking differentiated, targeted and repeatable experiences. They give products character. They invite the consumer into a ritual. And, most importantly, they’re helping both new users and connoisseurs explore cannabis with more excitement, clarity and control.”

This story was originally published in issue 52 of the print edition of Cannabis Now.

The post Terpenes, Unlocked: The Aromatic Soul of Cannabis appeared first on Cannabis Now.

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