Storms, Borders, and Promises

Storms, Borders, and Promises

Verse 1 — Historic Winter Storm

From New Mexico to Maine the sky turned iron gray, States cried out for help, the capital joined the fray. Forecasters spoke of ice like glass from plains to sea, Flights vanished from the boards, dark streets in Texas trees. The Guard rolled out in quiet rows where drifts ignite, Boston braced for blizzard bands rising through the night. A pen in Washington granted aid without delay, And Philly locked the classroom doors against the day.

Sources:

• Federal agent shoots Venezuelan immigrant in Minneapolis: What we know
• Neighbors describe peaceful morning interrupted by gunfire after deadly Minneapolis ICE shooting
• ICE shooting of woman in Minneapolis sparks protests, condemnation
• Minneapolis responds to fatal shooting of woman by federal agent

---

Chorus

Hold on, hold on, through the wind and through the warning, Through the headlines, through the mourning. Hold on, hold on, to the light that isn’t storming— We are more than what we’re fearing, we are here and we are forming.

---

Verse 2 — Minneapolis, ICE Operations

On Lake Street dawn broke hard, a siren split the cold, A federal badge, a Venezuelan story told. Weeks since Renee Nicole Good fell under flashing red, A legal watcher silenced, a city bowed its head. A surge of federal agents turned sidewalks into steel, Shops went dark in protest till the streets could breathe and heal. Mayor Jacob Frey called chaos, told ICE to go, Tim Walz named a day for unity to grow. The Vice President said “absolute immunity,” But legal minds replied, that isn’t how it’s meant to be.

Sources:

• As the winter storm rages, here's what to know in your state
• Winter storm live updates: At least 18 states declare state of emergency
• Winter storm live updates: Snow, ice hits U.S.; NWS forecasts 'catastrophic impacts'
• Timeline: Historic winter storm begins its sweep across the country

---

Chorus

Hold on, hold on, through the wind and through the warning, Through the headlines, through the mourning. Hold on, hold on, to the light that isn’t storming— We are more than what we’re fearing, we are here and we are forming.

---

Verse 3 — Tariffs Threat over Canada–China Deal

North of the border the talk turned sharp and stark, A blessing became a threat in a single social mark. Blanket tariffs promised over deals with Beijing’s hand, Electric cars for crops from coasts and prairie land. He called Mark Carney “Governor,” reached for an old refrain, No back door to the market, not through Canada’s plain. In Davos, middle powers rallied in his speech, But the flag’s extra star stayed only out of reach.

Sources:

• Trump threatens to impose 100% tariff if Canada makes deal with China
• Trump threatens 100 percent tariff on Canada over China deal
• Trump threatens Canada with 100% tariffs over its new trade deal with China
• Trump threatens Canada with 100% tariff over its trade deal with China

---

Verse 4 — Deadly Storms in Afghanistan

High valleys drowned in snow and rain, the roofs gave way, Roads erased to silence where the cut-off villages lay. Herds fell, hands dug, the cold bit deeper than the skin, Scarred by war and bare hills where the forests should have been. Quakes still hum in eastern stone, they haven’t let it go, The new year names this crisis vast, the UN says so. A sweeping call for help goes out to meet the need, For lives and homes and simple warmth in word and deed.

Sources:

• Heavy snow and rainfall kill 61, injure 110 over 3 days in Afghanistan
• Heavy snow and rainfall kill 61, injure 110 over 3 days in Afghanistan, authorities say
• Heavy snow and rainfall kill 61, injure 110 over 3 days in Afghanistan

---

Chorus

Hold on, hold on, through the wind and through the warning, Through the headlines, through the mourning. Hold on, hold on, to the light that isn’t storming— We are more than what we’re fearing, we are here and we are forming.

---

Verse 5 — China’s Unprecedented Military Purge

In Beijing’s guarded rooms a top brass faced the glare, Zhang Youxia named in shadows, pulled from gilded chair. Another chief stood under the same unblinking light, The closest circle swept away in one unending night. They called it unprecedented, the high command undone, An anti-graft crusade that’s felled so many, one by one. Analysts trace a trembling through the chain of call, When every voice that knew the code is gone from the hall.

Sources:

• China's top general under investigation in latest military purge
• China's top general under investigation in latest military purge
• China removes top General & confidante in Xi Jinping's most shocking military purge yet
• China purge could disrupt chain of command: source

---

Verse 6 — Greenland Framework with NATO

In Davos snow a different kind of bargain stirred, A framework sketched with NATO’s chief, short on certain words. Tariff threats on Europe pocketed for now, No soldiers set to take an isle, but talks to ask how. Rare earth dreams beneath the ice, more boots near polar light, Denmark said not for sale, Nuuk drew a sovereign line bright. Premier Nielsen marked the boundary no one gets to move, Even allies blinked in doubt, asking what this deal would prove.

Sources:

• Trump's Greenland 'framework' deal: What we know about it, what we don't
• Trump says he reached Greenland deal 'framework' with NATO, backs off Europe tariffs
• Trump announces 'framework' for a future deal on Greenland, drops NATO tariff threat
• What's in Trump's 'ultimate long-term deal' on Greenland?

---

Final Chorus and Ending

Hold on, hold on, through the wind and through the warning, Through the headlines, through the mourning. Hold on, hold on, we are bridges in the forming— Raise your voice above the thunder, let the chorus be the dawning. So storm to storm we learn the names, and promise what we mean, From frozen roads to border lines to halls we’ve never seen. Turn the dial, strike the match, let the backbeat start to climb— If power shakes the world tonight, our song will shake it in time.