PBS News Hour full episode, Jan. 19, 2026
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖President Trump is aggressively pursuing the acquisition of Greenland, threatening 10% tariffs on eight European nations opposing the move and linking his efforts to not winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
- ❖European leaders are united in opposition, reinforcing Greenland's presence and preparing a potential $107 billion counter-tariff package against US imports, emphasizing sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- ❖The US Congress has significantly ceded power to the executive branch, particularly under President Trump, with many Republican lawmakers prioritizing party loyalty over constitutional checks and balances.
- ❖Minneapolis is experiencing its third week of clashes between federal immigration officers and protesters, with the DOJ pursuing charges against demonstrators but not investigating a fatal ICE shooting.
- ❖Scientists are on a two-month expedition to Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier, which holds enough water to raise global sea levels by 2.5 feet, to understand why it is melting at an astonishing rate of up to 300 feet per year.
- ❖South Korea has doubled down on polar science, funding research and building new icebreakers, while the Trump administration significantly cut the US National Science Foundation's Antarctic program budget.
- ❖Minnijean Brown-Trickey of the Little Rock Nine reflects on her experience integrating Central High School, emphasizing the importance of resilience and 'walking like you belong' in the face of hatred.
Insights
1President Trump's Coercive Bid for Greenland Strains NATO Alliances
President Trump has intensified his efforts to acquire Greenland, threatening 10% tariffs on eight European nations if they do not support the US acquisition. He controversially linked this ambition to not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, stating he no longer feels bound to 'think purely of peace.' European leaders have condemned this rhetoric, reinforcing their presence in Greenland and preparing a $107 billion counter-tariff package, viewing it as a 'turning point' for NATO unity. Analysts suggest Trump's motivations include securing rare earth minerals, addressing perceived Russian and Chinese influence in the High North, and cementing a legacy of territorial expansion, despite existing US access agreements.
President Trump's letter to Norway's prime minister, European leaders' statements, Charles Kupchan's analysis.
2US Congress Abdicates Power to Executive Branch Under Trump
One year into President Trump's second term, congressional power has diminished significantly, with lawmakers, particularly Republicans, often prioritizing party loyalty over their constitutional responsibilities. This shift enables an 'overly assertive executive' who uses executive actions, military force, and social media threats to bypass or pressure Congress. Examples include Trump's deployment of the National Guard to states without invitation, renaming the Kennedy Center, and dismantling agencies like USAID. Experts and some senators acknowledge this loss of power, with the White House viewing Congress primarily as a body to further the president's agenda.
Senators Lisa Murkowski and Angus King stating Congress 'abdicated its power'; Sarah Binder's analysis of partisanship; Rep. Ryan Zinke's defense of presidential actions; Amy Walter and Jasmine Wright's discussion on Trump's influence over his party.
3Thwaites Glacier: A Critical Global Sea Level Threat Underfunded by US
The Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica is the most crucial glacier for future global sea levels, containing enough water to raise them by 2.5 feet, and potentially 10 feet if it destabilizes buttressing ice shelves. It is melting at an alarming rate, up to 300 feet per year in some areas, due to climate change altering wind patterns that allow warmer ocean currents to erode the glacier from below. A two-month international expedition, primarily led and funded by South Korea, is underway to drill into the glacier's grounding line to collect unprecedented data. This critical research is proceeding despite significant budget cuts (55% for NSF, 70% for Antarctic program) by the Trump administration, highlighting a disparity in global commitment to polar science.
David Holland (NYU) stating Thwaites' criticality; Miles O'Brien's report on melting rates and expedition goals; Won Sang Lee (KOPRI) on South Korea's funding and vulnerability to sea level rise; details on US budget cuts.
4Federal Clashes and Judicial Appeals Mark Minneapolis Protests
Minneapolis and St. Paul are experiencing a third week of intense clashes between federal immigration officers and protesters. The Department of Justice announced plans to charge protesters but confirmed it would not investigate the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent, a decision that has 'roiled the city.' President Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, which Mayor Jacob Frey called 'shocking' given the city's low crime rates. Both Mayor Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz are reportedly under DOJ investigation for allegedly impeding federal law enforcement. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem claimed 'rampant violence' but denied chemical agents were used without violence, despite video evidence, and the DOJ is appealing a federal judge's ruling against arresting or pepper-spraying peaceful demonstrators.
Fred de Sam Lazaro's report; Mayor Jacob Frey's statement; Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche's confirmation; DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's comments.
Lessons
- Monitor the escalating trade tensions between the US and European allies, as potential tariffs and counter-tariffs could impact global markets and supply chains.
- Observe the ongoing shift of power dynamics within the US government, particularly the executive branch's expanded authority and Congress's response, to understand implications for policy-making and checks and balances.
- Support and advocate for increased funding for climate science and polar research, recognizing the critical role of expeditions like the Thwaites Glacier project in understanding and mitigating global sea level rise.
Quotes
"Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America. The world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland."
"This is a special one that over the decades we have discovered is the most crucial to the future of sea level on planet Earth. Full stop."
"Congress has abdicated its power largely. I'd say it's the seventh inning. We're behind 4-3. But the game isn't over."
"My so-called courage is small compared to what they have to come up with in their everyday lives, and I want them to feel up to the challenge."
"Excuse me, wherever you walk, you walk like you belong there, OK? That is my challenge to you, OK? Walk like you belong, because you do."
Q&A
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