Daily News — January 15, 2026
"We Shouldn't Even Have an Election"
While others stenograph, grift, or chase the next distraction—this is the news that matters and how it’s connected.
The Escalation
Eight days ago, ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot Renee Good in the head. Two days ago, ten prosecutors quit rather than frame her widow. Last night, federal agents tear-gassed a car full of children—six kids hospitalized, the youngest six months old. Today, the president threatened to send in the military.
And then he said we shouldn’t even have elections.
In a Reuters interview, Trump floated the idea openly: “When you think of it, we shouldn’t even have an election.”1 His justification? He’s accomplished so much that democracy is optional. Reuters buried it in the last line of a listicle. We’re not burying it.
The same interview revealed a pattern. Polls showing Americans oppose taking Greenland? “Fake.”¹ Republicans pushing back on his Fed investigation? “I don’t care.”¹ Business leaders warning his interference will harm the economy? “I don’t care.”¹
Public opinion. His own party. Business leaders. The answer is always the same: I don’t care.
“By Whatever Means Necessary”
It’s not just Trump. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche—the second-highest law enforcement official in the country—called Governor Walz and Mayor Frey “terrorists” and promised to stop them “by whatever means necessary.”2
That’s not heated rhetoric. Under federal law, “terrorism” triggers extraordinary powers—surveillance, detention, prosecution. The nation’s second-highest law enforcement official is laying legal groundwork to go after elected officials who resist the occupation.
Meanwhile, 3,000 masked federal agents in military gear occupy Minneapolis. They’ve shot two people in eight days. They gassed a baby. And when a father begged them to call an ambulance for his suffocating children, they refused.3
Meanwhile...
Greenland: NATO Deploys to Deter the President. European troops are now in Greenland—France, Germany, UK, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands—to conduct “Operation Arctic Endurance.” The message: hands off NATO territory.4 Polish PM Donald Tusk warned that a US military intervention “would be the end of NATO.” Danish PM Mette Frederiksen said the “American ambition to take over Greenland is intact” despite talks. Trump’s response? “We really need it.”⁴ Three-quarters of Americans oppose taking Greenland.5 He doesn’t care.
Venezuela: Democracy Fighter Sidelined, Dictator’s Ally Legitimized. María Corina Machado—the opposition leader who won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize—met with Trump and presented him with her medal.6 Her hopes of leading Venezuela? “Rapidly dwindling.” Trump is instead accepting Delcy Rodríguez—Maduro’s vice president—as acting president. Trump called Machado “a very nice woman” but said she “doesn’t have the support.”⁶ So much for democracy promotion. The White House says elections will happen “one day.” No timeline.
Epstein Files: Still Protecting Pedophiles. A federal judge has ordered DOJ to respond by Friday after bipartisan congressmen accused them of “openly defying the law.”7 The Epstein Files Transparency Act required full release by December 19. We’re nearly a month past deadline. DOJ claims they have two million documents to review. Survivors say the redaction process has been “troubling” and exposed their identities.8 Trump promised transparency. He’s delivered protection for pedophiles.
Polling: Already Sliding. Since our last update two days ago, Trump's approval has dropped to 42.6% and his net approval has fallen 3.7 points to -12.3.9 That's before the gassed children and Insurrection Act threat hit the polling averages. The Minneapolis occupation is already costing him—and the worst headlines haven't landed yet.
There’s more below, but first: The president floated canceling elections. His deputy AG called a governor a terrorist. Six children are in the hospital after agents gassed their car. The mainstream press is already moving on. We’re not. If someone needs to keep tracking the slide—and connecting the dots—please consider supporting The American Manifesto. Paid subscriptions make this fight possible.
The Pattern
We’ve been mapping this administration against the fascism syndrome—ten indicators that a democracy is backsliding into fascism. Today:
Cult of the leader: The president believes his achievements entitle him to rule without consent. Elections are optional when the leader has “accomplished so much.”
Normalization of political violence: Two shootings. Six gassed children. 3,000 armed agents occupying an American city. Now the threat of military deployment.
Weaponized justice: The Deputy AG labels elected officials “terrorists”—a legal designation that triggers extraordinary powers. This isn’t rhetoric. It’s pretext.
Eight days ago they shot a mom. Yesterday they gassed children including a baby. Today they threaten soldiers and float canceling elections.
Fool me once...
Want to understand how we got here?
Your Move
What does it mean when the president says “we shouldn’t have an election” and the mainstream media buries it in the last line of a listicle?
Ten prosecutors quit in two days rather than serve this DOJ. What would it take for more people inside the system to refuse?
Who in your life still thinks this is normal? Have the conversation. Show them this. Democracy doesn’t defend itself.
James Oliphant, “Five takeaways from the Reuters interview of President Trump“, Reuters, January 15, 2026.
Documents Trump’s statement that “we shouldn’t even have an election,” buried as the final line of a five-point summary of a 30-minute Oval Office interview. Also records Trump dismissing polls as “fake,” saying “I don’t care” to concerns from Republicans and business leaders, and defending ICE operations in Minneapolis.
Alexandra Hutzler, “Tensions escalate as Trump threatens Insurrection Act, Blanche accuses Minnesota governor of ‘terrorism’“, ABC News, January 15, 2026.
Documents Trump’s Insurrection Act threat and Deputy AG Blanche’s statement calling Walz and Frey terrorists, promising to stop them “by whatever means necessary.” Includes Walz calling it “organized brutality” and notes the Act hasn’t been used against a governor since the 1960s.
Martha Kelner, “Father’s six children in hospital after ICE agents throw tear gas at their car amidst Minneapolis protests“, Sky News, January 15, 2026.
International coverage documenting Shawn’s account of the attack. His six children—aged six months to eleven years—were hospitalized with breathing problems after an officer threw tear gas into his car. Shawn argued with officers for five minutes to get them to call an ambulance; they refused.
Miranda Bryant and Dan Sabbagh, “Greenland’s defence is ‘common concern’ for Nato, Danish PM says as European troops fly in“, The Guardian, January 15, 2026.
Documents European NATO deployment to Greenland from France, Germany, UK, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Netherlands. Reports Danish PM Frederiksen saying “American ambition to take over Greenland is intact” despite talks. Includes Polish PM Tusk’s warning that US military intervention would be “the end of NATO.” Notes Trump stating “We really need it” and dismissing Denmark’s ability to protect the island.
Paul Kirby, “European military personnel arrive in Greenland as Trump says US needs island“, BBC News, January 15, 2026.
Reports CNN poll showing three-quarters of Americans oppose US attempts to take control of Greenland, with 52% strongly opposing. Documents White House press secretary saying European troop deployments won’t impact Trump’s “goal of the acquisition of Greenland at all.” Notes operation is called “Arctic Endurance.”
Aaron Pellish, Eric Bazail-Eimil, and Myah Ward, “Venezuelan opposition leader says she presented her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump“, Politico, January 15, 2026.
Documents Machado presenting her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump while her hopes of leading Venezuela are “rapidly dwindling.” Reports Trump is instead accepting Delcy Rodríguez—Maduro’s VP—as acting president, calling her a “terrific person” while saying Machado “doesn’t have the support.” White House says elections will happen “one day” but has no timeline.
Erik Uebelacker, “Judge demands response after lawmakers accuse DOJ of dragging feet with Epstein files“, Courthouse News, January 15, 2026.
Documents Judge Paul Engelmayer ordering DOJ to respond by Friday after bipartisan congressmen Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) accused the department of “openly defying the law.” Reports DOJ claims it must review more than two million documents despite December 19, 2025 deadline. Notes congressmen allege DOJ has “overstated the scope of responsive materials” to delay disclosure.
CNN, “Epstein survivors ask inspector general to review Justice Department’s release of files“, CNN, January 14, 2026.
Reports 19 Epstein survivors sent letter to DOJ Inspector General criticizing the agency’s redaction process and calling for oversight. Survivors say there has been “a troubling pattern of selective redaction” that has failed to protect their identities in some cases while heavily redacting other materials.
RealClearPolling, “Donald Trump Approval Rating“, RealClearPolling, accessed January 15, 2026.
Aggregated polling data showing Trump’s approval at 42.6% (down 1.3 from January 13), disapproval at 54.9% (up 2.4), for a net approval of -12.3. The 3.7-point drop reflects polls conducted through January 12—before the tear-gassed children and Insurrection Act threat made national news. The full impact of the Minneapolis escalation has not yet hit the averages.