Daily News — January 18, 2026
Troops for Citizens, Tariffs for Allies
While others stenograph, grift, or chase the next distraction—this is the news that matters and how it’s connected.
The Military Option
The last time a president invoked the Insurrection Act, Los Angeles was burning.
Now Trump is preparing to use it against Minnesotans who watched federal agents kill a 37-year-old mother in her car. Late Saturday, the Pentagon ordered 1,500 active-duty soldiers to prepare for possible deployment to Minneapolis—two infantry battalions from the 11th Airborne Division.12 These soldiers normally deter China in the Pacific.3 Now they may deploy against Americans exercising their First Amendment rights.
“The Department of War is always prepared to execute the orders of the Commander-in-Chief,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said.² Read that again. The Department of War. Preparing to deploy against Americans.
Walz has his own troops ready. On Saturday, he mobilized the Minnesota National Guard—not to suppress protesters, but to ensure Minnesotans “can safely exercise their First Amendment rights.”4 They’ll wear reflective vests to distinguish themselves from federal agents.⁴
The timeline tells the story:
January 7: ICE shoots and kills Renée Good, an American mother of three.
January 15: A second ICE shooting wounds Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis.
January 16: A federal judge bars ICE from attacking peaceful protesters.
January 16: Trump threatens the Insurrection Act on Truth Social.
January 18: Pentagon puts troops on standby.¹
A court said stop. Trump said more. In June, he seized control of the California National Guard over Governor Newsom’s objections. In December, the Supreme Court ruled it violated federal law.¹ He did it anyway. Now he’s preparing to do it again.
Meanwhile, DOJ is investigating Governor Walz and Mayor Frey—not for anything they did, but for what they said.¹ Walz called ICE “modern-day Gestapo.” Frey told them to “get the fuck out.” The agent who killed Renée Good? Not questioned. The politicians who criticized him? Under federal investigation. That’s the pattern: punish the speech, ignore the killing.
The Retaliation
Europe has had enough.
After Trump announced 10% tariffs on eight NATO allies for refusing to hand over Greenland, the EU isn’t backing down. They’re loading the guns: €93 billion in retaliatory tariffs, ready to fire.5 Emergency meetings. An extraordinary European Council summit. And the “anti-coercion instrument”—a never-used weapon that can throttle American companies, including Big Tech, in Europe.⁵
“Pure mafioso methods.” That’s how a European diplomat described Trump’s tactics.⁵
Eight countries—Denmark, UK, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Netherlands, and Finland—issued a joint statement calling Trump’s tariffs a threat that could “undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.”6 UK’s Starmer called it “completely wrong.”7 France’s Macron: “unacceptable.”⁷ Sweden’s Kristersson: “We will not be blackmailed.”⁶
Even Republicans are cracking. Rep. Mike Turner: “There certainly is no authority that the president has to use military force to seize territory from a NATO country.”⁶ Former VP Mike Pence called it “a questionable use of constitutional authority.”⁷
In Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, shopkeepers report surging sales of survival gear—camping stoves, freeze-dried meals, long-life food.⁷ One in four residents marched Saturday against American annexation.⁷ They’re preparing. For what, they’re not entirely sure.
Why does Trump want Greenland? He told the New York Times: “That’s what I feel is psychologically needed for success.”8 Not national security. Not strategic necessity. Psychologically needed. And for that, he’s willing to shatter the Western alliance.
Meanwhile...
Venezuela: The Donroe Doctrine in Action. First $500 million in seized Venezuelan oil? Half went to a Trump campaign megadonor.9 Meanwhile, Venezuelans can’t afford to eat. Food prices doubled since the raid. Meat at $9 a pound—in a country where the monthly minimum wage is now worth 50 cents.10 Economists project 2,000% inflation this year.¹⁰ Stephen Miller calls it the “Donroe Doctrine”—American dominance of the western hemisphere. But what’s the point of controlling a hemisphere you’re pushing into collapse? Exxon’s CEO told Trump the country is “uninvestable.”⁹ Trump’s friends got paid. Everyone else got chaos. Venezuelan activists have a name for it: “Chavismo 3.0”—same state terrorism, new beneficiaries.11
Epstein Files: The Coverup Goes Official. Congress passed a law requiring release of Epstein’s files. Trump’s DOJ just told a federal court it’s unenforceable—no one can make them comply.12 Why fight this hard to keep two million pages sealed? A Republican already told us: “There are billionaires in there they want to protect.”13 That’s Rep. Thomas Massie—co-author of the transparency act—explaining who Trump is really serving. We think the answer is much simpler. Last spring, the FBI put 1,000 agents on 24-hour shifts to review the files—and redacted every mention of Trump’s name.14 When MTG pushed for release, Trump told her point-blank: “My friends will get hurt.”15 And now this coverup. You do the math.
Polling: Still Underwater. Since our last update three days ago, Trump’s approval has dropped to 42.4% and his net approval has fallen from -12.3 to -12.8—down half a point.16 That’s before Greenland tariffs, the Insurrection Act threat, and the €93 billion EU retaliation hit the averages. The floor hasn’t found him yet.
The Call
Every story in today’s news serves the same project. We track them using the fascism syndrome—ten indicators that a democracy is sliding into fascism—so you don’t lose the thread in the daily chaos:
Normalization of political violence: Federal agents kill citizens. Protests follow. The response? Ready the military for more.
Weaponized justice: DOJ investigates politicians for speech. The agent who killed Renée Good faces nothing. The congressmen who wrote the Epstein transparency law? Told they can’t enforce it.
Aggression as virtue: €93 billion in punishment for allies who won’t surrender territory. “Pure mafioso methods.”
Cult of the leader: Policy driven by what Trump “psychologically needs for success”—his words.
Deploy troops against citizens. Extort allies. Protect pedophiles. That’s not three stories. That’s one machine. That’s fascism.
But naming the disease is only half the job.
We built this publication to equip you with the tools to fight back—the frameworks, the messaging, the strategies that actually work. See the links below. But we can only keep doing this with your help. If this matters to you, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. You keep the fight alive.
Fighting Fascism: How We Push Back and Win — The strategic playbook for reclaiming power
The Trump Regime Messaging Guide — How to talk to people who’ve been captured by the machine
The Freedom Illusion — How we got here, and the counter-ideology that gets us out
Dan Lamothe, “Pentagon readies 1,500 soldiers to possibly deploy to Minnesota, officials say“, Washington Post, January 18, 2026.
Comprehensive reporting on the Pentagon placing two battalions from the 11th Airborne Division on prepare-to-deploy orders. Documents DOJ’s investigation into Governor Walz and Mayor Frey. Notes this would be the first invocation of the Insurrection Act since the 1992 LA riots.
Sarah Fortinsky, “About 1.5K soldiers on standby for possible deployment to Minnesota amid protests: Reports“, The Hill, January 18, 2026.
Reports Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell’s statement that “The Department of War is always prepared to execute the orders of the Commander-in-Chief if called upon.” Includes full text of Trump’s Truth Social threat.
KSTP, “Around 1500 soldiers are reportedly on standby for a potential deployment to Minneapolis“, KSTP, January 18, 2026.
Local Minneapolis reporting noting that the 11th Airborne Division “plays a key role in deterring China in the Pacific.”
Jonathan Limehouse, “Gov. Walz mobilizes Minnesota National Guard amid heated protests“, USA Today, January 17, 2026.
Documents Governor Walz’s mobilization of the Minnesota National Guard to help Minnesotans “safely exercise their First Amendment rights.” Reports Guard members will wear reflective vests to distinguish themselves from federal agents—a visual marker of the split between state forces protecting protesters and federal forces deployed against them.
Henry Foy and Mercedes Ruehl, “EU readies €93bn tariffs in retaliation for Trump’s Greenland threat“, Financial Times, January 18, 2026.
Reports on the EU’s emergency response including the €93 billion retaliation package and consideration of the never-before-used anti-coercion instrument. Quotes a European diplomat describing Trump’s tactics as “pure mafioso methods.”
Willem Marx, “European leaders warn Trump’s Greenland tariffs threaten ‘dangerous downward spiral’“, NPR, January 18, 2026.
Documents the unprecedented joint statement from eight NATO countries condemning Trump’s tariff threats. Notes Rep. Mike Turner’s statement that there is “no authority” for military action against NATO territory.
CNN Staff, “Trump administration latest: EU ambassadors hold emergency meeting after US tariff threat over Greenland“, CNN, January 18, 2026.
Live coverage documenting UK Prime Minister Starmer’s direct call with Trump and French President Macron describing tariffs as “unacceptable.” Reports former VP Mike Pence calling it “a questionable use of constitutional authority.”
Elisabeth Bumiller, “Bleak Times in Copenhagen: Danes Feel Betrayed and Bewildered by Trump“, New York Times, January 18, 2026.
Deeply reported human impact story capturing Danish sentiment. Includes Trump’s admission that he wants Greenland because “that’s what I feel is psychologically needed for success.”
New York Magazine, “How Is Trump’s Venezuela Takeover Going?“, New York Magazine, January 18, 2026.
Comprehensive status report on Venezuela two weeks after Maduro’s capture. Documents Foro Penal’s count showing only 139 of 863 political prisoners released despite regime claims of 400+. Reports El Helicoide torture prison remains open despite Trump’s promise to close it. Notes $250 million of the first $500 million Venezuelan oil sale went to Trump megadonor John Addison.
Ana Ionova, Camille Rodríguez Montilla, and Isayen Herrera, “The Biggest Challenge in Venezuela? Forget the Oil, It’s Stocking the Fridge.“, New York Times, January 18, 2026.
Documents the humanitarian crisis deepening after Trump’s raid. Reports food prices have doubled since the invasion, with meat now at $9 per pound. Venezuela’s minimum monthly wage is now equivalent to roughly 50 cents. Economist José Guerra projects inflation could reach 2,000 percent this year. Captures the human impact: “Before, we were rich and we didn’t even know it.”
Tiago Rogero, “Dictator ousted but regime intact – what next for Venezuela’s opposition?“, The Guardian, January 18, 2026.
Documents how Venezuela’s authoritarian regime remains essentially unchanged despite Maduro’s capture. Reports armed militias continue to patrol streets, teenagers detained for celebrating Maduro’s capture, and nearly 1,000 political prisoners remain behind bars. Captures Trump’s statement that Venezuelans “wouldn’t even know how to have an election right now” and activist Rafael Uzcátegui’s assessment that “state terrorism remains in place” under what he calls “Chavismo 3.0.”
U.S. Department of Justice, “Government Response Opposing Khanna-Massie Motion“, U.S. District Court SDNY, January 16, 2026.
Six-page filing signed by AG Pam Bondi, Deputy AG Todd Blanche, and US Attorney Jay Clayton opposing Reps. Khanna and Massie’s motion for independent oversight of Epstein file releases. Argues the congressmen lack Article III standing and cannot enforce the law they authored.
Sarah Davis, “Massie calls Clintons’ subpoena over Epstein ties ‘theater’: ‘Just release the doggone files’“, The Hill, January 17, 2026.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, co-author of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, says “there are billionaires in there they want to protect.”
Jason Leopold, “FBI Redacted Trump’s Name in Epstein Files for Privacy Reasons“, Bloomberg, August 1, 2025.
Reports that 1,000 FBI agents working 24-hour shifts reviewed the Epstein files—and redacted Trump’s name from every document where it appeared. Three sources confirmed to Bloomberg that Trump’s name “was blacked out.” The FBI’s official justification: he was a “private citizen” when the investigation began. Senator Durbin responded that Trump “has the power to unilaterally help fix this” by consenting to release his own name. He hasn’t.
Robert Draper, “‘I Was Just So Naïve’: Inside Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Break With Trump“, New York Times Magazine, December 29, 2025.
Deeply reported profile documenting MTG’s falling out with Trump over his refusal to release the Epstein files. When Greene pushed for release, Trump called her—audibly yelling on speakerphone—and said point-blank: “My friends will get hurt.” Trump also refused to invite Epstein’s victims to the White House, telling Greene they “had done nothing to merit the honor.” From the mouth of the president: the files stay sealed because they implicate people he cares about.
RealClearPolling, “Donald Trump Approval Rating“, RealClearPolling, accessed January 18, 2026.
Aggregated polling data showing Trump’s approval at 42.4% with disapproval at 55.2%—a net approval of -12.8. These averages reflect polls conducted through mid-January, before the Greenland tariff announcement, EU retaliation, and Insurrection Act threat against Minnesota dominated headlines.
I'm not sure that's going to work for Walz--can't Donald federalize the National Guard?