PBS News Hour - Full Show January 19, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
Jan 20, 2026
Tensions flare as Europe firmly rejects Trump's controversial push for Greenland, linking it to a desire for prestige. In Minneapolis, federal agents confront protesters, highlighting escalating community unrest. Scientists report from Antarctica, examining the alarming rate of glacier melt at Thwaites. Also covered are reflections on Martin Luther King Day and the shifting power dynamics between Congress and the White House. Throughout, political analyses reveal Trump’s ongoing influence and the complexities of international relations.
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Greenland Push Is More About Legacy Than Need
- President Trump's push for Greenland mixes legacy ambition with strategic concerns about rare earths and Arctic security.
- Charles Kupchin warns the U.S. can access needed bases and resources without owning Greenland, so annexation is unnecessary and divisive.
Tariffs Turn Bluster Into Real Threat
- Trump escalated rhetoric into concrete tariff threats, signaling seriousness about coercing allies.
- Kupchin calls potential coercive annexation of a NATO ally "the stuff of science fiction" and a red line for Europe.
Europe Sees A Turning Point In NATO Ties
- European leaders view the Greenland episode as a turning point that could erode NATO unity.
- They are preparing retaliatory economic measures to de-escalate and defend sovereignty.