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Watch now   Sunday Afternoon News Updates — 1/18/26 My recap of today's top stories Ben Meiselas and MeidasTouch Network Jan 18 Hi all, hope you’re enjoying your Sunday. Thanks to everyone who has continued to tune into our live on-the-ground coverage from the protests in Minneapolis courtesy of our partners Status Coup. Check our YouTube channel throughout the day for more updates. The Trump regime wants to hide what they are doing to the American people. We will ensure the cameras stay on and capture it all. In other news, I want to send a huge congrats to Katie Phang, whose YouTube channel on the MeidasTouch Network just surpassed 500,000 subscribers. And she accomplished that in a matter of months! Katie’s reporting is fearless, and it has been so incredible to watch what she has been able to build with her independent platform. Katie is on Substack too, by the way. You can follow her on Substack here. Now to today’s news. If you thought Sunday would be a day of rest, well, think again. Right now, we’re dealing with the fallout from Trump’s actions both at home and abroad. We’ve learned that Trump moved to place roughly 1,500 active-duty Army paratroopers on standby from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, amid his ongoing threats to further militarize federal operations in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. This comes as his regime intensifies ICE and Border Patrol actions across Minnesota, stoking chaos rather than deescalating the situation. At the same time, new polling underscores just how isolated Trump’s agenda has become. According to a CBS News poll released today, a clear majority of Americans now say ICE is making the country less safe. The political consequences are beginning to crystallize. Democrats are pulling ahead in generic congressional polling, and among voters who say they are highly motivated to turn out in the midterms, the Democratic advantage has expanded to a staggering 16-point lead. 16 points. I can’t emphasize enough how wide of a gap that is in this polarized political climate. Trump is clearly feeling that pressure, and his response has been to escalate. Much of his rage this morning has been directed at Minnesota officials, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, as Trump floods his social media feeds with attacks. But the most consequential developments today are happening beyond U.S. borders. European allies have taken the extraordinary step of sharply curtailing intelligence sharing with the United States after determining that sensitive information was being passed along to Russia. French intelligence, working with Ukraine, deliberately fed false high-level intelligence to Trump’s regime to test whether it would leak. That information quickly surfaced in Russian channels, confirming their worst fears. As a result, France and other European services have effectively cut the United States out of critical intelligence flows related to Ukraine and broader security matters. The conclusion among allies is chillingly direct: information shared with Trump cannot be trusted to stay out of Vladimir Putin’s hands. This rupture is unfolding as Trump continues to openly threaten the invasion of Greenland. Throughout the morning, his lackeys fanned out across Sunday news shows to normalize the idea of using tariffs or even military force against European nations that oppose such an invasion. On Meet the Press, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was asked to explain what “national emergency” would justify sweeping tariffs on Europe. His answer was as circular as it was alarming, claiming the emergency was “avoiding a national emergency.” When pressed on whether military action against Greenland remained on the table, Bessent refused to rule it out, asserting that Europeans would eventually “understand” why the United States should take control of the territory. He went further, suggesting European nations ultimately need to remain under a U.S. security umbrella, while dismissing concerns about NATO solidarity. European leaders have finally realized that they must act. It’s a sign of the times to see Europe now basically assuming a war-time posture that you’d expect them to take to prepare for acts of aggression by Russia. Only this time, the threat is the United States. Germany’s chancellor issued a statement standing “resolute and united” with Denmark and Greenland, warning that tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk escalation in the Arctic. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney went even further, warning that if the United States were to invade Greenland, NATO’s Article 5 would apply, meaning such an action could place the U.S. in direct conflict with its own allies. That means potential war. Inside the United States, Trump’s loyalists continue to fall in line. Senator Ted Cruz, despite Trump’s long history of personal attacks against him and his family, appeared on television praising the push to acquire Greenland as “America First.” National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett tried to wave away European outrage by insisting that Trump’s aggressive posture is simply part of dealmaking, urging “cooler heads” while ignoring the reality that allies are now discussing sanctions and military countermeasures. Meanwhile, right-wing media figures completely humiliated themselves in the past 24-hours, accidentally heaping praise on… Joe Biden. They have been circulating misleading charts about fentanyl deaths, crediting Trump for declines that actually occurred in 2023 and 2024, apparently because they didn’t know how to read a chart. The data they are celebrating ends before Trump even returned to office. Take a look for yourself: The administration’s messaging on ICE has grown increasingly detached from reality. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed on national television that federal agents are making communities safer and denied the routine use of chemical agents, even as documented footage shows pepper spray and gas being deployed against civilians, including incidents involving children. She dismissed a federal court order restricting such tactics as unnecessary, asserting that it changed nothing about how her agency operates. This is why we have made our ability to bring you on-the-ground reporting a top priority. We knew they’d lie about everything that takes place as ICE invades our cities. So we knew we needed cameras to capture the truth. Noem also lashed out at journalists for naming the officer who killed Renee Good, accusing them of “doxxing” law enforcement while the victim’s widow remains under federal investigation and the officer himself faces none. His name is Jonathan Ross, by the way. Sorry, we don’t do secret police in the United States. Even traditionally establishment Republicans are now openly describing what is unfolding as authoritarian. On ABC, Representative Michael McCaul acknowledged that ICE tactics in Minneapolis appear “overzealous” and warned that stopping people without reasonable suspicion violates basic constitutional standards. He likened the scenes playing out on American streets to actions one would expect from Russia, not a democracy governed by the rule of law. That comparison no longer feels hyperbolic. It hasn’t for a while, to be honest. The combination of domestic militarization, propaganda, disregard for court orders, and the alienation of allies has left the United States isolated and unstable on a Sunday that should alarm every American who cares about democracy. I hope you enjoy this roundup of today’s news. Later today, Ron Filipkowski will publish his weekend news bulletin, completely paywall free, so everyone can catch up on the stories you may have missed. Given the pace and gravity of what’s unfolding, I think it’s essential reading. Thanks for your support. You make this all possible. Together, let’s stay focused on the threats to democracy both at home and abroad. Meidas+ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

    JUST A FEW OF MANY COMMENTS: 

I’m glad the cut the intelligence off. Well done France!

It’s hard to watch the clips of these horrible people but it’s necessary. Thanks for keeping us up to date.

The stupidity is real!!

The fact that France and Ukraine had to test our security over secretive information says it all: trmp is Putin's stooge, a useful idiot (until he isn't). If Congress does not start a thorough investigation into this, we are truly hosed. trmp and his entire cabinet need investigated and most of them impeached and removed from office.

Where’s the New York Times on this? It may be there, but their search function sucks and I couldn’t find a word about it. Oh that’s right, they need to keep the door open for another useless 2 hour interview with the dictator.

What is stopping Congress from stopping Trump and these terrorists and goons from being in Minnesota? Can the U.S.Congress demand troops from going there and stop the ICE Murders?

Friends, stop calling the Orange an idiot and the trader President. He will never be my President

What is stopping Dictator Don are the his loyal gestapo republiCRAPS who support him no matter what. If the republiCRAPS had any intelligence, 1) the Dumpster would not have been re-elected and 2) even if he had (well--actually was) they'd have some integrity and impeach, convict, and sent the a**h**e to prison--for life by now..

Hagseth is a low-class wannabe leader. And he never will be. Trump has done more damage to the USA in under one year than take to restore the damage in 100 years. Friends, make sure we cast a ballot in Nov.2026 to destroy the republican party for good. Just do this for Renee Good.

When Trump filled MAR-A-LARDO with CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS, you may remember that a guest reported documents that Trump had shared with him. 

Those CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS were never secured & not all returned. 

Remember the photos of cartons in a bathroom? 

There was a blurb at the time of COVERT AGENTS having been killed. We'll never hear the names, but TRUMP jeopardized our national security. 

There were also 2 incidents in the WHITE HOUSE where Trump shared intelligence with the RUSSIANS - one was making them aware of an ISRAELI AGENT undercover - was it in IRAN or SYRIA? 

When BIDEN took office, he prevented TRUMP from receiving INTELLIGENCE REPORTS for good reason, even though it's customary for former Presidents to receive that information. 

Trump is like a stupid toddler with no self-control. 

Malaria has acknowledged a relationship with PUTIN, pretending it's about returning Ukrainian children. 

Recently, a comment was made that TRUMP was begging ALLIES for intelligence information because U.S. ASSETS were focused on the Carribean. Why doesn't Trump ask PUTIN? 

Each day brings more ICE GESTAPO abuse, assaults, injuries, killings... 

Ice Gestapo deaths in custody 

CHOKEHOLDS 

a non-verbal autistic teenager held in custody had surgery - Mom couldn't find him ...

a disabled Veteran didn't move his car fast enough... 

On their way home, the van with 6 kids - tear gas & flash bangs - rush to hospital, 6 month old not breathing  

Protesster across the street shot in face, 6 hour surgery, lost vision in one eye 

U.S. citizens arressted.... 

Native Americans targeted...4 missing.... 

$170 BILLION for Trump's GESTAPO...cut from HEALTH CARE, FOOD PROGRAMS, SOCIAL SECURITY & MEDICARE. 

This is not DEPORTATION! THIS IS FASCISM! 

Bessent is a pompous asshole. These media sites aren't pushing back and instead worry about Mayor Frey saying fuck. Worse, Democrats like Cory Booker talk about reforming ICE not abolishing them. They are not paying attention. The United States is now the enemy. JFC.

Hours after Renée Good's murder, Rupert Murdoch had family photos of the ICE agent's family and immigrant wife on his websites. Even interviews with his father. So I don't know why Kristi Noem is getting upset with "left" leaning news.

Donald worked for the Russian Mob his whole adult life. Bessent works for Russia! DOGE works for Russia, Vance works for Russia! Sons of America Cowboy up if you don’t want speak Russian!

The plan is to crash the economy while institutions are gutted. those with a few million are in for a big surprise. the top one percent is about to scoop everything in a ruskie oligarchy sweep.

I live in St Paul and I don’t know what the heck these Trump’ sycophants are talking about when they say that we have pedophiles and drug dealers. A pedophile is in Washington DC and occasionally goes to Florida. The drug dealer is free after bringing in tons of cocaine into our country and tried and put in jail. We in Minnesota do not feel safer at all, Kristi. This was a wonderful safe place to live until ICE showed up. And your comment that the court order would not affect you because you are not doing any of the things that were in the order for ice to stop doing, is such BS and you know it.