Wednesday morning news: January 21, 2026 | WORLD
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Wednesday morning news: January 21, 2026

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WORLD Radio - Wednesday morning news: January 21, 2026

News of the day, including President Trump to address world leaders in Switzerland, Trump marks one year in office, and Justice department issues subpoenas to officials in Minnesota


Editor's note: The following text is a transcript of a podcast story. To listen to the story, click on the arrow beneath the headline above.

Davos / Greenland » President Trump today will address global leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The president said he’ll talk at length about U.S. accomplishments through the first year of his second term.

But he’s also expected to make the case once more that the United States must acquire Greenland for national security reasons. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent:

BESSENT: He believes that Greenland is essential for the Golden Dome Missile Shield.

European leaders have already been discussing the matter, including at an EU meeting on Sunday. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

LEYEN: We have to be strategic about how we approach this issue, and this is why we are working on a package to support Arctic Security. First principle: full solidarity with Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark. The sovereignty and integrity of that territory is non-negotiable.

European leaders are hoping to talk Trump out of planned tariffs on European countries tied to the Greenland dispute.

Markets took a big hit Tuesday, with Wall Street concerned about a new trade war.

President Trump says he's spoken with NATO chief Mark Rutte. He's not endorsed the takeover bid, but Trump said Rutte committed to finding a way forward on Greenland.

Trump marks 1 year in press briefing » At the White House on Tuesday, President Trump marked the one-year anniversary of his second term in office.

TRUMP: We've done more than any other administration has done by far in terms of military, in terms of ending wars, in terms of completing wars, nobody has really seen very much like it.

The president marked the occasion with a nearly two-hour news conference in which he touted what he framed as the top successes of his administration, including the economy and foreign policy.

Trump also pointed to beefing up immigration enforcement, slamming his critics, saying that the policies are aimed at getting violent offenders off the streets:

TRUMP: We have a lot of heart for people that came in illegally but they're good people and they're working now on farms and they're working in luncheonettes and hotels. And we're not looking -- we're looking to get the criminals out right now.

But opponents of the president's immigration crackdown accuse the administration of deporting migrants at the expense of their civil rights.

Ukraine latest » 

DMITRIEV: [Speaking Russian]

Russian Presidential Envoy Kirill Dmitriev told reporters he spoke with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and unofficial envoy Jared Kushner.

Dmitriev says he had a constructive discussion about Russia's war with Ukraine. He declined to comment further on that discussion.

Meanwhile:

SOUND: [Strike on Kyiv]

…a major Russian airstrike knocked out the heat for about half the apartment buildings in Kyiv amid freezing temperatures.

Minnesota subpoenas » Federal prosecutors have issued grand jury subpoenas to several Minnesota leaders as part of an investigation into possible interference with federal immigration enforcement.

Attorney General Pam Bondi says rhetoric from local and state officials is putting agents in danger.

BONDI:  This state is a mess right now. We've seen the chaos and it's constant, and our men and women in law enforcement deserve to be safe.

Federal authorities served subpoenas Tuesday to Gov. Tim Walz as well as the state’s attorney general and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul, among others.

Investigators are seeking records and communications tied to public statements or actions that may have discouraged cooperation with federal immigration officers.

State and city leaders have sharply criticized the probe, calling it political and saying it is meant to intimidate officials who oppose the enforcement operation.

New Jersey governor inauguration » Democrat Mikie Sherrill has been sworn in as New Jersey’s 57th governor.

The former Navy helicopter pilot and four-term Congresswoman took the oath today in Newark.

SHERRILL:  And maintain the lawful rights of the state of New Jersey.

RABNER: So help me God.

SHERRILL: So help me God.

RABNER: Congratulations governor.

At 54, Sherrill becomes only the second woman to lead the state.

She replaces fellow Democrat Phil Murphy, giving Democrats control of the governor’s office for a third straight term for the first time in more than 60 years.

She immediately signed two executive orders during the ceremony—one freezing utility rate increases, and another aimed at expanding electricity production, including solar and nuclear power.

Guatemala state of emergency » Violence targeting police in Guatemala has left at least ten officers dead, as the government moves to tighten security. 

WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher has more.

BENJAMIN EICHER: The trouble began over the weekend when inmates took control of three prisons and held dozens of guards hostage. Authorities say the unrest was coordinated by powerful gangs demanding special treatment for their leaders.

After security forces retook one of the prisons early Sunday, attackers struck police officers across Guatemala City.

Officials confirmed Monday that a tenth officer later died from injuries.

President Bernardo Arévalo declared a 30-day state of emergency. The measure gives police broader powers, limits some public gatherings, and allows arrests without warrants in gang-related cases.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

And I'm Paul Butler.

Straight ahead: World leaders gather in Davos as President Trump prepares to speak. Plus, Washington Wednesday and World Tour.

This is The World and Everything in It.


WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.

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