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January 29, 2026

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Notable

My state showed courage. Will Republicans? “Congress has an obligation to act, but up to now, nearly all of my Republican colleagues seem cowed by Mr. Trump. So what should Democrats do?”

— Tina Smith, a Democratic U.S. senator from Minnesota

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The U.S., not its enemies, must set Greenland’s rules. “As President Trump emphasized in Davos, Greenland is a core national security interest for the United States, and strengthening America’s position there strengthens NATO itself. A strong America, in other words, remains the foundation of a strong alliance.”

— Jeff Landry, the U.S. special envoy to Greenland

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The Trump administration’s lies have a purpose. “Do not mistake crisis management for real reform, and don’t believe for a second that MAGA’s fury is easing.”

— David French, Opinion columnist

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Spotlight

Kimberly Elliott

Why Trump Pardoned the Ex-President of a Narco-State

MAGA sees a borderless future in Honduras, writes the contributing Opinion writer Jean Guerrero.

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ICYMI

The real reason MAHA hates vaccines. “As it is, mass vaccination is not just a disease prophylactic but among the simplest tools we have to limit the damage of America’s many social pathologies and inequalities. And the consequences of rolling back that safety net are likely to be profound.”

— David Wallace-Wells, Opinion writer

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Listen (or Watch)

The New York Times Interesting Times with Ross Douthat A Plan to Restore Trust in Science From a ‘Fringe Epidemiologist’ Jay Bhattacharya, the N.I.H. director, says authorities broke the public’s trust in the Covid era. Now it’s up to outsiders to restore it. 1 HR 4 MIN LISTEN

More in Opinion

Guest Essay No Child Deserves to Die Like My Daughter What was done to my daughter did not break me. It left me with a mother’s responsibility to ensure no child is left unheard. By Wesam Hamada

Guest Essay The Border Patrol Was Always Out of Control A Wild West frontier ethos has persisted to this day. By Reece Jones

Nicholas Kristof How to Bring Back the American Dream Some of the best coaches we can find to help struggling children escape poverty may be other children and their families. By Nicholas Kristof

letters How to Come Together on Immigration Readers respond to an essay by Representative Mike Lawler, Republican of New York. Also: A suggestion for Columbia’s new president; a “no” from Canada.

Guest Essay Why Is My Son Being Left to Die on the Streets? We thought America would keep him safe. By Madeline Till

Jessica Grose The Havoc That One Disgruntled Student Can Wreak on a University If college education is merely a transaction, educators — and facts — are vulnerable. By Jessica Grose

In Your Words

Re: “Minneapolis May Be Trump’s Gettysburg”

The administration’s greatest miscalculation may have been assuming it could still control the narrative. Video evidence of Alex Pretti’s killing didn’t just contradict official statements — it made them implausible. Authority now competes with visible reality, and reality is rightfully winning, as it should. — Robert Stewart from Chantilly, Va.

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