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On Politics

Tue Jan 13 2026

Kathryn Palmer | Politics Reporter

@KathrynPlmr

Hello readers! Kathryn Palmer here. Did you know it's only the second week of 2026? Having a hard time wrapping my mind around that one. Here's the latest in what has been a nonstop news cycle.

US official: Greenland action could be 'weeks or months' away

In an exclusive interview with USA TODAY, a senior Trump administration official said there could be meaningful U.S. action related to the Arctic island within "weeks or months." That's according to Thomas Dans, Trump's Arctic commissioner. He's regarded as one of the main proponents of the president's interest in Greenland, and has been working on the issue since 2020. Dans said that while he thinks there could be noticeable progress on negotiations or a deal on Greenland sooner than later, he ultimately expects the acquisition to take longer than that to complete. Here's the full story from USA TODAY's international correspondent, Kim Hjelmgaard.

An iceberg floats off the coast of Nuuk, Greenland, on Sept. 15, 2025. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane/File Photo

Guglielmo Mangiapane, REUTERS

A politics roundup:

•	The U.S. attorney who led a probe that uncovered massive fraud in Minnesota has resigned
•	Trump paves the way for deportations to Somalia with immigrants in crosshairs
•	Trump encourages Iranian protesters in a social media post, saying, "HELP IS ON ITS WAY"
•	An ex-sailor was sentenced to more than 16 years for selling Navy secrets to China

Gallery: Supreme Court hears arguments on laws banning trans athletes. See photos

Supreme Court hears challenge to transgender sports bans

The Supreme Court today is taking up one of the nation's most high-profile and divisive cultural issues, debating whether states can bar transgender girls and women from joining female sports teams in schools. The challenges to bans come a year after the high court ruled that states can prevent transgender minors from receiving puberty blockers and hormone therapy. Twenty-seven states bar transgender girls and women from joining female sports teams, while other states either prohibit such bans or have not taken a position. See USA TODAY's coverage of the oral arguments here.

Bill Clinton refuses to testify in Congress Epstein probe

Republican lawmakers said they'll move forward next week with contempt of Congress proceedings after former President Bill Clinton failed to show up for a scheduled deposition today related to the House Oversight Committee's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Both he and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have refused to sit for depositions in the GOP-run probe, according to a letter sent to the committee yesterday by their attorneys, who argued the subpoenas issued to them by the Republican-led panel are unenforceable. Bill Clinton has been shown in multiple photos with the alleged sex trafficker. Similar to Trump, Bill Clinton was once friends with him and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.

Thanks for reading! Remember to scroll down for more top stories. Reach me at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @ KathrynPlmr.

DOJ Civil Rights leaders quit to protest handling of Minn. ICE shooting

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon speaks about Elias Rodriguez, suspected of fatally shooting two Israeli embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum, at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 7, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura

Justice Department Civil Rights Division's criminal prosecutors historically have investigated shootings like that of the ICE agent who killed Renee Good.

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