Tuesday, January 20, 2026

ICE detainees released

A USA TODAY exclusive report found that 160 people were released from a Texas immigration detention facility. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
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The Short List

Tue Jan 20 2026

 

Phaedra Trethan National Correspondent

@wordsbyphaedra

👋🏼 Hello and welcome to a short week! I'm Phaedra Trethan, dealing with frigid cold and a bit of snow, but thankfully nothing like this. 🥶 ❄️ ☃️

In Tuesday's news:

The Trump administration has begun quietly releasing some detainees from an immigration facility in Texas.
Despite opposition from Europeans, Greenlanders and Americans, President Trump does not seem to be backing down from talk of annexing the island.
We're one year into Donald Trump's second presidency. What might be in store for Year Two?

But first: Hoosiers whooped it up as Indiana won its first-ever College Football Playoff championship. 🏈 🎉 🥳

ICE detainees released

The Trump administration has started quietly releasing dozens of immigrant families from a Texas detention center, according to a USA TODAY exclusive report. The detainees, from countries including Iran, Russia, China, Vietnam, Venezuela, Guatemala and Mexico, were sent to a border shelter. About 160 people, half of them minors, have been released. Over the next few weeks, 100 to 150 a day may also be released. 

The Department of Justice is asking a judge to allow its Minnesota immigration operations to continue.
ICE agents broke into a Minnesota home and arrested a barely clothed man. He was a U.S. citizen.

News Ice South Texas Family Residential Center

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, in a Dec 4, 2019, file photo.

Courtney Sacco, Courtney Sacco-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Grappling over Greenland

President Trump isn't backing down on his threats to take Greenland — and he's taking that message to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Trump's escalating rhetoric ratcheted up even further over the weekend, and may reignite a trade war with Europe and upend the decades-old NATO alliance. The latest.

Military operations are ratcheting up in the Northern Atlantic.
Watch: U.S. Catholic cardinals are denouncing Trump's foreign policies.
Can Denmark protect Greenland? Trump doesn't think so.
Trump texted a Norwegian leader. What he wrote.

Greenland protests 2026

A protester takes part in a demonstration to show support for Greenland in Copenhagen, Denmark on Jan. 17, 2026.

Tom Little/Reuters

Real quick

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and other local officials received subpoenas amid escalating tensions over immigration operations in the state.
More states are banning cell phones in schools. Is yours among them? 📱
Dozens of former military leaders are defending Senator Mark Kelly, targeted by the Pentagon for his role in a video telling military members they can disobey unlawful orders.
A month after the deadline for the full release of the Epstein files, millions of documents remain under wraps.

Trump 2.0, one year in

On Jan. 20, 2021, it seemed impossible. But on Jan. 20, 2025, it became reality: Donald Trump was sworn in as President of the United States for the second time.

One year into his second term, Trump has tested the boundaries: of the rule of law, of his grip on the GOP, of global norms and decades-long diplomatic relationships, of a growing opposition to his shock-and-awe politics. What Year Two might hold.

Watch: What Americans think of Trump, one year into his second term.
Watch: Experts say extremists have been emboldened by Trump's own rhetoric and actions.
Trump's supporters hope he can pivot to address Americans' concerns over affordability. Can he stay on message?

'Crunchy moms' and RFK Jr.

How did a generation of progressive women find common cause with a prominent (and controversial) member of the Trump administration? The "crunchy moms" of decades past favored granola and wheatgrass, yoga and wellness culture, as well as left-leaning views on LGBTQ+ rights, abortion and religion.

But today's "crunchy" content is more likely to feature calls to prayer, protecting arms and patriotism than to progressivism, and more likely to come from religious, right-leaning and conservative women. What changed?

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sat down with USA TODAY for an extended interview. What he said.
Photos: An inside look at a "crunchy" mom's life.

20260116_VPC_RFK Jr INTERVIEW_FLU SHOT_THUMB.00_00_09_14.Still006.jpg

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks to USA TODAY on January 16, 2026.

USA TODAY

A break from the news

These photos of the Northern Lights will take your breath away. 🤩
Who's a good (Lego) dog??? 🐶
Dolly Parton turned 80. See the singer/songwriter/American treasure's life in photos. 🎂 🎉

Phaedra Trethan is a national correspondent at USA TODAY. She'd love to hear from readers about The Short List, story ideas from across the nation and how old you think is too old to shovel snow.Email her at ptrethan@usatoday.com.

FILE PHOTO: A Wall Street subway stop sign is seen in New York October 10, 2008. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo

US stocks fell, with the S&P 500 having its worst day since October, after Trump threatened tariffs on countries that oppose his plans for Greenland.

Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance attend the Good Friday Passion of the Lord service with their children in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, April 18, 2025.
 

JD and Usha Vance announce they're expecting their fourth child

Vice President JD Vance said he and his wife, second lady Usha Vance, are expecting their fourth child, a baby boy.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media ahead of boarding Air Force One to depart for Washington, at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., January 19, 2026.
 

What 8 wars did Trump say he ended? He texted it to Norway's prime minister

President Donald Trump's texts with Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway about Greenland were made public. He said he ended 8 wars. What is he referring to?

Texas and the South and East will see extremely cold weather and a powerful winter storm with the possibility of snow and ice due to a major polar vortex disturbance.
 

Polar vortex to bring frigid temps to South, East states. See maps.

A chilling polar vortex is set to bring snow and ice to the South and East this week. We show where.

News out of Michigan
 

Michigan interstate closed after 100-vehicle pileup

Michigan state officials had warned of severe snowy weather, causing whiteouts and poor road conditions throughout the day.

Former British model Brooklyn Beckham (L) and wife US actress Nicola Peltz Beckham arrive for the premiere of the movie "Lola" at the Bruin Theatre, in Los Angeles, California on February 3, 2024. (Photo by LISA O'CONNOR / AFP) (Photo by LISA O'CONNOR/AFP via Getty Images)
 

Brooklyn Beckham's wedding to Nicola Peltz, family drama explained

Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz's wedding is central to his feud with David and Victoria Beckham, with new details emerging about the ceremony.

Supporters of gun control laws rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 2, 2019.
 

Supreme Court skeptical of 'Vampire Rule' challenged by gun owners

After expanding the right to bear arms outside the home, the Supreme Court may make it harder for states to control where in public guns are allowed.

Car Salesman Showing a Car to His Customer in a Dealership Office
 

What is behind the 7-year car loan surge? What it means for buyers

In the fourth quarter of 2025, 20.3% of new‑car shoppers agreed to monthly payments topping $1,000 — the highest share ever recorded.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 13: Ben Affleck attends Netflix's "The Rip" New York Premiere at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on January 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
 

Ben Affleck's son asked for money to sports bet. Experts say he's not alone.

On Jimmy Kimmel Live, Ben Affleck shared that his 13-year-old son asked him for sports betting money. The conversation is resonating with viewers.

Barbie is launching its first doll with autism.
 

Is autistic Barbie groundbreaking or harmful? New doll sparks debate.

Mattel's new Barbie with autism has garnered mixed feelings from people within the autism community. Why?

Play Your Way to a Relaxing Break

Unwind with crosswords and challenges that recharge you. 

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