In this news round-up of the week for January 30th 2026 - Trump's string of humiliating retreats in recent days continued with this week's abject U-turn on the subject of ICE operations in Minnesota, and the killings there of protestors. The Trump administration also is caught out having meetings with Albertan separatists, looking for support to break up Canada. And the UK risks enraging Trump by striking deals with China. But it's all happening as China's Xi Jinping has been purging the top ranks of his military - which seems significant.

From the start of his second term, President Trump has been 'flooding the zone' with large numbers of major norm-breaking initiatives. The strategy was intended to overwhelm the opposition, exhaust the watchdogs, to get as much done as possible in the shortest time. The problem with that strategy, especially when so many of the initiatives are frankly misconceived, is that the consequences will eventually outpace the intensity and quantity of the original actions. We're starting to see that happen now. So let's review just a few of the unintended consequences we noticed in the last few days.

European leaders have become clear post-Greenland crisis that Europe needs to disentangle itself from President Trump's America. But Mark Rutte, Secretary-General of NATO, and most famously the 'Trump-whisperer', has other ideas - arguing that purely on a practical basis, Europe is incapable of defending itself without the central participation of the United States. But does that really hold up - when the debate is no longer whether Trump will WALK AWAY from Europe, rather it is how many ways will Trump ACTIVELY ATTACK Europe? Let's discuss.

The yawning gulf between the claims made by the Trump administration after the shooting of Alex Pretti and the events shown by the video evidence widely seen since, has put the US into a major pivot point. Moreso than after the first event, which could have been dismissed as a one-off, an aberration, now all Americans, including GOP senators, including former presidents, and including an awful lot of people who have been taking to the streets, have to decide whether this is the point where the line gets drawn. Or does America follow the downward spiral further towards the unhappy place this obviously takes it. Well, let's discuss.

We already knew President Donald Trump was irritated that Canada's Mark Carney's speech got rave reviews at Davos. And that it plainly laid out - in words that other leaders have not been daring to voice out loud - how Trump has changed the world, and what medium powers should be doing collaboratively to deal with it. Now, Trump is venting big time by threatening 100% tariffs against Canada should it go ahead with its agreed trade deal with China. But, of course, that's not the real reason Trump's taking action. Let's discuss.

In this news round-up of the week for Friday January 23rd, 2026 - Trump's America has a major armada of military force currently heading for Iran. Trump says it's "just in case", but then similar type messages were made about Venezuela. Mark Carney is disinvited from Trump's Board of Peace, which deprives him of the chance to sit down with autocrats and even war criminals from across the world. And Trump sparks yet more fury across the NATO allies by suggesting that their military - some of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice - were kept away from the action. Plus, I reply to a few comments.

So Trump did a complete U-Turn on Greenland, and everything is now all right again. Right? Well, not so fast. Why hasn't this detail been written down, and how can the Trump administration have any trust for the process when, just a week ago, they immediately tried to reframe their discussions with Greenland to their own benefit? The fact is that the process of negotiating an 'off-ramp' deal seems just as likely to go horribly wrong as ... well, the last deal. So Denmark and Greenland are not happy. But still - rejoice! The Board of Peace has been launched. It's a truly bizarre creation - but it has a purpose not many people are talking about yet. Let's discuss.

The Trump administration has stormed the World Economic Forum at Davos in force - and his senior lieutenants, such as Howard Lutnick and Scott Bessent have been ruffling feathers and making waves. Today it was Trump's turn, and on the topic that everyone has been talking about, we saw the start of a climbdown from the reckless rhetoric of threatening the use of the military against Greenland. This followed Mark Carney's highly regarded speech the day before which set the standard for countries looking to stand with dignity in the face of Trump's America. A fact that did not escape Trump's notice. Let's discuss.

President Trump told Norway that because - in his mind - the country snubbed him for the Nobel Peace Prize, now he believes he no longer needs to only be about peace. Make of that what you will. Meanwhile, he has been announcing and gathering together his so-called Board of Peace, which already has some eye-catching invitees, and a rapidly expanding remit. Meanwhile, Trump is still refusing to rule out using military force on Greenland, while European leaders continue to try to get to grips with an obviously changed world reality. Let's discuss.

Yesterday, Trump made good on his threats and announced new tariffs to be levied against eight European countries for daring to defy his wish to annex Greenland against the wishes of its residents and of Denmark, whose territory it currently is. And FINALLY this move seems to have pushed the European leaders to the point where they are now ready to give up on the ever-lasting strategy of seeking to appease Trump, flatter him and woo him. Instead, they are threatening retaliation, on the principle that bullies only respect strength, and it might just be time to show some. Well, we'll see. But in the mean time, let's discuss.