RNT_ Trump, NATO, Greenland, Demonstrations, Measles, Twins, and Saudi Arabia

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Belle of the Ranch 10 min 2 speakers 4 chapters transcribed

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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

Beau 0:01

Well, howdy there, Internet people, it's Belle again, and welcome to The Roads with Belle. Today is January 11th, 2026, and this is episode 125 of The Roads Not Taken, which is a weekly series where we go over the news that was unreported, underreported, didn't get the coverage we thought it deserved, or we just found it interesting. And then we go through a few questions from y'all. Today is January 11th, and today is Learn Your Name in Morse Code Day. And on this date in 1922 was the first insulin treatment for diabetes. And starting with foreign policy, the U.S. is pulling out of more than 60 global organizations. This is a move for Trump to signal to his base. The reality is that the U.S. has now lost influence in more than 60 global organizations.

Beau 1:04

Trump has weakened the U.S. again. The protests in Iran are continuing to spread. The government has shut down the Internet, and hundreds have reportedly been lost, both through the normal chaos of situations like this and through the direct actions of government security services. Some Western nations seem to be pushing the son of the last Shah forward as a potential new leader if the current government falls. Man, that Ajax video is weirdly more relevant than I thought it'd be. Trump's rhetoric on Greenland has led to a surge of anti-American sentiment and demonstrations. Trump said, quote, I doubt NATO would be there for us if we really needed them. Reminder, the only time NATO has invoked Article 5 was in defense of the U.S.

Beau 2:06

More than 1,000 non-U.S. NATO troops were lost. There's a pretty big split occurring between the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The factions they support in Yemen aren't playing nicely with each other, and that's showing fault lines in the two countries' relationship. Currently, Saudi-backed forces are trying to take key cities in Yemen. Analysts expect the Saudi-backed side to come out on top simply because the kingdom is more committed. In U.S. news... Protests against immigration authorities are spreading in the aftermath of multiple shootings. When we pulled the numbers, we found more than 600 events, but expectations are more than 1,000. A federal judge has blocked Trump from freezing funding for child care in five states.

Beau 3:04

The National Park Service has reportedly updated their policies about altering or defacing passes just as a movement to place stickers over Trump's face was picking up steam. You must love Big Brother. Even Trump allies are saying Trump's plan to strong-arm health insurance companies into lowering rates will fail. with some predicting he'll just get some face-saving concession, but nothing that addresses the underlying problem. In cultural news, in yet another blow to Trump's graffiti at the Kennedy Center, the Washington National Opera announced it will move its performances away from the venue. It said it will try to make the transition away as amicable as possible. In typical Trumpian fashion, the administration posted that the separation will provide, quote, the flexibility and funds to bring in operas from around the world and across the U.S.

Beau 4:09

Yes, because right now operas from around the world are lining up to be associated with Trump. PBS Newsweekend will sign off for good today, according to reports. Trump's cuts are showing themselves here. In science news, an as-of-yet undisclosed medical condition will bring Crew 11 home to Earth early from the International Space Station. There have been 99 new cases of measles in South Carolina. That pretty much clinches it. If the U.S.

What recent foreign policy actions has Trump taken regarding NATO?

Beau 4:48

doesn't lose its measles eradication status, I'll be shocked. In the Virunga National Park in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, an endangered mountain gorilla has given birth to twins. Avalanches threatened Juneau and caused evacuations. Four people have resigned from the National Institute of Health over what they're calling a loss of scientific integrity. In economic news... The Supreme Court held off ruling on the tariffs. There was widespread speculation that it would come out on Friday. There's a possibility that we hear something on Wednesday.