Up First from NPR
Troops Stand By For Minnesota, Greenland NATO Tensions, Gaza Peace Board
19 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Minnesota is becoming the front line of resistance to federal immigration crackdowns.
Chapter 2: What are the current tensions in Minnesota regarding federal troops?
Up to 1,500 active duty troops are on standby after President Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to suppress protests.
I'm Michelle Martin, that's Steve Inskeep, and this is Up First from NPR News. The White House plans to use tariffs to pressure NATO allies to make a deal for the purchase of Greenland. How far is the president willing to push America's closest partners?
Chapter 3: How is the U.S. pressuring Denmark over Greenland?
Also, the president is inviting world leaders to join a new board of peace to secure conflict zones, apparently not just Gaza. NPR obtained a copy of the charter, which asks other countries to pay billions to join the board permanently and gives Trump sweeping, seemingly permanent authority. What does Israel think? Stay with us.
Chapter 4: What is the purpose of the U.S.-led Board of Peace for Gaza?
We've got the news you need to start your day.
Chapter 5: What is the significance of the Insurrection Act in Minnesota?
NPR's podcast Trump's Terms is your source for same-day updates on big news about the Trump administration. Short, focused episodes, one topic at a time, about five minutes or so. We carry out reporting from across all of NPR's coverage, so you are always getting the biggest, most urgent stories. Listen to Trump's Terms on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Chapter 6: How does Trump’s Board of Peace plan to operate internationally?
Minnesota protesters spent a cold weekend on the streets confronting immigration agents, and President Trump's administration spent the weekend escalating pressure.
Up to 1,500 active-duty troops are on standby for possible deployment there. A U.S. official tells our colleague Tom Bowman that the troops are from the 11th Airborne Division.
Chapter 7: What are the reactions from world leaders about the Board of Peace?
They're based in Alaska and trained to operate in cold weather. The president has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to justify sending troops to perform tasks
Chapter 8: What challenges does Israel face with the new peace plan?
typically performed by law enforcement.
Those were just some of the administration moves over the weekend, and Minnesota Public Radio's Clay Masters is here. Clay, good morning. Good morning.
What else did the administration do? We learned that the Department of Justice has opened an investigation into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Both Walz and Frey have been loud opponents of ICE's increased presence in the state, especially the tactics in Minneapolis since the fatal shooting of Renee Macklin Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross.
Walz, who announced a couple weeks ago he was dropping his bid for reelection, said weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is an authoritarian tactic. And here's Mayor Jacob Fry on CBS's Face the Nation yesterday. We are doing everything possible to keep the peace, notwithstanding this occupying force that has quite literally invaded our city.
And President Trump has said he might use the Insurrection Act in Minnesota. He refined that threat a bit on Friday when asked by reporters about it. He said he would use it if he needed it, but he didn't see any reason right now to use it.
Okay. Given that, where do these 1,500 troops fit in?
I mean, we should be clear that the troops are on standby, and this comes as Governor Walz has directed the Minnesota National Guard to prepare for possible deployment to assist local law enforcement and emergency management agencies. It really remains to be seen what that would look like to have two units potentially receiving conflicting orders.
Okay, so we'll keep watching that. Hasn't happened yet. But where do things stand with the shooting of Renee Macklin Goode?
Assistant Attorney General Todd Blanch said on Fox News Sunday that the Justice Department investigates when it's appropriate to do so, but that's not the case here, he said, when an ICE agent fatally shot Macklin Good on January 7th. The DOJ blocked Minnesota from accessing evidence and witnesses, so the state has their own investigation going on.
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