If you didn’t catch the January 18 episode, you missed a fairly intense hour of television. Honestly, the vibe on This Week with George Stephanopoulos felt heavier than usual today. Jon Karl was at the helm, and he didn't waste any time getting into the thick of the domestic and foreign policy chaos currently defining the start of 2026.
From a potential "invasion" of Greenland to the fallout of a DOJ investigation in Minneapolis, the show hit on the exact points where the Trump administration’s boldest ambitions are clashing with reality.
The Minneapolis Powder Keg
The broadcast opened with a deep dive into the unrest in Minneapolis. It’s been a rough start to the year for the city.
Jon Karl spoke with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who looked like a man carrying the weight of the world. They discussed the ongoing protests and a recent Justice Department investigation that involves both Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. The tension was palpable. Frey had to navigate a difficult line between supporting the federal response and acknowledging the anger on the ground.
Essentially, the city is still reeling from the fatal ICE shooting of a woman earlier this month, and the "day of retribution" rhetoric coming from the White House hasn't helped. It was a stark reminder that even as the administration looks abroad, the internal friction in America's cities is reaching a boiling point.
Why Greenland Is Suddenly a Security Risk
Then things took a turn toward the geopolitical. Michael McCaul joined the program to talk about one of the weirder, yet increasingly serious, stories of the year: the U.S. push to acquire or "invade" Greenland.
McCaul didn't hold back. He warned that this aggressive posture toward a Danish territory isn't just a diplomatic spat; it’s a legitimate threat to the NATO alliance.
- The Pentagon is reportedly already drawing up plans.
- Danish officials are meeting at the White House with mixed results.
- The broader national security implications are, frankly, massive.
You've got a situation where a NATO ally is basically being told their territory is up for grabs. It’s the kind of thing that sounds like a fever dream until you see a high-ranking official like McCaul discussing the potential for a military invasion on Sunday morning news.
New Jersey's New Voice: Mikie Sherrill
Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill also made an appearance. She’s stepping into a New Jersey that is increasingly at odds with the federal government's direction. She and Karl talked about how the state plans to push back against certain Trump administration actions—kinda setting the stage for what looks like a long year of legal and political battles between state capitals and Washington.
The Big Picture: What This Week with George Stephanopoulos Tells Us
If you watch this show regularly, you know it’s a bellwether for the week's talking points. Today’s episode made it clear that "stability" isn't on the menu for 2026.
We are seeing a convergence of aggressive foreign policy—like the capture of Nicolas Maduro earlier this month—and an increasingly militarized approach to domestic issues. It’s a lot to process. The show didn't offer many easy answers, but it did provide a very clear look at where the battle lines are being drawn.
Actionable Steps for Staying Informed
To stay ahead of the curve after today’s broadcast, you should focus on these specific areas:
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- Monitor the Greenland Negotiations: Watch for official statements from the Danish Parliament. If they formally reject the White House's latest "acquisition" offer, expect the rhetoric about military "intervention" to spike.
- Follow the DOJ Minneapolis Probe: Keep an eye on local Minneapolis outlets for updates on the Frey/Walz investigation. This isn't just about one city; it’s a test case for how the federal government will interact with "Blue" city leadership in 2026.
- Check the NATO Response: See if other European leaders join the Danish in their pushback. If the UK or France makes a formal statement regarding the Greenland situation, we are looking at a full-blown alliance crisis.
Basically, the world got a lot smaller and a lot more complicated this Sunday. Keeping an eye on This Week with George Stephanopoulos is probably the best way to see which of these fires is going to get doused and which is going to spread.