Top 5 US news stories
January 21 2026
Trump's Greenland Push Triggers Market Sell-Off as Nasdaq Falls 2.4%
Trump Heads to Davos Amid Greenland Tensions as Treasury Chief Warns Europe Against Interference
Amazon Launches Largest Retail Store Ever in Chicago Suburbs to Challenge Walmart's Physical Dominance
Taiwan Opposition Blocks $40 Billion Defense Spending Despite Trump Pressure to Bolster Military
Chinese Automaker BYD Doubles Overseas Sales to Challenge European Luxury Brands
BREAKING...Vances Say They’re Expecting Their Fourth Child...It is the first known time in modern U.S. history that a sitting second lady is expecting a baby while her husband is in office...
Trump's Greenland Push Triggers Market Sell-Off as Nasdaq Falls 2.4%
U.S. stocks tumbled Tuesday following President Trump's escalated campaign to acquire Greenland and threats of new European trade restrictions, with the Nasdaq composite sliding 2.4% in its worst session since October. The U.S. dollar weakened while the 10-year Treasury yield climbed to its highest level since August, and gold surged to record levels as investors sought safe-haven assets. The market turbulence revived concerns about a potential "Sell America" trade—a broad dumping of U.S. and dollar-denominated assets that briefly rattled markets after Trump announced sweeping global tariff plans last year. While trade agreements and exemptions had helped markets recover to record highs as recently as last week, renewed fears that escalating tariffs could damage corporate profits and slow global economic growth sent investors fleeing from risk assets.
WSJ
Trump Heads to Davos Amid Greenland Tensions as Treasury Chief Warns Europe Against Interference
President Trump departed for the World Economic Forum in Davos after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged European leaders not to obstruct America's national-security objectives regarding Greenland, while NATO chief Mark Rutte declined to comment on the escalating situation. Trump's journey faced a brief delay when Air Force One returned to Joint Base Andrews less than an hour after takeoff due to a minor electrical issue, prompting the president to board a different aircraft to continue his trip. At the White House on Tuesday, Trump deflected questions about how far he would go to acquire the semiautonomous Danish territory, telling reporters "You'll find out" while expressing confidence in reaching a deal. The president is scheduled to deliver a special address at the Swiss gathering of political and business leaders at 2:30 p.m. local time, or 8:30 a.m. ET.
WSJ
Amazon Launches Largest Retail Store Ever in Chicago Suburbs to Challenge Walmart's Physical Dominance
Amazon is opening a 230,000-square-foot big-box store in Orland Park, Illinois—large enough to accommodate nearly two average-size Target stores—in its most ambitious attempt yet to translate online retail dominance into physical store success. The facility will dedicate half its space to selling groceries, general merchandise, and prepared food, while the other half will fulfill online and in-store orders. The move represents a strategic shift for the e-commerce giant, which has struggled to find a winning bricks-and-mortar formula after closing dozens of branded stores and more than half its Amazon Go convenience locations in recent years. Despite Amazon's commanding position as the nation's largest e-commerce retailer, in-store purchases still account for more than 80% of all retail sales according to U.S. Census Bureau data, making physical retail a critical battleground where rivals like Costco and Walmart have long held sway with their giant stores.
WSJ
Taiwan Opposition Blocks $40 Billion Defense Spending Despite Trump Pressure to Bolster Military
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te's proposal to spend $40 billion over eight years on military equipment has stalled in the opposition-dominated legislature, complicating the island's response to President Trump's demands that allies pay more for their own defense. The political deadlock threatens to undermine Taiwan's pledge to increase military and security spending to more than 3% of its economy this year, raising questions about the island's ability to strengthen defenses while managing its relationship with the United States, its primary security backer. The impasse stems from budgetary and legal disputes between Lai's Democratic Progressive Party and opposition parties, with both sides employing hardball tactics and accusing each other of unlawful conduct. Members of Lai's party claim the opposition is attempting to paralyze his administration and taking cues from Beijing, while opposition lawmakers have twice rejected Lai's constitutional court nominations, effectively sidelining the body that could resolve such conflicts amid growing divisions over whether Taiwan should maintain close U.S. ties or pursue rapprochement with China.
NYT
Chinese Automaker BYD Doubles Overseas Sales to Challenge European Luxury Brands
BYD delivered more than one million vehicles outside China in 2025—double the previous year's total—as Chinese automakers exceeded expectations in their global export push, competing against established manufacturers including Volkswagen, Toyota, BMW, and Porsche. China surpassed Japan in 2023 as the world's top auto exporter and shipped 7.1 million vehicles last year, up from 5.9 million the previous year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The Shenzhen-based BYD, which replaced Tesla as the world's largest electric vehicle seller and ranks among Beijing's national champions, is leading Chinese brands that now hold roughly 7% of Western Europe's total auto market after selling more than 500,000 units in the first three quarters of 2025. The rapid expansion marks a dramatic shift in the global automotive landscape, where Chinese manufacturers have moved from being dismissed as unlikely competitors to establishing a significant presence in markets traditionally dominated by Japanese, German, and American brands.
WSJ
January 21 1968: In a “broken arrow” nuclear incident, an American B-52 bomber with four nuclear warheads crashes into a fjord in Greenland, releasing widespread radiation. The crew had been forced to eject due to an accidental cabin fire.
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