JANUARY 21. 2026

U. S. Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in Trump-Lisa Cook Case

Firing central bank governors may prove to be a red line.

Young Africans Are Being Lured Into Russia’s War Machine

The Kremlin may be using Africans as suicide bombers in Ukraine, reports suggest.

Plans Call for “New Rafah” Built in Israel’s Image — Without Palestinians

Phase two of the ceasefire deal includes a “smart city” with green spaces, AI grids, and no real future for Palestinians.

Neigh!

A dispatch from the Art Editor

To Protect Greenland, Europe Kicks Into High Gear

The continent is finally showing some strategic resolve. Will it last?

U. S. Congress Sidesteps Greenland Debate in Defense Spending Bill

Lawmakers opted against using the power of the purse to forbid forcible annexation of Greenland.

Trump’s Davos Speech Heralds a New World Disorder

U. S. president toys with NATO leaders in call for “immediate negotiations to discuss the acquisition of Greenland. ”

10 New Reading Recommendations

New year, new Orion-approved books

Trump Says He ‘Won’t Use Force’ to Acquire Greenland

In his speech in Davos, Trump asked for the territory and said only the United States could defend it.

Trump Admin “Deliberately” Tanking Morale to Get Parks Staff to Quit, Official Says in Leaked Tape

In a leaked tape, a National Park Service official said Trump’s employee policies are a “reign of terror” aimed at driving NPS staff to quit.

Vice Presidents Usually Disappoint After Calamity Strikes

Delcy Rodríguez is the latest spare politician to be thrust into a top job.

FBI’s Washington Post Investigation Shows How Your Printer Can Snitch on You

Investigators identified a suspect, Aurelio Luis Perez-Lugones, because his employer could view the contents of files printed at its facility.

In Hunt for Rare Earths, Companies Are Scouring Mining Waste

Tailings and acid mine drainage from mines contain critical minerals needed for clean energy technologies. Now, researchers are developing new techniques for retrieving these key metals, which could reduce the need for new mines and help clean up pollution at old mining sites.

‘A Rupture in the World Order’

Read Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s forceful speech at Davos rebuking Trump’s world order.

The U. S. Military Can’t Fix Iran’s Opposition

Washington can intervene militarily, but any regime change strategy needs to start in Iran itself.

How Far Do China’s Ambitions Reach?

The answer is global—and has big implications for U. S. policy.

The consequences of Trump’s war on climate in 7 charts

Seven snapshots reveal how climate rollbacks altered the trajectory of U. S. energy, environmental protection, and economic security.

Can you build data centers in a desert without draining the water supply? Utah is finding out.

Governor Spencer Cox and other politicians are pushing for one of the driest states to become a haven for data centers.

AI Note-Takers at Work: The Silent Threat to Privacy and Compliance

AI transcription tools promise efficiency but bring legal exposure, surveillance risks, and threats to fundamental rights.