Monday honors the life and work of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Welcome to the Daily Briefing. This morning’s breaking news is:
nicole farato Find today’s MLK Day opening and closing times here. Monday’s news you need to know includes updates on Greenland, a historic day in Virginia and the college football season finally coming to an end.
EU considers response as President Trump’s threat to Greenland continues
European Union ambassadors on Sunday reached an agreement in principle to step up efforts to deter President Donald Trump from imposing tariffs on European allies and prepare retaliatory measures if the U.S. president follows through on his threat to seize Greenland.
The review comes after President Trump announced that the eight NATO countries would impose a 10% tariff on all goods sent to the United States starting February 1 until the United States is allowed to buy Greenland, a move that major EU countries denounced as blackmail. President Trump said tariffs would rise to 25% on June 1 if no deal is reached to buy the area.
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland signed a statement on Sunday saying that “the threat of tariffs risks damaging transatlantic relations and sending them into a dangerous downward spiral.”
French President Emmanuel Macron has used the European Union’s anti-coercion tool “trade bazooka” against the United States as part of a number of interactions with European leaders, diplomats told USA TODAY.
More news you need to know right now
- Man arrested by ICE in Minnesota dies in custody: Victor Manuel Diaz, 36, from Nicaragua, who was at risk of deportation, died in a detention center in El Paso, Texas, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Diaz is the third detainee to die at the vast detention center. Meanwhile, voters say President Trump has gone too far on immigration policy.
- One year of the Trump administration. A year after the Trump administration returned to the White House, economic indicators show that nearly every challenge he touted to solve during his presidential campaign two years ago, including cutting energy costs in half, making housing affordable and ending inflation, remains a problem or has gotten worse. Meanwhile, divisions in the Republican Party threaten to derail what could be Trump’s last chance to pass major legislation through Congress. As President Trump enters the second year of his second term, USA TODAY interviewed ordinary Americans across the country to hear their views.
Let’s take a look
“I have not forgotten the history and the significance of this moment.”
Abigail Davis Spanberger, a former House Democrat and CIA employee, took the oath of office Saturday with her grandmother’s Bible in hand, becoming the first female governor in Virginia’s history. It was a day filled with history in many ways.
bowl game
Indiana vs. Miami to face off in CFP national title game
The National College Football Championship is finally approaching. The final hurdle to Indiana’s first national football championship is Miami, once a powerhouse in the sport. Our columnist thinks this is why Indiana can win. Meet the 10 most important players to watch, learn why Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti isn’t getting more attention about his program, and get ready for the game. And yes, Trump will be in the game.
before going
Have feedback about the daily briefing? Email Nicole at NFallert@usatoday.com.
