Global News Podcast (BBC World Service)

Episode: Trump removes National Guard from some US cities
Date: January 1, 2026
Host: Rachel Wright

Episode Overview

This episode covers major global developments as 2026 begins, focusing on President Trump’s controversial removal of National Guard troops from three U.S. cities after a Supreme Court ruling, Ukraine’s President Zelensky’s New Year’s address on the state of the war with Russia, the aftermath of regime change in Syria, political turmoil in the UK, archaeological finds in Wales, and Japan’s new female Prime Minister advocating for basic gender equality in Parliament. The show blends breaking news, interviews, and in-depth analysis, maintaining the impartial, factual, brisk narrative that is BBC World Service’s trademark.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump Removes National Guard from U.S. Cities

Segment: 01:07–05:50

• Background: President Trump announced the withdrawal of federal National Guard troops from Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland after a Supreme Court ruling found such deployments illegal in Chicago.
  • Troops were originally sent to several Democrat-run cities to “crack down on rampant crime and help with immigration enforcement.”
• Legal Challenges:
  • The deployments prompted widespread legal resistance. Courts have ruled deployment as an unnecessary and unconstitutional abuse of power, with several judges citing federal overreach.
  • Supreme Court’s ruling invoked longstanding U.S. laws preventing the military’s use as domestic police.
• Current Situation:
  • Trump claims crime in these cities has decreased and warns federal forces could return if rates rise again.
  • Troops remain present in other cities (e.g., Washington, D.C., Memphis, New Orleans), with ongoing legal battles and public protests.
  • The use of troops is “incredibly controversial,” particularly in Washington, D.C., where they often supplanted local law enforcement.

Quote (Sean Dilley, 03:17):
"There is not evidence that it's necessary to send troops in to protect property... An awful lot of people think the deployment is quite an extreme reaction, particularly in Washington, D.C. from where I speak to you now, the National Guard are absolutely everywhere."

• Effectiveness Questioned:
  • Crime statistics are not yet available for the full period; no definitive correlation between the troop presence and crime rates can be concluded.

Quote (Sean Dilley, 04:34):
"No, I mean, there's no magic bullet there that says, right, okay, crime was at this level. The National Guard came in on this date... Nowhere can we say, well, hang on a minute, that's definitively reduced crime."

2. Minnesota Somali Daycare Controversy

Segment: 05:50–07:47

• Incident Trigger:
  • A viral YouTube video by conservative Nick Shirley accused Somali-run daycare centers of defrauding the state, without editorial vetting or right of reply common in journalism.
• Political Fallout:
  • Trump's administration praised the video and froze federal childcare funds to Minnesota, intensifying racial and immigration tensions.
• Community Impact:
  • The episode inflamed debates on race, immigration, and fraud; 90 people (mostly Somali Americans) have been prosecuted for related offenses, though critics argue Trump uses the case to tarnish all Somali immigrants.

Quote (Tom Bateman, 06:40):
“Mr. Trump has for weeks used a series of fraud cases already uncovered by officials in the state to attack Minnesota’s Somali community more broadly. Using highly derogatory language...”

3. Ukraine’s Position on Russia and the State of the War

Segment: 07:47–12:45

• President Zelensky’s New Year’s Address:
  • Rules out a “weak peace agreement,” affirming that only a just solution would end the war.

Quote (President Zelensky, via Will Vernon & Tom Bateman, 08:13):
"I would give everything in this world so that in this address I could say that peace, too, would arrive in a few minutes. Sadly, I cannot yet say that, but with a clear conscience ... Ukraine is doing everything possible for peace." - Zelensky claims “90%” of a peace deal has been agreed upon; remaining terms—such as Russian withdrawal from Donbas—remain a major obstacle.

• Putin’s Countermessage:
  • Doubles down on “total victory,” emphasizing Russian unity and moral justification for the war.

Quote (Putin, via Tom Bateman, 08:55):
"You’ve taken on the responsibility of fighting for your homeland, for truth and justice.... We believe in you and in our victory."

• Battlefield Analysis:
  • Despite some Russian advances, the front lines have shifted little and both sides are exhausted.
  • The crucial sticking point for peace is Russia’s expected insistence that Ukraine cede Donbas, which Ukraine refuses.
  • A reported drone attack on Putin’s residence is dismissed by both Ukraine and the EU as Russian disinformation, possibly aimed at disrupting U.S.-Ukraine relations.

Quote (Will Vernon, 09:50):
“The Russians have made some small gains, but... at a really kind of glacially slow pace. They haven't even managed to fully capture the strategic city of Pokrovsk… the mood among Ukrainians was ... weariness, yes, exhaustion, but also defiance.”

4. Syria: Return of Refugees and Social Challenges

Segment: 15:25–18:53

• Post-Assad Era:
  • Syria has seen major change after the dictator Bashar al-Assad’s fall. Economist magazine’s “Country of the Year 2025.”
  • Religious minorities still face violence, but exiles like chef Maleki Jasmati are contemplating return.
• Interview with Maleki Jasmati:
  • She’s planning to move back, reopen her business, and start an NGO to empower women.

Quote (Maleki Jasmati, 16:38):
"If every Syrian people will not take this risk, who will build our country? If I will say, oh, it's a little bit risky. No one will build our country." - Acknowledges persistent risks: civil violence, lack of women in positions of power, and need for reconciliation among wounded communities. - Cooking at home evokes nostalgic peace and hope despite difficulties.

5. UK Political Turmoil and Voter Discontent

Segment: 18:53–22:38

• Labour’s Woes Post-Brexit:
  • Keir Starmer’s government beset by resignations and party splits, with popularity plunging after only 18 months.
  • Voters’ disillusionment is historically high, with more than 70% expecting British life to worsen.
• Unprecedented Political Fragmentation:
  • For the first time since WWII, traditional Labour and Conservative parties struggle, with combined support for both sinking to around 35%.
  • Populist right (Reform), Greens, and nationalist parties on the rise; the UK is seeing continental-style political fragmentation.

Quote (Rob Watson, 21:30):
"In the past, when one of the two main parties was as unpopular as the current Labour government is now, the other party, in this case the Conservatives, would benefit. But that is not what's happening..."

6. Archaeological Mystery: Medieval Cemetery in Wales

Segment: 22:38–26:16

• Discovery:
  • A 6th- or 7th-century cemetery with predominantly female skeletons, some buried with luxury items.
  • Possible religious women's community, supported by finds of jewelry, building remains, and domestic artifacts.
• Highlights from Dig:
  • Discovery of a brooch possibly gilded with gold.
  • Clues indicate the cemetery may have been a spiritual and residential center for high-status women.

Quote (Rebecca Morell, 24:24):
"The discovery of the potential building adds to growing evidence that the cemetery was part of a female religious community."

7. Japan’s First Female PM and The Public Toilet Gap

Segment: 26:16–29:19

• Political Milestone:
  • Sanae Takaichi becomes the first female PM; female MPs push for more women’s toilets in Parliament (only two near the chamber).
  • Broader problem reflects a historic, global design bias against women’s needs.
• Interview with Caroline Criado Perez ("Invisible Women"):
  • Explains why equal bathroom floor space yields inequality (urinals vs. cubicles) and why women require greater facilities.

Quote (Caroline Criado Perez, 28:13):
"When you go to a public toilet in any place...you will find that there are women queuing for that toilet and the men are sauntering in and out of theirs." - Unequal design is both practical and symbolic of historic exclusion. - The “urinary leash” as a metaphor for women’s constrained freedom in public.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On National Guard Deployments:
  • Sean Dilley (03:17) — "It's a federal overreach to use these powers to deploy the National Guard in various places across the United States."
• On U.S. Political Fragmentation:
  • Rob Watson (21:30) — "It may be that the two parties who have essentially taken it in turns to govern Britain for the last hundred years or so, are losing their grip."
• On Returning to Syria:
  • Maleki Jasmati (16:38) — "If every Syrian people will not take this risk, who will build our country?"
• On Women’s Public Facilities:
  • Caroline Criado Perez (28:13) — "When you have a public toilet of a set, square footage that has urinals and cubicles and one that just has cubicles, immediately men have more provision, but women need more provision because there's much more demand on the female toilet."

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Trump’s National Guard Withdrawal: 01:07–05:50
• Minnesota Somali Daycare Scandal: 05:50–07:47
• Ukraine War & Peace Talks: 07:47–12:45
• Syrian Refugee Returns: 15:25–18:53
• UK Political Fragmentation: 18:53–22:38
• Welsh Cemetery Discovery: 22:38–26:16
• Japan, Gender and Public Toilets: 26:16–29:19

Episode Takeaways

• Trump’s troop withdrawals highlight ongoing legal and political battles over federal authority and policing.
• Social media-driven scandals, as seen in Minnesota, continue to influence real policy and stir racial tensions.
• Ukraine’s conflict remains deadlocked, with peace tantalizingly close yet fundamentally blocked by irreconcilable demands.
• Syria’s fragile rebirth is marked by hope, risk, and the enduring scars of division.
• UK politics faces historic realignment as public trust evaporates.
• Archaeological finds in Wales shed new light on early female religious communities.
• The everyday fight for gender equality, notably in public infrastructure, remains pressing even in the corridors of power.

For those unable to listen, this summary offers a comprehensive window into the key stories, personalities, and dynamics shaping global affairs as the new year unfolds on the Global News Podcast.